a block restamped for partial vin? I have a 396 block, which is casted 3916323 with original bore but not matching vin. It matches my car's year for a 68. It is a two bolt. I plan to rebuild it as a L34 version eventhough I don't know which car version I have.

Is it still considered okay to have at least the correct year block eventhough the partial vin doesn't match? I don't want to restamp the thing as I feel shady in doing so. I don't plan to sell the car but who knows down the road.

What is the running opinion on this?

Leave it alone, putting a VIN# on a block that didn't come from that car is unethical, period. Don't do it!!!!!

I think its the opinion of pretty much everyone here to leave it alone. Youre better off with the right parts rather than the right parts with a bad/re stamp. When found, it will only bring the rest of the car's integrity into question.

dave

I agree with the above. Don't do it. That is what makes buying a numbers matching car so shady. So many people do it just to make more money off the car. It's lying, no matter how you look at it. It would be more respectful to sell a correct car than a fake numbers matching car IMO..

Well, first off I already stated I would feel shady in doing it and don't intend to. Plus, I would never resell a car and tell someone it was a factory numbers matching motor when it's not. I'm trying to do the next best thing with my car since I don't have the original motor or trans. Not interested in defrauding someone.

I always hear people saying the motor is "Correct." Are they talking about the cast (like mine), restamped or original?

So, when people say their car is numbers matching, are they blowing smoke most often or are there a lot floating around?

Although, with date code stickers for springs and other repo parts being sold to appear original, I'm not sure I see much of a difference between the two. Maybe there is good explanation behind this as I'm just kind of getting into this hobbie and trying to figure things out.

"correct" is just that, the right casting number, and a casting date and asembly date that lines up properly with the build date of the car. Basically the best that can be done without the one and only engine the car was born with. Many of these car no longer have their "born with" engine, and some people go to great lengths and great expense to make thier resotoration as correct as possible.

Thank you Jim for that info. My car is a June 68 car and the 396 block I believe is a January 68. Could I consider this a "Correct" block?

There is new wording all the time out there, many times to talk around the fact that its not the original engine without actually saying so. It's sad, but even the term "#s matching" these days can be said truthfully without it being the "original/born with" engine. Looking through the Barrett Jackson catalog the other day, there was a vette that was all #s matching, but also stated it wasnt the original engine :confused:

Correct dated components are fine, but once you get into stamping parts, its a whole other deal.

Im not familiar with the date coded spring stickers you mentioned. I know they have part numbers, but never seen a dated spring. Anyway, stamping drivetrain components with a VIN is not the route to go.

BTW: A block 5 months before the car is too early.

dave

Actually, I should not have said dated codes. I just meant the coded tags that are sold for some components.

After this conversation I am not going to worry about a "correct" motor. I started thinking and it probably wouldn't matter anyway since my heads and intake are off of a 69 396 Camaro. It's already going to be expensive enought just to rebuild what I already have let alone hunting close dates/years.

Thanks for the advice.