Factory Restamps
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 734
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From: Bryan Texas
Factory Restamps
I work at a speed shop. A guy brings his 68 in to have some things done. He's a first time customer and I had never seen the car before. We get a lot of repeat business, so I take a few minutes to "learn" the car for later reference. As I'm checking out the engine pad, I notice the right side has been ground down and restamped. The stamping itself looks good, old.. original? I've read about factory restamps on this site, but can't find the threads.
It seems I remember the factory not worrying too much about things looking pretty, just getting the numbers right, the block was obviously ground and maybe smoothed a little.. it appears that nobody was trying to hide anything.
Did the factory do ugly restamps on 68s?
It's a late production 68 (19,XXX), probably a 69 casting
It seems I remember the factory not worrying too much about things looking pretty, just getting the numbers right, the block was obviously ground and maybe smoothed a little.. it appears that nobody was trying to hide anything.
Did the factory do ugly restamps on 68s?
It's a late production 68 (19,XXX), probably a 69 casting
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Why would the factory ever need to restamp any motor?
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
Last edited by Ron R; Nov 7, 2008 at 09:35 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 157
From: Miami, FL
Why would the factory ever need to restamp any motor?
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
I agree on valuation of the car and I would not consider buying it as numbers matching.
In this case the right side was restamped - which is the engine type and date, right? So the VIN portion is still matching the car?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 945
Likes: 1
The numbers were hand stamped into the engine at the time of assembly by an employee using a tool with the complete number set. The employee had to change sets as the engines came down the line. It happens during production that the wrong stamp was used. The fix at the assembly plant was to grind off the wrong number and restamp the correct number. Starting in 1997 numbers were no longer hand stamped.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
Judges should become familiar with the size and fonts on these stamps. There are some factory variations. Judges should also become familiar with correct broach marks. Tonawanada is known to have salvaged cylinder cases from failed engine assemblies and restamped the cases. St. Louis has ground and restamped serial number identifications.
Such cases are to be closely scrutinized to detemine whether the changes are from the factory or from a later alteration. Any doubts about a restamp should be referred to the team leader and/or chief judge.
so a factory restamp is possible, although hard to prove or disprove...
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,330
Likes: 359
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Why would the factory ever need to restamp any motor?
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
A dealer or owner might have restamped it - like maybe it was a warranty replacement. The reason motors were stamped in the first place was never so future collectors could identify factory-correctness, it was for theft recovery so the cops could figure out what motors went to what cars if they busted up a chop shop. If no care was taken to make the stamp "look original", it was probably done by a dealer or the owner. They may have wanted the numbers to match for that reason, simply to affirm that THAT motor went with THAT car now, even if it never did originally.
As a collector, the general point of view is that a restamp is a restamp and the circumstances don't really matter. If I want to buy an original car, I'm going to pass on a car that isn't original regardless of the reason why. It wouldn't make a difference if it was a "factory restamp" even if there was such a thing.
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From: Bryan Texas
True.. I got my production years messed up. I haven't checked the casting date or the engine code.. The right side of the engine pad has the grinding and the partial vin number. The left side looks good with broach marks
