[66vertproject]

Hello everyone,

I am the proud new owner of a 1965 Fastback shell. It came with no engine or tranny. I was told by someone that there is no such thing as a "Numbers Matching" Mustang engine and tranny, and that even though I did not have the origonals, I could put a set in and still have this car be an all origonal fastback. Is that true? Is there a way to tell if a 289 was in this car at assembly? I am just wondering if I can find a 289 and tranny to match the stock items here and have it all origonal, or if the engine/tranny combo will be obvious that it is not origonal. I like these cars they way they were, without all the additions or cloning. Please help. Thanks.

[Cobrajet67]

The VIN# (found on dash, radiator support, door jamb, fenders)of any car of any manufacturer tells you the engine size. The data plate found on all American cars on the driver door jamb or driver door tells you that and the specifics of color, transmission, axle, etc... A numbers matching car just means it has all the correct original drivetrain components from the correct year and specific month of manufacter(or before). Unless this car is something special like a 289 hipo or GT(check the VIN), I would consider buying something that doesn't necessitate buying EVERY part for it unless you have a donor car.

[Kyle F]

Yup, as said above, the enginer were not serialized with the car. All you need is a correct date code for you car or driveline components, as they were made at different facilities.

The real question here, since you only have a shell, is how important is numbers matchign to you? If I was starting where you are, I think I would go with a somewhat pro-touring car. Drop in an EFI small black with some goodies (lots of crate engine options for this) and Trmec 5-speed to get overdrive.

Now if numbers matching is important to you, all you have to do is make sure the block casting number are right for your car.

[andrewmp6]

Numbers matching a gm thing they stamped the vin on the engine tranny and rear end.Ford did a half vin on the gt and drag package cars only.With a ford theres date code matching like your car was 289 the block casting code has to say its for a mustang and built before your car was.Once the engine is gone theres no way to tell which engine came in the car you can get close with the date codes.

[Veronica]

Hello. Along with the casting numbers, there are also date codes on the engine components. While, strictly speaking, 'numbers matching' is exactly the same as on a Mopar or something, the only difference is that the engine block does not have the vin stamped on it, which is easily 'corrected' in the same manner that the GM guys do it, and 'numbers matching' actually means a lot more on a Mustang than it does on, say, a Camaro, since the Mustang does at least have the vin stamped on the car in three places, while the Camaro doesn't have the vin stamped anywhere on it except for on tags, and there is nothing in the vin of a Camaro or a Chevelle that tells you what motor the car came with, other than to distinguish between a 6 cyl and a V8 car. It doesn't tell you which V8 the car came with. The fifth digit of the vin in a Mustang tells you exactly what motor/carb the car came with, so, really, numbers matching is a far more useful and meaningful term on a Ford than it is on a GM car. On a GM, there is no way to tell if the car sitting in front of you is the same car as the one mentioned on a title, and even if it is the same car, there's no way to know what motor it came with. That's why all Chevelles were originally 396/454 4-speed cars. There isn't any way to demonstrate that it was not like that originally.

It's on a GM car that 'numbers matching' means nothing, Andrew.

[66vertproject]

Thanks for all the info. This web site is awesome!