I bought a 1987 Corvette. VIN number is 1G1YY2185H5101201. It is confirmed by the papers and the number is also stamped in the steel frame in front of the left frontwheel. I learned from the forum that the engine can not be a 1987 because it is a crossfire with iron heads. I checked carefully if I saw evidence of engineg change, but did not find anything. Cabling looks normal, no cables cut anywhere. I found the emission label a the radiator, its for a crossfire engine. Also the hood fits the aircleaner cover inlets for the crossfire and connects to the inlets with two rubber boots to the duct in the hood.Looks perfectly original and did not find any proof of change. Dirt on the radiator and engine is similar and origines absolutely from more than a few years of use. The car was on English numberplates but ran in the USA because several American coins were found underneath the chair.
If there is a number on the engine, please tell me where to find it, I did not find any number yet.
I am puzzeled.
Anyone has an answer?
Regards,
Nico

 

Codes for '84 Crossfire engines

ZFC: 350ci 205hp AT ZFK: 350ci 205hp AT
ZFD: 350ci 205hp MT ZFL: 350ci 205hp MT
ZFF: 350ci 205hp AT CE ZFM: 350ci 205hp AT CE
ZFH: 350ci 205hp EX ZFN: 350ci 205hp MT CE
ZFJ: 350 ci 205hp MT EX ZFR: 350ci 205hp MT CE

Codes for '87 L98 engines
ZJN: 350ci 240hp AT ZLA: 350ci 240hp AT, OC
ZLC: 350ci 240hp MT, OC ALB: Export

Engine code is located on horizontal machined pad at front of block under the A/c compressor (LH looking from front)
What if your car was previously in a accident and they used a '84 front cut to repair it.That would account for the correct crossfire bonnet being on your car as Cross fire '84 only.

 

Another possibility is the fact that someone put the vin plaqe from an '87 on an '84 if it had a salvage title and restored it, to commit fraud...Considering it was an export, I wouldn't put it past scammers to do that..

No matter what I'd return if if you still can....You have no real idea of history, or problems that could come with it..

 

The "pad" rodj refers to is actually the top (deck) surface of the block, forward of where the right side cylinder head ends. Besides the three letter codes rodj lists, there should also be numerals stamped in the same area matching the last 3, 4, or 5, digits of your VIN number. 1G1YY2185H5101201. This is a proof that the engine belongs with the rest of the car.

RACE ON!!!

 

Something things you may want to check on that are different on 84 vs 87.

84 have different exhaust tips, Wheels will have black inserts, the roof will not have a high mounted stop light. Interior will have a thin streering wheel and the LCD cluster has different graphics. Some 84 have T shaped interior door handles as well.

Something 84's won't have is Tuned Port Injection black molding above the gills, dual power seats, electronic climate control, and leather sports seats.

 

I've been gyped.

RACE ON!!!

 

Me too!

 

Hello Nico,

Try this:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...et&forum_id=34

See if your build sheet is still there.

Also, it looks like a US vin#, so CarFax should have a record of it. For the hell of it start another post "Carfax needed" and include a link to this topic and your VIN# I am sure someone will run it for you. It would be interesting to see if that provides any info as well.

Brian
VTvette

 

BTW in your VIN#:

The 7th digit in is the engine designation. "8" is L98 5.7L V8 TPI.

The 9th digit in is the model year - "H" is 1987.

Brian
VTvette

 

That is a good idea, did´t know that ws possible. Gonna try
Thanks

 

Wheels have black inserts, T doorhandels, no leather seats, 1 power seat but has electronic climate control??
Looks really a 84 istn´t it?

 

I really can not find any horizontal machined part underneath the AC compressor. Looked everywhere, got almost stuck with my head inbetween engine parts, but can not find any engine number. If they changed the front part, than it has been a very skilled job, raised the car at an elevator, inspected undetneath, can not find any proof.
Also the wires from the two injectors run straight into the harness, can not find cut or spliced wires. The connectors to the air inlet valve bodies are absolutely original, not replaced. So if changed, they used the crossfire harness. If fraude, they probably may have changed the VIN label behind the windshield. What about the VIN number stamped into the frame in front of the left front wheel. Is the same number. Has that been stamped in the USA or is that done later in Europe for European laws?

