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Hi Guys,
Can people please give me their opinion of this stamping on an engine pad. 3955270 block. This will be a good test of your engine pad knowledge
I will get on here in a few days and tell you the history on the block.
Thanks,
Kevin C.
Nothing unusual jumps out at me. The fonts all look correct. The last three digits (956) hang a little low which is also correctly seen on many stamps. If it’s fake, it’s an excellent job. It would have me fooled. It looks original in my opinion.
No claim to be a pad expert, but I will offer 2 data pts:
1.
I have a 1969 L68 427 400hp and the Q in the LQ has the squiggle starting inside the circle and rolling out at 5 o'clock, so for your photo the inside the O part of the squiggle to make it a Q is missing here.
2.
My friend in GA also had a 1969 427 L68 400hp block with the identical Q as mine
Both could be fakes but I doubt that. Or maybe GM had 2 different Q stamps, very possible. If you are paying a premium, suggest you get a master judge opinion. Or I thought somebody had a catalog of stamps with dates so maybe you can find a close date to compare stamps for a fee. IMHO, anything can be faked for lots of money and so I think there is a limit to how much premium to pay for original engine. My 2 cents. Oh, and what other supporting evidence for original engine is there?
Last edited by 20mercury; May 13, 2022 at 11:58 AM.
broaching is not something that is designed-in. it is tired cutters that needed cleaned up but were kept running.
the fact is there are broaching marks on most factory decks, mostly from large production machines,
the cutters were massive which caused the broaching.
No claim to be a pad expert, but I will offer 2 data pts:
1.
I have a L68 427 400hp and the Q in the LQ has the squiggle starting inside the circle and rolling out at 5 o'clock, so for your photo the inside the O part of the squiggle to make it a Q is missing here.
2.
My friend in GA also had a 427 L68 400hp block with the identical Q as mine
Both could be fakes but I doubt that. Or maybe GM had 2 different Q stamps, very possible. If you are paying a premium, suggest you get a master judge opinion. Or I thought somebody had a catalog of stamps with dates so maybe you can find a close date to compare stamps for a fee. IMHO, anything can be faked for lots of money and so I think there is a limit to how much premium to pay for original engine. My 2 cents. Oh, and what other supporting evidence for original engine is there?
I also have a 68 L68 400hp but my stamp is a IM, I thought IQ was 69
the fact is there are broaching marks on most factory decks, mostly from large production machines,
the cutters were massive which caused the broaching.
I see factory broach marks, or what would be typical factory type cuts. Also see someone decided to scratch up the pad at right angles to the broach marks where the head would be and on the pad a little.
20MERCURY: I am sure they had different Q’s. Here is a pic of the Q you probably have. It’s vin is also near what the OP posted to compare
I see factory broach marks, or what would be typical factory type cuts. Also see someone decided to scratch up the pad at right angles to the broach marks where the head would be and on the pad a little.
20MERCURY: I am sure they had different Q’s. Here is a pic of the Q you probably have. It’s vin is also near what the OP posted to compare
i think it is a restamp. careful and decently done, but you can see the T and the 1 next to it leaning towards each other. and the Q leans to the right. on ed's stamp you can see the whole gang leaning slightly upwards but evenly. and they don't line up that well. same with the vin.the first 9 leans left and the last 6 leans right and alignment is not very good. is this a block, or a numbers-matching car? 427-400. that is oval port tri-power if i am correct.
Kevin,
The engine stamping is typical factory production. I have several similar stamps from the same time that have the different "Q" as yours does vs the one that was used in Ed's post. Here is one close to yours and the same day
Here is another LQ pad below I have in my files. Also, as to the pad I posted above and even this one below, I can not say for sure THEY are in fact original but it looks correct from any of the pads I have looked at over the last 35 or so years that I knew were original or those certified by AL G from CCAS. I make no claims of being any kind of expert. I can only guess based on what looks typically correct. And of course not counting the really silly restamps that are easy to spot
Kevin, I am pretty sure you are the L89 guy? Same person who had the silver 69 L89 automatic coupe on eBay a few years ago with the grind out pad? If so I believe you are probably way more familiar with identifying what’s real and not than I am. So I’m am pretty interested in what the story is with this one. By the way, I really liked that silver 69. Wish I had the room to store it somewhere I was really considering putting in a bid.
Kevin's silver L89 was a special car. Silver, gunmetal leather, N14 exhaust and an automatic. The motor was a grind out but definitely the original motor. What a great car! His other L89, the red/red one is pretty special too
Kevin's silver L89 was a special car. Silver, gunmetal leather, N14 exhaust and an automatic. The motor was a grind out but definitely the original motor. What a great car! His other L89, the red/red one is pretty special too
I just wish at the time I had more room in the garage! I’m trying to make it bigger now but running into permit issues. The silver car was really interesting. I had no place to store it. It is great combo of options and just looked really mean.
Yes, I was the owner of the Silver, M40, N14, L89 car. That car was very, very special.
Based on Tonawanda production data from long ago, I believe there was about 43 M40 L89 Corvettes built. The silver leather just made it even rarer. Have you ever seen a 69 that left St. Louis with a silver leather interior? I've only seen one other.
I pursued that car for about 25 years before the owner agreed to part with it. Every major number in the car was original. The only "flaw" was the reground engine pad. A number of people passed on the car because they felt someone had altered the front pad, but I was confident in it due to knowing the car's history. The person who ultimately purchased the car had a someone whom I consider an expert on engine pads, (Gary B.), confirm it before the purchase. Hopefully that car will be restored within the next few years and out in the NCRS world.
Ed--you should have somehow made room for that silver car. It was really special and had the original dealer invoice with it that we retrieved from the the dealer 40 years after he sold it. Good luck with the garage expansion. Anywhere on LI must be a nightmare to get past zoning boards. Kevin
Hopefully that car will be restored within the next few years and out in the NCRS world.
Ed--you should have somehow made room for that silver car. It was really special and had the original dealer invoice with it that we retrieved from the the dealer 40 years after he sold it. Good luck with the garage expansion. Anywhere on LI must be a nightmare to get past zoning boards. Kevin
Hello Kevin,
That’s right, the gunmetal leather….I know….I regretted not having another spot. And it was priced right. I would have liked that one. I don’t remember what you ultimately sold it for but if I remember it was somewhere near 50-60k-ish? which was a very good price even for back a few years ago. I wasn’t concerned too much about the pad. It didn’t make sense that someone would have made the vin number stamp look so perfect but not “faked” a better looking pad without a grind. I don’t think I ever saw a faked grind out. I guess someone could try that (and probably have) but I would think it would get too scrutinized. I would think it’s just easier to make everything look typical to get passed the questionable.
Either way I was convinced it was legit. I hope the new owner gets to it soon. I’m a big fan of all 69’s, especially the unusual cars like that silver L89.
So I want to hear what you know about this 400hp block! Man, if this turns out to be restamped it makes everything scary. I had recently seen a restamp of an LS6 that a very knowledgeable member on here did, he was open about it. That stamp looked really nice. Would have fooled me.
1969 427/400 block
