This is unbelievable ---- my local machine shop knew that I was restoring a numbers matching 1968 Camaro R/S with the original 327 motor, but when he decked the block, he "erased" the numbers and stamped his invoice number in its place! I am obviously unhappy!!! Might any of you have any suggestions as to how to fix this fiasco? Thanks, John
Engine Pad Numbers Erased!!!
Ryberg1
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This is unbelievable ---- my local machine shop knew that I was restoring a numbers matching 1968 Camaro R/S with the original 327 motor, but when he decked the block, he "erased" the numbers and stamped his invoice number in its place! I am obviously unhappy!!! Might any of you have any suggestions as to how to fix this fiasco? Thanks, John
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5,850 Posts
There is no way to "fix" that. Once the numberrs are gone, they are gone. I'd have a serious chat with the shop owner. Do you have it in writing that they are not to remove the stamps? Did you take any pictures before the block was sent in?
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27,011 Posts
Sorry there is no going back at this point. As suggested, before photos can help you document what happened and a written statement signed and notorized from the shop owner attesting that their stamping ties to your vin would go a long way.
Unless you specifically requested special treatment during block decking to save the pad area your machine shop isn't going to give a second thought to the pad stampings. To them they did their job and did no harm even knowing you were working on a numbers matching restoration. As hobbiests we can't assume those we farm out work to know all the details of auto restoration.
On the other hand if you did have an agreement the pad was not to be touched then you should be able to get some financial restitution for the mistake.
Unless you specifically requested special treatment during block decking to save the pad area your machine shop isn't going to give a second thought to the pad stampings. To them they did their job and did no harm even knowing you were working on a numbers matching restoration. As hobbiests we can't assume those we farm out work to know all the details of auto restoration.
On the other hand if you did have an agreement the pad was not to be touched then you should be able to get some financial restitution for the mistake.
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209 Posts
Terrible 
At this point however all you can do is try to put a number on how much it's devalued your car and go from there. As Dennis said it can help if you had some photos and get a notorized document from said moron to help offset it somewhat.
Sad that you can't even pay someone to listen and do good work anymore.
At this point however all you can do is try to put a number on how much it's devalued your car and go from there. As Dennis said it can help if you had some photos and get a notorized document from said moron to help offset it somewhat.Sad that you can't even pay someone to listen and do good work anymore.
If he was informed not to deck I'd contact an attorney. Depending on value of car I'd say you are entitled to 5-10K in damages. Invoice number in place is crazy. Even if I requested an engine to be decked the last thing I want are his numbers there. Is this guy for real. You need to make him pay. This guy must be living under a rock. Now days any good machine shop knows to ask about decking or not when someone brings in a vintage engine.
That sucks! My 327 was decked before I got it. I don't care as it's not numbers matching but I feel your pain. I wouldn't contact a lawyer. I don't go down those roads but that's just me. Previous posters are right about what was said. What about having decked again and stamping the numbers back in??? It wouldn't look exactly right but... I don't know just a thought....
i know me saying you are not alone,doesn`t help i have known of this happening before. a 69 pace car that i always wanted as a kid.set for years and was sold to someone else. the guy took the engine to a machine shop. and they deck and remove the numbers.such a waste.so i feel for you.
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86 Posts
Thought I read once that these numbers could be saved. Something about when stamped that it irreversibly changes the meta below the surface and there are ways to bring it back or too at least be able to photograph it. I know it sounds impossible but I swear I read something to this affect somewhere. I had a 427 block and wanted to know how to prove what it came out of and somebody replied with this. I thought it was far fetched but I've seen crazy s**t before. I used to work at at machine shop and always asked before decking. Sorry
Brian
Brian
No you can't restore them. But you are talking about an acid that eats at the metal and where they were stamped is more dense due to the metal being compressed around the didgits. So the acid sometimes make it possioble to read what was stamped. Law enforcement uses this to try to trace firearms that have had the numbers ground off.
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1,049 Posts
There is no going back now, conversation with the shop owner would be the way to go and seek some compensation if you advised him not to deck the block.
I'd rather have a documented restamp than someones invoice number stamped on my engine.
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