Inspection marks in engine bay

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nodemon

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I've had the body work done to the back half of car, (72 Hemi Orange Demon).. and getting close to doing the rest. A couple of people have remarked when looking in the engine compartment that I still have line inspection marks, " X's " and act like that's pretty cool they're still there.. Even had them say to leave them or take pictures to recreate them... The engine bay looks pretty good, especially for its age, but will obviously look "off" when the rest of the car is painted ( which really doesn't bother me ) ...so, my question.. Does anyone else leave the engine bay alone when a repaint is done, just to save inspection marks..??? Do they really mean that much..??
 
There are varying levels of restoration. Are you going for a "100 point" resto? Unless you are hoping to commit to that (and have already been doing that in previous work) then the presence of inspector marks is cool but not worth saving. If you like them anyway, then photograph and re-create. Those who really do resto's will see these at car shows and laugh knowing that this is not a real resto. Build your car your way.
 
I like the factory inspection marks because it lends a personal touch from the assemblers who may not be alive today. I prefer to leave them as is but your car is yours and you should finish it the way you prefer.
 
If I noticed any factory mark, I def would have tried to duplicate them.
But my fresh engine needed a freshened up compartment. Especially the firewall.
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Here’s what I am talking about. One assembler/inspection guy left his thumbprint as his mark!!
This is from my 1971 Duster 340 Hamtramck plant assembly date 8/20/1970.
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Many cars get a yellow paint mark on top of the master cylinder. It’s believed to verify brake fluid was filled.

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No obvious marks on our GTS. Car had never been apart except for an engine up to this point in 1983.

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Factory marks are inconsistent and vary from plant to plant. There are no hard rules as good judges know.
 
Factory marks are inconsistent and vary from plant to plant. There are no hard rules as good judges know.

document the marks after careful cleaning. Even if you don’t put them back on. Those doc will you or someone you designate sell or value later. These cars will outlive us.
 
I would have to say, if any of these engine bays were pressure washed along the way, any markings were probably removed.
 
The same person made both marks. Looks like they may have started another one over near the wiper motor, but didn't finish it. I'd restore the engine compartment, and recreate the marks. My 70 Challenger A66 car is all numbers matching, and has a few left that I will put back, and one I will not disturb. The few I will put back are in the engine compartment, and the one I won't mess with is the "ROCK" signature on the rear drivers side inner wheel well in the interior.
 
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