Re: Pure Stock Muscle Car Drag Race
Joe,
I'm afraid that I don't have a 1969 Corvette standard order form close by, but if I remember correctly, the form is very similar to the standard Camaro form you are referring to. The code ZQ9 that you mention is most likely the standard rear axle available with a given engine/transmission combination (the ZQ code was used to designate standard equipment - for the 1969 Corvette ZQ3 was the base 350/300 engine, ZQ4 was the standard black vinyl interior, etc.). Any deviations from the standard gear ratio would be noted on the order form.
Available rear axle ratios for the 1969 Corvette ranged from 2.73 to 4.56 to 1, although not all gear ratios were available for a given engine. The solid lifter big blocks equipped with manual transmissions typically received the widest range available; for an L-71 or L-89 car with an M-21, this would include a 3.36 (economy), 3.55 (standard), 3.70 (performance), and 4.11 (special). The L-88 or ZL-1 Corvettes with M-22s would have all of the previously mentioned ratios available plus the 4.56 (special). For the L-71/L-89/L-88/ZL-1 cars backed by the M-40 automatic, the gear ratios were cosiderablly restricted (much more so than with the L-72/L-78 cars in the rest of the Chevrolet line up). Available ratios included a 2.73 (economy), 3.08 (standard), and a 3.36 (performance).
The high performance automatic transmission Corvettes are quite rare; I believe the general figure quoted for the solid lifter 1969 M-40 cars is 255 L-71s and L-89s plus an additional 17 installed in L-88s. I'm not sure that the automatic car would be the best choice for a completely stock drag car due to the relatively tall rear axle ratio you'd be stuck with. Hot Rod tested an L-88/M-40 convertible back in 1969 and turned a respectable 13.5 @ 111 or so, but even they complained about the 3.36 rear. Of course, if the rules allow ANY rear axle ratio available, then you just might have something!
Hope this information helps.
Regards,
Stan
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