66 427 Pad Stamp Restamp?

[SuperNovaSS]

I have a 66 427 block that has me a bit stumped. The block is a 3969942 casting. It looks to be an unmolested 4 bolt main block.

The part that has me stumped is the front pad. At first look, it appears to be a blatant restamp. The VIN area is unaltered but the assembly date and suffix code side of the pad has been ground down and restamped. I got the block from a machine shop who had the block in their inventory for 20 years. At first, I thought someone during an 80's restoration had changed this block from a 390HP to a 450HP by changing the assembly/suffix code but leaving the VIN intact. The part that throws me is it looks to be an original 4 bolt block. If that is the case, I see no reason for a restamp since it should have had the IP code to begin with.

Is it possible that this was a factory restamp? It really does not matter since the car is MIA anyway. I am just curious if Tonawanda would grind a pad down and restamp it if there was an error. I will post pictures ASAP.


Thanks,


Jason