Another 70 Chevelle Convertible in the Shop

[markjohnson]

Because it's probably out of a stolen car. Law enforcement will confiscate the entire car if that tampered-with pad is noticed by an officer or nosey-beyond-his-business state inspector.

[SuperNovaSS]

Really? How do you know they weren't trying to get rid of a marine code or something? Seeing that it is a late 69 512 block with a 427 rotating assembly, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a marine L88 or something. Do you really think law enforcement would go after an engine with a ground down pad stamp with no other evidence of funny business? Last I checked, it was not illegal to grind the stamp, casting numbers, date codes, etc off apart you own. I have seen a lot of silly stuff done to parts and most were not done to deceive or hide things.


Jason

[Bill Rose]

I guess it's really no different than decking any block. I had my Nova block decked, because I wanted it flat, and didn't care about the numbers.

[markjohnson]

Ok then, it came from a stolen boat. Either way it's been deliberately tampered with in a deceitful way and it's a giant red flag to law enforcement. With all the parts that you sell and deal, surely you have run across blocks with butchered pads like this. It's no big secret that high-horse cars were OFTEN snatched up for their motors. I've seen many, many blocks just like this. No matter how long ago it happened, some over zealous State Inspector or Highway Patrol will see that suspicious pad in whatever car it ends up in, seize the vehicle and then they will disassemble it for the owner by removing the heater box, cutting a nice little square hole in the floorboard to read VIN stamping on the frame, check transmission VIN, etc. This IS exactly what happens and I would be wary of having that block in my possession with the way that pad currently looks.

[markjohnson]

Decking is entirely different than somebody taking an angle grinder, files, hammers, punches and chisels for the sole purpose of obliterating that VIN from the front of the block.

[SuperNovaSS]

I have had a ton of decked blocks and some horrible restamps but nothing like that.. I have seen blocks like that for sale but never bought them. I did not buy them because they were overpriced and the mutilated pad effects the value, not because I was worried about a cop knocking on my door because someone ground on some metal.

Cars had VINs stamped on the blocks. Boats, crate engines, replacement engines, bare blocks, etc didn't. I have seen cars with this area ground on and filled before painting. Usually is it because the engine is a replacement and guys would rather have a blank pad than a low horse code showing. To think that most blocks that have had a pad ground on are stolen is a big stretch in my opinion. To think a cop would seize a 40 plus year old car that showed no other signs of tampering because the pad on the engine had grinding on it is also a stretch in my opinion. Rebuilders used to grind pads and restamp their name and bore size, job number,etc. quite a bit.

Sorry for hijacking the thread. I like the 70 Chevelle.


Jason

[BlueSS454]

I think this might be being a little paranoid. It's a 45 year old engine block that's probably been through countless hands since then. It could have been in a pickup truck, who knows. It's +.100 over already so it's about spent anyway. It's getting a CE block put in it.

[CC Rider]

I'm sure it will look great Tom.

[BlueSS454]

This afternoon I finished taking everything apart, except the front suspension, which is not in good shape. The trailing arm bushings are toast, the upper arms have egged holes. All the front bushings are shot, it's not pretty. Tomorrow I hope to get the floor and interior firewall painted.



And here is why the suspension needs to be done...







Trans Tag...



Something missing on the Booster?



Heater Box...