Opinions on this eng stamp

[Ed K.]

I'm looking at a C2 for possible purchase & doing my diligence, looking for opinions on this engine stamp - look OK?

Thanks - Ed

[Mike M.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

will seller allow the removal of the paint that wan not present when the corvette left st louis? with paint gone, evaluation of broach marks can be done. mike

[Chuck S.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

will seller allow the removal of the paint that wan not present when the corvette left st louis? with paint gone, evaluation of broach marks can be done. mike

Wow, Mike, if that paint wasn't on there when it left St. Louis, it was a VERY early repaint...the stamp pad surface has minor isolated pitting around the edges where the paint is flaked. I vote real, but I've been wrong before...Let me rephrase that: I've been conned by flim-flam artists before on this very forum. Yuk, yuk.

[Tom S.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

Ed
I agree it would be best if you could clean the pad, but it looks good to me.Good luck, I hope you get what you want. Tom

[Ed K.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

Thanks all - I plan to ask for the paint to be removed before I check it out, hopefully they'll be agreeable. I also plan to bring one of our Regional Judges with me. Ed

[Joel F.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

Thanks all - I plan to ask for the paint to be removed before I check it out, hopefully they'll be agreeable. I also plan to bring one of our Regional Judges with me. Ed

Ed,

Be sure to ask them to use lacquer thinner or brake fluid on a rag to remove the paint instead of a screw driver, sand paper, paint scraper, etc. You don't want to do anything to damage whatever texture is under that paint.

Good luck,
Joel

[Chuck S.]

Re: Opinions on this eng stamp

...Be sure to ask them to use lacquer thinner or brake fluid on a rag to remove the paint instead of a screw driver, sand paper, paint scraper, etc. You don't want to do anything to damage whatever texture is under that paint...

Good advice, but I would use paint stripper after masking the edges of the pad and the front of the head well. Stripper will remove the paint with one application...no messing around with rubbing on multiple applications of lacquer thinner.

BUT...If I were the seller, and this car has had no more than about three or four owners, I would refuse to strip the pad for two reasons:

(1) That paint is very old; at the risk of being at odds with Mike McCagh, a well-known Corvette collector of some repute, my limited acquired knowledge is that pads WERE occasionally painted. This may be one of those, and I would not destroy originality to sell the car if authenticity could not be ascertained without stripping the pad.

(2) There is a chance that stripping the pad will be inconclusive anyway, particularly with small blocks. I am not a supporter of the theory that it must have visible broach marks in order to be original. While the presence of genuine broach marks is a sure sign of originality, the reciprocal of that statement, i.e. that absence of broach marks is a sure sign of non-originalty is FALSE...at least when using the naked eye. If you strip the pad, at least have an expert with a microscope if you want to be 100% certain.