My engine is a factory re-stamp?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 159
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From: Mansfield Texas
My engine is a factory re-stamp?
Took my car to a Corvette rersto shop for a check out. I don't know much about it as I just bought it. The engine looked like the VIN# had been removed by a dremel and re-stamped. I assumed it was just done by the restorer and is NOT the correct motor. The Corvette restorer guy said that he believes it is in fact the motor the car was born with. Just that the motor was probably one that was meant for another car, had a problem, went back for repairs and was re-stamped for my car days later in the assembly line. He claims the broach marks look correct, although the VIN# is definately off center, as they did not re-stamp over where the previous vin was removed. All the date codes are correct. He did mention that NCRS would kill me over the re-stamp, even if it was done in the factory.
I don't plan to ever take this car to NCRS specs, as it will always be a driver, and too many small parts are not original, but it always would be nice to know it was in fact the original motor. I guess there will never be a way to really know.
I don't plan to ever take this car to NCRS specs, as it will always be a driver, and too many small parts are not original, but it always would be nice to know it was in fact the original motor. I guess there will never be a way to really know.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Texas
Here is an attempt to add a couple of links to the only two pics I have.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_12_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_11_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_12_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_11_full.jpg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,829
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From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Here is an attempt to add a couple of links to the only two pics I have.
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_12_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_11_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_12_full.jpg
http://www.cardomain.com/member_page...52_11_full.jpg
cant see well enough to assist
you need close clear photos:
that story that guy at the shop told you sounds like
horsepoopie !!!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,468
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...the VIN derivative is a very small part of the engine block judging, even if from another Corvette...
...I looked at some older judging sheets when my Silver '68 coupe was judged April 4, 2003 at Stone Mountain, GA
Block Casting Numbers if correct 350 points
Block Casting Date if correct 175 points
Assembly Stamping Date & Suffix Code if correct 25 points
VIN Derivative if correct 25 points
Stamp Pad Surface Finish 38 points
...so, just for an example, say my early built '74 coupe(Sept 11, '73), which is a "CLA" L-48 automatic lost the original motor and I installed a late '73 Corvette "CLA" L-48 automatic motor that was within a 6 month "window" of Sept 11, '73 and was exactly the same as my original '74 L-48 motor EXCEPT the VIN # derivative, I would ONLY LOSE a total of 25 points. I would receive 100% of the points for everything else.
...I looked at some older judging sheets when my Silver '68 coupe was judged April 4, 2003 at Stone Mountain, GA
Block Casting Numbers if correct 350 points
Block Casting Date if correct 175 points
Assembly Stamping Date & Suffix Code if correct 25 points
VIN Derivative if correct 25 points
Stamp Pad Surface Finish 38 points
...so, just for an example, say my early built '74 coupe(Sept 11, '73), which is a "CLA" L-48 automatic lost the original motor and I installed a late '73 Corvette "CLA" L-48 automatic motor that was within a 6 month "window" of Sept 11, '73 and was exactly the same as my original '74 L-48 motor EXCEPT the VIN # derivative, I would ONLY LOSE a total of 25 points. I would receive 100% of the points for everything else.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Factory restamps are known to exist and were usually done exactly as described to you: old number ground off, new number stamped on -- usually not perfectly. The engine assembly date was usually not changed. All of this would have occurred in the heavy repair section at St. Louis before the car was shipped.
Got better pictures?
Got better pictures?
