[TimG]

I have a number of 68 pad tracings. I am looking at the Tonawanda engine build stamp. These should be consistant through the whole Chevrolet line as they built and stamped all big blocks at this plant in 1968. The whole stamp looks very light. The stamp should be heavier. Six looks OK, the first 1 is represented as an "I" as it should although it should have a line on the top and botton that extends to the left and right of the verticle line. The first I is close to correct although the second I is not close to correct. I do not see any broach marks on the pad and have noticed there are no good shots of the full deck where the numbers are stamped. These broach marks extend the length of the deck and I will always take a picture of this if I photograph a block. The numbers are crooked, at times the motor designation (last two letters on engine build stamp) was stamped separately and could be crooked. In this case, the T and the build date are all out of line. I would question this stamp and be very hesitant about the purchase. It could be the original engine with a restamp of the block after decking. Again no broach marks or pictures of the whole deck with the broach marks continueing past the pad stamp.
One note, when the plant sharpened the broach machine they first decked the high performance four bolt blocks. If you look at any four bolt big block the broach is very heavy due to the sharp broach machine.


[Edited by TimG (05-27-2002 at 11:40 AM).]