Block casting date

[Dave B.]

I have a 69 convertible that has been confirmed as starting life as a L-71 by a NCRS judge. The previous owner swears the block is the original how ever the block was cast 2 days after the car was assembled. Does anyone know of any scenario where this could be possible? I'm thinking not but who knows.

[Mark F.]

Re: Block casting date

I have a 69 convertible that has been confirmed as starting life as a L-71 by a NCRS judge. The previous owner swears the block is the original how ever the block was cast 2 days after the car was assembled. Does anyone know of any scenario where this could be possible? I'm thinking not but who knows.

Hi Dave,

If all was TFP, it would not seem logical at all. 1st the Block is cast; machined; assembled; shipped to St. Louis, etc.
if the casting date plate used to emboss the outer skin mold was incorrect for the day actually cast - then there would probably be other blocks out there with the same "anomaly" - until QA guys spotted the incorrect date. dunno how often (or even if) that happened?

What are you using to determine the assembly date?

• NCRS Shipping Report?
• Body Build Date +1 or 2?

How does the engine pad assembly stamp date compare to the block casting date? (how many days different?)

Photos would be helpful for others who are more knowledgeable than I on this topic...

[Joe L.]

Re: Block casting date

I have a 69 convertible that has been confirmed as starting life as a L-71 by a NCRS judge. The previous owner swears the block is the original how ever the block was cast 2 days after the car was assembled. Does anyone know of any scenario where this could be possible? I'm thinking not but who knows.

Dave------

There is one possibility I can think of: if there was a problem with the engine after completion of the car, the car would have been shunted off to the heavy repair unit at St. Louis. If they determined that the engine could not be repaired, they would have installed a new engine. This whole process might take several days. It's an unlikely scenario but it is possible.

What are the stamp pad engine code and VIN derivative like? Photos of the stamp pad would be helpful.

[Dave B.]

Re: Block casting date

Thanks for the help. I'm using the date on the trim tag inside the drivers door for the car assembly date. Unfortunately the block has been shaved so there are no numbers on the stamp pad. The pervious owner is the one who had the block shaved and he says the numbers did match the VIN number. This was all done about 30 years ago before these cars were big ticket items.

[Roy S.]

Re: Block casting date

Dave------

There is one possibility I can think of: if there was a problem with the engine after completion of the car, the car would have been shunted off to the heavy repair unit at St. Louis. If they determined that the engine could not be repaired, they would have installed a new engine. This whole process might take several days. It's an unlikely scenario but it is possible.

What are the stamp pad engine code and VIN derivative like? Photos of the stamp pad would be helpful.

If that happened the NCRS shipping data report would confirm the later build date because of heavy repair.

[Edward M.]

Re: Block casting date

I have a 69 convertible that has been confirmed as starting life as a L-71 by a NCRS judge. The previous owner swears the block is the original how ever the block was cast 2 days after the car was assembled. Does anyone know of any scenario where this could be possible? I'm thinking not but who knows.

Dave, can you provide specific data, and particularly photos of the block casting date, the engine front pad stamp, and the trim tag that shows the vehicle assembly date.

What you are suggesting sounds highly unlikely, but it may be a simple as mis-reading the information on one of the items discussed here, or misinterpreting some of the data.

Looking at the data is the best way to discern this.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Block casting date

Thanks for the help. I'm using the date on the trim tag inside the drivers door for the car assembly date. Unfortunately the block has been shaved so there are no numbers on the stamp pad. The pervious owner is the one who had the block shaved and he says the numbers did match the VIN number. This was all done about 30 years ago before these cars were big ticket items.

Since the block was decked there is No way to say what it is. It's all a mute point now.

[Edward J.]

Re: Block casting date

Dave, does your car have a build sheet on top of the fuel tank, you can verify what engine the car was born with.or documents from purchase.

[Dave B.]

Re: Block casting date

Nope, tank sticker is long gone.