1967 Engine Pad Stamp
Please rate this L71 JA code engine pad stamping. I am looking to buy this block and would like to draw upon this forums wealth of knowledge and experience. Thanks for your input!






From a 2005 Forum Post: And, I for one, Agree totally with this quoted post:
"The "thrust" of Al Grennig's research is that identical HP blocks stamped on the same day have the same characteristics.
That being said, there were THOUSANDS of blocks stamped monthly. It would be impossible to get representative examples of identical engines stamped on the same day for every car built.
To expand on what Joe has said, I've been told that at the beginning of each day/shift, the "stamp guy" made up his "gangs" of stamps and used them for that day/shift. SO....
For a 63 300HP manual, he might have F0101RD, and for the 63 340HP manual, he might have FOIOIRE. SO, there were differences within the same day with different engine configurations.
I've seen several different "R" 's "E" 's, "F" 's , 4's, 1's, 8's, etc.
Then, you get into VIN derivatives. The guy didn't change the entire stamp for each engine. He put in the 31XXXXX. Lets say it was 3117000. The first 3 and 1 stayed. If the 1 had a broken ear, that same broken ear would appear on sequentially stamped blocks.
The guy stamped 3117000....then changed the last 0 to a 1. He didn't change the entire gang.
I have no problem with restamped engines, as long as they're represented as such. I've seen excellent restamps, and I've seen terrible restamps.
If the casting number was correct, and if the casting date was appropriate, AND IF one left the pad blank, in NCRS judging, you would lose 88 points, 25 for the assembly stamping, 25 for the VIN derivitive, and 38 for the stamp pad surface/finish. You can lose 270 points and still get a Top Flight Award. Chuck"
I say: Buy the Damn Block at your Price! if it's a good one! Regardless of the "Numbers Matching" JMHO!
Last edited by dcamick; Mar 19, 2021 at 11:26 AM.
I had someone else comment via PM that “it’s difficult to see the broach marks. Perhaps there are some around the “3”. It looks like someone sanded off the black paint which is a shame. They should have used paint thinner”.
Thoughts on this?
Last edited by AZ_Jeff; Mar 19, 2021 at 11:59 AM.






I had someone else comment via PM that “it’s difficult to see the broach marks. Perhaps there are some around the “3”. It looks like someone sanded off the black paint which is a shame. They should have used paint thinner”.
Thoughts on this?
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Where does you “expertise” on this come from? Maybe from reading a few posts here on the forum? The appearance of broach mark can vary from very apparent to basically non existent depending on the sharpness of the cutters. This coupled with weathering over the years, paint, rust and careless cleaning of the pad surface can all take there toll on a stamping.
There are WAY too many people commenting on these stamping from Internet pictures to take the results with anything more than a grain of salt in most cases. I have been looking at stamp pads for close to 50 years and can very seldom make a statement of what they really are from these types of pictures. Broach marks are only SOMETIMES an indicator and there are other factors to consider.









