I thought you could see it better in this shot, but you can only see the very top of the plate (it's black with an aluminum border). It is low down on the strut tower, and I circled it in red.

ok first off, im an idiot. now with that out of the way here is what i found.

on the right side of my engine block where the two flat spots are i found L24 082194.

on the right strut tower stamped on the Data Plate above the CAR NO. is the Engine NO. (exactly where you said it was Carl) L24-187695.

on the drivers door jam is another Data Plate with the the date of manufacture 7/73.

so now i can plainly see(since is daytime) that the two numbers dont match. oh well at least i know, right? THANKS for the help and everything!!!!!

PS. i will try to get some pics. but i am slow when it comes to all that high speed stuff like computers.

Yeah I checked my 280 its original

Are the engine numbers in the same places on a 280Z? If not, where?

thxZ

Through 1977 the engine serial number was on the ID plate. For whatever reason, it's not there on the 78. The only place I've ever seen the engine numbers on a 78 is on the original paperwork and the guarantee card.

So just how much more desirable is a matching numbers 240z ??

My 72 is all matching. :squareeye

So just how much more desirable is a matching numbers 240z ??

My 72 is all matching. :squareeye

I guess that all depends upon what the owner wants to do with the car. To some people it would be an important issue (like someone wanting to do a restoration), and for others, meaningless (an individual wanting a driver or to do an engine transplant). Personally, I think an original engine adds something, but the 'value' of that is in the eyes of the buyer when the car is being sold. The last Z I sold was a '71 with matching engine.... the buyer gave me the engine when we settled up. Obviously it meant nothing to him.