When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've started to dig in to the numbers on my recent 79 H/O acquisition, and was a bit bummed when I cleaned off the engine block number below the #1 spark plug and it didn't line up with the VIN.
My VIN is 3K47R9M552077, only the H/O in '79 had the 350 engine and "R" in the VIN, correct?
The stamped engine code looks to be 37R104042, which would indicate a 1977 engine, correct? And the last six of the VIN obviously is nowhere near what I have for a VIN.
The casting number above the water pump on the engine block is 554964 3A. My research indicates 3A casting is from a Olds '79 350. Why wouldn't the casting number and engine VIN stamp line-up?
Thanks for any help with this or redirect me to the proper forum!
Just came across this info from Mondello's reference book. This makes more sense that casting 554964 3A was for 1977-80 350 engines. So I've got a 77 350 engine block in my H/O I take it?
The VIN derivative on your engine is a 1977 motor. The "R" in the third position of the VIN derivative indicates that it came from a car built at the Arlington, TX plant, so clearly not original to your car, which was built in Lansing (as evidenced by the "M" in the 7th position of the VIN).
I think you might be on to something there with the blown engine theory RR. I do have this VIN check from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and I checked Colorado's database as well, all clean there for this VIN. Seems to be a clean title for this vehicle as well.
VIN derivatives? I thought they were "Cereal" Numbers! There was another rabbit hole about that in another thread!
I refrained from commenting in that other thread. The stamp on the block is a DERIVATIVE of the VIN. The engine serial number is the one stamped on the oil fill tube.
There was another rabbit hole about that in another thread!
