1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

[Richard M.]

# 01873

Approximately 25 years ago a friend here in Florida bought a fairly complete engine at the NCRS Regional in Cypress Gardens. It's quite complete, from oil pan to intake, with crank, pistons, etc.

Cast# 3869942
Cast Date I85 (Sept 8, 1965)
Stamp Pad T0922IP 6101873 (Assy Sept 22, 1965) 427/425hp
Heads: 3873858 Dates I35 & I45

Coupe# 19437S101873 or Convertible# 19467S101873 was built apx (Wednesday) Sept 29, 1965.

If you remember this engine please contact me.

Thanks,
Rich

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[Joe R.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

If that motor was being judged at an NCRS meet would points be taken off because of the pad????

May all the black hats line up and answer that!!!

Just had to ask that question!!! The devil made me do it!!!

JR

[Joel F.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

Great question Joe! I wish this thread had been started as a "what do you think of this stamp pad?" post.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

I knew there were going to be comments like that. I was scratching my head a little too. This is the real deal, a real pad on a real 942. In the right light I could see some broach marks but it didn't come out in the photos. The close ups below of the assy section has a tinge of them. There's sprinkled orange paint over it when it was painted 25 years ago so it's hard to see. The owner tells me he hasn't touched it since he bought it. After he said he'd sand it off a little later, I told him nothing but lacquer thinner on the pad!

Yes the photo isn't the best. It was dark and I was up 10 feet in the air on a 3 foot deep shelf when I took the pictures. I really didn't want to fall.


More photos HERE and better resolution shots below. The owner asked me to spread it around. He'd really like to find the car.

...edit, if non-IE users can't see this link, click http://home.comcast.net/~richmz then click on "1966_Corvette_Engine"

Rich

Better photos of the pad.....

[John D.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

Conditon points for pitting on the pad surface ?

[Jack H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

That's one of the 'art' issues associated with judging a stamp pad... There are NO condition points associated with the line item and good judges have to remind themselves not to let condition influence their call on originality. Hence, a correctly done, fresh, restamp should judge the same as a badly worn/weathered factory original!

[Dick W.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

I knew there were going to be comments like that. I was scratching my head a little too. This is the real deal, a real pad on a real 942. In the right light I could see some broach marks but it didn't come out in the photos. The close ups below of the assy section has a tinge of them. There's sprinkled orange paint over it when it was painted 25 years ago so it's hard to see. The owner tells me he hasn't touched it since he bought it. After he said he'd sand it off a little later, I told him nothing but lacquer thinner on the pad!

Yes the photo isn't the best. It was dark and I was up 10 feet in the air on a 3 foot deep shelf when I took the pictures. I really didn't want to fall.

More photos HERE on my website and better resolution shots below. The owner asked me to spread it around. He'd really like to find the car.

Rich

Better photos of the pad.....

Rich, they are very obvious on a 24" monitor, expecially when you enlarge it 400%. Nice photos

[Joe R.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

Richard,

That is a perfect original stamping on that pad. It just doesn't meet the definition placed on "original stamping" by some members. Not that there is anything wrong with that! hint hint

Wish you had placed it on the board with originality in question.

Thanks for your effort. Hope that ORIGINAL block finds the original body and they are married forever.

JR

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

Yes it's a longshot but it would be good to reunite this. It's on my website so the Search Engine spiders will give it worldwide exposure in a few days or so. All anyone has to do is enter the vin# and the website link will show up.

So......... on another note, I'm unsure that the intake manifold on this engine is original/typical. I see what appears to be a Winters snowflake(near the the #5 pushrod keeper). But I see in Noland's book on pg 357, it's located on the cast housing of the #1 intake port.

I looked for a casting number, but I found none. Again pg 357 shows the # just aft of the rear of the carb. It didn't look like anything was there. It should be casting# 3885069.

Opinions? Is this manifold a 3885069? I didn't get a good photo of the entire manifold. Hi-res photos of each half below.

Thanks,
Rich

[Pancho T.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

What is the date on the bottom of the intake?

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

I didn't lift the intake. I figured I'd check it next time I'm there. I think the owner said it was original, but he said the numbers were underneath, which I imagine he was speaking of the date code, like most Winters manifolds.

Until I get back there I'm curious if the consensus is that this is the right one with my limited detail in the photos.

[Pancho T.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

I have never seen an '65-'69 winters intake with the "w" any where else but on the drivers side front

[Rich P.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

There is no mounting for a divorced choke.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette BB Engine Found

Ok, thanks. Snowflake not in the right place, if there at all, and good catch Rich...... the choke mount isn't there.

It appears to be either vintage aftermarket or some special oddity????? I'll figure out more next time I see it.

Thanks for the info.
Rich
p.s. the google spider now has the vin pointing to my link.