Engine #'s Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
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From: Long Island NY
Engine #'s Question
In my search for a vert shark, looked at a couple of vettes this week. One 68 inparticular I liked had matching #'s. However, the beginning #'s were stamped the usual way and the last two #'s were etched into the engine pad. I have heard of mistakes on the assembly line where a worker stamped wrong #'s on the block and then correctly re-entered them. Is that the case here? Any help would help.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Spring, Texas
Re: Engine #'s Question (Vettesic)
Perhaps I am a pessimist, but my first thougth would be someone (i.e. a non-GM employee) was playing with an engraving tool. If the owner claims it came from the factory that way, the owner has the burden of proving it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Engine #'s Question (Vettesic)
You were'nt clear if it was the last two digits of the actual VIN sequence number OR the two "suffix code" letters. Just for reference, my '68's pad reads 18S418434 V0429HT Which ones in your case are "etched" as you say??? If the date of the block, engine assembly date(April 29), falls in line with the body build date(my car is May 6th, by the way), chances are decent it "COULD" be a factory one. If the two suffix letters are "messed" with, then they maybe trying to make a 300hp car "appear" to be a 350hp just for example. I know myself a few cars I've judged where the VIN number was one digit off because the stamp person did'nt change the last digit in the "gang stamp" holder and carried it over to the next car coming down the line. There are certain individuals who know about "factory grind outs" and really don't want to share alot of that particular info because if it was known pretty soon you'd start seeing alot of possible "forged" numbered engines with people claiming "factory grind out"!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
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From: Moon Township PA
Re: Engine #'s Question (Vettesic)
If by etched you mean not stamped, I would have a hard time believing that this was an original engine. As Paul said, perhaps someone is trying to make the engine a bigger hp engine by changing the stamp. On the NCRS discussion board there was a discussion a while ago about stamp pad errors. One of the guys on the board, who used to work on the Corvette assembly line stated that when they found a stamp pad error, they would grind the whole pad off and restamp. This is the first I have heard of restamping only one or two characters. As a disclaimer, I am not an expert on stamp pads or stamping techniques.
Gary
Gary
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
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From: Long Island NY
Re: Engine #'s Question (Paul Borowski)
You were'nt clear if it was the last two digits of the actual VIN sequence number OR the two "suffix code" letters. Just for reference, my '68's pad reads 18S418434
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Engine #'s Question (Vettesic)
Yes, I know what your saying, but I've seen some strange stuff like this in my few years of judging. Another strange one??? I bought a fairly complete 1968 owner's manual, plastic pouch, and original protecto plate for 1968 Corvette, VIN#18494!!! Exactly 60 cars LATER than my #18434 1968. This #18494 car also was a 350hp/327 like mine and the protecto plate shows the engine assembly date/suffix as V0429HT(April 29). My HT 327 is exactly the same, V0429HT. How slim is that??? :yesnod:
