Numbers matching?

[ChargingZach]

Hello all,
I was recently told that regarding the 68 B Body and prior years... there was no such thing as numbers matching; rather, it was more date coded emphasized. Is there any truth to this? Please advise because if we are just talking date codes then I wanna get the 318 engine out of my car and change over to a 68 date coded 383.

 

[NJRR]

Even though there is no matching partial VIN on the block, the fender tag or build sheet would indicate whether the car originally came with a 318 or a 383. So, unless there is no fender tag or buildsheet and you want to scam someone into thinking your "date correct" 383 is original to your 318 car, then swapping to a date correct 383 is only worthwhile if you want a 383. It will not make your car an original 383 "numbers matching" or even "date correct" car.

 

[monaco66coupe]

Please note the 68' model did have the last eight digits on the engine and transmission matching the VIN#. The fender tag will also Indicate which size engine the car came with. The two vin#'s are located on the driver side about 11:00 o'clock as you sit in the car. The number will be on the rear lip of the block, and front lip of the transmission. the two will match if original.
On a positive note, if the car is an original 318 engine, any Increase in engine size will Increase the desirability of the car. However, yu have to change a number of components to do the switch over.

 

[ChargingZach]

Thanks guys, not selling, just want to mod the car whilst staying within the specific year and such. The old engine will be put in storage... as I do have a fender tag and now the broadcast sheet (or whats left of it... lolz).

 

[moparnation74]

Just who would be able to even tell if any 383 in your car is incorrect for that year? Are you going to jack up the car and have them look at casting #'s and webbing on the block? The ID pad on 383's is not as easily visible as a 440...

Just get a good block and find a date coded cast iron intake and call it a day....

 

[monaco66coupe]

all 68 engines I have seen had the vin# on the block. The 68' had the D on the pad, but also the additional number on the block and trans. In 69' Chrysler moved the data to the passenger side oil pan drip rail behind the motor mount. The Important point is If you are changing engines, the value won't decrease because it is not a 68' engine. I would not worry about using the correct year, it really doesn't matter. 66-70 engines are all compatible.
If you want to use the correct year engine in the car, go for it. It is your car.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The vin # tells all. Only the stupid and unknowing are deceived. It is a 318 car only a fool would think ill of you replacing it with a 383. Just do not be stupid enough to try to pass it as original. Correct year of components or not.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Hello all,
I was recently told that regarding the 68 B Body and prior years... there was no such thing as numbers matching; rather, it was more date coded emphasized. Is there any truth to this? Please advise because if we are just talking date codes then I wanna get the 318 engine out of my car and change over to a 68 date coded HEMI.

I fixed it fer ya

 

[NJRR]

Please note the 68' model did have the last eight digits on the engine and transmission matching the VIN#. The fender tag will also Indicate which size engine the car came with. The two vin#'s are located on the driver side about 11:00 o'clock as you sit in the car. The number will be on the rear lip of the block, and front lip of the transmission. the two will match if original.
On a positive note, if the car is an original 318 engine, any Increase in engine size will Increase the desirability of the car. However, yu have to change a number of components to do the switch over.

I wasn't sure if 68 engines had the VIN or not. I was commenting on passing off a 383 in a 318 car as original. What year did they start stamping partial VINS?

 

[monaco66coupe]

I wasn't sure if 68 engines had the VIN or not. I was commenting on passing off a 383 in a 318 car as original. What year did they start stamping partial VINS?

I have a 22 sept 67' dated B body as a 68' model with the VIN# stamped on the block, , and a 29 Oct 67' from an A Body with the vin stamped. The law I guess was mandatory 1 Jan 68'. but I do believe Chrysler was very diligent in starting aug 1 of 67' for the 68' Model year. GM and ford was not. They were sloppy, which is why the fraud in GM cars regarding the SS and GTO is rampant.

 

[monaco66coupe]

I junked a bunch of Mopars from 1980 thru 1984, and I noticed the 69' Dodges had all 13 digits on the vin, and Plymouths had only eight. Why? Cheaper maybe. My 69 GTS has all 13. Also, the 340 Dart had a larger U joint than the same 340 Duster, and The Dart was also balanced, the Plymouth was not.

