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I recently was speaking with a gentleman about his 65 396 coupe. He was telling me how original it is and that it is a very early car,vin#13xxx. He sent me several pictures and one was the engine pad. It is stamped with the vin first followed by the assembly date. He claims that very early cars were first done this way and that he spoke to a couple of very informed individuals from NCRS that asked for the pictures and told him that this was in fact possible. Anyone have an opinion as to this possibility or is this just an urban legend?
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
Hi Rob I remember this happening Barry B had a white 396 with this set up and was thought to be real. The pipe plug in the cylinder head caused interference with the stamping of the vin. as you know the assy date was stamped without the heads on. Does the vin photos show it could have been stamped with the heads on would be my question. Phil 8063 -
Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
Rob,I had a very oiriginal 396. My car was stamped the same way.Rick Miller has a picture of the stamp pad in his book.I took it for judging in 1998 and it was at that time rejected.The judges were adamant that the big block pads were never stamped that way.I don't remember the vin # of the car.What color combination is your car? LouComment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
I'm curious what the outcome was. Since NCRS requires you to have documentation to prove any anomalies, you probably couldn't prove it original.
And since NCRS has this issue with counterfeits, which at that time was being discussed in The Corvette Restorer, did anyone make an issue that it was a counterfeit or a restamp because it was "wrong" and could not have been that way?Comment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
Lou, the car in question is a red/black cpe. The cars vin is 13248, the engine is not original to the car. It is Vin#13712.Comment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
Rob, my car was yellow/black.I thought it might be the same car.I'll look for the book Rick Miller authored.I'm pretty sure I still have it.If I find it I'll email you to let you know. LouComment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
I have a friend who has several 396 cars. He bought one many years ago. The previous owner(not the original owner) had removed the engine and replaced it with a "restored" block because the original block was stamped upside down. That block came with the deal. That's all I know.
Rich G 385941966 L79 Convertible. Milano Maroon
1968 L71 Coupe. Rally Red (Sold 6/21)
1963 Corvair Monza ConvertibleComment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
13248 was was green & black at one time .I have 6 cars on my list built before this one. anything is poss. I would take a good look at the casting dates ,numbers & the broach marks.Comment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that Barry B car had the VIN or build date stamped upside down. There is a photo of that in one of the Corvette books
but I can't remember which one. RaymondComment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
If 'Barry B' means Barry Blocher from North Manchester, Indiana, then we're talking about a VERY SPECIAL car here... It's an early mule that was built for GM Engineering and spent it's initial life at the Milford Proving Grounds (Barry has the GM internal paper trail).
The engine was in/out numerous times and the stamp pad has SEVERAL VIN derivatives stamped on it reflecting the different cars that particular motor was installed in at various times during testing. So, we're NOT talking about 'typical' production here and I wouldn't be thinking of using this car as a model to prove/dis-prove a stamp pad issue/question...Comment
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Re: C2-Big Block stamp pad stamped backwards?
March built, possibly even early April built, 396 engines installed in Corvettes often exhibit unusual pad characteristics. In my opinion most March built motors that are real probably exhibit these characteristics, the first being a machine code location similar to a small block, the second characteristic being a VIN derivative that might have been in a gang holder, might not have been in a gang holder, could have been stamped over the engine machine code. The upside down VIN derivative is not unique To St Louis or the 396 it happened through out production in several makes. The early 396 issue relates to the primary VIN derivative location requirement on the engine for St. Louis built Corvettes and the fact that the core plug in the end of the cylinder head on the big block interfered with that VIN derivative installation. As a result on the early 396 cars they worked around it, eventually by late March or early April they moved the Tonawanda Machine code location and the problem was solved. Several early 396 cars that exhibited some of the above mentioned characteristics have been judged and received our top honors. Is it the norm? No did it happen? Yes
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