Engine pad re-stamp???

[JHS]

I recently purchased a 1970 L78 Camaro project car. My first mistake was not looking at the car myself but allowing an acquantaince, with whom I had done business before, look at it. It was purported to be a RS/SS L78 NOM car that was in the process of restoration. As the car was in KY I could not go look at it but assumed my "agent" was knowledgeable and could decide if it was worth the $$. He called after looking at the car and said it was a real L78 car and the block, although not original, was a 3969854 casting with G319 cast date and T0807 CKO pad stamping. What he did not tell me was that the pad stamping was on the right side of the pad where the VIN usually is on post-1965 blocks! There is no VIN stamped on the block that I can find. My "agent" says that he has seen this before so thought nothing of it. He bought the car with my money, brought it home where I then learned that the trim tag had been removed and re-attached because "people in KY take them off because they get stolen". I now have a car with questionable trim tag, NOM, Non original trans, not sure of rear end yet, car that probably has a re-stamped engine. I am attempting to attach a pic of the pad so please feel free to give me you comments (except calling me stupid as I already know this). I trusted someone else that supposedly knew what they were doing and now must pay the price.