and i dont know what to do to Id it. it is a YX block. and the partial vin starts with what could be a C, a6, or a 0, then 358439....can anyone help me?

do the last six digits match the VIN of your car? The first few tell what the make, the year, the assembly plant.

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsinglepages/Id_info/pontiacengineid/pontengid2.html

Along with the YX, there is a casting number on the rear of the block, passenger side, just below the head. It may be greasy but is easy to read if wiped off as they are raised numbers.

The date code cast just to the driver's side of the distributor is the last piece of the block info.

no they dont match, it was a 6cyl orig.

well, as far as i can tell, it is a 400 from 71 or 73.....from what? i wont know until i have that partial vin id'ed

The third digit in the VIN on the block will tell you what plant the car came from that the motor was originally in. (The number you found above the two-letter block code is not the VIN - or partial VIN.) The plant code (a letter) will go a long way toward identifying the type of car it came from.

The partial VIN is stamped into the front face of the block along the timing cover near the harmonic balancer, on the passenger side of the timing cover.

ok, thanks...i just have to remove that annoying poncho water pump then

No, you don't. It's on the block face, on the milled flat surface. Just clean it up, shine a light, and you'll find it if the engine is late '67 or newer.


image from Teufert's web site

Hi that is a great picture. I have spent hours cleaning my motor up trying to confirm that it is the original one. I found the # on the passenger side of the block. It reads: 032494 YE (Don't know what this means) I cannot find the VIN stamped. I have looked around the Harmonic Balancer. I have not pulled the radiator hosebelow to look behind it although i can see & it looks smooth with no #s to be found. From looking at the picture posted it looks like I need to pull the water pump. Can anybody give me insight?

Thank you
Just a Firebird Rookie

You DO NOT need to pull the water pump. The pad is just outside the gasket line, it can easily be found because it is milled smooth. You will most likely have to scrape off paint, and then wipe with laquer thinner. I use a white acrylic model paint and dip my finger in the jar, then wipe it across the area, and the paint sticks in the stampings that you can hardly see with the eye. Look from the bottom, sort of behind the lower hose.

This is my original YT engine before detailing, showing the effect of the white paint on the engine code:


Sorry, I didn't take pictures of the VIN.

Does the vin show up anywhere else on these cars like they do on the vettes? It would give you something else to check when you buy one!

The VIN is stamped in many places. A second place usually easy to see is through the cowl slots, near the right windshield wiper arm.

The last six or eight digits are stamped on the firewall under the cowl vent panel and again under the heater box. There is also one stamped on the inside of the driver frame rail.

John

John said:
There is also one stamped on the inside of the driver frame rail.
How can you see that one? I assume that you mean the heater box inside the car.
Thanks

And on the transmission

The VIN under the cowl panel is about 2/3 of the way from the driver's side. The VIN under the heater CORE box is on the engine side of the firewall. The framerail VIN is on the inboard side of the rear driver's frame rail. I have seen cars with this last one, but my car only has the first two.

Hope this is more clear.

John

Thanks, It gives you another thing to look for when you are looking for a car. I have been reading all of the past posts recently regarding car scams. Some of them are scary!
Thanks