1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

[Peter S.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

This was detailed by John H. in a post last week...

Hi Mike,

Do you have a link to the topic?

Peter

[John D.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

The heavy repair idea makes a lot of sense. It looks old an honest in my humble opinion. Thinking like an NCRS guy I wonder how the block casting date agrees with the assembly date ?.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

Hi Mike,

Do you have a link to the topic?

Peter

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?109798-Can-this-1970-LS-5-block-casting-date-be-original-to-the-car&p=738002#post738002

[Peter S.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

I am confused why "heavy repair" is the favorite explanation. If the engine assembly plant would grind out both the VIN and original assembly stamping, why do I not see evidence of any grind out (my untrained eye is a fair reason)? Also, what would heavy repair have anything to do with a hideous assembly stamping?

[Patrick B.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

There was nothing unusual about the VIN stamp. It was just a lttle hard to read in the photo, and the cowl stamp photo showed that the VIN stamp was really 353566 not 555566-- solving the apparent dilema that too few Novas were built to have a 555566 VIN.

The completely hand stamped Flint code is very unusual if not unique. There are no grindouts or previous stamps on this block. If it went to "heavy repair" and was stamped this way, it must have gone there before it was even completely assembled or it would have received a conventional gang stamping. The question about the casting date was very astute and would help determine if this block could have gotten side tracked. I posted the picture of the block rubbing with with two assembly codes to show that "heavy repair" did not necessarily do grind outs, and that even a trip to "heavy repair" did not preclude an ordinary gang stamp for the second use of a salvaged block.

[Peter S.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

Hi Patrick,

I crossed my reference for the VIN stamp and assembly stamp, thanks for the correction. We are in agreement that the fact that the engine required heavy repair should have no bearing on the lack of a gang stamp being used for the restamp.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

Could there have been a deck surface issue??? Maybe why there is no grind out marks??? Possibly the surface was re-decked or something to that nature??
Just wondering if that is a possibility??

[Edward B.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

I've attached a typical grind out example. This one's a Tonawanda block, but Flint blocks were similar.

Ed

[Steven S.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

The question about the casting date was very astute and would help determine if this block could have gotten side tracked.

Referencing the discussion on yenko.net, the owner of the car states that they will be posting pictures and info on the component casting dates this week. I'll keep an eye on it and post back when they do!

Could there have been a deck surface issue??? Maybe why there is no grind out marks??? Possibly the surface was re-decked or something to that nature??
Just wondering if that is a possibility??

My thoughts are that regardless of a heavy repair scenario or not, or even if there were a possibility of deck surface re-work... moving forward it would have been gang stamped. Perhaps the answer is more innocent than we may think? What would they have done if something happened to that stamp holder? Damage or even just losing the pin that held the stamps in, would they stop everything to fix it? Or would they try and hand stamp a couple to keep things rolling while the situation was remedied? Just talking out loud here.

Steve

[John H.]

Re: 1970 LT1 assembly stamp, an odd one

What would they have done if something happened to that stamp holder? Damage or even just losing the pin that held the stamps in, would they stop everything to fix it? Or would they try and hand stamp a couple to keep things rolling while the situation was remedied? Just talking out loud here.

Steve

Steve -

The engine was only in-station for 20 seconds on Line #1 at 170 per hour (30 seconds on Line #2 at 130 per hour); if the gang holder fell apart, the operator would holler for a repairman or utilityman, and that guy would follow the engine down the line and stamp it; he would either use individual dies, or he could grab one of the other 30 or so pre-made gang holders for the day from the pigeonhole rack at the stamp station and change the last two dies to match the correct suffix and return it later.