1970 engine stamp

[Wayne B.]

I have been getting a mix of information on the engine stamp pad on a smallblock for a 1970. Some say both sets of numbers (VIN and enginetype/build date) are "in-line" and others say it could get wacked anywhere. The big blocks pictures i have seen aren't even close to inline but i can't find any small block stamp pics. So which is it?

[Dick W.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

"Whacked" any where is the norm. Some will appear to be perfectly in line, some will appear to be stamped by someone that is "left over" from the weekend.

[Wayne B.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Thanks, I took a shot of it after I about wore it out with a wire brush to clean the crudnrust off it, a bit of glare from the flash though (and focus from no reading glasses). Tried rubbing a little pencil lead to counter some of the glare. I checked the build date, June 15, 1970...sure enough, it was a Monday.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Looks to be typical placement. The stamps were whacked at two different times by two different guys. Quite often, not straight.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Wayne, NEVER use anything abrasive to clean the pad. You destroy the pad surface

[Wayne B.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Thanks again, after wire brushing it i did go "oops!" I've let the the restoration sit a long time and just getting back to it. I started a web page for it so as i get pics of the work...well, pick me apart! 1970lt1restoration.com

[John M.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Begs the question - How best to clean a pad? mine has a very light, very even film of powdery rust, never been painted.

Wayne, NEVER use anything abrasive to clean the pad. You destroy the pad surface

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

"Begs the question - How best to clean a pad? mine has a very light, very even film of powdery rust, never been painted."

The subject has been discussed often and the archives have a number of threads. Bottom line: use chemistry and a patient toothbrush instead of an abbrasive...

[Wayne B.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

I had allowed mine to rust a bit and that did take a little off but that picture really has a lot of glare from the flash and when you look at the actual pad the number is clear and the machine grooves are apparent but, yes, I'll do two things now, one is keep a film of Silicone or something to keep it from rusting and two, use a toothbrush to clean instead of one of those wire toothbrushes. I had a hard time finding any angle to shoot where the digital camera would focus. It autofocuses so it kept picking everything up around it, this was the closest i could get to focus (till I actually pull the camera manual out and read it)

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Begs the question - How best to clean a pad? mine has a very light, very even film of powdery rust, never been painted.

Just try a light oil. That may make enough of the rust "invisible" to be useful and protect it at the same time.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

I wouldn't think a wire brush would damage the surface. I once used a wire cup powered by an old fashioned metal angle grinder to clean up the pad on a engine in one of my drivers. It brought out the stamps and the broach marks wonderfully. The pad wasn't rusted, just covered with years of dirt and grease.

[Wayne B.]

Re: 1970 engine stamp

Well I was peeling off a nice rust layer and also, the flash on the camera made it look way washed out, in person it is clear. The numbers on the right were also blinded in the flash on most of the shots I tried that actually focused. The angle on this shot was enough to keep the flash glare off the numbers on the right, the numbers on the left were right where the flash reflected straight back. Plus I had rubbed some pencil lead into the numbers on the right to try bringing it out more.