Weird deal !!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Weird deal !!
I was looking for some easily visible signs of some obvious issues with my car.I bought a c5 in south Fl. and there are some fishy stuff Im starting to find. The title and discription showed an LS1, but there are several items that lead to possibly LS6. I just noticed the VIN tagand the rivets look suspicious and scratched... I mean, how do these ever get touched... Im aware that they don't and I feel this thing may be a chop job... I have drilled rotors and several other aftermarket items and the car is pretty salty in power and awesome in drivability. The car only has 65k miles and otherwise really sweet. Is there anyone that can tell me some other things to look for to maybe varify what I have? I haven't got it on the lift yet, so I can't see the casting #'s to see the motor. Are there any other appearent things I can locate to see what's up? Thanks Jeff
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 445
Likes: 4
From: San Diego CA
only reason to scratch out a vin is because the motor is stolen
its hard to speculate on why though. Could be that the stock engine blew and they replaced it with the cheapest one they could find which happened to be out of a Z06 and a chop shop ... what is making you think its a ls6 though?
its hard to speculate on why though. Could be that the stock engine blew and they replaced it with the cheapest one they could find which happened to be out of a Z06 and a chop shop ... what is making you think its a ls6 though?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Maybe a tad paranoid,,,,don't take that wrong,,,but a seller would brag about an LS6 engine,,,I would and would tell the truth about it! More info would help.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Well, I just hear alot of different opinions and don't really have one of my own. I just don't understand the whole VIN tag being jacked with and really just want to find out the real deal on this car. I have really taken to the car and see now how deep the "Vette Blood" runs as well. These cars are an addiction and I want to know what Im dealing with. Is there any other identifiable characteristics other than the casting #?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: Tsawwassen BC
Just a reminder to everyone buying a car...check it out...do your due diligence and make sure everything is what it appears before putting your money down.....ask questions and check that numbers match and if they don't ask why they don't...perhaps there is good reason but do check as as there are tons of help and resources out there....if the seller pressures you or can't wait for you to check it out....walk as there are plenty of beauties out there....DO THE RESEARCH...start by assuming there are crooks out there trying to rip you off and go from there...it is the reality of life today...don't be a victim.....be an informed confident purchaser knowing exactly what you are buying....hopefully in your case all is well 
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Yeah well, to make the whole incompetence issue a little more clear, I bought it sight un-seen...Stupid I might add... My loan officer wired the money while I was in flight to Fl.... I kinda walked into that one.... Oh well... I will continue looking it over and keep possitive... Thanks for the info...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
You can match the vin tag on the dash to the vin tag on the frame in front of the radiator underneath the hood hinges. The vin on the frame can only be erased with a grinder, for it's etched on the frame.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 2
From: Memphis TN
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Learn all you can while you're investigating the car. As things checkout, your passion for the Corvette experience will kick in and you'll start taking on projects.
Hang in there and keep providing updates.
Chaplain
Hang in there and keep providing updates.
Chaplain
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
The VIN is etched in the frame but at this instant, I don't remember where. That VIN and the normal vin plate need to match otherwise you do indeed have a legal issue. I would go to a dealer first, have them verify the VIN's on the car in more than one place. The engine should have the same VIN unless it was changed out as mentioned. If you find the VIN plate and body don't match, then you need to see the dealer and the police to insure you don't get arrested for knowlingly receiving stolen property.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
You can compare the VIN on the Dash and the VIN on the front frame rail under the air box.
there should also be a RPO sticker with the VIN, mine is in the glove box (02) some of the earlier ones were in the rear storage area (IIRC?)
you can also post up the casting number of the cylinder heads (243) is for a LS6
the casting number for the engine block is on the driver's side rear of the engine. (hard to see, but it can be done with an inspection mirror...
a partial engine VIN is stamped on the driver's side of the engine block (difficult to see)
If you need pictures of any of this, let me know, and I can post some up...
there should also be a RPO sticker with the VIN, mine is in the glove box (02) some of the earlier ones were in the rear storage area (IIRC?)
you can also post up the casting number of the cylinder heads (243) is for a LS6
the casting number for the engine block is on the driver's side rear of the engine. (hard to see, but it can be done with an inspection mirror...
a partial engine VIN is stamped on the driver's side of the engine block (difficult to see)
If you need pictures of any of this, let me know, and I can post some up...
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Thanks , and I will do some more checking. The VIN and the frame do indeed match, but I have yet to get to the engine. I will look today and see what I find. If everything is cool and legitimate, I just need to find out why there are mismatched parts, or contact the previous owner. I bought from a wholesaler and he didn't no crap. I will never buy site un-seen again, or at leaste without one-on-one inspection. I just seen all the pics b4 I committed.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Well, the condition of the car doesn't reflect the care and precision of what most Corvette owners have. If the car was pristine and typical of genuine Corvette owners, I probably wouldnt have given second thought, but the brake rigors are upgrade, the dipstick isn't long enough to reach the bottom of pan, the 3 trunk compartment storage covers are gone, the frc's are red, the car is "low" miles for the condition, several harness plugs have been found "unplugged" which lead me to beloved an obvious deception, or half-truth description.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,414
Likes: 25
From: Texas
If you bought it from a wholesaler, they probably bought it from auction.... So he is being honest when he says he knows nothing of the previous condition or owner....
post some pics of the plugs that are unplugged...
sometimes things like storage cover doors are missing....
post some pics of the plugs that are unplugged...
sometimes things like storage cover doors are missing....