hey all, i have a '64 Impala that for some reason, doesn't have the VIN (serial number) of the car stamped into the block on the pad in front of the p***enger head. what is stamped in that location is T0423R what is this? and why doesn't the engine have the VIN stamped on it? did they all? althought the VIN isn't stamped on the engine pad, those numbers (T0423R) are written in the information sheet from the dealer from when he bought the car in '64. so i do believe him that it is the original engine that came with the car. it just doesn't have the car's VIN stamped into it. the rear casting number on the block is really a bad casting and really hard to read. i bought this car from a guy that i have known my whole life and i know he bought the car brand new. he says he bought the car in June or July (i can check) of '64 which seems late in the year to me. and actually, he says he really went down to the dealership to get a brand new '64 SS 409 car but the salesman told him the 409's were long gone and offered him a light yellow '64 or any of the '65's. he didn't want the yellow '64 or any of the '65's so they called around and in the Bay Area of California (we are in the valley) they had a '64 SS, 327 4-speed car that was silver with black interior. he had that one brought to the dealership. he insists, and i believe him, that the car is 100% stock with the original motor and transmission. the car was driven until '85 when his wife dented the driver door and quarter panel and he parked it. Thanks for all your help and time, It is appreciated! Steve
that stamped number is not the car Vin number , it's a code to tell you where and when the motor was made and other info on the car i know that T means Tonawanda ...others on here will know more
Chevys started getting the partial VIN stamped into the block in the late 60s. The April 23rd engine ***embly date corresponds to a car bought in early summer. Check the body build date on the body cowl tag, too. R is for a low perf 327.
+1^^^ Clean of the area on the pad,take a good pic and post it. I don't have my "Chevrolet by the Numbers" book with me right now so I can't help more.
Chevrolet didn't always put vin #'s on the engine until they started with the protecto plate in 1965 thru 1972. The # on the block is the engine asm. date and option #. The TO423R means Tonowanda NY. engine plant ,***embled on April 23. The R is the engine suffix, which signifies a 327 cid with manual trans. I hope this helps. kman
Yep, all this really helps. Wheeeeew! and Kman, i think you are right on. i was just able to get ahold of a "chevy by the numbers" and it does indeed decode the "T0423R" as: T= Tonawanda engine plant 04 = April 23 = 23rd of the month R = 327 ci, 250 Horsepower, manual this all makes sense so far because that is what the car is. and he mentioned he bought the car in June so that makes sense as well. anybody know when they atarted putting VINs on the engine pad? i gotta get under there and look for the numbers on the 4-speed as well. thanks again, steve
I found a bunch of good info on codes over at the 348-409.com site. Might want to check it out, darn good site.
Late 60s from what I've seen. I think they all had the VIN by 1970. I don't worry too much about it...either it's there or it isn't.
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