Mystery 1969 WW Stamped 9790071 Date B199 Two Bolt Main Block VIN 79A122958
 

Please see pics and take a stab at what you think about this block.

Have never seen anything similar to this block. The WW is the identical font of all other 69 and 70 RA IV blocks I have inspected on real cars; WW appears not not to be a restamp; the block appears not to have been shaved. The VIN is not correct for a Pontiac.

Not that much cylinder wear; no noticeable ring.

Is a FEB 19, 1969 cast WW block with two bolt mains.

That is strange. I thought all 69 IV blocks received a 9792506 casting number. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one that didn’t have the last part of the casting number ground off and the 2506 stamped on it. Strange that it is not a 4 bolt main too. I’d look at that second W closely. Looks like they messed up on the vin stamping too. First number should be a 2 I believe.

The engine VIN is so wrong. The digits wouldn't be all over the place. It should have been gang stamped.

Plus the font size looks to be too big for the partial VIN?

:confused:

Here is a link to thread on the Judge of this engine:


RA IV Judge


Also seems we had a discussion on this engine before?
(couldn't find it with quick search)


:confused:

This was my gut reaction, but I held off on saying anything till others spoke up;
To me, the font of the vin looks suspect, but I have seen similar font used before... but even then it wasn't all over the place.

The EUN and engine code also look VERY wrong to me;
Wrong font, and again, not aligned properly.

My gut says that someone, somewhere along the line made a replacement RAIV block.

The variation with the font of the partial vin is one thing, but the font on the EUN & engine code should be a dead nuts match to every other Pontiac V8 - and that one looks off to me.

Without clear documentation of some sort verifying this block, in a manner that would explain the unusual stampings, were it mine, I'd do something to ensure it's not passed off as a RAIV block... but that's just me.

its been fondled with
and its a 2 bolt
definitely a decoy - probably chosen mainly for the date code.

Clean the whole passenger side of block face with lacquer thinner - down to the metal.
The whole pass side.

Then spray a light coat of any black spray paint over it - immediately smear the black around with a damp thinner rag as a thin "stain".
Let it dry , then start examining machine/broach marks with a sherlock magnifying glass.
You should start seeing clearer evidence.

Another thing about it is -
most all 69-70 Atlanta Blocks were VIN stamped in a different area, more like the Fremont Blocks were.
Not alongside the timing cover.

They got a LOT of things wrong on this decoy.

Was probably created way back , even way before the information highway ever existed.

Concur with all of the comments; the block is a fake restamp done way before most of the fraud was in full motion ten years ago. The block is in a dumpster on its way to rustville. Take care guys and thanks for your comments. :clap2:

well i hope your dumpster comment isn't for real;
i'm sure someone out there would orefer to build this over a 557 block!

Right, she shouldnt be used as a swim raft anchor.

I agree. Don't junk a perfectly good block just because of some silly stamping issue. A racer could use it or a hot rodder could.

The seven at the start of this partial VIN has a simple explaination. I mean, it's obviously wrong of course, but why? The person who restamped it simply lopped off the first four digits of the full VIN.

242379A1229578 versus 242379A1229578