C2 Should I have pad restamped?

[Pete NCRS # 30998]

About 9 years ago I bought my 2nd 67 427/400 vette.

2 owner car, never hit body, all original never painted etc. Well, I had a body off done on the car to freshen it up and bring it to new specs. I know, I should have left it as a survivor but I didn't know better then. The car retains most of its original body parts, bumpers, side pipes, wheels & grill.

Anyway, the 2nd owner of the vette had the motor decked and you can barely make out the serial #s on the pad. He told me the shop was only going to put new piston rings and he didn't know why they decked it. My question is, should I have it restamped and can someone do it correctly? And if so, who? And if I should not have it restamped, why?

The car has lots of documentation, including original bill of sale, POP book, tanks sticker, etc. All numbers & date codes matching and correct to the car. Nothing was really messed with this car.

What should I do to get the pad correct?

Thanks in advance!!
Pete

[Kevin M.]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

Leave it alone.

Kevin

[Brian M.]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

Leave it alone.

[Mike M.]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

leave it alone. mike

[Mike E.]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

Leave it alone.

[William C.]

Agree 100% with the above *NM*

[Mark #28455]

you can always do it later

But once it's done, you can't undo it. The longer you wait, the better the restampers get - it's a matter of evolution. What if somebody restamped it 15 years ago? You would probably be looking to redo it now! What's your rush, unless the engine is in need of a rebuild now, I wouldn't bother to take it all apart.
Mark

[Michael W.]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

As it stands, the story behind the engine is 'honest' and reasonable. What happened to your engine also happened to thousands of others.

If you restamp, overwhelming chances are it will be detectable no matter who does it.

What would you really gain by restamping?

[Pete NCRS # 30998]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

I kind of agree with you. All the dates and #s are correct on the engine for the car so maybe I should just leave it alone and not try to hide the fact. Like I said you can barely read the #s and letters if you look close.

thanks guys for your input,
Pete

[Gary #41345]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

So you guys are at the same time saying, if someone restamps a pad then decks it afterwards he can use the same story as written here? "I believe it's the original stampings but it has been decked although you can still make out the numbers... "this is what the previous owner told me". Are there eyes out there good enough to tell a restamp that has been decked vs. original stamping on a decked block?

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

------While that scenario is somewhat of a possibility, Gary, you would still have to make an effort to get the exact same font, size, and design stamps. This is not as easily done as you might think. Careful, informed purchasing is as warranted in this instance as in any other. Although I am not by any means a judging fanatic I believe this car also would recieve the appropriate deduction for pad condition. Am I correct???........Bill S

[Gary #41345]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

I believe Bill that lack of any additional input of this subject means it's as touchy as touchy gets.

[mike cobine]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

This is one of those areas I think should be removed from the list of importance. Unlike most parts of a Corvette where restoration efforts are rewarded for skill and hard work, sheer luck is what gets you the points on the pad.

1. Sheer luck to find an original engine car no one rebuilt or messed with.
2. Sheer luck you bought it new and didn't have funds to hot rod it.
3. Sheer luck it didn't blow like so many other Corvette engines.
4. Sheer luck some rebuilder 30 years ago didn't deck it.
5. Sheer luck enough oil leaked on it to protect it, or it would have rusted to where you can't see broach marks.
6. Sheer luck some prospective buyer 20 years across didn't sand or scrape the paint or grease off with sandpaper or a knife.

The last two items could be luck or skill, depending on your look.
7. Finding a guy who either has an unstamped block or can approximate broach marks well enough to pass judging.
8. Finding a guy who can stamp it so it is undetectable.

Compare that to the guy who spends 100 hours cleaning the floor pan to preserve the color and texture of the fiberglass, the guy who spends 3 years looking for the air conditioning part missing for the last 25 years, the guy who builds his own plating system to refinish his carburetor, or the guy who takes every part off, cleans and refinishes each like original instead of the easy way of blasting and painting, and watches 5 years of his life disappears while doing so.

Yet when it comes to market value, that sheer luck pays off in a way all that hard work never does.

The only special meaning to an original engine 30 years ago was that the car was not screwed with, probably not raced or hot rodded, and was probably a nice car. But after a car gets a full body-off restoration, those items no longer matter.

[Gary #41345]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

I agree with your thinking and writing Mike, except for "and was probably a nice car." imo they are all nice cars...each has it's own story and history. The fact that the remaining ones that are still here after all these years of abuse,racing,customizing...and any other thing you could imagine is a tribute to their legacy.

[Pete NCRS # 30998]

Re: C2 Should I have pad restamped?

Pad still has some of the original broach marks on it. I had a "corvette expert" look at it with his special glasses and flashlight.

I want to thank you guys for your imput.