Engine Enigma

[Jrschev]

Can anyone explain why there would be no partial vin stamping on my 69 350/300. There is clearly none on the front pad and the pad by the oil filter is far to rough cast to accept any type of stamping. I've done everything to the stamping pad by the oil filter to clean and check it out and there is no way there is a number stamped there. Is it possible to not have a partial vin stamped in the block? Everything else seems to line up. C79 casting date, 3932388 casting number T0425HA front pad stamping. 05A build date. Any opinions?  I would love to attach a photo but I can't get it to work, keep getting an error for upload. ??

[x77-69z28]

if it is a norwood car, an 05A BUILD DATE, THE VIN WOULD BE STAMPED BY THE OIL FILTER. VAN NUYS CARS STILL HAD THEM ON THE ENGINE PAD. MOST ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WITH THE ENGINE IN THE CAR.

[Jrschev]

It's a Norwood car. I can see the pad clearly with the car up in the air. My problem is that the casting is so rough there is no where to stamp it and I'm finding it very difficult to believe there is a number stamped there. I've been looking at it for days and I've tried everything. I do have photos but I can't get them to upload here for some reason. Thank you for the reply. Jim

[samanatoo]

Try cleaning the area off all old paint,   then use a yellow crayon and rub the area ,  then take a tooth brush and scrub the area to remove the excess crayon.  Take a LED flashlight and take a look.  This worked great with my car to see the stampings at least U maybe can find a few numbers or letters GOOD LUCK look something  should be there.     Also take a bunch of pics with your camera sometimes the camera will pick up things that are naked to the eye.

[samanatoo]

Take a look at my attachment pic to get an idea of what it looks like very hard to see but at least this area cannot be restamped!!   If U dig in old post U will find some more pics. This site is loaded with helpfull info and very helpfull members.

[Jrschev]

thanks for the crayonn idea. I saw your photo on another post. Wow, I can't believe how faint that is. Why did they even bother to stamp it? That's even a bigger enigma. I'm going to try the crayon trick this week sometime. Did you use a kids crayon or a yellow crayon used for marking tires in a tire shop?

[samanatoo]

I have a 3 and 4 year old so I used one of there's.     That is why most people feel it is impossible to see clearly the numbers while the motor is still in the car. When I purchased my car the rough area was still freshly painted as my car only has about 100 miles or less on it.    My car has full ownership history and I was able to speak with every one including the original owner who still lives where he purchased the Z so the stamping or something had to be there.  keep looking U will find it DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad I can help

[Z71]

Why did they even bother to stamp it?

So the cops could trace stolen cars/engines etc!  It was required by law.

[Jrschev]

Well I understand why they did stamp it but I guess what I was saying was sarcastic. Why bother to do something if it's not effective. Sort of rhetorical. Bewildering at best. Here you have a perfectly good stamping pad deliberatly made for stamping on the top of the block and some genius decides to switch half the stamping information to a spot that is nearly impossible to read in the car and on a non machined surface. That is the real enigma. However, having been an instructor for GM for many years I completely understand. 

[sixt9x33rs]

My motor is out of the car, and I took multiple pictures of the rough cast area with a 10 megaixel camera------no VIN visable on the oil filter boss. Maybe it was there once upon a time but not now. However, I did not try the crayon trick, but have tried a pencil and paper.
First Gen Addict on this site has a motor with no visable stamp as well.

[samanatoo]

Remember that at some point during mid year production they switched locations. I believe it was Jan or Feb, U can find out on the site.  My cars build was August so it would have to be on the oil filter boss. I can tell u I had to rub cayon on it a few times and scrub of the excess to see the numbers it became more noticable after each time.   Make sure U check dates and casting numbers to make sure they all jive with when they were used in the months build of your car.   I spent alot of time just with the 1969 Z28  and SS 350 because that is what I own.   With this site and Jerry's book all theinfo U need.