Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

[Robert C.]

I'm currently looking for a 66' L-72 Coupe and this is an engine pad stamp from one I'm considering. Input please on originality? Thanks!

[Patrick H.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Do you have one cropped to show just the pad, or better yet one with much better resolution?

When I download it onto my computer then try to magnify it, it's hard to make any calls on it due to the resolution.

[Larry M.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Robert:

Need better picture/resolution as Pat states. Based on what I can see from your picture, it does NOT appear to be factory typical. I would proceed carefully. Check the block casting number and casting date carefully. Has this engine ever been rebuilt?? When, and by whom??

Again, a better picture is needed to make a better call.

Larry

[Steven C.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Agree w/Larry. Broach marks not typical but need a better pic.

[Pancho T.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Robert:

Need better picture/resolution as Pat states. Based on what I can see from your picture, it does NOT appear to be factory typical. I would proceed carefully. Check the block casting number and casting date carefully. Has this engine ever been rebuilt?? When, and by whom??

Again, a better picture is needed to make a better call.

Larry

I agree.Still need better pictures but as Larry says it does not look typical factory broach to me

Pancho

[Robert C.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Thanks guys, see what I can do about a better pic.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Is this car located in MI by any chance???

[Robert C.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Is this car located in MI by any chance???

No, this car is in Maryland:

http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/1966-corvette-34004.html

I just missed out on a 66' L-72 in the Detriot area, must have been the real deal..sold in 2 days.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Opinions on this L-72 Stamp pad

That one is headed to Cali, I missed evaluating it for being on the east coast. As the guys have asked, need to get a hi rez pic and then crop out the stamp pad. Might have to email the hi rez pic as this board limits resolution to very low level...

[Ronald L.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Here is the pad cropped, sharpened - but still low rez.

6 million dollar question - when was the pad stamped at Tonawanda?

Before head install or after?

This one looks like it was stamped before notice the numbers are mostly under the head plug and I'm not so sure about that...

[Ronald L.]

Re: Opinions on this L-72 Stamp pad

As above, need to get all the casting number details, scrape them to be sure they are not bondo, if they let you.

"Looks like" a "spec built" car.

Ask about a front end hit...

[Patrick H.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Here is the pad cropped, sharpened - but still low rez.

6 million dollar question - when was the pad stamped at Tonawanda?

Before head install or after?

This one looks like it was stamped before notice the numbers are mostly under the head plug and I'm not so sure about that...

They're supposed to be under the plug.

[Joel F.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

Even with the bad pic you can see the broach marks are not parallel.

[William G.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

So.........you guys are saying the blocks were stamped before the heads were installed.........or am I missing something here? So.....that early in the assembly of the engine they knew what car (vin number) the engine was going into? Did this early stamping of the block pad exist on the small block also? And I'm no expert (and NEVER pretend to be), but the broach marks don't look to me to be original. And since those engines came form Tonawanda it would appear even more so a surprise that the stamping was done before the heads were installed.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Opinions on thie L-72 Stamp pad

So.........you guys are saying the blocks were stamped before the heads were installed.........or am I missing something here? So.....that early in the assembly of the engine they knew what car (vin number) the engine was going into? Did this early stamping of the block pad exist on the small block also? And I'm no expert (and NEVER pretend to be), but the broach marks don't look to me to be original. And since those engines came form Tonawanda it would appear even more so a surprise that the stamping was done before the heads were installed.

Big blocks had the assembly date and code stamped on them before the heads were installed. Small blocks did not. So, on a big block, seeing the stamping "blocked" by the plug in the head is not unusual.

VIN stamping derivatives were all added at St. Louis (and later BG).

I won't judge this stamp or pad based on a low resolution photo. That's not fair to the buyer, seller or the car.