Well it happened. When I visited the motor today I realized the machinest decked the block the took a bunch of the stamp pad with it. You can still read it but it's very thin. What now. Are my chances at Top Flight gone? Leave it alone or try to restore it? Can't believe I let this happen.
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Jeff-----
You should have told the machinist that the block was not to be decked without your specific approval. But, that's "water under the bridge" now. There's really nothing that can be done at this point. I'd leave it the way it is. You're fortunate that, at least, the numbers were not completely obliterated. That's another reason that I'd leave it just the way it is.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Sorry to hear this happened. Post up a picture so we can take a look.Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet.Comment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Thanks for the responses. This was one of those things that now feels very amateur. The motor was just going to be inspected and then things led to thing and I said yes to a rebuild. I was over focused on all original parts and ordered everything myself. I did not know it would be decked but to be honest at the time I did not visualize the stamp pad/decking danger. I don't know how this got by me and it seems so obvious now. I had read hundreds of posting in the archives and may books and never came across this "heads up". Funny thing is that today someone had made a related post just before me. All of the first string of digits with the VIN are clearly visible. The engine code is visible but takes some work. There is still no doubt it is the correct motor. I will post a picture tomorrow.Comment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Here are a couple of pictures of what is left after the decking. If there is a bright side it's that the VIN number held up the best followed by the Suffix Code RD. The FO428 is detectable with a very close up look. I would think there would not be an arguement that the motor is original and is 300 HP. Is there someone who could restore this or would things just go down hill with that line of thinking?
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
I would seriously think twice about having this "rebuilder" work on your motor!
If in this day and age he totally unaware about the importance of stamp pads on Chevy motors of this vintage, he is probably totally unaware of a lot of things.
I find it hard to believe he would do this without even mentioning it to you!
This is very common sense procedure for any engine builder these days, and basically for the last couple decades!Comment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Hi Jeff,
Life is a busy place. Sometimes the obvious gets overlooked. Just don't be too hard on yourself. I purchased a car that a previous owner had let the same thing happen. There was enough left that I was convinced it was the original motor and it did not stop me from enjoying the car for the next 12 years. I also thought about having it corrected but after having people on this board and some local individuals in the business of buying and selling these cars advise me to "leave it alone" I left it as is. Enjoy the car for what it is.
WayneComment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Jeff,
The pad doesn't look as bad as I had anticipated, given your earlier description. If you have before pictures of it, from a value standpoint I think you're OK. From a judging standpoint (my opinion, novice judge here), you'll probably lose some points.
All in all, it could have been MUCH worse.Chris Enstrom
North Central Chapter Judging Chairman
1967 Rally Red convertible, 327/350, 4 speed, Duntov @ Hampton in 2013, Founders @ KC in 2014, family owned since 1973
2011 Z06, red/redComment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
shops that use a old fashion deck mounted boring bar deck the blocks to get the mounting surface parallel to the crank so the bore is perpendicular to the crank center line. find a shop that uses a fixture mounted boring bar as they do not need to deck the blocks to mount the boring barComment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Jeff !
It doesn't look as bad as it could. I would refrain from trying to tamper with it any more. What happened, happened and you can't do anything about it. No sense trying. I would leave it as is and enjoy your car with the nice new engine. I bet the guy who bought that car new never saw any numbers on the pad and sure wouldn't have lost any sleep if they were there or not !!
Tom Hendricks
Proud Member NCRS #23758
NCM Founding Member # 1143
Corvette Department Manager and
Specialist for 27 years at BUDS Chevrolet.Comment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
I agree it doesn't look as bad as I anticipated, and I agree I'd leave it alone. While you've lost broach marks, you've still got readable, original stamps, along with an understandable and likely explanation for the pad's present condition. In my humble opinion any attempt to "restore" the pad could call into question the original stamps, and possibly the whole car. This could affect not only judging but value as well. Again, JMHO.
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Here's what i would do, leave it alone it is an original block and stamping, anything you do now is only going to make it worse, what you could do is this, the factory either taped this area when painting or it was painted and then wiped off, choose the latter, this way the stamping's have orange paint in them and are therefore more visable, then i would explain to the gudge your situation........jimJRComment
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Re: Stamp Pad Disaster
Hi Jeff,
Perhaps a positive way of looking at it is that the pad looks like it was decked, NOT that the two stamps were tampered with or massaged.
Regards,
Alan71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed
Mason Dixon Chapter
Chapter Top Flight October 2011Comment
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