65 Chevelle SS Z16

[dykstra]

Hi Jeff, Thanks for the info. Maybe i missed it, but why didn’t GM offer positraction on these Z16 Chevelles?

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by dykstra

Hi Jeff, Thanks for the info. Maybe i missed it, but why didn’t GM offer positraction on these Z16 Chevelles?

Z16s did NOT get a posi. Chevrolet felt that with the rear sway bar, boxed lower control arms and the convertible frame that the rear was tuned enough to not need the "crutch" of a limited slip differential. Seems odd, but true. If you look at the photos of all the test drives in magazines back in the day, they are all laying down two smokey patches so apparently they knew what they were doing.

https://www.chevelles.com/threads/di...a-posi.336718/

[Xplantdad]

Hi Jeff,


Thanks for continuing on with all of the Z16 info amongst all of the other research that you do for everyone! I know that Dave Miner was intimately involved with Z16's up until he passed away. He was a great guy....

[Too Many Projects]

OR, maybe the "test" cars had posi's for the press, but the batch run for public consumption did not ?

When it comes to prototypes and test cars, never say never...

[jeffschevelle]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

OR, maybe the "test" cars had posi's for the press, but the batch run for public consumption did not ?

When it comes to prototypes and test cars, never say never...

I agree in general. But if it was done to any of the Z16 magazine test cars, it was done at the prepping dealer and not the factory, as there is only one code for Z16 rears (GA).

And it definitely was not done to all of the magazine test cars, if it was done to any of them. There are at least two of the magazine test cars still alive and well, and both still have their original GA stamped 3.31 open rears. (The prototype Z16 also still has its original 3.31 open rear, which is just stamped "Z16" with no date or code.)

Also see my post #14 in the the Team Chevelle thread linked above. With a little crafty driving, on those skinny tires it is easy to make one behave like it has a posi, due to the stiff chassis and rear sway bar. I'm sure the magazine test drivers figured out all the tricks pretty fast!