VIN=what engine?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Ventura County ca
VIN=what engine?
Excuse my ingorance, I am new to the C-3 scene and am extremely green. I am looking at buying a friends 71. Is there an easy way to tell if it was an original 454 car?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Atascadero Ca
i don't know if there is a tag or digit, but in 71 there were 4 motors, an upgraded 350, and 2 big blocks.
#1 454ci 390bhp sold: 5097 of them
#2 454ci 425bhp sold: 188
production totals from my book show that there were more than 18 thousand 71's, so that 425 horse model is probably not it. However it could very possibly be an origional 390 horse 454. If it is, the center console should have a plate on it saying the engine data. Other than that, unless you have a build sheet (it may still be on top of the gas tank) you're out of luck.
#1 454ci 390bhp sold: 5097 of them
#2 454ci 425bhp sold: 188
production totals from my book show that there were more than 18 thousand 71's, so that 425 horse model is probably not it. However it could very possibly be an origional 390 horse 454. If it is, the center console should have a plate on it saying the engine data. Other than that, unless you have a build sheet (it may still be on top of the gas tank) you're out of luck.
Last edited by i885744; Oct 19, 2004 at 04:24 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
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From: New Zealand
Originally Posted by jlch
Excuse my ingorance, I am new to the C-3 scene and am extremely green. I am looking at buying a friends 71. Is there an easy way to tell if it was an original 454 car?
1. A partial VIN and engine suffix code can be found on the front of the passenger side block, just below the heads and where the water pump bolts on.......it will be there unless the block has been milled.....the partial VIN should match the car VIN (of course these can be re-stamped).....
2. The block casting number and casting date can be found on the driver's side rear of the block.......casting number is 7 digit eg 3970014 and date code is 4 digit eg F272......
3. The smog sticker located on the firewall above the steering column and just in front of the wiper door grill has a 2 letter code (eg AX) in the upper left corner (of course these can be replaced)....
4. The '71 LS5 has an expansion tank for the radiator....brass if it's A/C and aluminium if it's a non A/C.......if it doesn't have an expansion tank, then that could indicate that it was originally a base 350......
Once you find the numbers you can post them in a new thread and someone will help decode them.....
Hope this helps.......
