VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 Matching Numbers?

If you are told this 55 Chevy has matching numbers. How do you verifiy?
Do the # match some thing in the VIN.? This car I am going to look at on Monday is supose to have Matching numbers. It has a 2 barrel carbuerator. If I change it to power pack heads and a 4 barrel will it no longer have
matching numbers? I think I know but tell me for sure , please. thanks pAUl

Paul, do you have a code breakdown for the 55 chevy? I am not sure how much detail the vin for a 55 had, but the newer cars and trucks have a highly detailed code sheet in the glove box in addition to the vin, so to have "Matching" numbers vehicle depends upon the data on the vehicles data plate, and also the casting numbers for that date of manufactoring, just because the data calls for a 235 engine doesn't mean you can have matching numbers if the casting number shows the engine was cast in 1957.

The information on the VIN and cowl tag does limit the changes you can make (if you don't want to buy a "new" cowl tag) on 55-57. :p I wanted duel exhaust and a 4 barrel, PP, but because of my tag information I couldn't do it. So I have a single exhaust with a 2 barrel. :love: I just don't like the idea of changing cowl tags, some people don't mind as long as the change COULD have been ordered when the car was made.

The cowl tag only has info. for the body,such as interior type and color,paint numbers, tinted glass etc.but just items that pertain to the body.The serial number shows if its a 6 or 8,the year,assembly plant,and the serial number itself.Matching numbers means all casting numbers are for your year and correspond with the production date of the of the car.If the car is shown to be a June car all dates stamped on or shown on castings should show The the parts were cast a month or two before that time and are correct for drive train used in the car. Also the engine (serial) number should be correct for year and includes date engine was assembeled.!955 8 cyl. block has casting #3703524,intake manifold 3704790,radiator 3133045 PG V8,head 3703523,as examples plus date near number as when assembled new.I don't have the engine serial number prefix and date handy but will get back with that.This also would be the same for trans. castings and stamped trans. number as well as rear end.Plus many more items

I hate to bust the bubble for many of you guys. But I was under the impression that "matching numbers" indicated that all the numbers on a vehicle would be matching the criteria by Chevy Nut above. I was informed that a certain fire truck that was clearly 2 years off in the year of manufacture and the claim of the owner had 'matching numbers'!!

It was listed in an eBay auction by Kruse an eBay owned company. They told me that they relied on what the owner told them and refused to change anything. They said that they would send my comments to the owner. The further said that some numbers matched and therefore it was 'numbers matching'. Further they said that if they had said "All Numbers Matching" then most of the numbers would match those of the manufacturing year. Nothing about dates and serial numbers that could have been available when the vehicle was assembled (one or two months prior). Caviat Emptor!!!

Paul,Didn't want to discourage you too much but proceed with caution.I know how exciting it is when you look at a car before buying it,to bad you couldn't have a third party along for back-up.Will be anxious to here results when I get back next Sunday.