DZ motor VIN stamp

[detfox]

Okay I’ve got a good one for you guys. I have a Van Nuys built 69 Z28 without the matching DZ motor.  The motor is marked V0318DZ and the casting number is 3956618, which according to JM is correct for 1969.  Here’s the problem: The VIN has been severely altered in an attempt to match the chassis.   I believe the VIN was as follows:     1 L539977. Besides the fact that some fool tried to re-stamp over the original VIN, the number between the 1 and L is missing.  Has anyone seen the year digit missing from the VIN stamp?  I hope I explained this clearly.

[KurtS]

Do you have a good picture of the pad?

[detfox]

I have photos that were given to me when I bought the car.  I will scan them and post the photo's.  Thanks for the response.

[detfox]

Here's the photo

[jl8dale]

I have a 529 LA Z that is a V0407DZ so it would not be plausible that your earlier date would have a higher vin number.

[69 Z11]

Hmmm.  Engine was built on my birthday (I ain't saying which one though  ).

VIN can't be L539977, the highest known VIN is L531163.  The L53XXXX cars began in 4D (also see previous post) so I don't see how the second digit could be a 3.  L51XXXX cars pre-date your engine so the second digit can't be a 1.

Assuming the DZ stamp is legit, I would think the VIN should have been somewhere between L527000 and L529000. But that doesn't make sense, if the original VIN was L52XXXX they wouldn't have needed to overstamp the second digit with a "2".

[detfox]

Thanks for the input.  I emailed this to Jerry and he indicated that the DZ stamp looks legit.  Since my car has an 04B build code and the VIN is 9L529276, it could possibly be that the factory tried to re-stamp over an error.  Also, it is very hard to be sure exactly what the numbers are under the larger font.  The numbers I indicated were suggested by the previous owner (probably best guess). Besides that, as you can see there is an extra digit.  There is still the question of the missing 9 between the '1' and the 'L'

[jl8dale]

I also have a LA Pace Car with a motor date of TO0327HB and VIN 528929 so a 0318 date would have to be a 528 series I would surmise. Maybe 528226?

[jl8dale]

So Jerry is suggesting that you do have the original motor?

[detfox]

So Jerry is suggesting that you do have the original motor?

Unfortunately it was inconclusive.  I am in the process of tracking down the previous owners in hopes of shedding some light.

[jl8dale]

As I look at your engine stamp again, I see 276 over 276. It is very possible that you have the same VIN stamped twice. My LA Z/28 is stamped twice on the trans case, but one stamp next to the other. Evidently they weren't such a good shot with the hammer and gang stamp in LA back in 1969!

[69 Z11]

Thanks for the input.  I emailed this to Jerry and he indicated that the DZ stamp looks legit.  Since my car has an 04B build code and the VIN is 9L529276, it could possibly be that the factory tried to re-stamp over an error.  Also, it is very hard to be sure exactly what the numbers are under the larger font.  The numbers I indicated were suggested by the previous owner (probably best guess). Besides that, as you can see there is an extra digit.  There is still the question of the missing 9 between the '1' and the 'L'

Is an 04B car with a 0318 engine possible? (I don't know, I'm asking).  Seems like a long time for an engine to be sitting around.

This is interesting, I love a good mystery.

[KurtS]

99% sure that's the original motor and the original stamp. With a better pic, could get rid of that 1%.

[detfox]

99% sure that's the original motor and the original stamp. With a better pic, could get rid of that 1%.

WOW!! I have the photo on two formats.  A jpeg, which was scaned from the original photo, and on a word doc.  I would gladly send either one if you want to suggest a method. 

[KurtS]

You can try sending me a hi-resolution jpg of it.