No partial VIN on blocks

[JohnZ]

It's impossible to evaluate a stamp pad with paint on it.

[sebastien]

alright,I'll clean it and re-post it later.
the pad should be left without paint anyway doesn't it?

[JohnZ]

Yes, the pad should be bare - it was masked with a piece of tape at the engine plant when the engine was painted. A painted pad is always a "red flag" to me, as it hides all the detail of the stampings and the pad surface; in NCRS judging, a painted pad results in a total deduction of all the pad and stamping points.

[x77-69z28]

thats gpood to know john. i just painted my block, and the pad as well. i thought the paint had just peeled off the pad.

[9T4Z]

A friend with a 65 vette is having his engine rebuilt.  They are "decking" his block.  He CLAIMS that he is having his engine vin "restamped" by some Vette specialists who claim to have the authority to do so... and hence justify a fee of $400 for examination and authentication prior to doing the restamp...

Has anyone heard of this... he told me today when was in for a visit but I sort of acted a bit skeptical as if this was legit... then wouldn't it be another opening for "forgeries"?

anyone??

Nobody has the "authority" to restamp a block pad, but it's a very common practice, and has been going on for decades as a result of the quest for "matching numbers". $300-$500 is about the going rate for those who provide that "service".

Spoke to my friend with the vette.... his date code is good and he has decided that the $400 to "restamp" was a bad idea.   He has a "correct" car even though not numbers matching.... why raise a whole bunch of red flags for what purpose.  I think he appriciated our comments.

[9T4Z]

What is the groups consensus on engines that do not appear to have the partial VIN stamped on the block?  I am starting to see a few of them advertised as orginal blocks that the factory must have "forgotten" to stamp.  If this was so wouldn't the transmission also be without the VIN?  Just asking the question.  Thanks.

I too was confused as to why some had partial vins and others only the engine code.  Then I read in the FAQ that Norwood stopped stamping partial vins on the upper pad in December 1968 and moved to the rough cast area near the oil filter.  Explains why some 69's can have either configuration..... anyone else notice this?

[KurtS]

what is your opinion on this stamp.no partial vin on block but stamped on powerglide.
july 68 327

Surprised there's no VIN.
But at first glance, I'd say the stamp is probably OK. No offense intended at all, but who would restamp a 210 hp motor....

[melav8r]

Quoted from 69 Camaro FAQ's
"Engine Partial VIN stamping:
Some Van Nuys-built (LOS/VN) cars had the VIN stamped on the pad of the block and some had the VIN stamped down by the oil filter. Sometime in October of 1968, we believe the stamp was moved to the oil filter, but by sometime around February of 1969 we believe the stamp moved back up to the pad."

I own block V0109DZ which came out of 19L518297. I've deduced that this car's build date was approximately 01C, 9th day of production for Jan '69, Jan 12th?, and the partial vin was stamped on the front pad next to the DZ stamp.

[rich69rs]

OK. No offense intended at all, but who would restamp a 210 hp motor....

No offense intended either - but the obvious answer is someone who is trying to restore their original base ride to as high a quality as any muscled up clone. 
Most of us value our base coupes and convertilbles as highly as those that have the ground pounders.

[KurtS]

I own block V0109DZ which came out of 19L518297.

Umm, do you realize this car is still out there?

[melav8r]

I own block V0109DZ which came out of 19L518297.

Umm, do you realize this car is still out there?

Well I've owned the block close to 10 years, where's the car?

[KurtS]

Last I knew it was still in the LA area, below you.
Email me.

[click]

My 10c Oct 68  LA built RS has the partial VIN near the oil filter but with the engine in the car its impossible to get a clear pic or visual on it, all I can see are faint numbers in the rough casting. Someday when it comes out I can then confirm the partial.

[9T4Z]

A little update guys.... I could not find the partial vin on the stamped area of my 05A Norwood car.  I cleaned the cast area above the oil filter, carefully removing paint and primers.... still could not see anything with it in the car....just looked like odd scratches and such

Assumed no partial vin... even when the engine had been out we did not see it as it had been painted several times...
]
Here is the deal...

My brother got out a black light and yellow glasses that are used to trace the dye put into trtace fluid leaks...makes the dye glow.
WELL we could actually make out numbers faintly stamped into the cast area... still we could not get our old eyes to focus and not good for a camera angle... but we know there is something there...

So black light will show up numbers in the cast area!  Next time we are going to rub some of the dye onto the casting, then wipe away the excess... and see if the glow agent settles into the stampings...

[melav8r]

Quoted from 69 Camaro FAQ's
"Engine Partial VIN stamping:
Some Van Nuys-built (LOS/VN) cars had the VIN stamped on the pad of the block and some had the VIN stamped down by the oil filter. Sometime in October of 1968, we believe the stamp was moved to the oil filter, but by sometime around February of 1969 we believe the stamp moved back up to the pad."

I also have pics of V1226DZ with vin 19L516579 stamped on the pad, this is a 01B L.A. car with a F or 6th day of production month on the trim tag. I estimate this car's production day is approximately Jan 9th '69.