A stamping and forming machine has first (4) and second tooling assemblies which are movable relatively towards and away from each other. Pilot pins (12), are mounted on, and moved with, the first tooling assembly (4). The pilot pins enter pilot holes in the strip material and are movable on the first tooling (4) assembly between extended oositions and retracted positions. When the tooling assemblies are in their open, or separated, positions, the pilot pins (12) are in their retracted positions and clearance is provided to permit feeding of the strip between the two tooling assemblies. As the tooling assemblies move to their closed positions, the pilot pins move to their extended positions and perform their piloting function. The pilot pins are moved by a lever (24) which is pivoted to the first tooling assembly and to the pilot pins.