Help with numbers!

[Mike Menard]

Hi guys, I am a short time lurker here but I have gained great respect for your knowledge on our chosen topic! Since high school I have always had an old car or motorcycle to "get away from the world with" (60 thunderbird, 37 ford street rod, 86 Softtail custom) But everything was "just until I get my vette." Well after 14 years or so of lusting I am getting close to buying. I am looking at a `58 project that is not so far gone that it could not be brought back with a great deal of TLC. I have spoken with the owner and gotten the numbers off the car. He claimed an original block and mostly original everything else! I have consulted my "Black Book" and the only number I can see is the VIN#. Am I missing something. I am listing the information he gave me with the hopes that you guys can help me "decipher" them. Numbers are as follows: Cast. No. GM 3782870, on right side not clear but appears to be E 184, engine no. F05I9S, vin J58S101163. Thanks for your time and I really appreciate the help.

Mike

[Dan 80]

Re: Help with numbers!

3782870 casting's started life as 327's. This casting number came into use in 1962 and continued in Corvette through '65.

Sorry, it ain't original to no '58.

E 184 if correct would translate to E= May, 18= the 18th of the month, and 4= 1964. This date works well with the stamped number of F05I9S.

F05I9S works out to F= Flint Michigan final machining and assembly, 05= May, and 19 the 19th of the month. S= full size passenger car 327/250hp with Powerglide.

I did not look up whether these dates fall on a weekend. If they did which I doubt, that could be a problem.

[Dave Henderson (#32416)]

Help with numbers!

Proceed with caution, with Vette's so hot right now all of a sudden all cars have 'original, matching numbers'. Also, they will tell you where to find VIN and Trim Tags and how to decode them. I urge you to by NCRS Spec Guides for 53-82 (V1 and V2) which is $22 which will save you many Ben Franklins. These books make you instantly about twice as smart.

Also, many NCRS learned members are at the Bloomington swap meet this weekend and likely can't access the DB, so hold off any purchases til next week. Good Luck, be patient and you'll get the car of your dreams. READ!

Dave #32416

[Mike Menard]

Re: Help with numbers!

Thanks for the information guys. I knew something was not right about the numbers on the car. I have my trusty dog-eared and tattered copy of the Black Book and they were not right. I just wanted to double check with the great car guys on this board. I would not mind the car and the work if he would just represent it as non-original! In case you guys were wondering, the car is now on E-Bay under 1958 corvette. It is being misrepresented somewhat....He parses the words just enough not to be lying. (I am a private investigator by trade..you would be suprised how much people like to "phrase things to cover their butts)Anyway thanks again and I will be joining the NCRS in the very near future. You guys and gals are a wealth of information and I am challenging all of the other lurkers to the group who are not member to join also!!!

Thanks again

Mike Menard Old School Investigations

[Mark L.]

'58 Vette Owner

Hi Mike,

I own a late '58 purchased as a basket case, I know them pretty well now that it is completed. I'll be happy to help you "Decode" what's what.

Best Regards from Connecticut...........Mark

[Dave Henderson (#32416)]

Re: Help with numbers!

I found that the more cars I looked at, the more certain I was of what I wanted and didn't want. All I can tell you about pricing is they're all high priced so information gained is invaluable to avoid getting clocked. Two years ago I had the same experience you did, luckily I walked away and studied.

Next week, you'll see a higher volume of posts.

Dave

[Dave Henderson (#32416)]

Re: Help with numbers!

Saw the auction. 283 3 speed, Hmm, Would someone who knows where to find engine numbers not bother to ever look them up on a restorable classic?

Too bad, original engine probably loooong gone.

[John Lolli]

Re: Help with numbers!

Mike

I also took a look at the car on Ebay. The bid was $15,600 at the time I looked. No doubt it will go up. I next went to traderonline.com and checked the 58's listed there. They were bringing megabucks and not many mentioned original engine or even matching numbers. I looked in the current issue of NCRS Driveline and did not find any 58's.

You are probably going to invest another 20-25k in the car if you do a lot of the work yourself. Also you can probably, in my opinion, find a correct engine for the car for that price. That would bring the total to around 40k. You could probably buy a real nice straight axle for that and be driving the car the next day.

The most important point to consider is what do you wnat to do with the car. Will it be a driver, a NCCC type show car, an NCRS show car ... This will certainly have an impact on how much you are going to spend to restore it.

good luck

john lolli