The 69' Roadrunner 383 also had a smaller U Joint than the 69' Superbee or Charger. Cheaper? Just sharing some very old nostalgia worthless Information.Lol

 

[dieseldazzle]

Only hp motors had the partial vin on them in 68

 

[monaco66coupe]

may I respectfully disagree, as My 68' charger 383 two barrel has the Vin# on it, as does my Sport satellite. Also, I have a 68' 318 lying on the floor with an eight digit number on the back of the block.
I am only trying to provide more Info to clarify what Chrysler really did here. I believe the different plants started at different times, and there was no absolute conformity. By 69' there was.

 

[dieseldazzle]

I can only go off of what I've seen with my own eyes. I will tell you I have never seen a 68 assembly date block with an hp stamp that did not have the vin on it in 68. I have 10 of them here all the same. Even a hemi. That being said ma mopar is weird so I could be wrongo

You being a fellow mopar brother if you say you seen different then I got no reason to doubt you.

 

[dieseldazzle]

More talk on it, tons of controversy


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=32660.0

 

[dieseldazzle]

More good reading most of which supports my actual real world findings of the 68 hp motors I have along with cars.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/matching-numbers-defined.10596/

Excerpt

 

[monaco66coupe]

That's cool. I'll take some pictures showing VIN#s on regular engines as well. Most people don't know half the 915 heads on the 67' 440 HP engines had small exhaust valves, as Chrylser ran out of the big valve heads mid year, and used the standard 440 heads, and didn't tell anybody.
Very Humorous!

 

[PP1RT]

I dont think yanking the 318 and putting something bigger in it changes the value much unless you go hemi then you get the value of the engine added to the value of the car. As to a combo just find the best block you can find...383 or 440. A mild build and a fresh tranny and you will have a blast....for a while....til you wanna go faster....and things start breaking....and you go faster....LOL

 

[moparnation74]

I junked a bunch of Mopars from 1980 thru 1984, and I noticed the 69' Dodges had all 13 digits on the vin, and Plymouths had only eight. Why? Cheaper maybe. My 69 GTS has all 13. Also, the 340 Dart had a larger U joint than the same 340 Duster, and The Dart was also balanced, the Plymouth was not.

The 69' Roadrunner 383 also had a smaller U Joint than the 69' Superbee or Charger. Cheaper? Just sharing some very old nostalgia worthless Information.Lol

Are you saying all Plymouths 69 had only eight? I have had many 69 Plymouths through the years and ALL had 13...The current one I am restoring has 13.....
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...y-father-my-69-gtx-restoration.127388/page-25
Post #498
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...y-father-my-69-gtx-restoration.127388/page-22
Post #426

 

[monaco66coupe]

Are you saying all Plymouths 69 had only eight? I have had many 69 Plymouths through the years and ALL had 13...The current one I am restoring has 13.....
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...y-father-my-69-gtx-restoration.127388/page-25
Post #498
http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...y-father-my-69-gtx-restoration.127388/page-22
Post #426

No, I believe what you have is correct too. In my neck of the woods I just saw Plymouths with eight digits in 69' model cars, and never did in dodge in 1969. Now sitting here remembering, I can say I came across a lot more dodges than Plymouths back then.HA! (I think subconsiously I just liked Chargers and Darts better) But, It could be I saw mostly late 69' models by coincidence. I don't know for sure exactly when the reduction began. By 1970 all across the line Chrysler products I saw or bought had been reduced to eight, which I wish they hadn't. it sure made it harder to determine what exactly an engine came from. of course, the GOVT cared only about car theft, not correctly documented cars 40+ years later.

I believe it Likely came down to sloppiness on Chrylsers part when applying numbers. Ask any A body fan to compare a set of 68-69 340 Exhaust Manifolds to a 1970. They are the same part number, but the quality of workmanship and quality of number stamping went to crap. (raised bosses reduced to simple stamping back of manifold)
Things started getting cheap in little ways. Lol