Vin numbers
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From: Boston
Vin numbers
Does anyone know if the motors on FDs are stamp with the car Vin #? I guess what am asking is if the motor and tranny are stamp specifically for that individual car.You know in old Muscle Cars they were Date coded,later on the vin of the car had to match the Drivetrain to be consider # matching.If anyone know ,I would appreciate the help.
Really no easy way to tell. Someone who REALLY knows FD's might be able to tell just from the little things, like stuff that wasn't put back together just like Mazda does it from the factory.
As far as I know, there's no number on the engine like old American muscle cars - no "numbers matching" sort of deal.
Dale
As far as I know, there's no number on the engine like old American muscle cars - no "numbers matching" sort of deal.
Dale
The closest thing you can do is get a warranty report for the car which may have the engine number correlated with the VIN. Even then, that doesn't mean the engine is 100% original as they could have rebuilt it reusing the irons which would still keep the same engine number on it. It's not really that important. Regardless of the engine, a compression test is the best thing to use as the health of the "current" engine is more important.
^ Exactly. The original engine is not a factor in the value of the car, even if the car is 100% stock. If you had two low-mileage cars both in mint condition, one had the original motor but with low compression, the other had a fresh re-man from Mazda installed correctly with great compression, that car would be worth more. There is no "numbers matching" cars and motors, like Mahjik said
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Guys, I hate to disagree, but the number stamped on the block under the throttle body area at the back is correlated to the VIN at Mazda. I used this in 2000 to prove in Federal court that Peter Farrell had switched motors on me. Dave Barninger at KD Rotary called them (Mazda USA, I believe) and they verified that it was from Ed Taylor's car. Peter Farrell knew that the number corresponded and admitted at that point that it was from Ed's car. I am 100% positive of this admittedly little known information, since the trial cost me about $180,000 net...
Gordon
Gordon
this is true, but not 100%.
the procedure that was used to actually input this info is/was rather weird. at that time when the car was SOLD at the dealership, the DEALERSHIP submitted the info (key number, engine numbers etc etc) to mazda usa. since this also is pre-internet, and almost pre-computer, the actual chance of getting that info from mazda is more like 80%
presumably there are also records in japan although they were also paper at that time.
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Guys, I hate to disagree, but the number stamped on the block under the throttle body area at the back is correlated to the VIN at Mazda. I used this in 2000 to prove in Federal court that Peter Farrell had switched motors on me. Dave Barninger at KD Rotary called them (Mazda USA, I believe) and they verified that it was from Ed Taylor's car. Peter Farrell knew that the number corresponded and admitted at that point that it was from Ed's car. I am 100% positive of this admittedly little known information, since the trial cost me about $180,000 net...
Gordon
Gordon
That's what I was referring to with the warranty report. That report generally corresponds the engine number to the chassis. However, that still doesn't mean everything is "as it was from the factory". That just means the same housings are in the car.
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From: Boston
So the number that is stamp on the block is it a vin number? Or is it a generic number that is associated to the cars Vin?Am a little confused guys ,I would have to disagree with some of you when you say that it dont matter. In 20 years time when we are looking to buy these cars and r paying 6 figures for them ,you are going to want to know everything about that car.Originality is always King in the collector world. Anyone agree??
So the number that is stamp on the block is it a vin number? Or is it a generic number that is associated to the cars Vin?Am a little confused guys ,I would have to disagree with some of you when you say that it dont matter. In 20 years time when we are looking to buy these cars and r paying 6 figures for them ,you are going to want to know everything about that car.Originality is always King in the collector world. Anyone agree??
The block number is not a VIN. It's an engine number which can be associated to a chassis number through a warranty report.
^ Exactly. The original engine is not a factor in the value of the car, even if the car is 100% stock. If you had two low-mileage cars both in mint condition, one had the original motor but with low compression, the other had a fresh re-man from Mazda installed correctly with great compression, that car would be worth more. There is no "numbers matching" cars and motors, like Mahjik said
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From: Boston
So everyone would agree that buying an FD with as many original parts is a plus not a negative right?So why is it that so many on this forum seem to have the thought that just because the cars seem prone to engine problems is okay to assume that value wont be affected if original parts r missing????
