I have a red 1991 Pontiac Formula Showcar. 5.7L 350 L98 engine.
I have owned the Vehicle since 1994. The car was stolen and the engine removed. Both the Car and engine were recovered. I need to associate the Vin to the Engine block serial number and require writen confirmation from Pontiac.
I need to prove to others, that the engine in question was the exact engine that was installed by GM in Van Nuys in 1990 in this Firebird body. I have been given only 30 days to accomplish this.

The firebird Vin is 1G2FS2380ML214299 The Vin is
1G2FS2380ML214299
The Engine block serial number is: 14093638 The Engine block serial number is: 14093638

I am certain that this is the original engine but I can not prove it to others, even though I have pictures. It is extremely important that this tasks, associating the two numbers, be successful.
> > Would a Copy of the build sheet accomplish this task ?

I think I need a copy of the original Van Nuys build sheet.
Do you have any phone numbers to Pontiac, that coild be useful ?

> >
> > Please contact me anytime at: (7:00am-12:30pm is best)
> > (414) 766-6062
> > Cell (414) 213-3499 Leave your phone number and name.
> > MRGCAV@hotmail.com
> > firebirdjim@hotmail.com

 

The block # (14093638) you posted is not a serial number. It's the casting number. Basically, it's the part # of the raw block casting, before any machining was done on it.

Look at the front right of the block, right immediately in front of the pass side head. There's a little protrusion of the block's deck surface that mates with the head, that sticks out right there. That will have a bunch of numbers stamped in it. The first number will be a letter ("V" most likely, that being the Flint engine plant code) followed by a couple of numbers and a couple more letters; that's the part number of the completed motor assembly. The next series of numbers will be the VIN of the car it was installed in, starting with the plant code, which is the "L" in your VIN.

If it's really the car's original engine, that second string of numbers will match the last 7 digits of your car's VIN. If they don't match .... well, they don't match; and it's not your car's engine. Pontiac can't confirm anything without that number; and if the numbers match, ...... well, they match; and you don't need Pontiac for anything.

 

Can anyone else confirm RB83L69's info.
Does anyone have any pictures of the numbers on the where on the block the numbers are ?
Does this apply to a 1991 L98 350 TPI Firebird ?

Please reply
Firebirdjim@hotmail.com

 

Yes RB is correct, you stated the casting number, that doesn't me crap other then what block casting it is. That casting came in thousands of cars. The pad you want is under the alternator on the block under the passenger head.

 

Here's where it is.

This pic ic looking straigtht down along the very front of this block; you can see the front of the head without its valve cover, the timing cover, and the harmonic balancer. You can even see a couple of characters in the pic; looks like the engine build part # ends in "01U".

 

OK, I mistook the casting number for a serial number.
thank you for correcting me.
Now the L98 engine was dissassembled by the thief. It is now just a block pistons, crank and rods.
I mildly modified the engine 1999 and painted the block silver.

If I understand you correctly, the last half of the VIN is stamped under the passenger head ? Near what cylinder # ?
the Alternator was on the passenger side, which I think is the odd numbered cylinder side of the engine ????
A picture of some one elses engine number would be of a big help here.

Please help if you can. I have until july 8th to prove it is mine or the engine (45,600 mi) is put up for auction.


Firebirdjim@hotmail.com

 

It's not under the head, it is on the head deck surface in front of the head. It is visiable with the head bolted up. On the serpentine belted cars, the alternator is on the drivers side, and the a/c compressor is on the passenger side. So if you remove the compressor, you will see it. If the engine is just a bare short block (just block, crank, rods, pistons) you should have no problem finding the stamped info.

Take a deep breath, everything will be ok. No need to panic.

 

Look at the last pci RB posted.

 

Could you be a little more specific ????
Do you have somthing to say ?

just kidding.

THANKS !

 

It is not stamped on the head; it's stamped on the BLOCK, right in front of the head.

Look at the pic. Long and hard. Notice the head. The head is the black thing, with a rectangular ridge around it with rounded corners, a head bolt holding it down, and a rocker arm on top of it. Now imagine that it's not there. What you would be looking at in that pic, if the head was gone, is the deck surface of the passenger side of the block.

Now go place yourself in the same position, looking at your block. You'll be standing to the rear of it, looking down at the right bank deck surface, at the front edge of the deck, looking along the front surface of the block, looking down at the timing cover and balancer if they're still there.

See the numbers, in exactly the same spot as the numbers on my block? Any of them match the last 7 characters of your VIN? Then that's all you need. If they match, then ..... you've got a match. If they don't, ..... then they don't, and it's some other motor besides the one that came in your car.

Just go look at your block. This is not rocket science here, it's just used car parts. If the guys at the junkyard can figure it out, then surely you can. Hell even I can manage it, and I don't even have 2 brain cells that I can make their synapses fire at the same time. You've gotta be smarter than me. Everybody is. Just look at the stuff people post in reply to what I have to say. Everybody else knows more than me. I'm obviously an idiot; and if I can handle this, then you can too.

 

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsingle...gineinfo3.html

also see here

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsingle...es/decode3.jpg

for an idea of what you're looking at (this is for older blocks so don't pay attention to the assembly plant info.

This is for big blocks but everything should still apply here. Just in case RB's pic and explaination still don't do it.

Also YO's photos are from a bare block so it may help him out a little.

 

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsingle...gineinfo6.html