Background:

I bought my Silver '65 Coupe (L76 engine) in early January, 2012. The numbers all seemed to check out.

Block casting number: 3782870
Block casting date code: B215
Engine stamp pad:

Doing the math, everything looked OK to me at the time. And with good light and a magnifying glass, it looks like I can see evidence of the broach marks.

Today I was organizing some of the information for my car, and the thought struck me: 0229... That's February 29th. Gee, was 1965 a leap year? No it wasn't.

So, did someone at the Flint Engine Plant make a mistake?

Feedback appreciated.

 

Here's the pad on my 65 built shortly after yours. Almost every character in the assembly stamp is different than yours. Also the "4" in the VIN is different. I know they used several different stamps so anything is possible. As far as re-stamping incorrectly, I've seen several that were done wrong, but I'm not saying yours is a re-stamp.
I was looking at a 1960 at a show and the owner was bragging that it had the original motor. I asked him if he knew it was re-stamped incorrectly. He got all pissy and defensive. His VIN was stamped using a gang holder and small characters. You should have seen the look on his face when I told him they didn't start that procedure until 3 months after his car built. He knew nothing about the free-hand stamp pads in 1960.

Jim

 

Whew I thought another stamp pad fight was about to begin.
Just Kidding it looks good to me but I know nothing. Shemp

 

Thanks for the positive feedback.

 

There was no 2/29 that year.
my '65 is listed in the NCRS monthly production lists as THE last car off the line in Feb of '65. that year, '65, production ended for Feb on Friday, 2/26. and the last 6 of my VIN are 111059 - your car is 369 VINS further ahead of mine so it has to be a March car, not a Feb car - which we know since in '65 2/29 didn't exist.

I suppose it's POSSIBLE that it's a factory misstamp but if that's the case there were probably others with the same mistake and it would most likely be a "known" factory error or if it's a restamp than the guy that did it was just an idiot.

 

That's the way I'm leaning....just looking at the digit '9' at the end of the stamping (before the "HH") compared to the "9" in 1snake's stamp makes it really look suspect...let alone some of the other things...

 

Asked and answered. Like I said, I've seen lots that were wrong.

Jim

 

Compare with your transmission stamp.

 

If you really want to know for sure contact Al Grenning . For a couple of hundred he will tell you his opinion .
Bill

 

Your picture quality is not the best, so it is difficult to give a definite opinion on your engine pad...........BUT it appears to be original. I think the factory guy just got mixed up and used the wrong date. He probably realized it and changed later in the day. Who really knows.

Al Grenning contact info is http://ccas4vettes.com/news.htm. I would send him an e-mail and inquire about your engine stamping. He may tell you that it is a known anomoly......or he may want $$ to provide that information. I don't know.

Probably worth an e-mail or phone call to Al.

Larry

 

I have a typo trim tag and when I attended one of Al's seminars and showed him photos he asked for me to email them to him. I did that and he responded that it was a typo trim tag in his opinion and stated many mistakes were made on the line. He uses my photos and car as an example of the errors made in his current seminars. Shoot him an email.
Rick

 

Thank you Powershift and Ricks327.

 

I think this has been addressed before, but the "9" in your date code stamp looks like an upside down "6".

I seem to recall hearing that it wasn't possible to put the stamps in upside down in the gang holder.

Does anyone have an example of a date code stamp for this year and type of engine that contains the digit "6"?

 

I worked 30+ years in a plant where we stamped military mat'l. Stuff far more important then engines. Some guys cared, some didn't. Anything could and did happen.

 

I've seen a few mistakes made such as presumed assembly line pad stamps, 67 tank stickers with wrong year, casting dates on blocks with inverted "6", trim tag's etc. I would not be suprised if stamped with wrong (non-existent) date.
But, I'm still not 100% sure yours is not re-stamped. JMO.

 

If you want to know for sure he is worth it . His prices vary according to the value of the car .
He did a big block for me a couple of years ago and I was satisfied with his opinion. At that time if I just wanted a verbal opinion it was $200. I had him certify mine in writing as it was a wierd one . Someone posted pictures of mine here and the " experts " tore it apart like dogs on a bone .
He was able to prove it was original with comparison to others in the same period and he actually had internal factory records that ordered these blocks re-configured .
Al is a very cordial man to deal with .
Good Luck
Bill

 

Which is why I don't ever post my stamp pad pictures - I find the endless debates over what a 'real deal' broach mark looks like amusing. Some of the arguments over the characteristics of the stamped numbers/letters is always fun too. Having done some hand stamping in an aircraft maintenance facility for a while I can tell you its hardly a precise affair.

 

As alrady stated, Al has many, many engine photos in his data base and is very fair with his appraisal.

I have a friend with and original 1965 fuel injection coupe, #11255, maroon / black vinyl, all original, history to New Jersey. Has POP Protect plate. Once owned by collector Ed Mueller. 4 speed, 3:70 posi,

TRIM TAG :
H2(March 2, 1965)
65 437 S2066 Body
TR std 900MM Paint

Engine :F0212HN

Car has transistor ign, AM/FM Radio, a little over 34000 miles. It has BLOOMINGTON SURVIVOR and NCRS awards from the 80's.

Made the day PRIOR to your car. My guess is someone tried hard.....but missed the date and font characters on your pad.


.

 

Al Grenning is the regarded expert in the field of stamp pads.But he is not perfect and does not profess to be.He just offers his educated opinion.I know personally of three Bloomington Gold and NCRS top flight cars that he judged the pad as good that are restamps.I am sure that there are more out there as well.That being said I would have him exam the pad of any high end Corvette's stamp pad that was looking to buy to give me a better piece of mind.

 

That's interesting...so a good broach and restamp still gets a nod by the regarded expert? Was Mr. Grenning made aware the 3 BG/TF cars had restamped pads?