70 Judge RAIV and V continuation

MrsBillyBobcat · #1 11-25-2003, 02:54 AM

The verdict is in...You be the îJUDGEî [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif[/img]

Since this topic came up, I have been sifting through Bill's "RAM AIR V" file (while he is at work [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]). He has tons of info on the RAM AIR V motor. I think I may have found something that answers the ìMILLION DOLLAR QUESTIONî here (that being whether or not a particular Judge came from the factory with a RA V). I found photos of a ìcrated RA Vî (the same one) in two different publications from the mid 80ís (see below). It has an engine number stamped on it very similar to the one Steve posted from the Judge in question (see attachment in his post in response to GTO DON on page 3)

The engine in these articles is engine #689539. The one from the Judge in question appears to be engine #689549. I believe the engine number is part of a ìsequential numbering systemî. According to the ìdate cast codeî on engine #689539, it was cast on January 21,1970 during the night shift. Therefore, I would have to believe that engine #689549 would have been cast AFTER that. Since the motor in the Judge was built after January 21, 1970, and the car was invoiced in November of 1969, then logically there is NO POSSIBLE WAY that this engine was in that car from the FACTORY!

Court is now ADJOURNED!

Rita [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

article #1

article #2

DaJudge · #2 11-25-2003, 03:16 AM

Nice articles. I stand corrected regarding the stampings the article clearly states that these engines were hand stamped. Way to dig through the archives [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

55chevy · #3 11-25-2003, 03:52 AM

Ok Rita. Point Made.. Now enlarge that pic. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

MrsBillyBobcat · #4 11-25-2003, 04:03 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Ok Rita. Point Made.. Now enlarge that pic. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

You can look for that pic in the next issue of "Chevy Girls Gone Wild on the Supercar Forum" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif[/img]

Steve_Hoog · #5 11-25-2003, 04:09 AM

Rita that is some good work, I wish you would post the entire article and source. I have HPP April 84 that has RAM AIR V Machine Behind The Myth, but pages 29-35 are gone. Just so happens to be right where the article was, I had a bad habit of hanging the cool pics on my shop wall. No doubt where they went.

The Y is identical in the stamp style, and what little you posted partially answers some of my questions.

You have assumed too much with Gary's engine though. I have looked and looked at the pic he gave me, I can't tell if it's a 3, 5, 6, or 8; and I'm leaning towards the 8. It looks like it turns back up where the two circles meet. Too much guess work on how they came about with the numbers, sequential or however they did it.

The only for sure way to know, would be for Gary to tell us the unknown digit and more important the date code. A third engine to reference would be nice too, I'm still trying to track down a lead on that right now.

MrsBillyBobcat · #6 11-25-2003, 04:22 AM

[ QUOTE ]

You have assumed too much with Gary's engine though. I have looked and looked at the pic he gave me, I can't tell if it's a 3, 5, 6, or 8; and I'm leaning towards the 8. It looks like it turns back up where the two circles meet.

[/ QUOTE ]

The first digit has to be a "6" since they only made a couple hundred motors. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Steve_Hoog · #7 11-25-2003, 04:29 AM

Did you go back and look at The Little Big GTO book that I referenced? Some descrepincies on the amounts from that, compared to the 200 usually talked about.

They do not have to all be in order, anything is possible with GM. Not matter what Gary's turns out to be, a few more RAV blocks to reference would be nice.

What about the block in your car?

Oh, and that article looks like Classic GTO newsletter print. Is that where it's from?

Steve_Hoog · #8 11-25-2003, 04:54 AM

Since the RAV's are hard to come by; if anyone out there has blocks close enough to the numbers here below, please post them so we can see if there is a method to the way they do this. Both of these are out of the original vehicles, and I have no reason to think they are tampered with:

69 GTO 400 YS 0582823 Date code 0049 block 9790071
68 GP 428 YH 164333 Date code 1157 block 9792968

Jeff H · #9 11-25-2003, 12:35 PM

Good work Rita, that is what I was suggesting for someone to look into. That engine production number along with the block date should help shed some light. I would guess the NICB should have the shipping date for that Judge as well so if the engine was built after the car was shipped, that should clinch it. Can anyone verify the ship date? I could see where a car could sit for a while like some of the COPO's did when components weren't available.

Steve_Hoog · #10 11-25-2003, 01:21 PM

OK, hold on a second. As I was walking through the parking lot I was thinking, we never suggested the car was built with the motor. We have been told that it was put in the car after production, in engineering. I don't know how long engineering typically had a car, but in the middle of winter there wouldn't be much hurry. Certainly for a car intended for the strip.

The date of when Knafel took delivery would be crucial. And we are still working off of Rita's theroy about the date code, that may not be right.

I personally have waited 6 months after ordering a GMC, because they were out of 5 speed tranny's. So the car waiting in engineering for a couple of months may not be to far out of reach.

I threw up the window sticker on the GMC just for grins, was an awesome truck!!

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