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2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Numbers Stamp PAD Questions PICS HELP ????
See enclosed 2 photos of my 1968 427/400 4spd block numbers pad stamp, built April 1, 1968 it appears there are shadow numbers ( duplicate set ) when looking with bright light & magnified, any imput ? thoughts ? seems strange, anyone see this before ? RESTAMP ? as you back off view pic # 2 you don't notice it as much ? i never noticed it before, wasnt untill photographed that it showed up, RIGHT NOW !!!! some are also heavier & others mor faint.......any insight , thoughts ? imput please............i'm NERVOUS .... OH BOY.............NO BAD NEWS PLEASE ............!!! ZIXXX PACKER
Last edited by 427SIXPACK; Oct 1, 2006 at 06:01 PM.
From looking at it it looks as if there was some bounce because the light set of numbers are all out of phase together with the full stamp. Now the question is weather this is an normal anomaly or something else. Your photos are very good and allow for analysis of the field (block) for broach marks. I would post on the NCRS board for an analysis there. In previous discussions I have seen postings by St Louis plant employees on the subject of engine stampings.
Looks original to me. My original steering box on another car has a double hit date code. Much more visible than this one. Nothing to be concerned with here. The stamping procedure was not rocket science. The guy with the 5 lb sledge set the stamp holder on the masking tape and whacked it. I bet there are plenty of double hits more visible than that one out there. The hammer bounced and that is what it looks like to me. Just visualuize what the guy did all day and you will see how this could happen.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Decked / Restamped ????
It appears to me that the lighter duplicated letters / numbers in the backround are identical in size & style to those that are darker / more prominent. Would'nt it be impossible to match that exactly ? and.......if you look at the spot thats most important to verify a big block engine, "IM"
is L68 4spd, it matches as you can see a faint "I" in the same area .......HENSE NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT INTO SOMETHING IT'S NOT.....THE VIN PORTION MATCHES MY CAR, & I HAVE THE TANK STICKER WHICH MATCHES EVERYTHING AS WELL, & EVERYTHING ELSE I SEE ON THE CAR IS CORRECT & DATES ALL SEEM TO BE CORRECT INCLUDING ORIGINAL REDLINE SPARE & DATED JACK, WHERE ARE ALL THE EXPERTS.............?
Thanks ZIXXX PACKER
Last edited by 427SIXPACK; Oct 1, 2006 at 04:56 PM.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Where are all the experts ?
Where are all the experts ? thought i'd get a million replies, since everyone is ALWAYS talking about "MATCHING #'S ?
help...............!!!
thanks zixxx packer
The way I understand this is that those pad broach marks are correct GM style, longitudinal straight marks.
A decked block normally has curved marks.
How did they stamp ? One stamp at a time or was there some kind of a stamp set holder .
I would think it was one stamp at a time and this would make this susspicious again as the double stamping is equal to all the numbers/letters. If it bounced, this guy must have had a system.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
not one at a time.....
ALMOST POSITIVE THEY WERE PUT IN A BLOCK & DONE AS A "SET" OF NUMBERS ALL AT ONCE, CAN ANYONE CONFIRM . tHATS WHAY THEY ARE ALL STRAIGHT ON THE SAME PLANE...... zixxx packer
ALMOST POSITIVE THEY WERE PUT IN A BLOCK & DONE AS A "SET" OF NUMBERS ALL AT ONCE, CAN ANYONE CONFIRM . tHATS WHAY THEY ARE ALL STRAIGHT ON THE SAME PLANE...... zixxx packer
True, it was a stamp pad gang where the numbers were added. It was then placed on the engine pad and given a wack with a mallet.
...How did they stamp ? One stamp at a time or was there some kind of a stamp set holder...
They used a tool which held the stamps of the various characters of the VIN derivative. They put the tool in place on the pad and whacked it with a two pound hammer while the engine was hanging from a chain hoist on the engine dress line. For the next engine, they changed the last character of the stamp and stamped the next engine.
Thanks to John Hinckley for explaining the process in Corvette Enthusiast Magazine. John's articles are worth the price of a subscription.
I agree with the double stamp but there is one problem.
The Engine stamp was applied at Tonawanda after the engine was assembled.
The VIN stamp was applied at St Louis right before the engine was installed in the vehicle.
What are the chances of a double strike on two different stampings?