stamp pad # s & letters

[RICHARD CHARLES]

THE #s ( F0415RE ) do they represent the cars birthdate ? & the letters represent the h/p. ratings ? THANKS NCRS MEMBER

[Richard S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Richard,
The numbers are the date the engine was assembled in Flint. The letters are the engine codes, in this case, RE designates 327/340 HP, AFB 4 barrel carb, Hi-lift cam & Manual Transmission.
If this is the 63 in your profile, the car was assembled Monday, April 15th, 1963.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Actually, that's when the engine was assembled. The car should have been two-three weeks later for assembly.

[Ted S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Actually that would be the date the engine was assembled. The car would have been assembled after that date. The "birthday" calculator (link below) will approximate the date the car was assembled based upon your VIN. Hope this helps. Ted




Car Assy (aka Birthday Calculator)

[Richard S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

It's the same date......I guess you didn't get the point.

[Ted S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

The number on the engine stamp pad (front RH side of block) is the assembly date and configuration of the engine. In this case that stamping would have occurred in Flint Michigan. The VIN would have been assigned at the St. Louis assy plant. If the engine assy date and the build date (based upon the VIN) are the same then I would venture the engine is not original to the car.

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Richard, my stamp is F0415RC. My cars' build date is April 20, 63. Having an engine build date and a car build date on the same day????? Too close...

Harry

39513

[RICHARD CHARLES]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

is it possiable for the build date and ass. date be the same ? if the block date is ( D 12 3 ) ?????????????THANKS

[Joe C.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Richard:

I have never heard of this occurrence. I don't see how it is possible to assemble an engine in Flint, MI, and then ship it, by railcar, so that it arrives in St.Louis, MO the same day, where it is installed in your car on it's build date of 4/15/63. The casting date has nothing whatsoever to do with what I have just said.The only thing important about the cast date, is that it precedes the ENGINE build date.

Here is a logical timeline:

Block and heads are CAST(not necc same day)---------------->engine is ASSEMBLED/body is ASSEMBLED(not necc sdame day)------------> car is BUILT.

I strongly suggest that you contact your local NCRS chapter if you want to get some answers. Have the boys come look at your car as a "tech session". Get a couple pizzas and a LOT of beer, so they don't remember what they've seen after they leave.

Joe

[Chuck S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Ted, you probably understand the dilemma by now; however in this case, I'm a little skeptical of the outcome. This case highlights the risk of plotting month-end serial numbers and linearly interpolating between the data points. At best the build dates are accurate within a day or so, and in the worst case anomaly...what, a week or more?

We are not privy to all the little parameters involved in GM's planning; if they made a significant change in the production schedule mid-month, then this technique will have errors. Without more documentation of the real build date, or a better education on why the birthday calculator is 100% accurate, I wouldn't worry about it if I were Richard. The money's been spent now anyway, and worrying about his car's pedigree isn't going to help.

BTW, Richard, the casting date on the intake manifold is a typical match to the engine build date...we can at least be fairly confident the intake came with the engine. In my opinion, it is too close to say this is not the original engine, but then I'm a C3 guy.

[RICHARD CHARLES]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

IS IT POSS. IT WAS CAST AND BUILT ON THE SAME DAY ? THANKS RICK

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Chuck I agree with you, I believe the Birthday Calendar is NOT 100% accurate for 63's. My sequence is 13356, this calculation to April 19th. The original build sheet I have says April 20th, a Saturday.

Harry

38513

[Craig S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Richard - it is possible that the ENGINE was cast and the ENGINE was built on the same day in Flint MI. My 67 L79 KH engine was cast on first shift 2/23/67, and assembled on 2/24/67. However, the car's assembly date was on 5/11/57, and the Dow Smith body assembly date was on 4/28/67. It is not likely as everyone else has pointed out that the engine was transported to St Louis and installed on that same day, I would venture to say it is not even possible. What is your trim tag date? According to Al Grennings trim tag book, 63 would have a month and week code vs a month and day as my 66 and 67 do, but this would also give a clue when the body was assembled....Craig

[Ted S.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Rick, Let's make sure I'm straight, block casting is D 12 3, stamp pad is F0415RE, the VIN is 12921. Given this, the block cast date is 3 days prior to engine assy date. That is possible. The VIN shows as a 4/15/63 assy for the car via the birthday calculator. As Chuck says the calculators are an approximation, so given the information so far, the real concern is if the engine assy date is too close to the car build date. Does the vin derivative on the stamp pad match the car's vin?

[William C.]

Re: stamp pad # s & letters

Engines cast and assembled within a 24 hour period have been documented, It is very unusual, but not impossible. Remember the casting plant is only a few miles up the road (about an hour) from the engine plant, but then add in the total length of the engine plant's machining and assembly lines and???