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#1
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A question about date codes
My 69 350 HO block (not original to the car) has a date code of Oct 28 (J028). I have 3 sets of #48 heads and the best pair has a date code of early December (L038), but I do have a set of heads built in October. The car was delivered in late January of 69. Is the date code on the block close enough to be considered "numbers matching"? Would I be better off having the head date codes match the block, or should I use the early December heads?
For those out there with numbers matching cars, what's the time frame for you date codes WRT the build date? |
#2
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the date you have on your block is October 2nd 1968. i've seen in the industry an "acceptable" range as 3 months prior to build date of car. If it was me personally i would use the October heads to match the block. My numbers matching 400 68 bird was build 12D, December 4th week. the block has a casting date of L207(december 20 67), intake L137 and heads L017. Not sure if that answers your question or not but thats what i have seen.
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#3
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Is the number over the block code part of the car's VIN? |
#4
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No! That is an engine unit number.
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Bill 64 GTO, tube chassis w/606" IA tall deck, PG & a pro geared Fab 9". 2750 lbs. 8.2550@164.17-1/4, 5.2901@131.97-1/8, 1.1981-60-ft. 8/10/08 Last edited by WDCreech; 01-28-2015 at 10:33 PM. |
#5
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There should be a partial VIN down lower next to the timing cover, about where the radiator hose outlet on cover is.
It'll look something like 29U1xxxxx with the 'U' depends on the plant car is made at.
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John Wallace - johnta1 Pontiac Power RULES !!! www.wallaceracing.com Winner of Top Class at Pontiac Nationals, 2004 Cordova Winner of Quick 16 At Ames 2004 Pontiac Tripower Nats KRE's MR-1 - 1st 5 second Pontiac block ever! "Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts." "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." – Socrates |
#6
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Thanks.
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#7
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Engine should be earlier than the car's build date. Most engine components like the heads should be earlier than the engine casting date. Too early is better than too late in my opinion.
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#8
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If you do not have the 'born with' block, you will never have a 'numbers matching' drivetrain. May be semantics to some, but IMHO correct. |
#9
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I'm not sure where you came up with "numbers correct" to define this, but numbers matching means the part numbers and date codes are correct for the car. A "born with" drivetrain means the engine is the one the car came with. My "WN" block is a correct "numbers matching" block for this car. If it were coded for a Lemans, it may be exactly the same, but not numbers matching for the car.
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#10
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__________________
1971 Pontiac Trans Am Cameo White 1968 Firebird 400 coupe, Verdoro Green w/black vinyl top 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, Verdoro Green w/black top 1970 Buick Skylark Custom convertible(driver) Fire Red 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Royal Blue |
#11
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1969 was a long ass time ago. Not some, but most of these cars lost their engine at some point. I still have the "born with" transmission for my 69 350HO automatic convertible, but the engine in it now is a 68 Catalina 400... it's not numbers matching. If the inverse were true, and I had the correct engine, but a wrongly coded transmission (turbo 400), I could say it was mostly numbers matching, but that requires opinion to decipher. The tall and short of it is this... if you buy a car with a close drivetrain, it's worth more money. If it has the "born with" drivetrain, it's worth even more money. If it's a hot rod with a Chevy 350 but looks mostly stock, it's worth less; that's the bottom line. To imply the block has to be original to the car to make the claim it's "numbers matching" is probably the opinion of someone fortunate to have the "born with" drivetrain that includes to correct VIN. This isn't semantics IMO... parts are parts and they have numbers. |
#12
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I would note that your definition benefits you which makes it suspect. I'm could be 100% wrong but I'm not aware of any large body (ISCA for example) that has waded into this debate. You may define it how you want but again, creating or agreeing to a definition that benefits your "case" and potentially financially is suspect.
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PS An article from a couple years back where the author laments the degrading of the meaning of numbers matching... http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/c...sals-1.6154213
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1971 Pontiac Trans Am Cameo White 1968 Firebird 400 coupe, Verdoro Green w/black vinyl top 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, Verdoro Green w/black top 1970 Buick Skylark Custom convertible(driver) Fire Red 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Royal Blue |
#13
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Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
#14
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Date range depends upon where your car was built. The engines were ALL assembled in Pontiac MI and then shipped by train to the assembly plants. If your car was built in Freemont CA or Atlanta GA then the lead time would be longer.
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Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
#15
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I really should go back to bed and not post.
__________________
1971 Pontiac Trans Am Cameo White 1968 Firebird 400 coupe, Verdoro Green w/black vinyl top 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, Verdoro Green w/black top 1970 Buick Skylark Custom convertible(driver) Fire Red 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Royal Blue |
#16
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Go get some sleep!
