Has anyone seen and know the meaning of the pad stamping on this Hemi block, not so much the January assembly date, but the Grand National stamping.

Thanks

definitely began life as a 66 Street Hemi block, what happened next is anyone's guess. Probably was used in a NASCAR effort. I haven't seen any known race team/builder use that particular stamping before but it looks vintage. Does it have any other unique markings or machine work done? Have a pic of the area behind the distributor hole?

yes

Lots of stamping, mostly at odds with itself.
1. Never known a racer in my 50+ years around or in the Sport that would stamp something like that whole term; much more likely to use "GN". Sanctioning bodies use the same shorthand.
2. Grand National term itself changed after the '71 season, when it became Winston Cup, with the advent of series sponsorship.
3. The date stamp seems like an engine rebuild date, which I guess someone might do.

B= 1966 Street Hemi production line engine
H= Hemi
WT= Water Tested block (multiple random single letter hits, common)
1-21= January 21st 1966 assembly date
05= Engine assembly sequence
Maltese cross= .010 under sized crank / over sized bearings

The Grand National could have been added by anyone, IMO it was most likely done by a race shop of some kind or another, maybe even one of the big boys of the day like Cotton Ownes etc. and I'd further my guess that it was for a 66 or 67 vintage NASCAR race car. .02

Maybe they put it in a Buick?

Lol!!😂

Would a race team really take the time to spell out 13 letters, 'National' letters look individually stamped. 'GN' would be simpler as an identifier...

Easy enough to get a definitive answer...


Ask Maurice P...

I haven't seen a Petty engine stamped like that but certainly a possibility.

Only known history thus far is the block came out of a B5 Blue R code Challenger from Denver, CO. circa 1996.

Back in the 1970's when my hemi came out of the 71 GTX to go to the machine shop, i stamped my name into the ID pad on the block, for theft deterrent purposes.
The original; engine to the car.
So as far as i know, Jim Valuckas most likely is still on the pad, unless the owner had everything milled off.
Anybody could have stamped ID pads with whatever they wanted to.
Wasn't a big deal back in the day, like it would be now a days.

if you can please take pics of freeze plug areas and the front of the block upside down.

What should I be looking for?

Bigger shot of the entire side of the block. Same for the underside. I'm showing it to a friend who has some further knowledge

Exactly what I was going to ask for.