On engine pad code is correct, vin number-last digit can't be seen. How much does this hurt car value. Everything else matches,

 

Possibly not much. Can you see any part of the missing digit?

 

I think it depends on why it can't be seen. If it is just too rusty to make out clearly, I would think that would have little impact to the value of the car. If it has been ground away, or the pad has been otherwise tampered with, I assume most would value the car as if it was an NOM.

 

The engine was rebuilt in 1994. The engine pad was affected only on last digit. everything else is ok. I blew up the pic and saw the outline of 9 last digit. Is there anything I can spray on pad to show that.

 

the only way was to blow the pic up and then an outline of the 9 showed barely

 

Hi t,
Perhaps if you posted a photo of the pad you'd get few opinions based on what the pad and stamps look like, not just based on what you described.
Regards,
Alan

 

If you look at attached files below, pic of id pad. If you can blow it up you can see the 6 then lat digit is a outline of a 9

 

I opened the pic in Paint. It's faint, but I can see evidence of a nine.

 

Hi T,
I believe the pad shows signs that it's original broached surface was ground off, (the circular swirl marks), and then at least some of the information was re-stamped.
Regards,
Alan

Here are 2 examples of what the broached pad's surface and stamps typically look like on big block cylinder cases.
Notice the 'broach marks' (grooves) run parallel with the cylinder bores. Also notice that the stamps exhibit traits that indicate all the digits/letters were held in a 'gang holder' and were stamped at the same time.
Look at the odd spacing of the digits and letters and the differences in the depth of the impression.

 

can you send that to me. If you can see that faint 9 then that would match Vin 194370S412169

 

Apply some orange paint to the number, then rub it off after it dries. That should make the last digit come alive.

 

Being that faint, do you think that wil work

 

So it is possible it was restamped, but could also be not original. Even with numbers on heads and block reflect 1970 454

 

so it could be another 454 block, restamped

 

A restamp is always possible. However, it is possible yours is original. Especially if the motor was rebuilt at some point. Normally when a motor is rebuilt, the builder will want to "deck" the block to make sure the mating surface for the heads is true. Good builders will know on valuable cars to deck the block very lightly in order to save the original stampings. This could be the reason you have no broach marks. The 9 being more faint than the other numbers is a little unusual, but I guess that could have happened of the block was not perfectly flat there, and a little more of the metal around that number got ground off during decking than the rest of the stamp pad.

There really is no substitute for having someone knowledgeable look at the pad in person.

FWIW: If I was looking to buy that car, I would be concerned about a lot more things than just the stamp pad. If everything else was in order, and a knowledgeable person said the pad looks good for an original stamping with a light decking, I wouldn't worry much about it.

 

Hi,
"Everything else matches,"
What do you mean by that?
Looking at the part numbers and dates on the carburetor, intake manifold, heads, exhaust manifolds, water pump, fan clutch, and starter, will help determine this engine's heritage and whether it COULD BE the original engine for the car it's in.
What do the stamps look like on the transmission?
Regards,
Alan

 

I used the pic you posted. Do you have MS Paint installed? If so, right click on your pic and scroll to Open With > Paint.

 

It could be a re- stamp not seeing any broach marks

 

Here one for u to compare

 

This is a blown up, cropped, and enhanced version of the pic you posted. What's that past the "9"?