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Looks like the casting wasn't qualified properly and it was 'shy' of metal on that pad. The surface looks to be "as cast" in that area. Today that casting would be scrapped. In the 1970's, GM would pass that as being a "non-functional defect". I think that it is real...just a good example of 'iffy' quality.
Can't really get a good look with all the paint on it. Get some lacquer thinner
and a tootbrush and scrub the paint off the pad and take another photo.
Can't really get a good look with all the paint on it. Get some lacquer thinner
and a tootbrush and scrub the paint off the pad and take another photo.
Very possibly a factory grind out. A guy in our chapter has a similar pad on his '66 - he's the original owner of the car.
Looks like it has been ground with an angle grinder - vertical grooves visible. The heads were off the block when it was done or a spacer was put on the heads to stop it damaging it. Agree with WFO76 that the paint would need to come off to really tell but it looks suspect.
This look fishy to anyone else? The area with the VIN looks ground down to me when compared to the other side which is nice and smooth.
The only CTD listing I found was for a 1970 350 300 hp and it's dated early January. If this matchs your car and the block is a 3970010 then it could be real. The VIN in the picture was built Jan.23 1970 if you have a 70 the block is Jan 10 or 16 so their is a good chance it is a factory grind out if the above matches your Corvette.
I would like a good picture with the paint removed. Use paint remover or thinner and nothing that will scratch the pad like a wire brush.
This is not my car, but one I was looking at to buy. The car is advertised as a matching numbers (engine) 1970 350 300hp so the decode looks good.
Again, if having the original engine is important to you and you are going to pay extra to get it, there is no assurance at this point that this is the original engine.
The fact that the pad has been painted indicates that someone has been at the engine already. Please take the advice above and investigate further.