Who does the best engine restamps?

[Greg L.]

I was just wondering if anyone knows who might do authentic type engine restamping.

I'm trying to open up my options in my quest for a 68/69 tri-power car so now I'm also looking at NOM cars a little more. The big thing is still for them to prove to me that it really is a tri-power car and not just made out to look like one... Anyways, if I find a good candidate I will want to have a correct restoration block made up for it and would like to know who would be the best person for this.

Oh and just to set things straight I'm not looking to make a clone because that's not my style...I can't even bring myself to paint a car a non original color let alone fake the engine. There is nothing wrong with clones...I just would bother to restamp a block if I were to make one. The only reason I'd consider restamping is that if I find a real tri-power car minus the engine I'll want to correctly restore what was once there...just like my restoration seat upolstery from Al Knock has done.

Thanks guys,

Greg Linton
#45455

[Mike M.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

the general. several folks have and rent stamps that will probably pass ncrs judges, however, no one, to my knowledge, has come up with a means of re-applying factory style broach mearks. finding a 427 case that's never been stamped, and hence posses the general's broach marks, is a rare occurance but it does happen.mike

[Jerry S.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

We are not of correct mind to go through judging, but was told they don't pay attention to the date pad anymore. This should be obvious why they have stopped looking.

[Dick W.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

Nothing has changed. They still look for the machine code and date, and the VIN. It has always been "if it appears correct"

[Greg L.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

Thanks for the tip on the stamps Mike but I was hoping to find someone that did the whole re-broach and re-stamp together as one sort of goes with the other and like you mentioned...good luck finding an original unstamped block. I know several people advertize in Hemmings and on the internet and I guess some are quite good at it even to the point that they will pass judging so that would be the way I'd like to go if it end up with a NOM car.

Does anyone else know of any quality re-stampers out there?

[Joseph T.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

Check the services offered area in vette vues..and I think you will find what you are looking for.

Nothing sacred anymore...except ones honor...and reputation.

[Geoff C.]

I knew a couple, dead now (RIP)

Old Pillars of the Hobby.
The Epitome of Honour, Duty, Country, Bux.
I'm sure they've been reincarnated.

Can't say I've ever needed one, nor would I knowingly buy a model that had one.

Geoffrey Coenen

[Stephen B.]

Re: I knew a couple, dead now (RIP)

There's a couple advertising in Hemmings that they restamp or will sell you the equipment to restamp.

[Bill Lynch]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

I would go to the internet and lookup the "Last Sting Ray" or "last 1967 Corvette". Then look up their web page on that car and find out who did the restamp.

That car passed NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold with a restamped replacement engine. It drew a huge final bid at last winter's Barrett-Jackson auction.

So, given all that, the restampers must have done a heck of a good job.

[Chris Patrick]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

That honor was lost a long time ago. This should have been stopped 25 years ago, but it wasn't. Even NCRS embraced it about 10 years ago, when Roy Sinor had an article about restamping that wasn't counterfeiting and restamping that was.

I tend to agree with others, this problem has been out there so long, it is foolish to pay more because the numbers match. And it really isn't safe even if you have several check it to see if it is real or not. Obvious ones show up, sure, but all that means is the really good ones are being accepted as real.

Once a rule gave more points to the numbers matching than not, then there was reason to stamp. And when people insisted that the originals (matching numbers) were worth more, then there was even more reason to restamp.

Now most just say that numbers matching is a catch phrase of shifty sellers, but that doesn't remove the fact that 98% can't tell a very good restamp from an original. And no one really knows (except the stampers) if the 2% can really detect the restamps.

[Mark #28455]

Look up the "last 67" website

We know that the "last 67" had a restamped block and got both NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold, so obviously the engine "restorer" was good enough. I think he's in Ohio.

Mark

[Kent K.]

In Florida, word got around

that the last Sting Ray had a restamped engine block so I sort of doubt it passed by the judges unnoticed. Perhaps the rest of the car was good enough to account for lost engine pad points for a Top Flight. But have you ever heard of it getting a Duntov award?

Regards,
Kent Keech

[Lawrence S.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

Judges definitely pay attention to the pads. I just flight judged my car and got called on my pad.

[Gregory M.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

I am surprsied that this subject, on this forum of all places, did not inspire more philosophical debate. The subject generates little opposition, even here, due to its widely prevelant use...I am surprised...

For the record, restamping blocks is wrong. Period. The party stamping the block may have the most honorable of intentions but we all know that somewhere down the line that car is going to be passed off to someone as having its original engine. In addition this, apparantly, widespread practice creates doubt as to the legitimacy of every car that lacks other forms of documentation. I have no problem with a car that does not have its origianl engine...or an owner that wishes to have a "correct" (casting number and/or date) engine in thier car. I have more than one in fact...I just don't grind off numbers and restamp blocks. I can remember when the term "matching numbers" meant only one thing...an original engine.

Call them what you want...tributes...recreations...and my favorite "restoration engines"...it is still wrong. Period. We all know this to be true yet no one responding to this thread bothered to condemn or even discourage the practice...et tu, Brutus, et tu...ok, I am off my soapbox...

GM

[Gene M.]

Re: Who does the best engine restamps?

Greg,
I feel talking to other NCRS members that most agree with what you are saying. But there is not much any one person can change about it. Restoring the original engine is the basis of the CORVETTE car. The original engine, protecto plate, build plate, VIN tag, window and tank sticker are not items that are replacement during a restoration. A serial numbered item intrinsic to a specific car is not of issue to replace. If they are missing......TOO BAD. Go find another car or just eat the points.