'68 Yenko, Transplant vs. COPO

[SuperCars]

Joe, I was given a file of about 50 pages from Chevrolet Engineering Archives, that I believe I was told came through help from Herb Fishel, a Chevrolet Engineer, and I believe along with Fran Preve. The bulk of these documents pertain to COPO 9737. Most of which deals with suspension parts such as tie rod ends, sway bar components, steering and a bunch of stuff I haven't paid much attention to. The key pages I have focused on are this smog test, but also there were engine assembly numbers that were added and deleted number through this 9737 process as it appears to have evolved during 1968. Also for example, is one Engineering Change Recommendation on COPO 9737 (dated 4-10-68) is noteworthy, as it is typed "NOTE: RPO L78 Fuel Pump will used for delivery of vehicles only". Typed below that is "RPO L78 Fuel Pump required to facilitate assembly". In between these two typed sentences is handwritten: "Make Exp V78 Mandatory on all exceptions with Engine Changes- add to cost sheets." (signed with initials ARB 4/15/68; A.R.Baker was one engineer listed at top of page) Then, when I refer to the list on the COPO 9737 sheets, which is titled "Exception Control Letter Sheet" it lists all the RPO's to configure the COPO 9737. The first COPO 9737 Sheets do not list V78. RPO V78 was added to COPO 9737 on 4-3-68 and is: "V78 Less Certificate of Compliance/For Export/". It is my belief that this RPO V78 addition, plus handwritten in by an engineer the words "engine changes", is exactly what happened.

In answer to your question of the COPO order document in the Chevy Action Article, I thought I had a copy, but can't find it right now. I know who does have it and will get a copy one way or the other (I hope).

The 66 L72 Vette you posted is one of the L72/M22 that created the controversy over whether there were 66 L88's. There was a Lawsuit going on between a couple Corvette guys over this car, it got kind of ugly. But, I do believe it to be another of the L72-B/M22 cast iron head versions of the L88 as previously discussed. It was special ordered by Don Yenko for friend/customer named Mike Summers who owned "Best Photo Service". It was raced extensively and you will see the BEST PHOTO name on it. I can type another whole story on this car but won't right now.

By the way this reminds me of another interesting item about Don Yenko. It was told to me that his special order performance cars were white with red interior. We see that this 66 Vette is white/red and my 68 Yenko is white/red. When I was told this I didn't really think any significance to it; but has anyone else heard this?



[Edited by SuperCars (04-22-2001 at 12:56 PM).]

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

More pics relating to Kevin's explanation;





M

[JoeC]

Kevin, The document shown in the Chevy Action article is the best evidence I have seen to date of a COPO 427 1968 Camaro maybe two. I scanned and magnified it to 8x11 size trying to read it. Some of it is legible but some of it is too grainy. I sent a copy of it to Jim Mattison and he replied that he hadnÃt seen one for many years but remembered it as the œGSD-578” form. The copy shown on the Speedvision Musclecar COPO TV show looked like the one I emailed to Jim. I did tell him that there seemed to be some good evidence that not all the 68 Yenkos were MV code 427 engines but on the TV show Jim seemed to indicate that he still believed they all had the 427. I am not convinced that they all had the 427.
The GSD-578 form shows a COPO 9737HD. The "HD" is the ECL (Exception Control Letters) code to show a configuration change in a RPO or COPO number. Such as on the Yenko Chevelle build sheets that show 9737LD and 9737KD. Chevy could have used a different ECL suffix code on the 9737 to build different configurations of the 1968 COPO Camaro. From what I can read on this COPO order form it is dated 2-13-68 requested by Yenko Chevrolet and Span inc. for two 9737HD sports car conversions to ship ASAP. ( It appears to show quanty as 2 but not clear). One line of the document listed the RPO's that appear to have been deleted and replaced by other components. They are as follows; Z23, L78, M21, AXL2 (crossed out), J52, J50, U63, G80, N40. I decode this as; Z23 = special interior package (looks like it is not on this car), L78 = 396 (the article claims the original motor is a 427 with L88 parts), M21 (they claim the car has a M22, AXL2 = special performance axle (this is crossed out on the form) J50/J52=power disk brakes (the car looks like it does not have power brakes but may have J56), U63=AM radio (the car has no radio) G80= Posi rear (the crossed out AXL2 could spec. the axle 4:56) N40=power steering (the car looks like it has no PS). I can email a copy of what I have but I hope you can find the original.
On the Yenko colors “ I am not sure about the red interiors but Don Y definitely liked his racecars to be white with blue stripes down the center. He used this paint scheme on his early Corvette race cars and on the first Stinger Corvairs.

[Kurt S]

I'd like to see a copy of the paperwork (could be helpful with our work on suspension and steering part #'s too), but one thought is the V78 is what cause the old style trim tag (with ACC on it) to be used.
Export cars used that same trim tag.

Kurt

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

KurtS;
Are you saying that the V78 could be for a different trim tag size or design??
M

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Here is a pic of a what I believe is a Corvette L72 fuel pump. (Rowdyrat, confirm????)If it is, I can see why they would have to change it in order to put the L72 into the Camaro subframe. Could this be why they wrote the notes on the test paperwork?
M

[JoeC]

If the car used the L88's Holley 850 double pumper carb Chevy Engineering would probably specify the L88 fuel pump. The L88 fuel pump was probably in short supply since not many L88s were built and would have to come from the Corvette plant so maybe there was a problem getting the L88 fuel pump or maybe the Corvette L88 pump would not fit in the Camaro. It appears they just put in a fuel pump to make the car driveable then let Yenko worry about replacing it. A 1968 Camaro with a L72 427 equipped with L88 parts, an M22, and 4:56 gear would be a quick drag car. It's too bad Chevy didn't make the 50 cars required to qualify it for NHRA like they did with the ZL1.