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Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
#17
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Yes, I agree with your point 100%, I'm most curious about the Antwerp date codes. Since they could have handled the assemblage of the parts prior to shipping in several way(collect all parts at say the Lordstown plant, put it into a container there then ship to outbound port, etc.) Or did they use Chevy engines like those that were assembled in Canada? Did they use Chevy engines for those assembled in Canada?
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1971 Pontiac Trans Am Cameo White 1968 Firebird 400 coupe, Verdoro Green w/black vinyl top 1968 Firebird 400 convertible, Verdoro Green w/black top 1970 Buick Skylark Custom convertible(driver) Fire Red 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1 Royal Blue |
#18
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What a waste of time!
__________________
Some guys they just give up living And start dying little by little, piece by piece, Some guys come home from work and wash up, And go racin' in the street. Bruce Springsteen - Racing In The Street - 1978 |
#19
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ill throw my 2 cents in here. when I remember back to being a young kid hanging out listening to my dad and his friends at their car shows and club meetings (1960's thru 1970's) and when I got into buying these cars in the mid 70's , when the words "numbers matching" was used it was referring only to the vin# stamped on the block matching the vin# of the car. sometimes the transmission #'s were brought up. when I was buying a car I never asked a guy on the phone to verify the numbers on the transmission because he was usually already put out to have to check the numbers on the block for me. when I would look at the car myself, I never went to the trouble of checking the transmission #'s until I had already bought it and had it home.
(my disclaimer to the above was the corvette group, they were checking carb, dist, alternator and starters back when my dad was in the clubs. that is why I quit the vette club back in the 80's they were just too uptight about everything) |
#20
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Here is a great opinion from attorney Bryon Shook who I retained on this very same issue to represent me against some clown who misrepresented a LS5 Chevelle I bought at auction:
The Sincere Definition of Numbers Matching January 2, 2011 · Posted in News · Comments Off Numbers Matching: From a Legal Standpoint By: Bryan W. Shook, Esquire Attorney-at-Law BShook@dplglaw.com A seller, an auction house, a broker, etc., all have express duties to not mislead buyers. It is the presentation that entices and induces a prospective buyer to make an offer or bid on a car. Often included within this presentation is the phrase “numbers matching”. Rarely in any field does a single term mean so much; in the field of car collecting, the term “numbers matching” means everything; or does it? The phrase “numbers matching” was coined an untold number of years ago to describe a vehicle which retained its original driveline (i.e. the driveline that was installed into the vehicle during its initial assembly at its manufacturer’s plant). Specifically and most important in this definition is the engine; as this is the single most important aspect of a vehicle’s originality. There are some in the hobby, however that would have you believe that the phrase “numbers matching” has parted ways with its original and understood definition. These individuals would have you believe that the phrase “numbers matching” means that the driveline, has numbers appearing on its components, that look as though they could have been placed on there during the initial assembly process on the manufacturer’s line. This is where the issue with restamped engines and transmissions becomes ever apparent. This disingenuous play on words is polluting our hobby. Numbers Matching means ORIGINAL; the phrase and the meaning of “numbers matching” have never parted company. Numbers matching still means, as it always has, that the engine, transmission and rear axle are original to that particular vehicle. For the phrase to have any other meaning would render it flawed and unnecessary. The use of the phrase “numbers matching” in a disingenuous fashion opens the seller to a high level of legal exposure. The buyer who learns after he purchases the vehicle that the vehicle, is not “as advertised”, has the right to revoke his acceptance of the vehicle and enjoys many protections that come along with legal revocation. For example, these protections could include a statutorily created security interest in the vehicle up to the amount paid for the vehicle, plus certain expenses and other damages. Any misleading use of the phrase “numbers matching” blackens the eye of the hobby. The only reason one would use such a deceitful definition of “numbers matching” would be in a cacluated attempt to mask the true nature of the vehicle for self-serving purposes. This ultimately has a negative impact on the hobby. For more information on what your rights are in such a transaction, please call or email me, I would be more than happy to discuss this or any other matter concerning car collecting with you. Bryan W. Shook, Esquire is a licensed Pennsylvania lawyer. Attorney Shook’s office is headquartered in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania although his practice takes him across the country. During his career, Attorney Bryan Shook has become a powerful advocate for his clients and one of the foremost collector, antique and automotive fraud and misrepresentation attorneys in the country. He has successfully tried as well as amicably resolved cases throughout the United States. Bryan Shook can be reached by e-mail at BShook@dpglaw.com or by phone |
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