I'm new to using the internet for info, so bear with me.
I acquired a corvette thru a trade, and I want to find out what came standard with it from factory so I can restore it. Especially the motor/trans, paint/trim, etc. especially because I think there have been mods made.
Is there any website that will allow you to look up the specs on what this left the factory with? I tried going to chevy, and several vette sites, with no luck. I found info to decode the VIN itself (which tells me where and when), but nothing to tell me what it had.
Any help would be immensely appreciated. Email me at restorationalley at yahoo.com.
The '69 VIN does not contain any info as to the car's original configuration. The trim tag will give you color and interior. The trim tag info is in lots of places on the web, but if you can't find it, post the info and someone will help. If your engine has the matchimng VIN on the pad, it may be the one that came in the car, if it's not one of the high option engines. If it's one of the special engines, closer investigation is probably required since many of these are fakes.
The '69 VIN does not contain any info as to the car's original configuration. The trim tag will give you color and interior. The trim tag info is in lots of places on the web, but if you can't find it, post the info and someone will help. If your engine has the matchimng VIN on the pad, it may be the one that came in the car, if it's not one of the high option engines. If it's one of the special engines, closer investigation is probably required since many of these are fakes.
the trim tag has the following #'s: H13, Paint 030, Trim Z04
as far as the block goes, I was told it was blown at some point, but replaced by chevy under warantee, so numbers still match according to their records.
is it true there is a label under the fuel tank that lists the info I seek?
the trim tag has the following #'s: H13, Paint 030, Trim Z04
as far as the block goes, I was told it was blown at some point, but replaced by chevy under warantee, so numbers still match according to their records.
is it true there is a label under the fuel tank that lists the info I seek?
H13 is the body build date.....April 13 in this case.
No code listed 030 for 69. Better check it again
Z04 is actually ZQ4=standard black vinyl.
If you have your original gas tank, you might find the "tank sticker" on the top...drivers side of the tank. You'll have to remove the tank to get it off. Sometimes, you can pull the rubber boot and take a peek and see if it's still there. That sheet has all the options on it.
If your motor was replaced under warranty, you still have a "replacement motor", not the original motor that came with the car.
Warranty replacement motors usually have a "CE" prefix on the stamp pad. Chuck
You like thousands of Corvette owners whose cars were built in St Louis are out of luck getting information on your vehicle from GM or any other source. All the GM records were tossed, lost, misplaced, or otherwise rendered invisible. The only way to find out exactly what your car came equipped with is to try to track it back owner by owner over the years until you find the original purchaser and then hope they still have the paperwork. This is an almost impossible task unless you are a Private eye or can afford to pay one.
Your trim tag will tell you the basic information regarding build date, exterior color, and interior color. Beyond that you are on your own.
Without documentation all the rest is meaningless. Since the engine has been replaced you have a NOM (not original motor) car and its value as a collectible piece is damaged. There is only one numbers matching engine and that is the one it left the factory with. If the engine was blown within the first 2 weeks of life you might have a chance that the casting dates for the engine are acceptable but it is still not original.
If you are really interested in originality I suggest you join the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS.com) and read all the material available on judging and restoration. If you are not that interested tune it up, gas it up, and drive it like you stole it. Enjoy your ride it's a corvette regardless of what the numbers say.
H13 is the body build date.....April 13 in this case.
No code listed 030 for 69. Better check it again
Z04 is actually ZQ4=standard black vinyl.
If you have your original gas tank, you might find the "tank sticker" on the top...drivers side of the tank. You'll have to remove the tank to get it off. Sometimes, you can pull the rubber boot and take a peek and see if it's still there. That sheet has all the options on it.
If your motor was replaced under warranty, you still have a "replacement motor", not the original motor that came with the car.
Warranty replacement motors usually have a "CE" prefix on the stamp pad. Chuck
Is it possible that the paint color is a custom color? Because that is what it says on the code plate.
The block doesn't have a "CE" prefix on the stamp, it just had the serial and GMT12, whatever that means.
I guess I can try dropping the tank or pulling the boot, and I'll letcha know what I find.
Bob
I will try to drop the tank and 'take a peek' and let everyone know the results when I do.
You like thousands of Corvette owners whose cars were built in St Louis are out of luck getting information on your vehicle from GM or any other source. All the GM records were tossed, lost, misplaced, or otherwise rendered invisible. The only way to find out exactly what your car came equipped with is to try to track it back owner by owner over the years until you find the original purchaser and then hope they still have the paperwork. This is an almost impossible task unless you are a Private eye or can afford to pay one.
Your trim tag will tell you the basic information regarding build date, exterior color, and interior color. Beyond that you are on your own.
Without documentation all the rest is meaningless. Since the engine has been replaced you have a NOM (not original motor) car and its value as a collectible piece is damaged. There is only one numbers matching engine and that is the one it left the factory with. If the engine was blown within the first 2 weeks of life you might have a chance that the casting dates for the engine are acceptable but it is still not original.
