My vin # tells me I have a Malibu coupe with a V8. How do I tell exactly which V8 my car SHOULD have in it? Currently it has a 283 with a D code. (Motors manual says the engine is a '58 - '64 version) The car is also a 4 speed. Also, where do I find the code that tells me it should be a 4 speed. (It looks factory). I have decoded the body tag & it doesn't seem to tell me either one of these things. Do I need the build sheet?
Thanks, Mike

Generally the answer to your question is "Yes... you need build sheet, POP, or original window sticker to determine the original engine(and transmission I am pretty sure)... but you have not provided what year car you have. Depending on the year and VIN there are some things decipherable. (i.e a 66-68 with a VIN that started with 138 had a 396 cu in engine because the 138 designates an SS car and only 396 engines were in 66-68 SS Chevelles) Based on your question I am ssuming you might have a 64 or early 65 Chevelle and for those years I believe the VIN would only designates that it had a V8 but not which one.

You might want to check the pad on the front of the passenger side head. If it is the original engine to the car it might have a partial VIN stamped on it. If those numbers match the last series of numbers in your VIN (and the block has not been restamped) then you have a matching numbers motor and you car came with a 283

Good Luck

Robert

Based on your question I am ssuming you might have a 64 or early 65 Chevelle and for those years I believe the VIN would only designates that it had a V8 but not which one. Myt... You missed the "Malibu Coupe" statement... All years indicate a V8 car, but not whether its a 283, 327, 307 or 350 (depending on the year).

There really is no way to tell for sure, without documents. Some engines might have used larger fuel lines, but most would have used the same smaller ones...

On early cars (64-67), they all have the same "flag" emblems, but don't 327 cars have the extra "327" emblem above the flags? I am not sure, but these emblems might be on ALL 327 cars... Of course, if those emblems are there, they might have been added, but if they are not and the fenders look original, then good chance its a 283.

Sometimes the body tag will indicate if its a 4-speed or not, but not always. I have owned many Chevelles over the years, and none ever had those codes, mainly because I live in California, and the Fremont assembly plant didn't use those on the cowl tag.

Even if you had the original engine with the stamped engine suffix, it will not indicate "4-speed", just manual which includes 3-speeds. Not positive, but I think 3-speeds outsold 4-speeds during most early years...

Later years, 350s used the BB frame mounts, etc...

Tony,

Not sure of your point that I missed the "Malibu Coupe" thing. My assumption was based on his engine book said it was a 58-64 engine so as far as Malibus or Chevelles so then my assumption was a 64 (cuz there were no 58-63 Chevelles or Malibus) but possibly a late 64 engine put in an early 65 car...hence I assumed a 64 or or early 65 car.

Robert

Sorry for the confusion. The car is a 1967 Malibu Sport Coupe vin #136177B213750. The current engine in the car is T0711D which indicates a 283 built between 1958 & 1964 (With newer heads that I haven't yet identified.)
It has a Fisher Body Tag on the firewall which doesn't seem to indicate which V8 motor. I was just wondering if therre was any other way to tell what it is. Hope that clears the confusion.
Thanks, Mike

With that car there is no real way to know what exact engine came in it without documentation mentioned above (or what transmission for that matters) It came with a V8 and other than the 396 available this year which this car did not come with (136 VIN) it was either a 283 or 327 with a variety of diferent HP options if my memory serves me right.

BTW: I don't have my reference material with me at work but the T0711 indicates that it was assembeled in Tonowanda on the July 11th. Not sure what the D would designate but engine codes (Cubic inch and HP) of that era I thought had a 2 letter code... something like DA, DG, etc. Where do you get 1958-1964 from T0711D?

I am sure somebody will correct me if I mispoke and they have reference material available but I think I am correct.

Robert

My 1968 Motor's Manual lists the "D" designation as a 283 from the 1962-64 full size passenger car with a powerglide trans. (I thought it said 58 - 64 but it is 62 - 64)
Mike

Mike,

I dug out one of my old reference books at home and it also indicates a D designation for a 283 PG. First time I had to reference an engine that old & that is why the single digit threw me at work. It looks like after 64 Chevy only had 2 letter digits and 3 letter digits after 1969.

Robert