71 LT1 Stamp Pad

[Tim S.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Here is another one from a verifyable history, believed to be original as well.

[Michael W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

A "top flight" and/or PV is still obtainable - but it would be pretty hard to get 97% or higher, or a Duntov.

Why do you say that Bill? The engine stamp is only worth 25 points, if it was in fact 'called'.

[Patrick B.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Dick,

This pad looks pretty original to me. I have seen other original 71s that looked a little bit sloppy and an LT-1 with the Z added outside the holder. The car's vin character style is absolutely correct, and the Flint characters are very typical of 1971, especially the square zero.

However, the important thing is whether the car has the LT-1 characteristics. Does it have a brass radiator and TI ignition?

The subtle differences are in the rear suspension. It should have a rear end with a big block code and U-joint caps instead of U-bolts. The most subtle indicator is found on the trailing arms. LT-1s did not come with rear sway bars (although many were added because it was so easy) but unlike other small blocks their trailing arms had the holes for the sway bar brackets. This was a really good indicator when the cars were relatively new, but I believe the GM replacement trailing arms also had the holes for the big block sway bar brackets.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Why do you say that Bill? The engine stamp is only worth 25 points, if it was in fact 'called'.

38 on the pad surface, 25 on the machine code, and 25 on the VIN

[Michael W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

38 on the pad surface, 25 on the machine code, and 25 on the VIN

Everyone so far seems to agree that the pad surface and VIN derivative are good. Only the machine code is 'maybe'.

[Dan P.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

I've studied dozens of '70 LT1 stamps and almost as many '71 LT1's. The engine date/code stamp on this example does not look typical to those I've seen; the VIN looks just fine, but the the letters and numbers in the suffix/build date look like they have been stamped individually. Note that with '70 and '71 LT1's many of the examples I've seen/collected it's only the last one or two characters of the suffix that sometimes appear to have been stamped out of the gang holder.

All that aside, as mentioned above, if the car is documented, it could be original but not necessarily typical.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Everyone so far seems to agree that the pad surface and VIN derivative are good. Only the machine code is 'maybe'.

Without seeing it, I am not going to comment on the machine code. I have seen some pretty crude looking stamps on what I thought were original engines. I have several in my photo library, but am too swamped to dig them out right now.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Erv, We haven't heard anything about the car - did you get any details???

Casting date on the block, heads, all these other subtle items mentioned above.

[Erv M.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

It is at the Dallas auction next week. Not much information given so I plan to take a close look at it. It is lot F227 and scheduled for around 7pm Friday to cross the block

I will probably bid on it depending on originality and condition. It is listed as a driver so no crazy bids at $70K for tis one.

[Terry L.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Here is another LT1

http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac133/tlanham/1970%20Silver%20LT1/IMG_1706.jpg

[Ronald L.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Big difference in stamp pads. Even with a poor photograph its hard to imagine this 1st one as originating in Flint Engine as sloppy and inconsistent as it is.

I'd sure like to see under those valve covers and see if that block casting is bondo

The data weighs to Flint doing a very consistent stamp. This last one is especially nice - you'll note the entire set was at a slight angle, but all the metal deformation is consistent letter to letter and there is no up down in height nor clock wise rotation.

For the very small price it costs to get a punch holder to keep all the numbers in alignment up down and rotationally when these guys do these restamps, you just can't figure why they leave that step out.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

For the very small price it costs to get a punch holder to keep all the numbers in alignment up down and rotationally when these guys do these restamps, you just can't figure why they leave that step out.

Trust me, the masters do so.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

I know they do and they brag about beating the Master detective too.

[Dick W.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

I know they do and they brag about beating the Master detective too.

There is a poster on this forum that can and does do such! But he does not brag, he performs a work of art. He does have credibility and will not get involved in counterfeiting. The so called experts that make the claim they cannot be fooled have used the TDB poster's work in their presentation on originality.

And I feel reasonably sure he is following this thread.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 71 LT1 Stamp Pad

Restoration is one thing that has a definition written inside each copy of the Restorer, adding 100 cubic inches or massaging a 68 390 into an L88 is complete fraud. It was rampant and in front of us in the 70's when many were only focused on the C1 cars. For the reason I mentioned earlier, I have the list of the engine to option codes for these C3's before it was every published by a Corvette person, or Chevrolet in summary form.