Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

[Gerry M.]

Looking at a 1966 427. The car is being sold as matching numbers but has no documentation.

VIN: 194676S125836
Eng Stamp: 6125836 FII29IP
Body Build Date: K06
Body: S8278
Style: 66 467
Trim: Std
Paint: 986AA

The engine stamp is difficult to read however, I am troubled because the engine build date appears to be November 29, 1966 (II29) whereas the body build date is July 06, 1966 (K06). My understanding is that the engines are to be built first whereas it appears to be the opposite case here. The VIN lines up but the body build date and the engine build date remain a mystery. I don't have the engine casting date at this time. Thoughts?

[Neal K.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Gerry
yiu will receive replies from many members with greater knowledge on your question, but a November 29, 1966 engine build date would be for a 1967 model year car. Perhaps you meant November 29,1965,
neal

[Gerry M.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Neal,
Thanks for your response. Regardless of the year, the codes are causing me some concern as the engine stamp is FII29IP vs. the trim tag body date of K06. Should I be worried about this, regardless of the vin matching the vin on the engine stamp (both 125836)?

[Mike E.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

A Flint built 427? Humm

Mike

[Michael J.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Oh my, may be one of those famous "Fonawanda" blocks....

[Gerry M.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Sorry guys, the first letter was difficult to make out. I'll have to reconfirm the engine stamp next time I see the car. For now, all I have for sure is "##I29IP"IMG-20130831-00240.jpg

[Michael J.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

That is hard to see anything. Just make sure, if a BB, that the VIN is on the lower right of the stamp pad, not the upper left.

[Mike E.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Gerry,

Welcome to NCRS! It's good to see someone with a member number higher then mine.

First thing is number matching and original motor may not be the same thing. You really should or have the current owner carefully remove the paint from the pad if they are claiming it to be an original engine car. If the owner is unwilling yet claims it's an original engine then I would look elsewhere.

As you probably already know just the numbers don't tell all. Broaching marks are important too. They are visible patterns left when the block was decked at the engine plant. The character set (Font) used when the pad was stamp should be common with other known original engine cars of the same vintage.


Mike

[Larry M.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Neal,
Thanks for your response. Regardless of the year, the codes are causing me some concern as the engine stamp is FII29IP vs. the trim tag body date of K06. Should I be worried about this, regardless of the vin matching the vin on the engine stamp (both 125836)?

Yes, I would be concerned about the spread between the engine build date and the body build date. Typically the engine is built a a week before to perhaps a month before the body is built. This is a general rule, there are many exceptions. However, a BB engine should be built in Tonawanda and carry a "T" prefix and not a "F" prefix. I would also check the casting number and the casting date of the block. This will tell you if the block is correct and when the block was first cast....including whether the year was 1965 or 1966 or ??.

Purchase of ANY BB midyear car should be approached with much caution. Post up a GOOD picture of the engine pad with the paint removed. Also post up the casting number and date. Then we can help you better.

Larry

[Dick W.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Oh my, may be one of those famous "Fonawanda" blocks....

Yup! There was a lot of fun with the last Fonawanda block. Would love to see the photo

[Robert M.]

Re: Engine Stamp Pad vs. Build Date Question

Looking at a 1966 427. The car is being sold as matching numbers but has no documentation.

VIN: 194676S125836
Eng Stamp: 6125836 FII29IP
Body Build Date: K06
Body: S8278
Style: 66 467
Trim: Std
Paint: 986AA

The engine stamp is difficult to read however, I am troubled because the engine build date appears to be November 29, 1966 (II29) whereas the body build date is July 06, 1966 (K06). My understanding is that the engines are to be built first whereas it appears to be the opposite case here. The VIN lines up but the body build date and the engine build date remain a mystery. I don't have the engine casting date at this time. Thoughts?

Oh my! One of those extremely rare Fonawanda Engines.