Opinion of this engine stamp pad

[Randy G.]

What do the experts think of this one. Sorry for the huge picture.

[mike cobine]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

Maybe I'm seeing things, but putting a straightedge on it makes the broach marks look curved.

[Randy G.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

It's a 1957 Fuelie. The letter "E" is slightly out of alignment with the rest of the digits. How are these stampted?

[Mike M.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

appears entire machine assembly data alpha-numerics were stamped individually(F closer to the head than its neighbor, 6 appears cocked a tad counterclockwise, lower leg of E appears longer than upper leg of E, L cocked counterclockwise.). mike

[Joseph T.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

Randy..more importantly..what is the history of the engine and the car? Clearly the engine has been freshened up. If it was rebuilt..contact the rebuilder..and you will get the history.

What is the relationship of all the other parts and numbers on the engine.

Joe

[Verle R.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

On these engines the last character was stamped individually so misallignment is common.

The broach marks are a question, would need to see them in person.

Verle

[Rob A.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

Just my opinion, but...the broach marks look too pronounced to be made by original GM machining. They look similar to those on engines I know to have their pads resurfaced to look original. Any owner history available?

[Tracy C.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

Randy,

I'm certainly no expert, but it appears the original stamping was ground out and the new numbers reside in the resultant divot. If you look close, there is a faint termination point to the pronounced broach marks in the area of the stamping.

The pronounced marks seem to start about an 1/8" from the head and then out and around the paint spot towards the bottom end of the pad.

Also, I tend to agree with Mikie about the random placement of each character.

tc

[Randy G.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

The history from file on the car:

Documented owner history starts from 1979 to current. The name of the seller is on a copy of the title that tranfered to the buyer in 1979 but no information on when or where it was purchased previously by that seller. From 1979 to 1991 it was primarily stored as the owner served in the military. It had 61,000 miles on it when it was sold. It was purchased by the next owner and taken to a shop for basic restoration, but the owner ran out of money so it sat. It was sold partially assembled to the next owner who started all over with the car by completing a comprehensive frame off restoration (with photos). Also in the file is evidence of an extensive records search by that owner in an attempt to find any owner information prior to 1979, but no additional information could be found as evidenced in a letter from the state where the 1979 seller lived.

In April 1996 it scored a 95.5 Top Flight at the Western Regional Meet. In 2001 it was sold at the BJ auction to a collector and later resold to the guy I bought it from who is moving on to Mopar muscle car restorations.

In the history package on the car there is one note that says "original engine replacement." At the NCRS meet in 1996 it took an 87 point hit in scoring on the line "Engine Block" and there is a hand written note by the judge which says "stamp pad" next to it on that line. I wanted an opinion because many of the items dinged for in scoring have been corrected or replaced since then, but it has never been back for judging. I wondered if this was one of the items corrected.

I had someone I know who is an expert look at it. He said it is "suspect" but is so close it could actually be legit. He felt it could go either way.

It was explained to me that in the early days of FI, the FI units would malfunction and allow fuel to be drawn in to #7 and #8 cylinders. In many FI cars, cylinder walls were split from a hydraulic condition which would ruin the blocks so they had to be replaced.

It seems like a shame that with all of this documented history, the fact that this car might not have the original block because of whatever reason 49 years ago could continue to haunt this car for the rest of it's life.

[Peter Costanza]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

I swear I can see a "2" beneath and to the lower left of the "0".

[Dennis C.]

I would also comment that I would rather see...

...the stamping start about 1" lower (outboard) on the pad as viewed on my screen. In other words, the stamp starting at the bottom of the pad. JMHO...

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

--------Well there you go, Randy! You said pics of the resto were taken. Just look for the picture where they are stamping it. Got to be in the photo album somewhere........Master of the obvious........Bill S

[Joseph T.]

Dennis...I agree

Dennis..I agree with you about the EL stamp location!

What is interesting to me however..is that I have an unrestored original EL engine and also an unrestored original EK ( Blackwidow engine )..both from high performance vintage 1957 factory Corvette racecars.

The EL block has a heavy deep stamp with the cockeyed L and a poorly struck E and the EK block has a fine shallow stamp..with almost uniform positioning.

Something tells that there is more to know about when, where and who struck some of these pads at Flint...back in 1956/1957.

The EK suffix is a passenger car designation for the high performance 283/283..but this engine is complete with original Corvette shielding, shielding hardware, corvette air filter assembly etc..and unopened.

Lots more to learn..

Joe

[Randy G.]

Re: Dennis...I agree

It sure is interesting to read these responses. I looked through all the restoration pictures and I'll be darned if I can't find the one with the guy leaning over the block with the number stamp kit.

With the rash of forgeries going on now, I wonder if there should be a token point awarded to the Corvette owner that's honest about the numbers?

I'll put some $$ in a coffee can and see if I can find an early 1957 fuelie block, but I'm probably wasting my time. Has anyone seen or heard of anything for sale, or do you just live with what you've got and take your lumps in judging?

You guys are the greatest!

Randy Goodwin #45471

[Rob M.]

Re: Opinion of this engine stamp pad

Have a look at the Stamppad Database in the C1 registry (link on the left top of the page) for other stamppads. It gives you a pretty good idea how they should look like. You might even want to add yours!

greetings,
Rob.