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Bill, thanks for posting those pics of the engine compartments. Looks like Dana generally preferred the Edelbrock valve covers and Nickey liked to stick with the stock chrome ones (most likely some exceptions for either case).

-Jon

On the very first 396-427 transplants, I can't say for sure on such things as valve covers, wheels, headers, & etc., but after the programs got rolling, the customer could order the car built with most anything he was willing to pay for. Too, very interesting article about the Dana and Nickey-Thomas Camaro performance.

What has always been a little deceptive on the 427 Camaro is the fact we all know that Bill Thomas and Nickey Chevrolet were associated. This is true with Dick Harrell and Nickey joining forces in January of 1966. Now, Dick Harrell & Bill Thomas can be traced back to 1965, but when did Thomas become associated with Nickey Chevrolet? Would Thomas have been associated with Nickey when the 67 Camaro became available?

Thanks Bruce and Pete for your input into establishing a date of the release of the Camaro, in which you agree on the latter part of September, 1966. We now know that the BB Camaro was in the planning stages or had already been built prior to Oct. 9, 1966 at Nickey Chevrolet, which would be no more than 2 weeks after availability to the general public? My thoughts are that these were already built before this date or Harrell would not have approached AHRA with this thought in mind? I do not have a date as to when Harrell contacted Tice, but feel that it would have been at least a few days prior to this date? Then as mentioned before, who actually built the first, still may be questionable? Ray