Trans date/stamps look OK for a M20 3E car?

[smith69z]

Do these dates/stamps look OK for a 69 3E car? Thanks as always!

[smith69z]

The reason I am asking is that when I bought the car 5 years ago the seller knew where the trans was but the guy didn't want to me bothered to pull it as I was told. Since then the Nova it was in is getting a full restore. The guy sent the prevouisl owner this pic and asked to forward to me and asked if I was still interested. So just need to be sure its right. I am assuming it is right due to the fact the  car did come with it but the prevouis owner planned a Pro-tour build and sold it to nova man to fund the 5 sp he bought.

[crobjones2]

Do the vehicle VIN and the VIN on the tranny match?

[smith69z]

Yes, the stamp on the block is 0324 and the vin is clear by the oil filter and matches the trans. I was more concerned that this was not a restamp. Not that I am not a trusting person but just seems strange that after 5 years of me bugging him he wants to sell it now.

[Hot Rod Todd]

It could be that the guy just did not want to take the trans out and disable the car. Now that he has started to restore the car he needs some cash to help pay for other parts. Hopefully, he is not holding it hostage for crazy $$$.

[smith69z]

Honestly, he is being very reasonable. He said he wanted to finally get the trans back with the car and motor.

[Hot Rod Todd]

I guess if everyone here agrees that it looks like a legitimate factory stamp, you need to capitalize on the sudden change of heart and get your original 4-speed back. I guess it is an M20 with the A letter designation. Well, does everyone agree it is a good stamp?

[Mark]

I don't like the Muncie stamp.  There are a couple of characters that are not "TYPICAL" of the characters used on 69 Muncies.  But I don't have one with that exact date to compare to, so I won't say its not a real stamp at this time, date on the stamp is in the ball park for that VIN number.  I've got an image of a P9C22A stamp on an N6257xx Vin'ed car, but the M20 dates seem to jump around quite a bit.

[smith69z]

Thanks Mark. Spoke to the owner of the trans this morning. He will ship tomorrow. Said he gauarantees its belongs with that motoe/car. He removed it from the cat himself. Now to find the owner of the "date" correct ebay trans I have in the car now. That would be nice!

[Mark]

Well good luck with your purchase, hope you get the guarantee in writing.

I've never seen a muncie assembly stamp that high up on the trans (that close to the gasket flange), granted I don't have a huge collection of tranny stamps (maybe a couple of hundred) so there may be some like this one.  Also look at the 5 oclock position below the 3 in the VIN.  I think thats a 1 from the original Muncie assembly code, and if I look real close I thing I can aso see a A next to it to the right.

[Jerry@CHP]

That case is a restamp.  Take it to the bank.  Wrong aspect ratio and depth on the assm stamping.  I could keep going.

Jerry

[Marty]

Jerry, I agree. It doesn't match trans stamps that I have in my files for VIN numbers around that time.

[smith69z]

Darn! OK Restamp! thanks for the info. I'll let the seller know the deal is off.