'67 427 "IT" code block

[Steven S.]

Seems one of these has come out of the woodwork on another forum, information is still trickling in, but at this point the guy relaying the information from the current owner says there is only the Tonowanda stamp "T0615IT", block cast date D 18 7 but no mention of vehicle SN stamp on pad. My question is, were these sold over the counter and would they carry the same Tonowanda stamp as those installed in cars??

Thanks,
Steve

[Mike M.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Yes, they were available "over the counter".
Many went for race cars and into boats, this could also account for the absense of the VIN.
HaND

[Dick W.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

From 1967 thru 1971 I purchased 3 IT engines and one LO engine from GM. They were readily available and the price was reasonable. I think the LO engine with a new carburetor was about $1,300-$1,400. Try buying an NOS carburetor today for the price of the engine and carburetor

[Steven S.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Were the over the counter engines still stamped from Tonowanda the same way as those destined for a production car?

[John H.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Were the over the counter engines still stamped from Tonowanda the same way as those destined for a production car?

Complete engine assemblies were stamped, bare blocks or short blocks were not.

[Paul D.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Mr Hinckley,

Are you saying that over the counter bare and short blocks would have NO stampings on block? This could explain a long time mystery for a fellow club member. He has a very original 435 car that has NO stampings on pad but appears to show factory type broach marks. Car has been in his family since late 67, but was not purchased new. Actually his uncle was the third owner in Dec. 67. Second owner states car never had a stamp on the pad. P-O-P has a suffix code indicating 435 engine and I am told casting date precedes build date. Was information for P-O-P- not generated by service techs during pre delivery service? I know in the late 70's and early 80's we had to get those #'s off cars during prep and list them on the paperwork for the sales office. Car owner feels car was a "factory blooper" that got through without stamps. I think car suffered catastrophic failure possibly before delivery and warranty exchange block failed to get stamped. Your thoughts please.

[Terry M.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

[QUOTE=Paul Drennan (28344);378984]Mr Hinckley,

Was information for P-O-P- not generated by service techs during pre delivery service? QUOTE]

The PoP was generated at, in this case, St. Louis. As such it already contained the driveline ID information when it and the car arrived at the dealership.

The information recorded by the service tech during PDI probably went to the dealersip sales office. It certainly didn't go back to the assembly plant -- they already had it.

[Paul D.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Terry,
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was looking for absolute proof that the pad was stamped when it arrived at the dealership. Could you imagine a car getting through without stamps? I am not trying to build a case either way, just looking for a plausible explanation. Thanks again for the response.

[Mike M.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

With no mention of the first owner, it would appear the original block was replaced with a bare block or shortblock prior to the second ownership.
HaND

[John H.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

I think car suffered catastrophic failure possibly before delivery and warranty exchange block failed to get stamped. Your thoughts please.

Correcto!

[Terry M.]

Re: '67 427 "IT" code block

Terry,
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I was looking for absolute proof that the pad was stamped when it arrived at the dealership. Could you imagine a car getting through without stamps? I am not trying to build a case either way, just looking for a plausible explanation. Thanks again for the response.

If you ask the lawyers question: "Is it possible?" the answer has to be: "yes, it is possible. Anything is possible." The sun could rise in the west tomorrow, but the odds are against it.

That said, the engine assembly information should have been stamped on the engine when it was assembled -- in the case at hand, in Tonawanda, New York. The vehicle serial number derivative would have been stamped on the engine AND transmission at the vehicle assembly plant -- in the case at hand, St. Louis, Missouri. Now consider the odds that NEITHER plant did their job and the engine wound up in the car with no stamps at all. Slim to none has to be the answer to the chance of that happening.

The obvious answer is the one Mike suggests. Infant mortality, perhaps even before the first owner took delivery -- find that first owner and listen carefully to his story.

And what of the transmission? Does it have a VIN derivative stamped on it? The same worker hit both the engine and transmission at the same work station. What are the chances he hit the transmission and not the engine? Then too, the inspector(s) would have had to miss looking for these stamps. Inspectors at both Tonawanda AND St. Louis. The odds just get slimmer and slimmer.