Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

[Kevin Morris]

I am certain that this has been discussed before. However, at the risk of being redundant, can anyone suggest a solution/method for removing paint from an engine stamp pad, so as not to damage/alter the broach marks and stampings themselves?

Kevin #39927

[Len Rayca]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

Kevin: Wet a rag and some laquer thinner and rub the stamp pad area with it and it will remove the paint. DO NOT USE STEEL WOOL OR ANY HARSH ABRASIVE MATERIALS.

[John O.]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

Kevin:

As Len suggests, the laquer thinner should do the trick. I also found an old tooth brush (soft bristle) to be handy if the paint is really stubborn.

John

[Dennis C.]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

Good old paint remover (or brake fluid) works pretty well too. Dennis

[Mark S.]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

Don't know what year you have; however, on some of the early straight-axles, when the paint was wiped off the pad at the factory, there was evidence of left over paint in the cavities of the numerals(on some engines).

[Kevin Morris]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

Thx all. I thought maybe there was something "special" to this (don't ask me why I thought that). Paint thinner, I have. It will probably take some rubbing to get through all of the coats of paint, but.... This should work at removing the paint from my timing cover tab, as well.

Kevin #39927

[Eugene B.]

Re: Removing Paint?

Kevin,
Before you remove the paint from the stamp pad and timing cover tab, you may want to get others feedback. My '65 has all of its original engine paint and both the timing cover tab and the engine code stamping pad are both painted.

I've wondered about this practice from other postings. I didn't find any information in the JG about whether the stamp pad is painted or not painted. It seems unlikely that the factory would take the time to remove the paint and my car indicates that removing the paint was not their practice.

Regards,
Gene

[Jack layton]

Re: Removing Paint?

Agreed. 1 thin layer of factory paint would not be sufficient to conceal either the stamped numerals on the pad or the degree marks on the timing tab. If you do remove the paint then you will expose the surface to oxidation. Hence, you will need a light coat of oil to protect the surface. Which will then allow dirt to adhere to the surface over time. Are we having fun yet ?!

[Loren L.]

A wild guess - lacquer thinner? *NM*

[Rick A.]

Re: Removing Paint?

Catch-22! JG states that stamp pad needs to be clean for judging purposes! But, we need to worry about oxidization!

[Jack layton]

Re: Removing Paint? *NM*

[Terry M.]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad *TL*

Check the appropriate judging guide for your year of car. The factory engine painting practices changed over time. If the judging guide is silent, look at Bowtie cars, check with knowledgeable judges or the appropriate National Team Leader. One car does not establish what the usual factory practice was.

[John H.]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

I believe the Judging Reference Manual requires that a car presented for judging have the pad "free of paint" or you say bye-bye to 38 points.

[Kevin Morris]

Re: Removing Paint from Stamp Pad

My '70-72 TIM/JG clearly states (pgs. 61-62) that the timing tab should not (in the majority of cases) have paint. The same manual, regarding the stamp pad on pgs. 49-50, makes no mention of paint...until you reach the footnotes for the section, where it states the judges should "judge for the absence of paint...". The stamps on my pad are clearly ledgible through the paint, although the broach marks are very faint.

Kevin #39927

[Dennis C.]

Re: A wild guess - lacquer thinner?

The reason the no paint, no rust, no dirt pad went into the JRM was, most importantly, to level the playing field. Without addressing painted or unpainted stamp pads at this moment, I think most would agree that they didn't have 1/4" thick engine paint on them from the factory, but some owners would have you believe that. Kind'a like judging exterior with a car cover in place. Dennis