'66 L36 Pad Stamp

[William F.]

Would you please give opinions on this pad stamp on a "66 L36 I'm considering?
Thanks

[Dick W.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Would you please give opinions on this pad stamp on a "66 L36 I'm considering?
Thanks

Far from expert, but I see multiple issues based on the photo.
1.Total absence of factory machine marks
2. Machined surface is comprised of at least two surface finishes
3. Not sure if it is just the photo, but the character width on the machine code seems too narrow

[Keith B.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

With what Dick said it looks like someone used the same font of numbers to do both set of numbers.

[Richard M.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Here is is for easier viewing.....

I'm certainly no stamp pad expert, but it doesn't appear typical to me either. I agree the Assy stamp font seems too narrow. The "I"'s could be wider IMO.

66L36.jpg

Below is a restamp for a restoration engine on a real '67 L71 I worked on a few years ago. I think the stamper did a good job on this one.

photo.jpg

....Rich

[Michael J.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Doesn't look right. You can easily see the grinding marks around the VIN at about a 15 degree angle to horizontal, and as Dick said, that finish is totally different than the one around the engine date/suffix.

[Larry M.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Bill:

I do not believe that the engine is factory stamped (Tonawanda engine plant and St Louis assembly line). Engine MAY be original to the car, but it has been apart and rebuilt and then stamped. I would also check the casing number and the block casting date to see how they line up with the build of the car.

My opinion only.

Larry

[William F.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Larry, et al , think you've got it pegged. I didn't say, but engine has correct casting numbers and dates and is original to car, but a previous owner had original engine rebuilt and unfortunately, decked the block; then restamped; unfortunately, didn't recreate broach marks, it seems. Present owner knows about restamping but wasn't sure if it "looked as factory." I didn't see any broach marks either, but I'm no pad expert. That being said, the car has had a frame off, good, but not NCRS perfect- would probably get 2nd flight. Mechanicals are excellent; pulls stronger than some L72's,4 speed , base/clear paint drives great, no wind noise, cold factory AC; PS ,PB, power windows, repop knockoffs, sidepipes-?original to car, all glass except windshield original, Marlboro Maroon with black interior. Owner really doesn't want to sell it-I know him- but would sell for $95K. What do ya'll think?

[William F.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Thanks for assesments. Put another way, how much in absolute $ do you think not having a pad stamp that "will judge" lowers the value of an otherwise good highly optioned including AC BB midyear? This particular car would probably pass all operations and would probably be high second flight as is based on some parts with incorrect dates, etc.

[Joe R.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Let's see now!

1. Non-original engine
2. Base coat clear coat
3. Second Class Restoration


"Run Forrest Run"

[William F.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Joe, maybe I used wrong words about restoration. Not "second class", just a few things like horn relay not correct or dated, hood latch receivers painted black rather than silver metal finish. How many factory AC, born BB's do you see? How many that aren't base clear coat? My question about decrease in price a knowledgeable person would pay related strictly to bad pad stamp as opposed to one with correct stamp.
Thanks.

[George W.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

As you know a car is worth what someone will pay for it; this has to many issues to be worth 95K IMO...
I agree with "run"...

[William F.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

Ray
Reread my description. While apparently poor pad can't prove it's original engine; I know the history as I stated before; castings and dates are correct. I asked for opinions, but given knowing facts regarding this car.

[William P.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

If you are serious about buying the car make the deal conditional on having Al Grenning check out the pad. There were a # of 66 L36 engines in the fall of 65 that were factory grind outs .
Not every pad that left the factory was perfect .
Bill

[Dick W.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

If you are serious about buying the car make the deal conditional on having Al Grenning check out the pad. There were a # of 66 L36 engines in the fall of 65 that were factory grind outs .
Not every pad that left the factory was perfect .
Bill

With the very apparent faults, no need to pay anyone to look at it. NO engine left the plant with circular marks on the pad.

[William P.]

Re: '66 L36 Pad Stamp

I do not see circular marks that would have been made by a conventional circular broach . Any machine that made the marks I see would have had to be made by a huge machine or a file .

I would still reccomend Mr Grenning's opinion.

Bill