Looking at a '59 that claims to be numbers matching, but so far all I have is the VIN, which is J59S105803 (he's getting back to me with the other #'s). Is there a way to look up what #'s go with this car/VIN?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
For $12.00 the NCRS will send you their 53-67 Corvette Specification Guide. This little book will give you any and all numbers you need.
Just for a quick reference, 59's didn't have the VIN number stamped on the block, this started in 60. The block should have a date and code stamped on the engine stamp pad, though. This pad should have an "F" for Flint, followed by 3 or 4 numbers for the date built (1 to 12 for the month and 01 to 31 for the day). Finally a 2 letter code should appear indicating the engine/trans combination, those are as follows:
59's used 2 different casting number blocks. Early 59's used the 3737739 casting and late 59's the 3756519 block. The casting number can be found on the left rear (drivers) side of the block, behind the head, where the bellhousing bolts to the block. The right side has a casting date. This number should be within a couple days of the stamped assembly date on the pad and should proceed the build date of the car by at lease a few weeks. The date is cast as follows: "A" to "L" for the month, 1 to 31 for the day and a single digit for the year (8 for 58 and 9 for 59). Other numbers, intake, heads etc., vary based on the horsepower.
Hmmm OK I figured there was probably reference material available for a price, but $12 is cheap! Maybe I don't need to find a way around buying a whole book just for one car .
gb62- thanks for the info, from there I can at least check if the engine is correct or not, and get a vibe on matching or not
Rummaging through the NCRS online store in the C1 section, I see "1953-67 NCRS Pocket Spec Guide" -- this is the pub you refer to that would contain the chassis-specific numbers and codes?
Sorry about that. That's the book I was referring to. They changed the name a couple years back when they went from a regular binding to the spiral binding they use now (the spiral binding is better, though). Also, the book may be $15.00 to non members, 12.00 for members. Either way, it's worth it, it will give you numbers for blocks, heads, intakes, carbs, distributors, generators, etc... along with options, production figures, paint/trim combinations and tell you how and where every part was dated.
By the way, if you buy the car, or a similar early Vette, it's well worth the $35.00 to join the NCRS if your interested in correctness and originality.
As far as I know, there are no matching numbers for 1959 'vettes. The VIN is not stamped onto the front engine pad until sometime in the 1960 model year. So there isn't anyway to know that the Corvette your looking at has matching numbers, as far as the engine goes.
Hmmm so if there's no partial VIN then all there is to go on is casting # which isn't serial and date stamp, which could be any engine from that particular day...of course the combination of casting date with build date with carb/trans code with casting # would have to be damn near unique, unless they built two similar cars on the same day with engines that were also cast on the same day, which is possible... sounds like the best you could ever do with a '59 is confirm that it's 'correct' and the engine was built on the same day so good chance of matching, but no confirmation. Interesting...
sounds like the best you could ever do with a '59 is confirm that it's 'correct' and the engine was built on the same day so good chance of matching, but no confirmation. Interesting...
That's correct - about all you can do is see if the block casting date and the engine plant stamp on the pad make sense with the car's final assembly date; the transmission and diff are also dated.
Corvette Store
Need help: what should the #'s be to match?
For $12.00 the NCRS will send you their 53-67 Corvette Specification Guide. This little book will give you any and all numbers you need. 
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