Here's one I haven't seen before..went to midwest to look at a 70 BB Friday that was knee deep in paperwork and docs.I checked every number I could and it was all there until I got to the block casting number. It should have been a 512 block and the first 3 numbers 396 were there, but the last 4 numbers had been ground off and the numbers 3512 had been stamped in place of what was originally there. There was corespondence from Nolan Adams that really didn't confirm anything. I don't think GM did the restamping,but would like some input from you guys.Anyone heard of the factory restamping a casting number on a motor?? Thanks
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The cast numbers on the
top front of the intake manifold on my 55 were partially removed when the surface was machined for the carb flange. There was no attempt to stamp them. I figure the factory knew, so why would they bother stamping them. -
Re: The cast numbers on the
Yes, I had a late production '68 (from the original owner) done the same way, I think I still have the POP for the car, and have seen several other examples over the years, looks like a factory fix, for what I don't know.Bill Clupper #618Comment
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GM did this on intake manifolds *NM*
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Re: GM did this on intake manifolds
Yes, but he is talking about block casting numbers!Comment
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Re: GM did this on intake manifolds
i was just pointing out never put anything passed the generalComment
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Oh, sorry
I thought that perhaps this was one of those situations that someone missed one critical point that can make a big difference in the direction of the thread.
GaryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
The plant did that. Two blocks can be cast the exact same way and have different casting numbers. How it is machined identifies it to the casting number. So, they changed the last 4 and machined it to the block they wanted it to be. It probably the right block. Contact me at tfringo@aol.com. Thanks, TerryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
It is a bit of a curse to that car but, I would bet you that it is the original block. TerryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
...imagine trying to tell the judges "that it's factory"!!!Comment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
Depends on the judge, Paul. I have seen several of the late-1968 cylinder cases referred to by Bill Clupper. Is it much of a stretch to see the same on a 512 block? Of course I would want to examine the details of the machining and stamping, but some judges I know would be open to the possibility.TerryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
Terry,
The machining operation gives the item a PART number. Different machining operations on the same CASTING number will almost always result in different PART numbers. Rarely, if ever, do parts cast exactly the same way have different CASTING numbers. There would be no reason to change the CASTING number unless some change to the CASTING was made.TerryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
Paul, forgive me I forgot these cars were made by God and his Angles and not human beings on an assembly line in a GM plant. I have talked to a lot of people about this issue. I have know people to trash their original engines in their corvettes because of this issue. So much for the preservation of vintage corvette's??? In fact, they put a restamped engine in and passed it through NCRS judging with flying colors several time. If you know me you would no that the only standard I care about with my car is my own. NCRS is a forum of people with similar interest that I enjoy a lot. In my opinion, I accept it as fact that engines had there casting numbers ground off the rear shoulder and crudely restamped with different numbers. I have talked to people that collect and sell engine blocks for corvette's and they have seen it too often on all sorts of engines. Later, TerryComment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
What are the style of letters used for the restamping? I have a block that I would like to make correct for my car! Just joking of course. And actually I do believe it to be correct.Comment
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Re: Casting number ground off!!`
Terry, maybe I am not saying it very well. But I believe that some blocks started out as the exact same physical casting, except for the part number embossed in the left rear shoulder. So, for the machine shop to grind part of the number off the shoulder and restamp it and machine it to the new number makes sence. In fact, I have one of these engines. Believe me, nobody in there right mind would take a 351 block and convert it to a 321 block. I have pictures of my broach marks and VIN number on the deck. Nobody would take the time to fake the deck like that on a 351 block and then waste that talent by grinding the numbers off the shoulder and restamp it. Plus, if you would have seen my car when I purchased it 20 years ago you would agree, nobody would have cared. While being in the NCRS, I have met with people with similar 68's. One guy actually trashed his engine and put a fake in it and passed it through NCRS judging a couple times. He purchased his engine from a guy that advertised out of Hemmings. I contacted that guy for his opinion. Says, he get contacted by NCRS people all the time with the same problem and tries to talk them out of trashing their original blocks. But on more than one occassion he ends up selling them a block anyways. The guy out of Hemmings has had and looked at 100's of blocks and he had seen it too often. I will step down now. TerryComment
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