Did the corvettes originally have paint on the engine pad? I am looking at a 72 with 32,000 original miles and there is some paint on the pad. Just curious. Thanks, Joe DeLuce Member 37862.
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Re: Engine pad paint
Shouldn't be any signs of paint Joe. The pad was masked off prior to painting. -
Re: Engine pad paint
Thanks MikeComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
Joe
I am the original owner of a 1969. (Duntov & Five Star Bowtie). There was some paint on pad. It looked like they had put tape on the pad over the stamps area, however one end of pad had paint.Comment
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Re: Engine pad paint
The paint is probably from a former owner's engine rebuild. Be very careful in removing the paint in order to meet NCRS judging requirements.
My engine's stamp pad gets severe scrutiny at judging meets because some ham-fisted former owner got carried away in cleaning the pad.
-ClarkComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
Hi Joe,
I may be mistaken, but I believe I have heard and read that after the block was painted the paint was wiped off the pad. The process frequently left some paint - particularly in the numbers/letters. At least this was what I believe the process was for the mid-years.
Perhaps in '72 the process was different, but something to consider.Rob
'66 327/300 Regional Top Flt
'08 6 speed coupeComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
Joe, FWIW, I bought a low mileage 71 454/365 coupe in 73, I remember that the pad was painted, with the paint in the Tonawanda date stamped code, but in the vin derivitive stamp the paint was flaked off around the stamp as though it was stamped over the paint after it dried. Only shark I ever owned, loved it, but had to trade it for a Black 57 Fuelie in 79
Maybe there was a diffrence between Flint Small Blocks, & Tonawanda Big Block painting procedures?
Barry Holmes #940Comment
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Re: Engine pad paint
The paint instructions I have seen for both Flint & Tonawanda for the early C3s were not to paint the pad. I know the blue painted engines DID have the pad painted. Were mistakes made among the millions of engines produced? Sure were, and Barry your 1971 is one. If you still had that car you could advertise it as "rare" or NOT TFP, if you wish.TerryComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
There was a definite reason why the Engineering Paint instructions called out masking of the pad prior to painting, especially before suffix stickers on the back end of the valve cover were introduced.
After the engine left the paint booth, the only way to identify exactly what it was (engine type and carline application) was the pad stamp suffix; those engines were whistling down that conveyor at 300 per hour, and a worker had to be able to identify each one and route it to the correct conveyor to the shipping dock so it wound up at the correct racking point for loading into a rail car to take it to the right assembly plant.
The pad stamp was the ONLY way to identify the engine; the suffix scrawled upside-down on the side of the raw block in grease pencil at the bore air-gage station at the head of the engine assembly line had been painted over, and couldn't be seen.
The worker operating the conveyor control panel switches had twelve seconds to ID the engine, check his chart for location, and flip the right switch, or the engine went to the wrong location on the shipping dock.Comment
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Re: Engine pad paint
John, The earlier cars, my 57 for instance, also had the yellow painted "EL" suffix under the Orange paint on both sides of the block, but in addition it had in 6" high white chalk letters "EL" on the top of the bell housing on top of the paint for identification. What year did the Valve Cover stickers come in to use? Barry Holmes #940Comment
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Re: Engine pad paint
this is how they did it before there were strickers,... after paint HE = 250 hp w M/T
MVC-015S.JPGComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
After my reply to the op, I had two NCRS members contact me about what to do about painted engine stamp pads. I am not a stamp pad expert by any stretch of the imagination. So, I am unable to give you an opinion on your engine's stamp pad.
My only experience is with my '65 L76 A/C car at the Texas Regional last October. The team leader got involved with a question about my engine's stamp pad. They took closeup digital photos of my engine's stamp pad and using a laptop, blew up the photos to see the tiniest of details.
The judging team was going to give me a total (38 point) deduct on "stamp pad surface finish" but the team leader told the team to give me the benefit of the doubt (no deduction).
What I will suggest is that you find out who judges the Mechanical Section for your model Corvette in your chapter. Ask that person or persons to help you. -ClarkComment
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Re: Engine pad paint
Anyone know the best way to clean up paint from the engine stamp pad without damaging it for judging? Thanks JoeComment
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