[MRGTO2U]

Hi,
I am in the process of buying a beautiful restored 1966 GTO post. The seller states you cannot number match the motor to a specific vin # or data plate for 1966. He states you can match it to the year but not the car. I have asked the local buffs here in South Florida and they say otherwise. Please help as I am ready to buy this baby and I just want to be sure...The car has a year correct 389 and the original 2 speed powerglide.

Thanks to all !

[6704gto]

the motor has a code and a build date that matches the car

[MRGTO2U]

Thank you 6704gto! Now, the code and build date match the car by date or by the acutal vin #?

[merlotgoat]

Get PHS documents.

[6704gto]

the build date is within a week or so of the car being build.you can also contact www.phs-online.com and send them the vin number and they will send you back documation on the car.

[MRGTO2U]

He has the PHS Docs on the car. They show the 389 with the Carter 4 barrel. They also state the auto 2 speed and the 323 rear end. But no motor number to the vin.

[Bob with the 66]

Everyone I talked to said that 1966 was the last year for Pontiac not to have a vin stamped on the front of the engine.

I would check the date code cast in the block back by the dist. hole and compare to the invoice date of the vehicle.

Other's here will help with greater detail,

[Jarebjr]

Originally Posted by MRGTO2U

Thank you 6704gto! Now, the code and build date match the car by date or by the acutal vin #?

The date codes of all mechanicals should be earlier and close to the date on the firewall plate. My original 66 has a build date of 3A {first week of march} and an engine date of B216. {21st of February}. Intake is B136 etc etc
John.

[MRGTO2U]

Originally Posted by Jarebjr

The date codes of all mechanicals should be earlier and close to the date on the firewall plate. My original 66 has a build date of 3A {first week of march} and an engine date of B216. {21st of February}. Intake is B136 etc etc
John.

Very good info, thanks jarebjr!

[6704gto]

but if you what to make sure i would run the phs on the car

[merlotgoat]

Even the 67 engines didn't have any numbers associated with the VIN. There is a sequence number stamped below the code. That number also is shown on the the PHS documents. The engine should be stamped YS, unless it was destined for California, in which case it would have been and XE coded block. (4-bbl w/ a Powerglide)

[66GTO Jim]

Unfortunately, the Engine Sequence Number does not appear on the PHS Document, also known as the Pontiac Billing History for 1966. It does in the center of the document in 1967 and that is where the confusion comes in.

There is only three places you will find the Engine Sequence Number for a 1966 Pontiac:

1) On the passenger side of front of the block just under the head

2) On the Factory Build Sheet.This is a different document from the PHS Billing History. This was the sheet that the assembly line workers used to build the cars as they came down the line. On early Pontiacs, it is EXTREMELY rare to find the Build Sheet with the car. If it's not with the car, it is gone forever. Pontiac did not keep records of these, only the PHS Billing History.

3) On the Protect-O-Plate (POP), which was with the owners manual in the Glove Compartment and usually is long gone.

The Factory Build Sheet and the POP are the only two pieces of docementation that show both the VIN and the Engine Sequence Number for 1966 Pontiacs. It can be different for other years, but that's the story for 1966. Jim

[6704gto]

i think they started stapping the vin number on the block in 68 i believe

[gtoric]

I have seen very few build sheets that include the Engine Unit Number on the form. There is a box for this information, but the number is not usually printed.

The VIN was stamped on the blocks begining with the 1968 model year, which started in late August of 1967. There has always been some confusion concerning the 1967 or 1968 stamping. It was both; late '67 calendar year which included the 1968 model year.

[Mr_GTO]

Protecto Plate is the only way to know the number matches the car.