1962 COPO Impala 409? First COPO?

[Chevy454]

Casey:

Good to see you back again! I hope you have a better reception than I did over at the Mopar board!

Anyway, neat set-up with the trans in the wagon...reminds me of the setup that was in a 944 that I used to have. I had a LOT of problems with the shifter linkage (I guess the Germans don't do a lot of speed shifting like I do!)...how was the linkage set up on the wagon?

[REDZ]

Concerning the '62 Z-11 package, I don't know if it was a COPO program or not, but I think it is fairly well accepted now that Chevy did put aluminum front ends on 10 to 20 Impalas at the end of the '62 model year. I was told that these were all hardtop plain Impalas, no bubbletops, no Biscaynes and no super sports. One of these cars is in the Indianapolis area. It was orginally raced out of that area under the Zintmaster Chevrolet dealership sponsorship. Supposedly, the window sticker is still in the car.

My understanding is that the '62 Z-11 package consisted of only the aluminum front ends, with the trick heads and intake not being installed until the 1963 model year. According to Rusty Symnes, who has written a booklet about these cars and seems to know more about them than anyone else, the Tonowanda engine plant has records of 50 of the Z-11 engines being built for the '63 model year. If this is true, then the accepted number of 57 cars is about 12 to 17 too many....probably about 40-45 built with 5 to 10 spare engines. Normally, they produced about 10% spares which would indicate 45 cars.... but not much was normal when you consider that they were making these wild cars at all.

[Edited by REDZ (07-06-2001 at 07:49 PM).]

[Belair62]

Rusty has THE finest 62 Belair I have ever seen. Wonder if he ever looks in on this site ? As for the Ponchos,they also called that trans-axle the Powershift trans.It was a 4 speed according to my materials. It could be set up for a converter or a clutch! They also used a flexible or "rope" driveshaft which was connected directly to the crankshaft.What a strange piece. There were 6 DOCUMENTED Lemans SD coupes and 6 DOCUMENTED Tempest wagons. Look for Pete McCarthy's book Pontiac Musclecar Performance 1955-1979 for some really cool info and pics on these beasts as well as Swiss Cheese and the rest of the Super Duty Pontiacs.

[Edited by Belair62 (07-06-2001 at 09:33 PM).]

[Chevy454]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="">quote:</font><HR>Rusty has THE finest 62 Belair I have ever seen. Wonder if he ever looks in on this site ?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Bob:

I've always wondered if Rusty is ever on the net. From what I have read, he has owned (or still does for that matter) several neat cars...isn't he in IL also?

[69motion]

there was a alum nose floating around PA. last year i saw it at pittsburg parts arama the asking price was $3500 i thought that was cheap i took the mans number i look for it if anyone is interseted jeff

[Belair62]

I think Rusty is in Indiana. Jeff,if you happen to find that number for the aluminum nose pass it along to me.Can't imagine it's still available though.An old buddy out in St.Charles Illinois,Tom,forgot more about 62 Belair 409's than I know.Learned a lot from him.Not sure if he is online though. He is too cheap for that. (that should flush him out if he is online now! )

[Belair62]

Must have pressed button twice...duh

[Edited by Belair62 (07-07-2001 at 11:25 AM).]

[Bayer Z-11]

First there were only 50 factory built ‘63
Impala Z-11s. Not 57.

Regarding the ‘62 aluminum front ends they were not installed at the factory. They were a service package item only Same as the intake, valley tray and heads released to a select few racers. There were no “Z-11s” in this model year.

Regarding ‘61 409. They were small port heads, solid lifter cam and aluminum intake with a single AFB. They were rated @ 360 HP when built. The 2x4 big port heads became a service package item late in the year just prior to the ‘62 model run.

[tjs44]

Guys I hate to interject in a very old COPO thread but as the 63 SD Tempest were mentioned I can give some info on the transaxle.The unit used a 2 speed Tempest TQ trans with a 2 speed planetary (spelling) bolted to it giving it a 4 speed manual Auto trans.No TQ converter.The car had a clutch with the unit mounted in the rear with a hyd bearing.They launced to car with the clutch and just shifted each gear with a console mounted shifter.Tom

[tjs44]

pic