Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site spuxll.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!floyd!whuxle!spuxll!pmk From: pmk@spuxll.UUCP Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: '63 Corvette Message-ID: <448@spuxll.UUCP> Date: Tue, 3-Apr-84 10:04:48 EST Article-I.D.: spuxll.448 Posted: Tue Apr 3 10:04:48 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 5-Apr-84 01:40:34 EST References: <82@fisher.UUCP>, <586@ihuxk.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Information Systems, South Plainfield NJ Lines: 32 I am a litle curious about the statement you made in regard to serial numbers. I recall hearing about this many years ago, but recall very little about it. Did Chevrolet (or GM for that matter) put the identical number on both the engine and frame (chassis) for every vehichle or just the Corvette? Is this still a practice used by GM? My reasons for asking this question stem from information I have read in regard to the Ford Mustang. Any Mustang magazine I have read has never made mention of this. They only make reference to special engines (more about this later). I would therefore assume that Ford does not match serial numbers for their cars. Ford does have a method of identifying what engine the car should have , although it is not as strict as GM's method. The fifth character of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) determines what the engine should be. From 1965 to 1967 the special engine code was a "K". This engine was a 289 CID V-8 with 271 horsepower. This was a powerful motor indeed. My friend has a 1965 Mustang with the 289-271 that he is rebuilding at the moment. When he first got this car, It had the 4-speed and 3.89 gears in the rear. With this setup, the car could hold its own against many 400 GTO's. In late 1968 Ford introduced the "R" motor. This was a 428 Super Cobra Jet which was even more powerful than the 390 that it was replacing. This car was brought to beat the 396 Camaros, 400 Firebirds, and 383 'Cudas, which it did very handily. There are more examples but I think you have the idea. With a Ford product you can have an engine other than the one the car originally came with, just as long as it is the same as the original one. This makes life much easier if you happen to buy a "K" Mustang that has a 289 200 HP engine. P Kelliher AT&T-ISL S Plainfield, NJ