Engine stamp evaluation please

[Mike R.]

What do the experts here think of this stamp pad. Why would the N be stamped deeper than the other letters?

[Tom H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

I am no expert and will give you an opinion rather than an evaluation, for what's that's worth !

Assuming the stamp is real, it appears another character was stamped under the N. Looks like maybe a G. The line worker changed the suffix to meet a certain application or to correct an error.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

You really have that letter crooked too, not deeper - per se.

You should look at all the available engine codes for this specific year in which you did not get the button set for and see what the differences are in the N to the G which Tom saw underneath that - and other option levels.

[Tom H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

This engine code HN indicates at 65 fuel injected 327 with TI. If indeed the letter under the crooked N is a G, that would be a fuel injected 327 without TI. Possibly could have been re struck for the TI internally. Since all we have is one photo and know no history of the engine, it is pure speculation.

[Mike R.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

I have no documentation on the car at this time and am mostly interested in determining the originality and authenticity of the block and the car being a true FI car. It seems the block is original to the car (VIN and presence of broach marks.) but the N looks odd to me. Besides the VIN the "N" is the most critical part of the stamp. Are there known cases where engine codes were restruck at the factory?

This engine code HN indicates at 65 fuel injected 327 with TI. If indeed the letter under the crooked N is a G, that would be a fuel injected 327 without TI. Possibly could have been re struck for the TI internally. Since all we have is one photo and know no history of the engine, it is pure speculation.

[Tom H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

Are there known cases where engine codes were restruck at the factory?

Yes. Search the archives here for grind outs and re strikes, etc. You will see it occurred many times. John Z usually gives good comment on unusual things that happened in the line process. Hope he sees this and chimes in.

I don't think you will be able to confirm the originality of the stamp here, but you will learn how the crooked "N" MAY have come to be on that engine.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

I'd call Al Grenning and send him a few photos if you really want to attempt to authenticate the pad. We can give you a good educated guess, but why not contact Al to use his verification service?

Patrick

[Ronald L.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

Mike,

What you need to also look for is the evidence of TI, these usually had very special mounting places, at least on 66. Also compare options on cluster tach, etc for things that you cannot have with an original TI system. Of course this us usually only possible on un restored cars...

[Mike R.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

Can you point me to what specifically is different about the tach?

Mike,

What you need to also look for is the evidence of TI, these usually had very special mounting places, at least on 66. Also compare options on cluster tach, etc for things that you cannot have with an original TI system. Of course this us usually only possible on un restored cars...

[John D.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

When we toured the Flint engine plant in 91 they demonstrated the grindout procedure with a 4" disc grinder where they ground out the whole
stamp.

At 300 engines or so an hour could they take the time to carefully grind out one digit to make it into a fuelie ?

[John H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

Mike -

It might have been an engine plant change from a non-T.I. fuelie ("HG") to a T.I. fuelie ("HN"), which was simply a distributor change, or it could have been a change from a 327/365hp to a fuelie (intake and distributor change, otherwise the same engine inside).

Al Grenning would be your best bet for evaluating it; he may have other similar examples.

[Michael J.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

Considering how goofy the engine pad judges have gotten these days on high dollar car engine pads, like saying they are "too perfect" and look "too good" this sloppy mess should be authentic, right?

[Steven C.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

I'd call Al Grenning and send him a few photos if you really want to attempt to authenticate the pad. We can give you a good educated guess, but why not contact Al to use his verification service?

Patrick

The service is only available for the owner of record. Been there.

[James G.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

vin 3702 is NOT in my 1965 Fuel Injection SURVEY. I have vins 3613, 3636, 3686, 3746, 3752 and 3756 so the car fits the framwork of possibly being an original car.

Have you inspected other areas that are unique to 65 fuelies? Evidence of cross flags on the fenders is a dead give away. Look "inside" the fenders for filled holes. Also the core support. Original factory vs. parts department service replacement are different.

The FI unit should also be stamped with the vin deritive 5103702.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Engine stamp evaluation please

The service is only available for the owner of record. Been there.

The original poster doesn't state if he owns the car or is looking at it.