I have a 69Z 02D X77 car VIN 603512. When I bought the car I was told that it was not the original engine, so here is my dilemma. The engine has a B-5-9 casting date and a V0212DZ build date. There are is no VIN on the left front pad, when I finally got around to looking for the VIN by the oil filter this is what it looks like. You can see the number 3 when looking from underneath the car. What do you guys think? Does it look legit to you? Can I say this is a numbers matching engine?

http://members.cox.net/fdny37/index_files/image061.jpg

What does the pad in front of the engine look like

Looks like someone tried to obliterate the number (or got a little carried away removing paint), I see 19N6012 them maybe an 8. Can't make out the last one though.

Does it look legit to you? Can I say this is a numbers matching engine?


No, too much tampering to the surface.
Just my opinion.

Im not sure if its been tampered with (not ruling it out), but the only numbers I can make out are the 6, 0, and 2. And theres not enough space between the 0 and the 2 for the "351" to fit. Looks like there are other numbers "hiding" in there.

I would think that it is an engine from the same time frame, but definately cant say for sure that its #s matching.

dave

I can make out:

1 space N 6 0 1 2 then nothing

I am not seeing how that could possibly be 603512

Here is a photo of the left front pad. How does it look?

http://members.cox.net/fdny37/index_files/image063.jpg

real

Without seeing it in person. From here the pad looks authentic.
Still don't like the oil boss stamping though.

Can you get a picture of the trans VIN stamp for comparison?
What is the casting number on the back of the block?

Its a real DZ block, just didn't start life in the car its in now.

The trans is gone so no comparison. The block # is 3956618 with B-5-9 casting date. What are the odds that it is a different engine so close to the 02D build date of the car. Could the factory screw up a VIN stamping? Is that so far fetched. I mean this makes or breaks the car.

Interesting. I have a spare block cast B 6 9 with a VO212DZ stamped on it. There is one difference, the pad also has the partial VIN stamped on as it's a Van Nuys product.

My 02C Van Nuys has a B 5 9 casting and was assembled 0211. The wheels were rolling mid-year, assemble a motor in Michagan on Feb. 11th and install it the third week of Feb. at Van Nuys. Things were moving.