Faint block stamp

[CT Mark]

I have a numbers matching 66 SS. The block stamp is very faint. You can see the vin# quite well. The T+date is very faint and the "EJ" and "Z" (for Fremont) are VERY, VERY faint.

The EJ & Z are only visible in perfect light and at the correct angle. I have not been able to get these to appear in a photograph. I'm not sure if there's any depression left from the stamp. There's probably just a variation in the metal that makes it visible. I had a friend that is a professional photographer look at it and he said it can't be photographed unless something can contrast it and make it pop a bit. I've tried to use a very light coat of paint and rub away the excess and this did not help.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really just want to get it visible, snap a few pictures and leave it alone. I also don't want to use the acid as I've heard that it's lost forever after the process.

Thanks, Mark

[Steven J]

Have you tried a pencil rubbing of the numbers ? Put a sheet of paper over the stamp and lightly rub acroos the stamped area with a pencil and see if the numbers appear on the paper.

[CT Mark]

Thanks Steve. Yes....I tried that early on. I also tried putting some chalk and crayon on the stamp and lightly wiping away the excess with no luck. As I said, it's like the depression is gone. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Lynn]

Mark:

A guy I talked to last week said there is some kind of acid you can treat the area with that will make it pop a bit. Even works sometimes on blocks that have been decked because the metal where it was stamped is more dense (or was that me?). Anyway, I don't know if it would work for your situation because it sounds like the stamp was so lightly applied that there is hardly any depression.

I will see him this Sat nite. If you send me a PM to remind me, I will ask him about the procedure. He is a real "car guy" so he won't mind talking to you directly.

Lynn

[CT Mark]

Hi Lynn, Will do. Thanks.

I've heard & read about the acid that law enforcement agencies use. Apparently, that stuff makes the stamp visible for a short period of time (like 10 minutes) to enable a photograph, then everything is obliterated permanently. Hopefully, it's not the same stuff.

[Kim_Howie]

I've tried it. It DIDN'T work for me.

[John Brown]

Maybe if you have it Magnafluxed? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[hep1966]

Hi Mark. How is the car coming along? Did you get the 1/4 replaced?

About the stamping......... Have you tried a digital movie camera. A DVC or DVD recorder for example. What's good about them is that you get a continuous image and you can tilt the camera to get the different angles. Since it is digital, connect to your computer and freeze the frame when the stamping appears. Then you have your photo. I would not use any type of acid to make the stamp more visible.

John

[Mr70]

Have you tried rubbing it with a piece of Charcoal,then take a piece of pine wood similar in size and wrap that with ONE layer of tracing paper around it.
Set it on the Block pad,and smack it "HARD" with a metal hammer.
Lift the block off,and study the tracing paper,as well as the engine pad.

[JoeG]

Put the block in the freezer,metal might shrink enough to give an impression thru a piece of carbon paper or carbonless paper---

[CT Mark]

Interesting suggestions! Keep 'em coming!! ...and I thought I had tried everything! I'll try all of these next weekend....except maybe the freezer. My wife might not like that one!!

[Steven J]

Another variation on mr70's suggestion....You could take fingerprint ink and smear a thin layer of it over the numbers. Then take a piece of clear tape and put it over the numbers and apply some pressure. Lift the tape and see if the numbers appear on the tape. This works well on well stamped numbers, not sure if it will work on your faint stamping.

[CT Mark]

UPDATE: I finally got the EJ on my pad to photograph. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif ...at least I think so. My wife thinks I'm nuts and I can see it only because I want to see it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif You tell me, please.

[Xplantdad]

66 L34
Hey, I see the EJ...it's to the left of the 1 and up a tad.

[Mr70]

I see it too,right next to the Virgin Mary. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Xplantdad]

Here's the virgin mary

Put on your glasses, Rick! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/yenkopictures/mr70.jpg

[Lynn]

"My wife thinks I'm nuts"

Join the club. Well at least on good days that's all she thinks.

BTW, I think I see the image you are talking about. Can't see the virgin Mary though. Never did see the guy last weekend that was supposed to have the scoop on the acid treatment. Looks like someone else here on the board advised strongly against it. I don't have any personal experience with it, so I really don't know.

Your block looks like it has been decked. Like maybe they just took off enough to square up decks. The broach marks run at an angle. I am no expert on this stuff, so someone correct me if I am wrong.

Lynn

[olredalert]

--------Yup, Lynn....Those arent broach marks. They are surfacing marks. That block has had a minor decking. Not enough to take everything but enough to ruin the current owners day. Be posative,,,,At least you have the numbers you have. One more swipe and they would probably be gone as well...........Bill S

[All American Racer]

66, I use an optical micrometer at work. If you can get your hands on one you'll be amazed at what a metal surface looks like magnified many times. All it is (in a nutshell) is a lighted hand-held microscope that rests right on the surface you need to measure. In this case you won't be measuring, however, the magnification will show your #'s.