1972 LT-1 numbers questions

[Christian R.]

Hello,

I'm a new NCRS member, coming from Switzerland.

I've seen in the past few days a LT-1 1972 with A/C.
I've 2 questions regarding this car :
1. the VIN number on birdcage seems to be strange..
2. And more important to me, the stamping on engine is really not aligned. Could this a restamping? The VIN number on engine is correct.

What do you think about these 2 things.

Regards.
Christian

[Michael W.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Hello,

I'm a new NCRS member, coming from Switzerland.

Welcome!

The picture of the VIN tag is out of focus but I think it's safe to say that it's not an untouched, original GM tag. Possibly a State or Federally issued replacement?

The engine pad stamps also do not appear to be factory original.

What is the complete VIN of the car?

[David R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Christian -

It's a little hard to read the VIN number in your photo, but 1972 Corvette numbers are relatively easy to decipher:
1 (First Digit) - Make/Manufacturer. 1 - Chevrolet

Z (Second Digit) - Model series. Z - Corvette

37 (Third and Fourth Digits). 37- Corvette Coupe / 67 - Corvette Convertible

K (Fifth Digit) - Engine type. K - Base Engine / L - LT1 / W - LS5

2 (Sixth Digit) - Model Year. 2 - 1972

S (Seventh Digit) - Vehicle Assembly Location. S - St. Louis, Missouri

5XXXXX (Eighth thru Thirteenth Digits) - Plant Sequence Numbers.

• The last six digits begin at 500001 and run thru 527004, accounting for all 27,004 Corvette Coupes/Convertibles built in 1972. Your car, if it is in fact a factory 1972 LT1, should have a VIN # beginning either 1Z37L2S5 if it is a coupe, or 1Z67L2S5 if it is a convertible. My 1972 LT-1, which I bought new, was 1Z67L2S514041.

Good luck!

[Mike E.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

It absolutely screams "bad restamp".

[David R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

I agree, Mike - looks a little wonky for a factory stamp.

[Christian R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Thank you for your fast answer.
I'm sorry, I forgot to write the numbers....it was very late Yesterday...for me in Europe ;-)
VIN is : 1Z37 LS509989. I've found in Black Book that the date of building is between November and December 1971.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Thank you for your fast answer.
I'm sorry, I forgot to write the numbers....it was very late Yesterday...for me in Europe ;-)
VIN is : 1Z37 LS509989. I've found in Black Book that the date of building is between November and December 1971.

Christian

Welcome to NCRS and LT1 ownership.
Open the drivers door. Attached to the body above the upper hinge should be a tag with the word CHEVROLET at the top. Following the word Chevrolet should be a letter with two numbers. In your case it may be something like E18 or E20. E = December, and the numbers are the day of the month.

On the rear face of the driver's door should be a blue label that has the VIN number (1Z37LS509989) typed in black letters. On the upper right corner of the label will be "NOV 71". Let us know, with photographs if possible, what you find.

I would suggest you order the 1970-72 Technical Information Manuam & Judging Guide (TIM&JG) from the NCRS store.

https://www.ncrs.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_1_68&products_id=217

I am sure overseas shipping to Europe will be expensive (it is heavy), but it will have pictures of all that I have described above, and descriptions of what your Corvette should look like. I may be a little biased, but it is chuck full of Corvette information.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

What this deck screams is that somebody has sanded it smooth not knowing that it would be evaluated by every NCRS member in the world. It screams it was rusty and someone that doesn't care a (blank) about the NCRS rebuilt or restored this engine. IF someone was trying to fake this LT-1 they would have done a better job.

JR

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

The VIN number certainly proves the car is a real LT-1, and the stamp date is consistent with the car build date of late December. The pad appears to have been heavily sanded as Joe Ray observed, but the VIN stamp looks to be entirely correct. The V1210 part of the Flint stamp was gang stamped with fonts consistent with variations typical of Flint in the 70's. The only thing unusual is that all three characters of the CKY suffix appear to be individually hand stamped. We often see one or two characters hand stamped, but three would be uncommon. I agree with Joe that this is the original block but the heavy sanding just gives it a fakey appearance.

[Larry M.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Christian,

Welcome to the NCRS, and LT-1 ownership.

Interesting that the engine pad, which shouldn't have paint, does; and the timing cover which should be painted, isn't.

Do you have any overall photos of the engine compartment?

Larry

[Christian R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Hello everybody,
Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be on my PC Today....

The seller had today sent me some pictures of engine stamping and VIN numbers without paint.

Christian

[Christian R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

I've joined you some pictures of the car during my visit of Thursday.
Any comments welcome ;-)

[Christian R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

[Christian R.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

[Michael W.]

Re: 1972 LT-1 numbers questions

Hello everybody,
Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be on my PC Today....

The seller had today sent me some pictures of engine stamping and VIN numbers without paint.

Christian

Ah- that's better. I don't see any obvious problems. The engine bay pictures illustrate many replacement parts and a missing AIR system.