Matching numbers

[try2pas]

I am looking at a '71 vette. I want the numbers to match. Exactly how do I know if the numbers on the engine match the rest of the car's numbers? What numbers? Title numbers? VIN numbers? Is it just part of the numbers or all of the numbers? And where are all of these numbers on the engine and car? Enlighten me.

 

[baxsom]

It depends on what you are looking for, some people consider matching numbers if the VIN number is the same on the plate and the engine.
Others wont look at a car unless the engine and tranny are matching and each and every single part has the correct date and casting stamp.


personally i have never been able to figure out what the big deal about numbers matching but to some its everything.

 

[6880 Mike]

The pad is on the block at the front of the right head. You may have to clean some road gook off the pad in order to read the numbers. '74 shown, but '71 will be similar.

The VIN derivitive on the pad (smaller number) should match the VIN of the car. If the stamped number matches the VIN, the engine is probably original to the car.

The original transmission was also stamped with a VIN derivitive.