Machining off block numbers
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Interesting. If this is true, it adds interest to Al Grenning's services where he compares photos of known valid stamps which were close in time to the stamp in question. If a different font was used for some characters in the VIN which didn't change from one vehicle to the next, the stamp being questioned should show the same font. Tougher to fake if the restamper is unaware of a different font being in the mix that day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 801
From: Massapequa Park NY
Interesting. If this is true, it adds interest to Al Grenning's services where he compares photos of known valid stamps which were close in time to the stamp in question. If a different font was used for some characters in the VIN which didn't change from one vehicle to the next, the stamp being questioned should show the same font. Tougher to fake if the restamper is unaware of a different font being in the mix that day.
Last edited by ed427vette; Sep 16, 2018 at 12:34 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,477
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
The procedure I was referring to is the Engine Assembly Code stamp. At the beginning of the shift, they know what engine batches they were tasked with building on that day. If the engine assembly plant had 8 different types of engines to build that day, they put together 8 different date code/suffix stamp fixtures. One fixture setup (like the picture above) was used all day for each specific suffix code so if Al has pictures of other Corvette engine suffix stamps for the same day and same suffix code, he can compare the fonts on an engine in question to the other known good examples. He has a lot of pictures.
The engine and transmission VIN derivative stamping was done later at the Vehicle Assembly Plant as the car was flowing down the line. VIN derivative is a different, smaller font and the last digit (or digits) were swapped for each vehicle as they are unique to that one VIN.
The engine and transmission VIN derivative stamping was done later at the Vehicle Assembly Plant as the car was flowing down the line. VIN derivative is a different, smaller font and the last digit (or digits) were swapped for each vehicle as they are unique to that one VIN.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 801
From: Massapequa Park NY
The procedure I was referring to is the Engine Assembly Code stamp. At the beginning of the shift, they know what engine batches they were tasked with building on that day. If the engine assembly plant had 8 different types of engines to build that day, they put together 8 different date code/suffix stamp fixtures. One fixture setup (like the picture above) was used all day for each specific suffix code so if Al has pictures of other Corvette engine suffix stamps for the same day and same suffix code, he can compare the fonts on an engine in question to the other known good examples. He has a lot of pictures.
The engine and transmission VIN derivative stamping was done later at the Vehicle Assembly Plant as the car was flowing down the line. VIN derivative is a different, smaller font and the last digit (or digits) were swapped for each vehicle as they are unique to that one VIN.
The engine and transmission VIN derivative stamping was done later at the Vehicle Assembly Plant as the car was flowing down the line. VIN derivative is a different, smaller font and the last digit (or digits) were swapped for each vehicle as they are unique to that one VIN.
