Engine number identification
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,235
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Two tasks...maybe three:
Passenger side valve cover at the front of the engine, look down and you'll see an engine pad with two sets of numbers. The pad is on the engine block head just below the lower edge of the valve cover lip. An A/C bracket may obstruct it so just look around the bracket.
You should expect to see two sets of numbers
1. The first is the power team configuration code (engine suffix), engine plant assembly code and the date code.
2. The other set is called the vehicle number identification (VIN) derivative which is abbreviated and should match the VIN tag.
Now move around to the driver's side and look at the windshield post:
3. The VIN tag is located on the driver's side windshield post toward the bottom and consists of 13 numbers/alpha characters. The last eight will match the last eight of the VIN derivative you see on the engine pad if its a matching number 1973.
The link below is something I wrote up on my 1978 and its matching numbers. It goes into some detail. You may find this useful and further your study of the matching numbers on the 1973. The differences and the most obvious is your engine is orange and the pad is longer.
1978 Matching Numbers
Hope this helps.
If you can take pictures and post, we can help if you find something that does not seem to match up.
Passenger side valve cover at the front of the engine, look down and you'll see an engine pad with two sets of numbers. The pad is on the engine block head just below the lower edge of the valve cover lip. An A/C bracket may obstruct it so just look around the bracket.
You should expect to see two sets of numbers
1. The first is the power team configuration code (engine suffix), engine plant assembly code and the date code.
2. The other set is called the vehicle number identification (VIN) derivative which is abbreviated and should match the VIN tag.
Now move around to the driver's side and look at the windshield post:
3. The VIN tag is located on the driver's side windshield post toward the bottom and consists of 13 numbers/alpha characters. The last eight will match the last eight of the VIN derivative you see on the engine pad if its a matching number 1973.
The link below is something I wrote up on my 1978 and its matching numbers. It goes into some detail. You may find this useful and further your study of the matching numbers on the 1973. The differences and the most obvious is your engine is orange and the pad is longer.
1978 Matching Numbers
Hope this helps.
If you can take pictures and post, we can help if you find something that does not seem to match up.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Prague Europe
I checked the VIN and the engine number. VIN is 1Z37J3S400141 and engine number V0807CLA. I decoded that the engine suffix code may stand for 1973, 350cui, TH400, L48 Corvette which is exactly what I have. Waht I don't understand though, how to check if this engine came with the car or not.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Prague Europe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
From: Prague Europe
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski