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"J" Engine Code??

Old Jan 17, 2005 | 02:48 PM
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Default "J" Engine Code??

Anyone know what a J engine code means in VIN #??
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 02:49 PM
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base 350.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by mayberg
base 350.
I did a VIN search and it did not recognize the Code??
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
I did a VIN search and it did not recognize the Code??
could it be the month it was built? j=may
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:23 PM
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j on a 75 serial # means l48
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by fast idle
j on a 75 serial # means l48
thats right but i looked at his sig. and he has a 71?
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by gr8whte
thats right but i looked at his sig. and he has a 71?
Actually Its a 72. I need to correct.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
Actually Its a 72. I need to correct.
what year vette is the vin# in question? cause their is no j in a 72 either,...its either k=L48 L=LT1 v or w=LS5
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by gr8whte
what year vette is the vin# in question? cause their is no j in a 72 either,...its either k=L48 L=LT1 v or w=LS5
The title says 1972. I ran the VIN on a registry and it said Model year 1973??
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
The title says 1972. I ran the VIN on a registry and it said Model year 1973??
if its a 73 model year, then the J=L48 by the way, you cannot mistake a 72 for a 73, for the most obvious reason the 72 has chrome bumpers front and rear, the 73 chrome only in rear. wich do you have?
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by gr8whte
if its a 73 model year, then the J=L48 by the way, you cannot mistake a 72 for a 73, for the most obvious reason the 72 has chrome bumpers front and rear, the 73 chrome only in rear. wich do you have?
Chrome Front and Back.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
Chrome Front and Back.
check the trim tag and see when your car was built, maybe u got a 73 engine in there???
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 05:38 PM
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check the serial # on the car against the # on the block. its on the pass side front right where the head meets the block. there should be some of the serial # repeated in the engine stamp.also check the drivers side right where the transmission bolts on , there should be a casting # there .
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by fast idle
check the serial # on the car against the # on the block. its on the pass side front right where the head meets the block. there should be some of the serial # repeated in the engine stamp.also check the drivers side right where the transmission bolts on , there should be a casting # there .
This car does not have original motor. The VIN is1Z37J3S4-----. It looks to me like a 73 with chrome front end?? The title says 1972??
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
This car does not have original motor. The VIN is1Z37J3S4-----. It looks to me like a 73 with chrome front end?? The title says 1972??
The sixth digit denotes the year, so at least the VIN # is from a '73 coupe with an L-48 engine.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:45 PM
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There was a CJK low production engine in the early 70s. It doesn't show up in many publications and is known as the "Mystery Engine". It was rumored to be a detuned LT1 with an auto trans. I looked at one several years ago and could not identify any clues that it was other than a base 350.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:51 PM
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I own this car now. It's been a daily driver for prior owner. I'm just wondering if this is the car to invest a bunch of money in. I think I bought it right and won't get hurt if I sell it and find another one. Will this VIN # kill the investment if I sell it later??
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To "J" Engine Code??

Old Jan 17, 2005 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by maverick150
I own this car now. It's been a daily driver for prior owner. I'm just wondering if this is the car to invest a bunch of money in. I think I bought it right and won't get hurt if I sell it and find another one. Will this VIN # kill the investment if I sell it later??
I'd be leary of that car without a good explaination why it's titled as a 72 and has a 73 vin. The vin matches the title? In CT that would be reason enough to have to bring it to the DMV headquarters for a thorough inspection, rather than simple local registration. Joe
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 07:13 PM
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I have know the prior owner for several years. She has owned the car 10 years. I'm confused by this also??!!

Last edited by maverick150; Jan 17, 2005 at 07:30 PM.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 09:07 PM
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Could be as simple as a typing mistake when the title was changed. '72 could have been accidentally typed instead of '73. Mistakes happen-on the flip side the car could have been stolen before the prior owner to you got it and a title & VIN tag from a scrapped out '73 was put on this "stolen" car. It is remotely possible that you could OPEN a can of worms by going to the DMV & INVESTIGATING. I know a person who "investigated" his car ONLY to have the Ohio State Patrol confiscate it as a stolen car-he never got the car back and had to finish paying out over $15,000 to a bank for a car he NO LONGER had If you go this route, you may want to have a detective to the "dirty" work IN CASE there is BAD news. This way, if the worse is reality, you WON'T loose your car this way.
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