Hello everyone,

This question has been on my mind for a while now. I own a 1968 RS/SS Camaro and overall is very original and correct except for one issue. The 396 block may not be original and possibly restamped but good date coded block in my opinion. My cars body date code is 4 D (Forth week of April 1968) and the block code is C 18 8 (March 18, 1968). Now for my question: Is the difference between the Fisher body date code and the block date code usually this many days apart? (or should it be more or less?) Just trying to get some long needed help.

By the way it does have the correct casting number and vin but might be retamped.

Thanks

 

how can you tell its restamped?

 

I'm not sure but I have seen decked restamped blocks. It is very hard to tell if done right. That is why I'm concerned about the date code of the block.

 

check out these sites, they might have the info you need
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.html#camaro
http://www.camaros.org/index.shtml
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/

the way the factory stamped the numbers was they had the numbers in a jig that held them inline with each other and stamped them all at once, so the numbers should be inline but not always parallel with the block. (Hope you understand what I mean). there should be two sets of numbers, one for the motor info and one that has the last numbers of the vin #, which should be smaller in size than the block info

 

As for your original question, that time frame is not unusual. 4 weeks more or less is common between the build date on the cowl tag and the assembly date on the engine. The engine assembly date is the one stamped on the pad along with the partial VIN. This is typically a month give or take after the actual casting date on the block. I'd compare the casting date and build date of the engine. If they're a number of months apart then I'd be suspicious of a restamp. My 67 block was assembled about a month after it was cast.