Pad BB numbers/letters

[Peter M.]

I've noticed on some original Corvette Big Block Vin Pad examples that in the Tonowanda build date section - it seems to mix letters and numbers. For example, TO22I6 IP (Feb 21st 1966) where the 21st day second digit is the letter I - where you would think a numeral 1 would be. I checked an original Chevelle LS6 and it evidenced the same usage. Was this common or consistant and what was the reason to mix it up like this? The judging manual does not seem address this.

[Bill Braun 33186]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

In my admittedly limited experience, there has never seemed to be any pattern. In all likelihood, the fellows putting the engines together were concentrating more on the noon whistle, rather than on getting the letters/numbers exactly right.

My 2 cents.

Bill 33186

[R N.]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

Peter -

My L72 is date stamped T03I0 IP. I believe that 427's used "I" and "1" for the date code on the stamping.

[Craig S.]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

Kurt - I took Al Grennings stamp pad class at Bloomington a couple years ago, and this is very common. A "1" and an "I" look very much alike, and they didn't give a rip as long as it looked close. I bet they would really laugh the way we evaluate these pads....they just gave them a whack and pushed them through. Also many examples in Al's class of really ugly rough restamps with grinders when errors occurred, and these are proven original pads by adjacent car stamp comparisons in Al's pad library.....Craig

[Peter M.]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

Craig
Since the 66 judging manual makes no mention of the interchangibility of the letter I and the number 1 in the BB build portion of the pad - would this be considered incorrect for judging by some judges ?

[Everett Ogilvie]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

No, the Judges will not have a problem with this. This is so widely known/accepted, you should not have any problems. Both my '66 425 cars use both characters - one is a Bowtie car, the other is Top Flight.

[Craig S.]

Re: Pad BB numbers/letters

Peter - as Everett points out, the TIM&JG is a guide, not an absolute. Lots of things are not detailed but known by judges....Craig