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Recently bought a 68 Coronet 500 convertible. It's a 383 2 bbl. Supposed to be the original motor but I can not find any vin #s or stamping pad. Checked the top near transmission, and lower lock near oil pan. Has the machined pad on top with 383 non hp stamps. So question #1 is: where would the #s on the block be or are not? It has 8 1 67 cast on the block, from what I read Chrysler started adding vin stamping to the block for 68, did that start with blocks cast in 68? So not sure whether this block came with or without vin stampings?
TIA Mike
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From what I understand, it's a crap shoot whether 68's got a VIN stamped on to them or not.
What is the build date of the car? That may be the best gauge to see whether the block came with the car or not.
I love Mopars so much I'm date coding the skid marks in my underwear.
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October 18 1967. I thought if it was a replacement motor it would have the pad but no numbers stamped?
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Some, but not all 68 motors had the VIN stamped on the top of the block by the bellhousing. (think maybe only HP motors got this?) So the motor could have been replaced, but there's no way to tell for sure.
The date of the car build sounds about right for the date of the motor being cast. What's the build date of the motor itself? (not the casting date, but the build date on the engine stamping pad)
I love Mopars so much I'm date coding the skid marks in my underwear.
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It's 9 27 under the D383.
Thanks for the input.
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Engine block cast Aug, assembled late Sept, car built mid-Oct... very good chance it's original motor.
VIN is WP23G correct?
I love Mopars so much I'm date coding the skid marks in my underwear.
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No this is a vert, WP27G8G144xxx dash #, the fender tag is WP27G8G119xxx
That's another thing that was concerning! The dash vin is the order number and the fender tag is the serial number or whatever it's called, that do not match. I didn't realize this and thought the dash was changed out but I have the original title from the original owners and found the vin matched the dash #s. This is a learning experience! The oldest mopar I owned was a 70 Cuda and a 70 Challenger, they're vin #s match (fender tag and dash tags) 68 seem to be the year of changes.
Thank you for your expertise!
Mike
