Al T

Could someone help decode this stamp pad? CLA shows up as 73/74/77 L-48. Doesn’t the year on this show as 71? What engine is this?

Thanks in advance.

Allan

hunt4cleanair

The second digit of the VIN derivative (lower number) shows a 7 which is the year of engine assembly. Also, the stamp pad configuration is the "short" pad, a C3 late model Flint plant format. Earlier years the stamp pad was elongated. The date code of 120 indicates a January 20th day of assembly. What is unusual is the 1 after the V which is typically a 0 when the month is a single digit.

So this engine is a 1977 350/180 hp for an automatic transmission...base motor assembled January 1977.

derekderek

date of assembly. date car was assembled, or date engine was assembled?

Alan 71

Hi Allan
Here's an example of a typical 71 sb pad and stamps that h4c describes.

The engine assembly stamp was done at the Flint engine plant (all small block engines for Corvettes came from the Flint plant) and the VIN derivative was done at St.Louis.

The same stamp that was used in St.Louis to stamp the VIN derivative on the block was also used to stamp the vin derivative on the side flange of the transmission case.
It would be interesting to see what that stamp looks like on your car.

Regards,
Alan

derekderek

so, that is Jan 7 assembly date for the engine? therefore it must fall between the casting dates on block, heads, etc and build date of the car, I assume.

Al T

There’s an engine advertised locally as a 1970 LT-1 that I was interested in. I asked the seller to send me a photo of the stamp pad and this what he sent. Definitely not a LT-1.
I guess I should tell him it’s a 1977 350 185hp. That’s unfortunate for him.

Here’s the stamp pad on my engine. May 21st assembly date, June 8th production date on the car with shipping on the 9th.

Alan 71

Hi dd,
The block was cast during the twi-light shift December 31, 1970.
The engine was assembled on January 7, 1971.
The trim tag date is January 14, 1971.
Regards,
Alan

All the dated parts are right where one would expect them to be except for the intake manifold which has an August 27, 1970 date….. a bit early for a common part. Perhaps the strike played a part in that?

Alan 71

Hi Allan,
What IS interesting about the first pad you posted is the different fonts used for the 2 '1s' in the assembly stamp.
Regards,
Alan

Al T

That was strange to me as well.

Alan 71

Hi Allan,
It's not that unusual to have 'mixed' fonts in one stamp.
It seems to be most common with zeros, ones, threes, and sixes/nines.
Regards,
Alan

Al T

Out of curiosity, where is the VIN stamped on the Turbo 400 in my car?

Alan 71

Hi Allan,
Look here.
Regards,
Alan

Al T

Thanks.

derekderek

There’s an engine advertised locally as a 1970 LT-1 that I was interested in. I asked the seller to send me a photo of the stamp pad and thiat is what he sent. Definitely not a LT-1.
I guess I should tell him it’s a 1977 350 185hp. That’s unfortunate for him. Al T's quote} I don't think it is unfortunate for him. it would be unfortunate for the buyer. I betcha he knows what it actually is...

Al T

You're very cynical. lol