Have the opportunity to pickup an October 9, 1957 #3737739 Flint shortblock. Pad stamp is for passenger car. My car build date is May 28, 1958 and I have a 59 block in it. What build date range would this 739 block more correctly fit as I think I will go ahead and buy it for later sale or swap.
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Re: C1 58 283 Application Dates
Bill -
Your block needs to be within six months of your car's build date in order to get credit (the casting date is worth 175 points). -
Re: C1 58 283 Application Dates
John, thanks for info and wonder if you or someone else could clear following up for me: Does it matter if casting # and date are within build date limits but made in tonawanda versus flint? Is this simply "some points" deduction? And, can the passenger/truck stamp be left in a pad for "some more point" deductions? I realize you can restamp but then I suspect you get "some more" deductions for broach activity? I am just starting to turn my 58 restoration into for judging versus initial just for fun. Will get judging materials but want to know about this engine stuff right away as I know other 58/59 folks who might be able to use the one I found or the 59 in my car or possibly exchange since some of their blocks are past build dates. Don't want to be talking off the "cuff". Thanks in advance.Comment
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Re: C1 58 283 Application Dates
This is covered in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual (the 'white' book), Section 4, Standard Deductions. If you're restoring your car and/or interested in how it would/should judge, then you need a copy of this book in your support library. I've posted this before but to save you searching the archieves:
A. Correct, normally configured casting number and case configuration. If incorrect, deduct 350 points and do not judge or score casting date or stamp pad.
B. If 'A' is judged to be correct, judge for correectly configured casting date within six (6) months prior to car build date. If incorrect deduct 175 points and do not judge or socre stamp pad.
C. If 'A' and 'B' are judged to be correct, judge for appropriate, normally configured engine plant stamping and engine assembly date or serial number and alpha prefix or suffix code which matches car as listed in the appropriate judging guide.
On cars assembled approximately mid-1960 and later, judge for corredct, normally configured VIN derivative. From 1952 through mid-1960, if any of 'C' is judged as incorrect, deduct 50 points. Mid-1960 & later are to be split at 25 points for each stamping group. Judge 'D' regardless of scoring on 'C'.
D. Judge for absenses of paint, dirt, rust or other condition which obscures pad. Judge for presence of normal factory production machining marks. If either is judged negtatively, deduct 38 points.
Now, a Tonawanda SB casting from the era you're talking about ('58) will differ from a Saginaw casting in a number of small but visually detectable areas. Therefore, it violates the 'case configuration' criteria of rule A and generates a full deduction regardless of cast number/cast date/stamp pad.
In the case where the block is a real McCoy Saginaw casting but, say, a 'truck' motor, you'd pass rule 'A', pass rule 'B', then fail rule 'C' (the suffix code on the stamp pad would be incorrect for a Corvette). Presuming it's an 'untouched' stamp pad from that truck, you pass rule 'D'. Therefore, you can expect to lose 50-points from rule 'C'--about 1% of the 4500 point total judging process.Comment
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Postscript....
If you take that same 'truck' engine and 'deck the lid' to have it restamped to recover the 50-point loss, you risk losing an additional 38 points.... Judges might observe inconsistency with the stamp pad's broach marks, detect improper residual machining marks from the lid decking process, and/or observe loss of material from the pad depending on how much the machinest removes.
So, you essentially make a 'double or nothing' gamble when you attempt to restamp and had BEST know EXACTLY what you're doing! Senior judges are pretty good at detecting re-stamp work (not infallible though and given a grey area situation, the benefit of the doubt generally goes to the car/owner).Comment
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Re: Postscript....
Thank you Jack! I am perfectly staight now? Really, thanks!Comment
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