Stamp pad

[Stephen B.]

Re: Stamp pad

Bob -

Remember that there was no effort at St. Louis to organize engine rack storage based on engine dates; when the rail car was opened, some racks would go to the storage area across the aisle from the engine dress line, and some might go directly to the line, and the racks at the back of the storage area might sit there for up to a week or two before the hi-lo driver ever got to them.

Nobody in the plant paid any attention to dates on anything - all that mattered was the part number.

Hi John
I'm the original owner of the pad and the car Joe Eyl posted.I had this engine apart about 6 or 7 years ago for a rebuild.I had the block hot tanked and when ready for assemble I oil stoned the area where the gasket mates being very careful not to damage the stamped area.I had taken this photo for my insurance man and thought I'd show it to Joe to challenge his judging ability.A grinder has never touch that pad during my ownership.
Some type of disc grinder has definatly been used on that pad on the HT end of the number.I did not know they restamped blocks at the factory,but it makes perfect sence to me.If you look closely you'll see the metal has been mushroomed around the 6101210 and the F09I,but not around the 5HT. I think that area is lower due to the grinding and therefor the stamp is not as deep.Your up to bat.
Stephen Barrett 59,66,71,73

[Anthony S.]

Re: Stamp pad

All, interesting discussion with various opinions on factroy grind out versus some "hard" cleaning with sandpaper, but it would be educational to have a determination as to what has really happened here (or a best guess). Seems that I recall having seen similar markings on other cars somewhere in the distant past, so if others could actually find and post another 1-2 such pictures showing similar pads that have these characteristics, that could perhaps support (or validate) the grind at the factory theory. Thoughts? Tony

[Joe R.]

Re: Stamp pad

Jumping in here real late certainly gives one the advantage!

If you have ever used a hand grinder you have found that grinding something perfectly flat or square to the surface is all but impossible. For whatever reason this block received the grind out procedure that in my opinion is nearly perfect. That assembly line worker had a lot of PRACTICE and we should not forget that fact.

This is a situation where we have 1. the original owner 2. a strange stamped block but we also have 3. the advantage of high resolution digital photos and time to evaluate.

The judges on the field have no such advantages and must make a decision based on the evidence they have been trained to use. I'll put my money on 100% of the field judges knocking this ORIGINAL stamp pad.

This thread carries one of the most informational pieces of history that has been published on this forum in a long time.

Thank you for sharing this information. Maybe, just maybe this will be carried to the field and some new member will be saved the anguish and embrassment in the furture. AND some Corvette will be labeled "Restored Original" instead of a forgery!

JR

[Richard E.]

Re: Stamp pad

Years ago alot of original engines were decked and restamped when someone told the owner the engine, with a factory abnormality,was
just a poor attempt at a restamp.People like Al Grenning have since proven
this to be untrue.I bought a 67 327/350 hp a few years ago that had the vin ground off and restamped at a very good price because all the experts told the 82 year old original owner it had a restamped engine...Who knows what happened when an engine had to be reused after it may have been repaired.

[Loren L.]

Re: Stamp pad

Jumping in here real late certainly gives one the advantage!

If you have ever used a hand grinder you have found that grinding something perfectly flat or square to the surface is all but impossible. For whatever reason this block received the grind out procedure that in my opinion is nearly perfect. That assembly line worker had a lot of PRACTICE and we should not forget that fact.

This is a situation where we have 1. the original owner 2. a strange stamped block but we also have 3. the advantage of high resolution digital photos and time to evaluate.

The judges on the field have no such advantages and must make a decision based on the evidence they have been trained to use. I'll put my money on 100% of the field judges knocking this ORIGINAL stamp pad.

This thread carries one of the most informational pieces of history that has been published on this forum in a long time.

Thank you for sharing this information. Maybe, just maybe this will be carried to the field and some new member will be saved the anguish and embrassment in the furture. AND some Corvette will be labeled "Restored Original" instead of a forgery!

JR

JR's quite right, and somehow a "callout" of these possibilities should be included in that section of the JG.
Another area would be that where a casting # usage is coming to an end, ie, the 3782870 in 1965. I am aware of a Very Late '65 CV, L76, C60, K66, where the last digit has been ground out and restruck - reason, no TI prepared engines in the engine storage area and an order for a TI car.
And if you want to travel off into the Twilight Zone, I'll reference an EVEN LATER '65 with a 3858174 casting that is stamped with 1965 codes.....I KNEW I shouldn't mention that........

[Wayne M.]

Re: Stamp pad

...... I am aware of a Very Late '65 CV, L76, C60, K66, where the last digit has been ground out and restruck - reason, no TI prepared engines in the engine storage area and an order for a TI car.
And if you want to travel off into the Twilight Zone, I'll reference an EVEN LATER '65 with a 3858174 casting that is stamped with 1965 codes.....I KNEW I shouldn't mention that........

Now we're in hot water .

[Loren L.]

Re: Stamp pad

Just lay low for 36 hours.....

[William P.]

Re: Stamp pad

There are a number of early 66 L36 blocks that were factory grind outs and re-stamped . Al Grenning has the "Tonnawanda Product Information Bulletin" of 9/21/65 to prove it .
Bill

[Clem Z.]

Re: Stamp pad

those machine marks the way they curve look to me they we done with a rotory block deck cutter. JMHO

[Stephen B.]

Re: Stamp pad

Clem
Thanks for the reply. Sorry to disappoint anyone but, a grinder has never touched that deck since I've owned the car(April 8,1966). No one but me has turned a bolt on this car since the warranty ran out.I rebuilt the motor about 6 or 7 years ago. The block was hot tanked and when reassembled the deck was lightly oil stoned prior to assembly.No grinders,buffers,or sand paper touched that deck surface.
I never payed much attention to the marks until I took a photo for my insurance man and showed it to a local NCRS judge (Joe Eyl). He posted it on the discussion board and here we are.I do agree that the surface in question has been ground.Having worked for GM for 33 years I agree with a previous post that its very possible that this was a factory mistake or restamp.This has been a very informative discussion.
Stephen Barrett
59,66,71,73

[Mark D.]

Re: Stamp pad

This owner is old but he still semes to remember very well about the history of this Corvette.

Hell, he's only 64.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Stamp pad

Mark
Thats right pal, I was just 19 when I bought that car, and I expect to be driving it for at least 36 more years so I can celabrate my 100th birthday doing burnouts and listening to the oldies. I only hope these cars haven't been outlawed and gas is under $25.00 a gallonby then.
Stephen Barrett
59,66,71,73

[Bruce B.]

Re: Stamp pad

Steve,

Time to pull off the head and see if the original broach marks are still on the block.

Bruce