Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

[Ken K.]

O.K. I know these are poor photos and the pad is in poor shape, but what do you guys think? (1967 327/350hp L79)

The "T" at the end of V0I05HT looks to be mis-aligned. Was that common with original stampings?

Could the third set of stamped numbers be from a rebuilder? Was it decked and then re-stamped?

The owner is currently trying to clean the pad for a better look.

[Ken K.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Any thoughts?

[Tom H.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

I am sure no expert, but i have heard of accounts of the last letter in the suffix being stamped later as the engines were built and stamped with the H then the last letter later after the final configuration was determined. Hard to say from your photos, but if I was throwing out an opinion.... I'd say it's real.

[Edward M.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Need better pictures, hard to tell from these.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Just my opinion but I would think that extra set of numbers is the engine rebuilders code of some sort. That is not typical of a factory block VIN pad. From the pictures it doesn't look like it's been tinkered with but one could get a better idea if the pad was cleaned up. The "T" in the HT is way off like you said but so is mine below. PT

[Ara G.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Ken, I have looked at over 20 L79 blocks in the past 2 years. I know that pales in comparison to any judge or other members, but I am interested in L79 cars and have inspected many. I have seen some letters in the pad misaligned, but that one on the block you are looking at is WAY off. One very important question is does the casting date of the block align with the Jan 5th engine pad stamp? Do all those align with the date on the trim tag? I think these are questions you definately need answered as they may immediately tell you if the engine is incorrect. If, for example, the casting date is 4 months after the car's assembly or 4 months after January, then you know you've got a restamp. I recently saw a restamp motor that was stamped off, but not by much. Instead of the 12th, he restamped it the 10th. Cross referencing that with the date on the trim tag and the casting date, I confirmed it was the wrong motor.
On a side note, ask seller to check his digital camera to see if he has a close up feature. Most newer cameras do. With this mode, you can get really close up pics without any blurriness or distortion. I have a ton of close ups of HT stamps, but as I have posted before I do not know how to post pics on tech disucssion. Email me and I will be happy to email you all the HT stamp pics I have to compare. Good luck, but be careful...Regards. ARA

[Rick S.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Here is a photo of my L-79 stamp pad.

Rick

[Ken K.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

[quote=Tom Hendricks (23758);437216]I am sure no expert, but i have heard of accounts of the last letter in the suffix being stamped later as the engines were built and stamped with the H then the last letter later after the final configuration was determined. Hard to say from your photos, but if I was throwing out an opinion.... I'd say it's real.[/quote

Has anyone else heard of this? On the photo of Rick's L79 pad, it looks like the "T" is a little lower also. (But not as bad as the first photos.

Does anyone have more photos of the "Last Digit" being stamped later and is a little differant from the rest of the ID code?
Thanks

[Chris E.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Here's mine during the rebuild.

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Ken,

Do a search under C2 1967 engine pad, you will see a photo of my HT "a-typical" stamped pad.

Regards,

Jim Blakely

[Ken K.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Ken,

Do a search under C2 1967 engine pad, you will see a photo of my HT "a-typical" stamped pad.

Regards,

Jim Blakely

Thanks Jim, That was an interesting and educational chat you had going back in your thread. Thanks for your help. Ken

[Page C.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad opinion needed (Photo)

Hi Ken,
I saw this car for sale at Spring Carlisle in 1985. It had the same engine info then as it does now. A blue coupe with factory air condition are what my notes are on this car.
Regards,
Page Campbell