Numbers matching Cuda question

[Green Mopar Guy]

I'm looking at a 70 Cuda 440-6 and the engine block is stamped with the correct 6 VIN numbers but isn't there supposed to be 2 letters before these 6 VIN numbers?  Any help?

Thanks.

[n9671x2]

Normally the single digit of the year and factory plant letter would be before them, like 0B for a 70 car built at Hamtramck.   The factory did make errors, but I would tread cautiosly on this one.

[hemi71]

can you say re-stamp? Like N97 says, be careful there, I've never seen a pad stamped with just the last 6 numbers, always has the year and assembly plnat...had to as the same sequence number would appear at all the plants

[Street_Challenged73]

As already mentioned, if you're dropping some serious cash for this car (which it should be if it's a true 440-6 car), proceed with caution.  Perhaps do a thorough background check on other cars from the same plant to confirm if the lettering is similar to other cars built there.  Here's mine from the Hamtramck plant.   (a little dirty as these are from my 340 shortly after purchasing it.)  Perhaps check the transmission's V.I.N. and see what numbers are represented there, too.

[Rare_T_A]

I'd be very carefull on this one. On my 70 Challenger the engine numbers on the block start with 0B and then the vin#. Perhaps you could ask for the persons name and number that this guy got the car from. If he bocks then maybe he's trying to pull something off on you.

[JS27N0B]

Smells fishy 

[71GTX]

Question here:

When a dealer installed a factory replacement motor in a car that was underwarranty, was there any obligation to stamp the VIN in the block?? Could it be that this is a dealer installed replacement block that may have been mistakenly stamped??

Just playing Devil's Advocate....

[FM3V6M]

Warranty replacement blocks r unstamped...

[DAYTONA]

...a late friend of mine worked at a local Chrysler Dealership from the late 50's thru the late 80's.....he told me once they were supposed to stamp the vin#  in warranty replacement blocks, he still had his stamping kit....he told me he rarely stamped them in because the dealership never checked and basically, no one cared.....maybe a replacement block was stamped by a mechanic and he probably wouldn't have understood the 0B part of the vin or even worried about it.....

...in short, my guess, at best it is a warranty replacement block....at worst, a poorly restamped block to fool a potential buyer....

[Challenger6pak]

You can also measure the depth of the machined pad where the VIN is stamped.  If it is lower into the block than most other pads it has had numbers ground off and it has been restamped.  I don't have the measurement at this time. Sorry. Most pads were surfaced with a cut to the left and then another pass to the right.  Many times when a block is restamped it will only be cut one way and will not have the circular cut marks going both directions.  Does it have the 6 pack balancer on the motor?   I have also seen a pad be the correct height with the numbers stamped in J.B. Weld.

[trouble]

This is an unstamped replacement warrany block.