DZ stamp opinion

[David K]

For reference sake I copied the others from the referenced post. I am wondering if whomever was restamping forgot the Z and realized it, grabbed it and hammered it. I’m good with the stamp, but it’s my opinion. It was already a DZ…

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Information about correcting VIN numbers stamped at the Norwood and Van Nuys assembly plants:

https://www.camaros.net/threads/factory-restamping-vin-on-block.24850/

[bcmiller]

For reference sake I copied the others from the referenced post. I am wondering if whomever was restamping forgot the Z and realized it, grabbed it and hammered it. I’m good with the stamp, but it’s my opinion. It was already a DZ…

In this case we are talking about a POTENTIAL factory grindout and POTENTIAL factory restamp at the engine plant.

[David K]

Yes we are. There's only 1 or 2 people who would know.

[black69]

I myself do not see a confirmed DZ below the top stamp.  It could be a part of a 0 for the assumed D.
I think the V is fairly well defined and thus, the 4 numbers for the build date would push the underlying DZ to the right of the above stamp.  Lots of odd things going on here. 

A magnaflux could maybe help determine what is really below the grindout.

My 2 cents.

[Jonesy]

I dont mind the partial VIN stamping, but the rest of it does not add up to original DZ early Sept 68 stampings. Only guys with numerous stampings of this time period would know what Im talking about.

[bcmiller]

I dont mind the partial VIN stamping, but the rest of it does not add up to original DZ early Sept 68 stampings. Only guys with numerous stampings of this time period would know what Im talking about.

I know what you are talking about.

It’s just an opinion, but we would not be seeing what you are talking about if it was done in the repair section with a grindout.

[KurtS]

A repair would not necessitate a grindout. Only a misstamp on the engine assembly line, which logic says would only be the first or last engine of a batch.

[bcmiller]

You all may be correct. I don't know and I don't know if there will ever be a full answer.

The stamping that was wiped out appears to be V09DZ - they did not have the day in there. I believe the grind out would technically be called a repair, and would not be handled in the same general engine assembly area.  Could possibly have been messed up on Monday - second day of the month, then fixed on Wednesday - the fourth day of the month.

Do we have anyone that worked in the Flint engine plant that might know how things like this were handled?  Tonawanda might not be the same otherwise we could ask bergie.

[boomer632]

Looks like a flap wheel was used to grind out.
Were those around back then?

[bcmiller]

I am not saying it is for sure genuine, but possible.

[KurtS]

Grindouts are seen on Corvette engines - they used the low volume line and had lots of low volume engines. So the engine plant was switching between models regularly and you could see how they could mess up the model changeover every once in a while. Where as pass cars were much higher volumes and changeovers didn't happen as often and grindouts are rare.

[firstgenaddict]

The chattering look of the grind out appears exactly the same as the grind out and restamp on my brother's 30k mile survivor 1973 Corvette L82.

I have some 1970 ZR1 grind outs which you would laugh at (just the last letter dished out).
Most of the ZR1's were converted CTU LT1's which already had the larger oil pans.

Seems in 1971 -72  they would gang stamp all but the last suffix letter (especially late in the year) so the engine application could be SET after build up WITHOUT grinding out.
EX. from my 71 LT1