72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jkrummel123 · 11-10-2015, 12:22 PM

Hi, Im new and happy to have a place where I can get help restoring my 72 chevy C20 fleetside. I just got it and am ready to start. I noticed the vin says its an in line 6 but the fender says 8 350 and the motor is a 350. I know the obvious answer is that some one put the motor in later and changed the fender markings but I was wondering if there was a possibility that it was an option from the factory after the vin was made. I just want to restore it back to orig as best I can.
thanks for any help I can get!!!!!

the vin is CCS242B137397, the option plate says nothing about an 8 cyl.

MARKDTN · 11-10-2015, 02:32 PM

Pretty much no chance that the 6 vs 8 or 2wd vs 4wd are wrong on a VIN. Sounds like it got V8'd. Not too hard to do and make it look nice.

67ChevyRedneck · 11-10-2015, 03:00 PM

That would have been a pretty big screw up, I highly doubt it.

The engine stands are even different for V8/I6. Then all the associated parts would have been wrong... as the truck went down the line based on the build sheet someone would have stopped the line, etc. Now something like the wrong axle ratio, wrong radio, or maybe wrong dash, those are things I could see slipping out past inspectors. Wrong motor? Doubt it.

You have to remember, altering a VIN is a federal offense, even back then, and GM wasn't going to let a truck slip out that was supposed to have an I6 with a V8. It would have been illegal to sell that truck to a dealer.

EARNHARDT#3 · 11-10-2015, 04:22 PM

It was (obviously still is) fairly common for guys to swap V8's into anything that had an inline 6 in it. Heck even when they weren't very old people did it.

jkrummel123 · 11-10-2015, 04:24 PM

hey, thanks for your help!!!

hamjet · 11-10-2015, 06:33 PM

Anything can be changed in 40 plus years. Mine says 348, but it came with a six banger from the factory..

11-10-2015, 12:22 PM	#1
jkrummel123 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: north east md Posts: 3	72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN Hi, Im new and happy to have a place where I can get help restoring my 72 chevy C20 fleetside. I just got it and am ready to start. I noticed the vin says its an in line 6 but the fender says 8 350 and the motor is a 350. I know the obvious answer is that some one put the motor in later and changed the fender markings but I was wondering if there was a possibility that it was an option from the factory after the vin was made. I just want to restore it back to orig as best I can. thanks for any help I can get!!!!! the vin is CCS242B137397, the option plate says nothing about an 8 cyl.

11-10-2015, 02:32 PM	#2
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,165	Re: 72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN Pretty much no chance that the 6 vs 8 or 2wd vs 4wd are wrong on a VIN. Sounds like it got V8'd. Not too hard to do and make it look nice. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

11-10-2015, 04:22 PM	#4
EARNHARDT#3 Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: PA Posts: 1,417	Re: 72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN It was (obviously still is) fairly common for guys to swap V8's into anything that had an inline 6 in it. Heck even when they weren't very old people did it. __________________ 1967 C10, LWB, 250, Powerglide, PS, PB, 3/4 STATIC DROP

11-10-2015, 04:24 PM	#5
jkrummel123 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: north east md Posts: 3	Re: 72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN hey, thanks for your help!!!

11-10-2015, 06:33 PM	#6
hamjet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Westerlo, New York Posts: 1,325	Re: 72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN Anything can be changed in 40 plus years. Mine says 348, but it came with a six banger from the factory.. Attached Images __________________ Thanks, Joe.. 1969 C/10, 348 C.I., 3X2 bbl. V8, 2004r , LWB.

11-10-2015, 03:00 PM	#3
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	Re: 72 C20 motor and markings dont match VIN That would have been a pretty big screw up, I highly doubt it. The engine stands are even different for V8/I6. Then all the associated parts would have been wrong... as the truck went down the line based on the build sheet someone would have stopped the line, etc. Now something like the wrong axle ratio, wrong radio, or maybe wrong dash, those are things I could see slipping out past inspectors. Wrong motor? Doubt it. You have to remember, altering a VIN is a federal offense, even back then, and GM wasn't going to let a truck slip out that was supposed to have an I6 with a V8. It would have been illegal to sell that truck to a dealer. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!



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