Camaro Block Stamping

[Supergas990]

Would like to know if I could get some opinions on the picture of a block stamp from a 396 out of a 68 Camaro? I'm wondering about the appearance of the stamp TI212MQ.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Kim_Howie]

Would it not be TO instead of TI ???? Very Questionable /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[allcamaro]

Unless the photo has been altered the stamp to me looks wrong.The numbers seem to curve down and then back up as to correct the line.I think all stampings as this should have been gang samped not one by one as this looks to me,but as I said thats only if no alterations were done to the photo,also the pad looks suspect.

[Supergas990]

I should add that the car has a build date of 12E. This would mean that the block should be stamped T1212MQ. The trans and rear are correct date stamped and coded.

Also, the partial VIN appears correct on the block to the right of the code. Just concerned about the I instead of what I think should be a 1. Maybe I'm splitting hairs, but any help is appreciated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Belair62]

I had one of those MQ Camaro's...and it was NOTHING like that.

[yountto]

having a t1212 instead of t0212 is not the determining factor that this is an original pad or not..the 1212 is dec 12 [1967 in this case] and 0212 would be feb 12 1968 ..both from a 68

[Jeff H]

The "I" and "1" were interchangable due to a lack of stamps I guess. There are original motors with "I" in the place of a "1" so don't let that throw you. But the stamping doesn't look straight and spaced properly. Do you have a better picture with some more detail?

[Supergas990]

I'll do you one better. Here's the link to the E-bay listing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2438818461&category=61 61&rd=1

I'm sure that I'm not the only one checking it out anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[68SSCamaro]

I have a problem with the VIN stamping on the Muncie. All the 68 LOS Camaro Muncies I've seen have the VIN stamped on top and not on the side.

[MYSTERYCHEVELLE]

If I could see that "CASTING CLOCK" a bit better on that Muncie case, it would help...might be able to see if it at least matches the build date.

The Block Stamp, and though I am not very familiar with Camaros....looks abit suspect...but not b/c of the "I" that is fine IMHO., but it just has an overall...amateur re-stamp look to it...hard to put my finger on it. Just my 3 cents. ( inflation )

[Jeff H]

From what I understand, the engine and trans should have been stamped with the same gang stamp and they should almost look identical. The stamping on the trans does not match the stamping on the block. The middle of the VIN has the "1" drop down on the trans and then the "33" raise up, but not so on the block. The "MQ" just doesn't look right on the block for some reason. I'm not a stamping expert so I'll let some other people chime in on this one.

[Astock]

68SSCAMARO,
I have a early Los '69 Camaro with the vin # stamped on the top of the Muncie, along with a little heart.

[Rick H]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif There is nothing wrong with the TI212MQ stamp on the block. It is straight and correct. The blowup of the stamp is distorted and shows a curve which is NOT on the stamping of the block. If you read the next string about Engine VIN's by Mr. T you will notice he posted an engine code of V08I4FL. Notice the "I". The "I" was substituted for a "1" a lot. Matter of fact my original 1967 RS has an engine stamp of V0I26ME (no "1") with build date of 03D and my 1966 Chevelle has a stamping of T0I2IOE. All "I's" in that one.
I see a lot of these stampings. If Supergas990 had asked me about the stamp when he called me for the trim tag information, I could have saved him the trouble of posting.
BTW, I took the original picture.

Rick H
1967 Camaro RS
1970 Malibu Convertible
1966 Chevelle

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I just got a chance to look at the pics, I think it looks normal - to me. I have seen the 'I' and '1' interchanged on a lot of blocks, so this one didn't really seem abnormal.

That could be a really nice car when it's done, especially if it was repainted back to Grecian Green!

[Chevy454]

Here's a '68 L-78 stamp, courtesy of Kim Howie:

http://www.yenko.net/attachments/54908-68STAMP.jpg

[Supergas990]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I'm still kinda new to this whole numbers matching thing, so all of your expertise is appreciated.

Now, I just have to watch the auction and decide what I could part with to put this car in my garage.

Thanks again.

[68SSCamaro]

Here is a 68 L78 Camaro, image off ebay.

[Verne_Frantz]

Supergas,
I have a large library of original Tonawanda block stampings between '58 and '65. It has been my experience that they never stamped the numeral "1" in the date stamp. The letter "I" was always used instead. I've never seen a "1" through those years.
And at the final assembly plant, it was the same person's job to stamp the VIN derivitive on both the block and trans.
Just telling you my experience - not taking sides or pointing fingers. And as I said, my reference stops at '65.
Verne.

[Belair62]

The "Q" is very distinctive....the slash in it looks staright on the original post albeit a fuzzy image...the slash on the one I have seen in person on a 68 L78 is for lack of better description..."squiggly" ! The last pic which is a bit clearer looks squiggly too.

[Steve Shauger]

I have an survivor L78 69 pace car with a engine stamping TO31IJH. At least in this instance they indeed used both number 1 and letter I.

[Verne_Frantz]

It would appear that by then Tonawanda did indeed run out of "I"s
Verne.

[Supergas990]

I'm not asking anyone to take sides or make any accusations. I'm just trying to learn, before I get into a deal.

Oftentimes, when I look at cars my heart tends to lean towards "buy them all"... when my head knows that I have to be smart about any prospective purchase.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[Unreal]

Hey Paceme,
You don't happen to have the Cobleskill, NY L78 Z11, do you?

[Kim_Howie]

After I took my head out of my a-- and fresh air got to my brain I agree there is nothing wrong with the block stamping jmo Kim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Steve Shauger]

No, this car is from PA. I purchased it from the second owner who had owned it since 1971. When he retired, he moved to Fla, which is where I purchased it.

[TimG]

There are Noverember, 11 390 horse Corvettes with ones and I's in the stamping. This stamp would be TIIIIIL for a November, 11 IL code motor. Even the I character is documented with different style I's. The car I saw had two different types of I's and a 1 used for this date code.
The key is other cars with engine stampings of the same date had the same features. These unusual cars will validate each other. A '68 L88 in Houston has a engine build stamp with a 1 in place of an I for the engine designation. This car was considered a fake or at least a questionable car until another '68 L88 that was the next car built turned up independently with the same feature.

[Charley Lillard]

MQ Stamping

[Pantera]

I was looking at a case at the shop yesterday and it has a = "F9S01A" stamped on the R side of the case with no Vin # and there is a square stamped on the very top of the tail housing boss at the top of the case. casting is 3925660. Is this a over the counter trans? Not out of a car.