Another Stamp Pad Question............
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,678
Likes: 646
From: Indiana
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C1 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C1 of Year Finalist
The first three not the same size or font. Crooked broach marks. Some look very deep.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 292
From: Ocala FL
I was going to say, the broach marks look very fresh. Very sharp and clean, and some don't look perfectly parallel. The broach NEVER made some lines cut slightly out of parallel.
The different font size is a real killer. They almost look right, but I don't think I've ever seen that on the partial VIN. The assembly codes I have seen hanging last digits but the partial VIN seem to always be right.
Interesting note.
In Nolan Adams' restoration guide, 115888 happens to be an RE engine with F0214RE. So on the surface, this one at 115871 looks right with F0214RE. One day before on both car and engine. Looks good, right?
Here is where it gets funny. If you check other cars in that area of the VIN, you find most with engines from mid-April to early May, or simply F04xxRE or F05xxRE.
The 115888 car with the F0214RE is actually an oddball.
Now you have another car 17 numbers away also with an oddball engine date.
Call me skeptical.
One engine stuck in the back getting a bit old on the shelf is one thing. Two?
I think someone checked the book, for the VIN that was close, and stamped one to match.
One way to be sure. Get the block casting date off the back flange behind the distributor.
The different font size is a real killer. They almost look right, but I don't think I've ever seen that on the partial VIN. The assembly codes I have seen hanging last digits but the partial VIN seem to always be right.
Interesting note.
In Nolan Adams' restoration guide, 115888 happens to be an RE engine with F0214RE. So on the surface, this one at 115871 looks right with F0214RE. One day before on both car and engine. Looks good, right?
Here is where it gets funny. If you check other cars in that area of the VIN, you find most with engines from mid-April to early May, or simply F04xxRE or F05xxRE.
The 115888 car with the F0214RE is actually an oddball.
Now you have another car 17 numbers away also with an oddball engine date.
Call me skeptical.
One engine stuck in the back getting a bit old on the shelf is one thing. Two?
I think someone checked the book, for the VIN that was close, and stamped one to match.
One way to be sure. Get the block casting date off the back flange behind the distributor.
Last edited by Procrastination Racing; Aug 11, 2012 at 10:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,182
Likes: 101
From: Pendleton IN
Often times during the manufacturing process, when there is a variance, more than one unit is found until the process is corrected and back to spec. So, depending on a particular variable, having more than one engine set aside is not a stretch.
Last edited by Vette Daddy; Aug 12, 2012 at 12:45 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
I was thinking engine assemblies were used in a LIFO ordering anyway as they were received at the plant, causing a seemingly unordered sequence to engine assembly dates, relative to VINs.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 206
From: Syracuse, NY and Clearwater, FL
Just for a point of reference, My '63 (not the stamp pad at the beginning of this thread) has the following dates:
1-31-63 Block Casting
2-11-63 Engine Assembly
2-15-63 GM Official Production Date
So, my car would represent last in, first out.
Last edited by Rich Yanulis; Aug 12, 2012 at 12:19 PM.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,078
Likes: 206
From: Syracuse, NY and Clearwater, FL
Hey Guys,
Again, thank you for the feedback.
There have been some very valid comments made in this thread.
I continue to learn and gain knowledge from this forum.......
And thats a good thing
Rich Yanulis
Again, thank you for the feedback.
There have been some very valid comments made in this thread.
I continue to learn and gain knowledge from this forum.......
And thats a good thing
Rich Yanulis