 

I guess that you are hitting bulls eye. Everything looks really original, so I think the label and paper work has been changed. But the VIN number is also stamped into the frame in front of the LH front wheel. Is that also done in the USA or has that been done later at Export?
But I bought the car for 4400 $ and put approx 900 in repairs (painting and leather seats). The car runs fine, so I am still very happy with the car though its older than I thought.

 

The cylinder head ends flush with the block, can not find a number there

 

Car has all the signs of a 84 you describe, exept the climate control is electronic I guess.

 

Is an Idea to find out where it came from. But I do not want to open a can of worms, do not know how Spanish douane reacts if there is a problem. Normal reaction here is that they confiscate the car and than try to find out what has happened. That may take a lifetime and you never see your car or your money back.
That happened to a friend of mine. He bought a car and during a repair job they found a repaired bullet hole. Car gone for 5 years now.

 

Just remember though, all these couldve been changed too!! Can you post some pics of the door panels and instrument panel while its on? If so that will make it much easier to pinpoint what has gone wrong here, what does the sticker on the end of the left hand door say?? Does it match anything else?

 

Then it isn't even a Chevy V8. My description of "The "pad" rodj refers to is actually the top (deck) surface of the block, forward of where the right side cylinder head ends." is just a clarification of what rodj was talking about, and where you said you were looking when you said, "I really can not find any horizontal machined part underneath the AC compressor. Looked everywhere, got almost stuck with my head inbetween engine parts, but can not find any engine number. If they changed the front part, than it has been a very skilled job". The "front part" that they would have had to change is the engine block. I do believe that you can't see or find the number, but I can't believe that the "cylinder head ends flush with the block".

RACE ON!!!

 

Above is the pic of the engine ID pad from my '88 L98. This pic should give you a good idea of it's location on your car. It's right in front of the base of the right cyl. head, right above the waterpump leg.

I'm sure if you find it you'll find it's a 1984 block.

At this point the thing that makes the most sense is that the VIN was changed and the car is a 1984. The best way to confirm this is to locate the build sheet behind the gas tank. Who knows why this happened but It's probably best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Hope the pic helps,

Brian
VTvette

 

The car's VIN also appears in other places besides the plate on the LF of the dash and the upper part of the frame rail just in front of the battery. I think another location for the VIN is on the top of the frame rail in the RR wheel well housing.

Remove the RR tire and it should be just about above the center of the "dog bones" (rear control arms). You will probably have to do a fair amount of cleaning and you wil need a small mirror to view the top of the frame rail.

The may be a VIN on the motor in another location. Look for a small vertical smooth pad next to the oil filter. As you look at the filter from the side, it will be just to the right. Not all blocks had this stamping but it's worth a look. The engine number and code is a good place to start, but it's also possible that the car could have had another engine chage at some point and the block could be any of the 350 cubic inch blocks that GM made.

Also, look at the automatic transmission case. There may be a VIN stamped on a small pad on the lower right side of the case just above the torque converter inspection cover and behind the two lower attaching bolts. Another possible location is a verticle smooth tab at the very rear of the case on the left side where the tailshaft attaches to the tranny.

There should be a tranny ID number on the right rear side of the case juat above the right rear outside corner of the transmission pan. This has some code numbers to ID the year, model, serial number of the tranny and date of manufacture.

The first digit is the year with a "5" being an 85 tranny so look for a "4" as the first number. Next, there should be three letters that identify the tranny model something like "YKM". The next letter is the code for the plant where the tranny was made (Y is Toledo, OH). Next, an 8-digit serial number. The next 3 numbers are the Julian date when the tranny was built (001 or January 1 through 365 or December 31) The final letter is the shift when the trany was built.

It may be that the block is not the original and the tranny may not be original but you should probably check anyway just to be sure.

If the VIN points to a 1987 car and you suspect it's an 84, a simple CARFAX chack may show if the VIN you see came from a salvage or otherwise destroyed car. If you ask for a CARFAX check over on the C4 For Sale section, or even in the C5 For Sale section, there are usually people who are looking for a car to buy and have a 30-day subscription to CARFAX and they will happily run the VIN for you. The data is only for cars titled in the US or Canada so if it was originally an export car, CARFAX may not have a record at all.

The Electronic Climate Control system (RPO C68) first appeared in 1986 and this would be a very difficult system to retrofit into the car. There is extra wiring and sensors that would have to be installed for a ECC system to work properly.