The partial VIN will match the vehicles VIN. This match is done via the PARTIAL VIN stamp on the component. When people say 'It's numbers matching' - what they mean is the engine (or other component, i.e the transmission) can be MATCHED to the vehicle it was This is my opinion, and the generally accepted norm: The Engine Code page is where this topic is further detailed. This page has basic information on it, but it's a portion of the Small Block Chevy numbers information. QUICKLY IDENTIFY A CHEVY ENGINE CLICK HERE - for decoding engine codes. The engine code and partial vin # will accurately nail down whatever the thing is rather quickly, and the other information will fall into line with that. The primary pieces of information you'll decode are the Engine Code and Partial VIN. This topic can be somewhat confusing, especially with the amount of information available and the interpretation of it. Sometimes the stamping is found above the timing cover mating surface on the front of the block.Small Block Chevy Engine Block Identification was stamped into a different area of the block on the flange edge of the rear of the block, near the bellhousing mating surface. In that case you might see 'T0422TR 1123456789' stamped into the pad on the front passenger side of the block. In later years, parts of the Vehicle Identification Number (V.I.N.) were also added before or after the Engine Assembly Date/Suffix code. Chevy used one to three letters of the alphabet to code the type of engine, transmission and vehicle into the suffix code. What we have left is the 'suffix code' which in this example is 'TR'. So what do we have so far in this example? The motor was assembled at the Tonawanda factory on April 22nd. The '22' stands for the 22nd day of the month. The next two digits stand for the month of the year, in this example '04' or the fourth month April. Your's might have an 'F' or 'V' for Flint, MI. In this case the first letter 'T' stands for an engine factory Tonawanda. On later model engines the engine assembly code looks similar to this 'T0422TR'. Some very early smallblocks from the mid 1950 model years had an Engine Assembly Date which only included the last two digits of the year. Some blocks have the engine assembly code on a flat portion of the block above the timing cover mating surface on the front of the block. You may have to move the alternator to be able to read this engine assembly code. If your alternator is on the passenger side of the motor, the ledge on the block deck is right below it. This ledge is found on the passenger side of the block deck at the front. These date codes are can be found in a number of locations on the block, but most often are found on a ledge that is visible when the motor is assembled. The engine assembly date is a 'stamped in' code that is stamped into the metal as opposed to a 'raised' casting.

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