Original engine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sayreville NJ
Original engine?
How can I tell if my 76 engine is original? Where can I find the code to verify? My engine is blue, I know only 77s had blue engines so I'm wondering if it's been painted or just swapped
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sayreville NJ
Wow I'm mad. I have a 76 vette I bought 6 months ago. I was told it's numbers matching original. My engine, steering wheel and hood emblem are off a 77 vette. At least I still got it a cheap price
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Heads have no suffix. There is a pad on the block (not the head) at the front of the passenger's head (AIR or AC could make it difficult to see). All Corvettes have two numbers stamped on the pad; the engine assembly and identifaction stamp, and a VIN derivitive of the vehicle the engine was originally installed in. Those are the two numbers you want.
All original Corvette engines were orange for 1976.
Post a pic of your steering wheel; all 76s got the four spoke Vega wheel. A PO may have swapped yours.
All original Corvette engines were orange for 1976.
Post a pic of your steering wheel; all 76s got the four spoke Vega wheel. A PO may have swapped yours.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 28, 2012 at 04:12 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 665
From: Northeast
The 6th digit of the vin will tell you what year the car is. Perhaps it is a 77 and the paper work is incorrect.
Load your pictures on photobucket. Then under the pic you will see 4 "links". The 4th down will be the IMG code. Left click and it should say copied. Then right click in the body of your post. You can post a few pics that way.
Load your pictures on photobucket. Then under the pic you will see 4 "links". The 4th down will be the IMG code. Left click and it should say copied. Then right click in the body of your post. You can post a few pics that way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sayreville NJ
See it's funny. Vin # says 6. So it's a 76. I have a very late model 76. I'm wondering if there were some changes made and they have the same engine and steering wheel as early 77
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,112
Likes: 4,176
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 7v6,
The last 5 digits of VIN derivative stamp on your pad should match the VIN sequence number tag on the a-pillar. You can see it looking through the windshield.
Hope you find you bought what you thought you did.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the pad you're looking for. In this case sequence #6589
The last 5 digits of VIN derivative stamp on your pad should match the VIN sequence number tag on the a-pillar. You can see it looking through the windshield.
Hope you find you bought what you thought you did.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the pad you're looking for. In this case sequence #6589
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
New England Events Coordinator
Hi Alan, I have appraiser documentation from the the previous owner that states numbers matching, however the head is ground and all evidence is missing. Is ther another method to determine numbers matching?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,112
Likes: 4,176
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi phc,
Sadly no.
The pad is part of the cylinder case, (block), not the head.
Sometimes when an engine is rebuilt the block is surfaced to ensure that the block's head mounting surfaces are as level and perpendicular to the cylinder bores as possible.
Unfortunately when this is done, depending on how much material is removed, the stamped information, and the pad's original 'broached' surface is removed. What really hurts is that the block can be surfaced, and the original pad info and surface retained, if the machine operator knows that it needs to be done that way.
I've heard about people being able to see what the stamped information was by using dye and x-rays (or something like an x-ray). I don't know how often that's done or successful.
It's nice to have those numbers, BUT, there are literally hundreds of other parts that make up a nice ORIGINAL car; so the pad isn't the be-all, and end-all.
Regards,
Alan
Sadly no.
The pad is part of the cylinder case, (block), not the head.
Sometimes when an engine is rebuilt the block is surfaced to ensure that the block's head mounting surfaces are as level and perpendicular to the cylinder bores as possible.
Unfortunately when this is done, depending on how much material is removed, the stamped information, and the pad's original 'broached' surface is removed. What really hurts is that the block can be surfaced, and the original pad info and surface retained, if the machine operator knows that it needs to be done that way.
I've heard about people being able to see what the stamped information was by using dye and x-rays (or something like an x-ray). I don't know how often that's done or successful.
It's nice to have those numbers, BUT, there are literally hundreds of other parts that make up a nice ORIGINAL car; so the pad isn't the be-all, and end-all.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sayreville NJ
I have almost all 77 parts in my car ( engine, steering wheel, emblem etc) however my vin # says it's a 76. It also says stingray on the side (77s weren't stingray) and i have the single crome mirror which is true to a 76 so Im getting the feeling my car was either stolen, vin# changed and a few mods. Or 80% of my car has been refitted with 77 parts.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
There were other interior changes in 1977. They probably only changed the things that you have listed.
It was quite common for people back in the day to change engines and other parts. They didn't worry about the value of matching number, only keeping the car going to have a good time.
I see cars advertised all the time that say "all matching numbers, edelbrock intake, headers, etc.) If the car has an aftermarket carb and headers then it isn't a matching numbers car.
If you got it for a good price, have fun with it. The cars are fun even if they don't have the original parts.
It was quite common for people back in the day to change engines and other parts. They didn't worry about the value of matching number, only keeping the car going to have a good time.
I see cars advertised all the time that say "all matching numbers, edelbrock intake, headers, etc.) If the car has an aftermarket carb and headers then it isn't a matching numbers car.
If you got it for a good price, have fun with it. The cars are fun even if they don't have the original parts.