1968 Engine Stamp Pad Question
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Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Far Hills NJ
1968 Engine Stamp Pad Question
Hi guys, I am in the middle of rebuilding my 68 427/390. (Actually my mechanic is, I'm just watching and asking alot of dumb questions)...the stamp pad reads.."TI120IL" on the left side of the pad. The right side is blank. I had a 69 Vette a few years ago, and the right side had the suffix of the VIN #. Is my blank pad indicative of an engine replacement, or is this typical of '68's?? Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi J67,
I'd think you'd typically see the serial number derivative of the car the engine went into at St.Louis on the right side of your pad.
The IL suffix does indicate a 427/390 engine for a 68 Corvette though.
Have you checked to see if there is a vin derivative stamp on your transmission.... and does it agree with the vin of your car?
regards,
Alan
I'd think you'd typically see the serial number derivative of the car the engine went into at St.Louis on the right side of your pad.
The IL suffix does indicate a 427/390 engine for a 68 Corvette though.
Have you checked to see if there is a vin derivative stamp on your transmission.... and does it agree with the vin of your car?
regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 12, 2013 at 08:13 AM.
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
IL is the correct code for the 427/390 with manual transmission. Look opposite the engine stamp and see if you have a VIN derivitive stamp. The charactors of the VIN derivitive will be smaller than the engine stamp.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 13, 2013 at 10:26 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Far Hills NJ
From the C3 Registry:
Body and Drive train Specifications:
Vin# 194378S428079
Body build code M06 =August 6, 1968 Paint code 986=Silverton silver w/ Black interior
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
gears assembled July 24, 1968
Body and Drive train Specifications:
Vin# 194378S428079
Body build code M06 =August 6, 1968 Paint code 986=Silverton silver w/ Black interior
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
gears assembled July 24, 1968
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 69,
I believe the number you listed for the transmission is the casting number for the case.
Try to find the stamped information. It's on the side of the transmission's flange.
Regards,
Alan
Here's one fro a mid-January 71:
P: Muncie
1: Model Year (not calendar year)
T: December ( calendar year)
21: Day
A: Wide Range
vin sequence is below "X out".
I believe the number you listed for the transmission is the casting number for the case.
Try to find the stamped information. It's on the side of the transmission's flange.
Regards,
Alan
Here's one fro a mid-January 71:
P: Muncie
1: Model Year (not calendar year)
T: December ( calendar year)
21: Day
A: Wide Range
vin sequence is below "X out".
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 12, 2013 at 09:53 AM.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 613
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From: Far Hills NJ
I will look at that. So...if I show the car, what is the truthful answer as to why there is no VIN on the stamp pad. Is it a certainty that it was removed (indicating a non-matching block) or are there certain scenarios when a pad may not have a VIN? For example, what does this info from the C3 registry indicate?
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I will look at that. So...if I show the car, what is the truthful answer as to why there is no VIN on the stamp pad. Is it a certainty that it was removed (indicating a non-matching block) or are there certain scenarios when a pad may not have a VIN? For example, what does this info from the C3 registry indicate?
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
Engine block cast #3916321 cast date "E", May 1968, IL 390HP 427
Heads oval port cast #3917215
Manifolds cast #3880827 and 3880828 ( Corvette only)
Intake manifold #3937793 mid year up 390HP 427 Corvette only
Carburetor Rochester MV4 #7028209= 390HP 1968
Transmission code 180K8P = Muncie, build date July 1968 Matching vin# as car
Rear axle cast F128=June,12, 1968 Build stamp AT72468= HD Posi-traction 3.08
Post a pic of your pad if you want suggestions of what might have happened.
The engine assembly date indicates Nov 20th. Your car was built within a few days of the end of '68 production in August '68. If your engine was assembled in Nov. '68 obviously it's not the original. If it was assembled in Nov. '67 it would be unlikely for it to sit around for 10 months waiting for your car. The unexplained missing VIN stamp makes it even more unlikely.
As for what to say at car shows, tell them that your engine was Duntov's office paperweight. He loved it like a child and they had to wait for him to go on summer vacation to sneak it out for installation in a car.
Don't worry about the truth- nobody else tells it, why should you?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,172
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi j67,
Have you looked for the transmission stamp?
The SAME vin derivative stamp was used for the engine pad and transmission pad and they were typically done at the same time.
It's really not likely that the engine vin derivative was not stamped while the transmission was stamped.
So, is the transmission stamped?
If just part of the engine pad SURFACE has been worked on there would likely be clear signs of that.
Regards,
Alan
Have you looked for the transmission stamp?
The SAME vin derivative stamp was used for the engine pad and transmission pad and they were typically done at the same time.
It's really not likely that the engine vin derivative was not stamped while the transmission was stamped.
So, is the transmission stamped?
If just part of the engine pad SURFACE has been worked on there would likely be clear signs of that.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I've heard of an alternate stamp location, think it was near the oil filter? Was this possible for 68?
Given the engine build date came after the car assembly date, it seems unlikely the block is original. Is it possible it's a replacement engine, already built and dated but not installed by the factory?
Given the engine build date came after the car assembly date, it seems unlikely the block is original. Is it possible it's a replacement engine, already built and dated but not installed by the factory?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
Hello there, Jeffrey67 ...... Tooright.
Same issue with my '68 427/435. I purchased this car in 1975. 1979 I had the engine balanced and blueprinted in Lafayette, IN. I remember the machinist telling me if I ever needed these numbers I would have to bring them out by etching the area with acid as the milling of the block during the rebuild made the numbers very hard to read.
I have worked on cleaning the area and am able to read T1025 IR. The block cast date was I 11 7 (Sep 11 '67). Car came off the line Nov '67 ..... all good, but ..... like you .... unable to read vin assembly number. (Your block may have been milled as well)
DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA IF ACID ETCHING COULD WORK? IF SO, MURATIC OR WHAT?
Same issue with my '68 427/435. I purchased this car in 1975. 1979 I had the engine balanced and blueprinted in Lafayette, IN. I remember the machinist telling me if I ever needed these numbers I would have to bring them out by etching the area with acid as the milling of the block during the rebuild made the numbers very hard to read.
I have worked on cleaning the area and am able to read T1025 IR. The block cast date was I 11 7 (Sep 11 '67). Car came off the line Nov '67 ..... all good, but ..... like you .... unable to read vin assembly number. (Your block may have been milled as well)
DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA IF ACID ETCHING COULD WORK? IF SO, MURATIC OR WHAT?
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Possible answer
Hi guys, I am in the middle of rebuilding my 68 427/390. (Actually my mechanic is, I'm just watching and asking alot of dumb questions)...the stamp pad reads.."TI120IL" on the left side of the pad. The right side is blank. I had a 69 Vette a few years ago, and the right side had the suffix of the VIN #. Is my blank pad indicative of an engine replacement, or is this typical of '68's?? Thanks.