If you are really interested in originality I suggest you join the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS.com) and read all the material available on judging and restoration. If you are not that interested tune it up, gas it up, and drive it like you stole it. Enjoy your ride it's a corvette regardless of what the numbers say.
I know the orginal owner, that's who I got the car from, but unfortunately I don't trust what he told me (he has a reputation like that). He never gave me the orginal docs, just the title (you had to see the title, old dilapidated city). He told me the motor blew almost immediately after he had the car and was replaced by the factory. Like I might have mentioned before, there are features on the car that I KNOW aren't original, it's a little tricked out, but the block is a 427 from the beginning. He told me the color was originally an ugly lavendar color, but I want to know for sure so I can restore it.
I tried contacting Chevy, they didn't have much to tell me, and referred me to another company who told me I either had to get the spec & build sheets, or drop the fuel tank.
Went to that website (NCRS.com) but it pulls up a site for "North Coast Retail Systems". Weird huh?
Thanks for the encouragement on my ride, I totally appreciate everyone's help.You guys are awesome.
There has to be some evidence of the original color somewhere. I would try the inside of the doors where it's blacked out or the bottom edge and do some sanding if you have to. It's easy enough to re-blackout so you won't be messing up anything.
Location: Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of the ones who are doing it.
Take one of the door sill plates off and peel the edge of the carpet back a bit. There's factory overspray there that should reveal the original color.
well, Sad to say, but it look like I'm selling my 1969 CHEVY CORVETTE STINGRAY that I acquired in a trade. I can't find out the info I need to restore it, so I'll let someone else handle it.
Thank you to everyone who gave me help determining what I have in the Corvette.
and I see that you have chosen to describe it as the original 427 engine. All I can say is, be prepared to field a bunch of questions (ebayers, etc.) regarding the VIN, the engine stamp pad (and what it has to say, or not say), etc. The Corvette folks are ruthless and well trained when it comes to checking out cars for sale.
Be as catty as you want, I spoke to my mechanic and he gave me this info. He confirmed it.
And it's actually funny, I had 1200 views on the ad, 16 people watching, yet not one email or call to even ASK any questions or details. People jump to conclusions and make assumptions faster than this car drives! Ha!
I have relisted the item with all the vins and codes I could find on the plates. That 'label' someone mentioned on the tank isn't there anymore because parts have been restored/acid dipped, etc. before I got it.
Why am I selling it?
Because the paint code reads 030, and even Chevy can't seem to tell me what the color is. When I called, they did claim, just as someone mentioned, that they lost the records for it from the St Louis plant, so I've been told. I think it might be a custom color from a previous year (maybe 64?), being most of the vette codes in 69 started with a 9. At this point, I'm so frustrated, I'd rather sell it and let it be someone else's worry. I've made myself sick over this thing.
Why start the bidding at $18K?
Because I acquired it in a trade for my 1932 Harley that I invested $18K into. If I get that minimum, I have not lost money.
Is it really the ORIGINAL 427 block?
Yes, to my knowledge, according to my mechanic, it is Original to the car and Original miles, as per my mech guy.
Can I see it, get more details on it?
YES, but you must call me on my cell. Any serious offers will be considered, and if money is sent, I will yank the ad off ebay immediately.
THIS CAR IS NOT RESTORED STOCK, OBVIOUSLY. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT IT STILL DRIVES AND RUNS GREAT, AND WILL MAKE SOME GUY OUT THERE REALLY HAPPY. IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR RACING, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INTO.
ANY INTERESTED BUYERS SHOULD CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BY PHONE FOR DETAILS OR TO COME LOOK AT IT.
You said above that "as far as the block goes, I was told it was blown at some point, but replaced by chevy under warantee, so numbers still match according to their records."
now, I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and I am not calling you names - you might be of the opinion that what you have there in the car is the "original engine" but I can assure that, with a CE block (that is what the engine pad prefix would normally look like on a warranty replacement engine, but for later periods perhaps they bore the "GM" prefix) any corvette enthusiast would not consider that to be the orginal engine, PLUS it is quite possibly the case that your engine stamp pad does not contain the VIN production number in a form or font that would not raise eyebrows (I do know that some dealers restamped warranty replacmeent engines for their customers with the car's VIN production number sequence), meaning you would have a tough time proving the most basic aspect of the "numbers match" question. Your claim that "it was replaced under warrantee, so the numbers still match according to their [GM's] records" would not be accepted by most of these Corvette enthusiasts I am referring to. Doesn't mean you are right or wrong, it just means that those who would likely buy such a car for that kind of money would disagree with your conclusion.
Last edited by ctjackster; 03-17-2005 at 12:28 PM.
Corvette Store
Need VIN lookup site-1969 Corvette Stingray
That could provide some clues as to what 427 (or ?sb?) was original.
