So here is my dilemma. Picked up a 1974 Vet with a 454 engine. After spending some time cleaning up the engine I am perplexed about the engine stamping. I have heard about stamping problems at the factory specifically in the assembly process where the stamps were double stamped and had partials on the block etc. Unfortunatley, I have one of those. I have attached a picture. At the start you can see CW then it appears someone may have taken a die grinder and cleaned up a screw up in the assemble stamp. By doing so they took out the remaining symbols of the Tonawanda stamp. The car has an automatic in it, so I think the top of the third letter is probably a R. The font on the vin numbers appears to be correct for that year. But it is double stamped. The Block casting number is correct and the Vin number does match the vin on the car. Thoughts?
Matching Numbers?
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Re: Matching Numbers?
The casting date will be on the passenger side of the flange from the casting number. That will at least help place the block in the proper lead time for the VIN. If you were so inclined, the heads also have casting numbers and dates. If original to the block, they should be about the same date.- Top
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Re: Matching Numbers?
Here are a couple of photos of the complete pad and then closeup of the two numbers.- Top
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Re: Matching Numbers?
It looks like it’s triple stamped. Just like I said on the CF board. The first vin stamp looks ground out and went into the assembly code stamp. The second one was low and off the pad and the third is readable. Hopefully the guys who know pad variations better will post there opinions. Very interesting.- Top
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Re: Matching Numbers?
Wow, I wouldn't change a thing. I'd show that Corvette and be proud of the stamp until it is proven otherwise. The first one was a grind out, the second one was off the edge and the third one was legible.- Top
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