on 7/30/02 11:54 PM, Kent Lewis at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Chuck
Well that sure sounds like the same car. And yes I do believe the article came from a copy of Chevy High Performance, not sure on the date though (still have not found the article). But you covered it rather well. It's neat to hear that you have actually looked at the car and the build sheet. From the photo in the article it would be difficult to distinguish a real vs. fake buildsheet. And as you say "Just because something appears in print, it isn't automatically gospel".
Having said that, I will add that there is more to the story on the fiberglass cowl hood. This same gentleman from Texas was able to locate the manufacturer of the special hood. Apparently the company was/is still in business, and in fact still had a number of these hoods in storage. He purchased the last 3 (?) hoods that they had.
Now, about the LS6 w/aluminum head option. Once again, I am going to use my "encyclopedia of car facts/fiction" and say that I recall a letter that was written to a magazine wanting to know what the engine code was that was stamped on his block. The response was something to the effect of "Your not going to believe this, but we looked up that code and it deciphers out as an LS6 w/aluminum heads ! We were not aware that engine even existed." Anyone care to look up the engine codes ?
Kent
'68 Malibu ZZ502/502 :)
ACES #5102
You don't happen to recall the engine code for this application, do you, Kent? After researching my sources I'm unable to come up with any codes that indicate an LS6 w/aluminum heads. I did, however, come up with: CKP=396/375, alum heads w/TH400; CKT=396/375, alum heads w/4spd; CKU=396/375, alum heads w/HD clutch
Interestingly, one of my research sources includes all the suffix codes for engines built at the Tonawanda engine assembly plant and included in the list were suffixes for the '71 Chevelle LS-6, which most Chevelle enthusiasts agree was never produced. The codes are: CPZ for 4spd applications, and CPY for TH400 applications. According to this information, there were four CPZ engines built and ten CPY engines built.
Were they ever installed in actual production cars? That's a point of considerable conjecture on both sides of the table. I don't think they were... It's my feeling that if there were potentially fourteen Chevelles built with this engine, certainly one of them would have withstood the ravages of time and surfaced by now. But, with evidence that at least the engines were produced, there may still be a remote chance that one eventually may see the light of day.
Of course, the much-discussed Z-16 convertible may have been built, too. But to this point there's not even one acceptable shred of evidence to substantiate its existence. And the debate continues to this day...
Interesting point you make about the hood. When I discussed it with the owner of the car in Lubbock, he stated that it was the only one he knew of, and hadn't had any success tracking down the manufacturer. Apparently that situation has changed since my conversation with him. Where did your info come from, and who can I contact to find out more about these fiberglass CI hoods? With the quality that went into them, I felt like they may have been an engineering feasibility study, and were constructed by some Detroit-based proto shop for GM/Chevrolet. If I recall, the hood would even accept the stainless moulding that is attached to the edge of the hood nearest the windshield. This is usually something that most aftermarket hood manufacturers don't concern themselves with. They would, however, if it was part of the engineering spec given to them by GM. Again, these are just my personal observations, and not hard facts.
I'd love to have one of those hoods... so I could install it on my '70 L89 convertible when/if I ever come across one!!! Surely there's gotta be one stuck out there in a barn somewhere!
Chuck
