What is actually "illegal" in most all states is the REMOVAL of the VIN number from a block. Yes, the decking process on a block will remove head surface area will also remove the "numbers" if they are stamped on the block head surface like older Chevy engines.
Virutally every state has some statute against the REMOVAL of a serial number or engine ID number from the block. Very few have any statutes addressing the re-stamping of of those numbers back on a block.
Now we all know why "restoration motors", I just love that term, are restamped before they are installed in a car. They increase the value of the car.
The problem that can then present itself is how is that motor represented by the seller when he/she sells the car? Do they represent the car as having the "original engine" or a "restoration engine"?
From my prespective there is probably NOT ONE SSP MUSTANG on the planet that could be represented/guaranteed as having its true original engine! Since most if not all SSP Mustangs were sold to government agencies and not individuals and have been sold at least once, NOBODY can represent their car as having the original engine BECAUSE the car has NOT been in the current owners pocession/ownership from day one when the car was new therefore you CANNOT guarantee the drivetrain to be original. There may be 1 original individul owner SSP Mustang still out there that could but I doubt it!
Since nobody who currently owns an SSP Mustang is the original owner of that car they CANNOT GUARANTEE the engine in their car is original. They may "think" it is, "know" it is or "dream" it is but they still cannot GUARANTEE it is the original engine since the car has NOT been in their personal pocession since new. Lot's of things could have happened to the original engine before your ownership of your car.
Having said all that, let's not ruin a bunch of SSP cars with all the "original engine" crap that I have put up with in Chevrolet's for the last 25 years!
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