Engine Pad Numbers

[John Olcott # 33092]

Found the engine pad today on my 1960 283. The first six numbers were easy to read and corresponded to the last six digits of my VIN. The next seven were hard to read and I think are F0209CU. Does that make sense? Also, are pads that are hard to read a sign of a re-stamped pad?


Thanks

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine Pad Numbers

John-----


The engine stamping code that you provided decodes to a 1960 Corvette 283 with 270 hp and manual transmission. The engine was assembled in Flint, Michigan on the 9th day of February. So, if your car was built about late February to April, this is probably correct for your car.


As far as the "light" stamping goes, I don't feel that this is necessarily indicative of a "restamped" block. As long as the characters appear reasonably straight, as was usually the case with the "gang-style" stamping fixture used by the assembly plants, I wouldn't consider it a "restamp". It is possible that the block was "decked" during some previous rebuild. Circular broach marks areus usually indicative of this machining operation. Also, it is possible that the stampings were originally light. However, if both the "engine number" and the VIN derivative are lightly stamped, I would suspect that previous "decking" was the cause. That's because the "engine number" and VIN derivative are stamped at different locations---the engine assembly plant for the former and the St. Louis assembly plant for the latter.

[Chuck B.]

Re: Engine Pad Numbers

For your information the vin number stamping on your block WILL NOT be gang stamped and will look rather ugly if it is real. The gang stamp on the vin number occured after mid March 1960.


Chuck Berge