68 yenko camaro

[Kurt S]

Marlin,
The usage of the LT1 may not have been documented completely (no real surprise since no changes to the engine assembly were required and it was low volume). GM would never issue a new engine code if the engine assembly was exactly the same. Notice how GM commonized their engines in the 70's so they could use the same engine is several car lines.
But this is the build list for the plant to make the engine. It had to be correct or they couldn't build it. Very different item.
Usage tables are notoriously inaccurate and hard to keep updated. Bill of materials have to be accurate because they are used by the engine plant.

[Rowdy Rat]

Marlin,

The situation that you describe is a bit different. GM used engines with the same broadcast code for multiple vehicle applications (e.g. L-78 Camaros and Novas in 1969), but the engines (and components) were always the same regardless of which car that they went into, much the same as your LT-1 Camaro/Nova scenario. GM also used the same broadcast codes for different engine applications in different years. I canÃt see where GM would ever use the same broadcast code for different engines in the same year. Imagine the confusion this would cause!

KurtÃs information makes a lot of sense. Joe had asked why GM would issue a special broadcast code instead of simply using a standard Camaro L-78. IÃm sure most of us are aware that the engines shipped from Tonawanda, Flint, etc., were long blocks; components like, alternators, pulleys, and such were added to the engine later at the final assembly plant. One of these components added was the carburetor. A special broadcast code would let the line worker know that the engine received a different carburetor from other L-78s on the line. Why a different carburetor was used at all is another question worth researching.

Joe, I have the Super Chevy article on the 1968 COPO Camaro˜ Any chance that you could fax or e-mail me a copy of the Chevy Action article? IÃd really appreciate it!

Regards,

Stan Falenski

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Kurt;
I agree with you, but why did the '69 COPO cars receive new engine codes? Are they different than other L72 engines? I always thought it was really strange why GM would issue new codes for some engines, and reuse codes for others. I speak mainly from the Yenko Nova perspective, where the Z28 codes were reused but GM did issue a unique rear end code!

Stan;
Good explanation, I'm starting to understand!! I can fax you the Chevy Action article, let me know your fax number via email.
M

[Edited by YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY (02-21-2001 at 10:59 AM).]

[Edited by YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY (02-21-2001 at 11:00 AM).]

[JoeC]

The Super Chevy article states that Fran Preve has Tonawanda documents that list the 1968 MV code 396 as a "CONV L78 COPO F BODY". They speculate that this was "Pigginese" for hiding a special 427 engine installation. This would not be the only time Chevy would spec out a L78 but install a L72. Chevy also did this with the COPO Chevelle. In the option field of the COPO 427 Chevelle build sheet it lists a "L78 396 4BL-V8". The L72 or the 427 is not indicated on the build sheet unless you can decode the 9562 or the engine code box. The COPO guys were hiding the 427 engine in the codes. Maybe they did this on the 68 Yenko Camaro. Maybe they didn't but it was possible to do. The Chevy Action article states that two 68 Yenko Camaros have been found with original MV code 427 engines with a "321" casting number and they also have the POP with the MV code. The COPO document is also shown. Of course, just because it is in a magazine doesn't make it true but this is what they claim.

[Kurt S]

The L72's in 69 got different codes because something on the engine assembly was different, probably ex manifolds, the most common reason. That's why the L48 (SS350) engine in 69 is a different code in the full-size cars versus the Camaro/Chevelle/Nova (rams horn vs log style).

I've heard several people with more knowledge than me dispute that article. And it was Fran that later found the bill of material that showed it was a 396. I may be mistaken, maybe it was a L88 intake (cause the carbs were installed at the assembly plant).
Several people have found 396 MV blocks (including Stan), and noone has yet come forth with a 427 MV block. Someone was blowing smoke in that article.

[Keith Tedford]

Joe C. is right about the build sheets. The engine codes were there in boxes 5 and 27 and the COPO code was at the bottom of the sheet. Without knowi8ng what these codes meant, you would just assume that the car had an L78 motor as listed with the rest of the options.
In our area at least the 427 Camaros and Chevelles were no secret. We found out about the COPO options in early Calendar year '69. Several dealers in the Toronto, Oshawa area sold COPO Chevelles and Camaros as did several others. Not too many could afford the cost of the car and the insurance so they didn't exactly jump off the lots. Even the L78 was not shown in the normal option lists but the hard core people knew they were available. Same with the COPO cars. GM had a lot of government agencies hounding them in those days so low key worked best in these situations. GM sure didn't seem to be hiding anything from us. GM sent him all the COPO information for ordering the cars right away.
The 4 speed cars came to the assembly plants with the clutch assembly, pilot bearing, bell housing and exhaust manifolds. The automatics came with the flex plate. Each engine had its own code. The big cars had different exhaust manifolds attached which would not fit a Chevelle chassis. Different engine code again. If everything was identical, as in the '68 Chevy II and Camaro 4 speed cars, then you got the same MQ engine in both. The 50 COPO automatic Chevy II cars in '68 were coded differently again. Then again just when everything starts to make sense GM changes the rules.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Bill;
Any update on the '68 Yenko Camaro purchase??
M

[BEAUMONTBILL]

thank you very much to all the people that e-mailed to offer there help with my 68 yenko
purchase. i have to admit that i was overmelmed by almost everyones willingness to offer advice. i am relatively new to the yenko owners family and have not met most of you yet. i have had the positive experience to meet brian henderson who was nice enough to travel hundreds of miles to help me purchase my yenko chevelle.his seemingly endless enthusiasm towards the yenko/supercar hobby is incredible. i'd also like to thank marlin spotts who i met when i purchased my first yenko, a red deuce. marlin was genuine in his efforts to help me every step of the way. his feedback and experiences haved helped more then he could imagine. chuck huber spent several e-mails with me and several phone calls talking about the 68 camaro's. omar in california talked with me at length about his experiences restoring his 68 yenko and has even offered detailed photo's of his car.there are others that e-mailed and offered there help and to everyone a heartfelt thanks. now the rest of the story....... my 68 yenko camaro is the real deal. unfortunetly when i picked up the car the owner told me the 140 mph speedometer was "stolen the night before". if anyone knows where i can get another one from please e-mail me. oh yea one more thing to get off my chest. whats the problem with vince emme? after all the helpful clues and suggestions i received i followed one which suggested i call vince.
he i was told was the guru,the man ,the one true source to look to. easy enough, i thought. after a brief introduction i told him what car i bought and asked him how i would go about having him document it for me.
the answer was quick and to the point."i was supposed to get that car. i'm not helping you at all......click,hangup,end of conversation. quite a different experience then i had had with everyone else i contacted. several people have now informed me they had similar responses. i didn't realize i was doing something wrong by calling mr emme. i was just seeking some help. oh well, live and learn. thanks again to everyone for there help. i will be starting a frame off restoration soon and will be in tennesse with my chevelle. hope to meet some of you there.

[Chevy454]

Bill:

You are not alone! That is almost the exact same response Vince gave us on our '69 Yenko Nova, only I think the word "pissed" was used somewhere in there! It sounds like you met the majority of the "true enthusiasts" first, though, and got to see that there really are people out there who are willing to help another eunthusiast out, even if it doesn't benefit their pocket book...unlike "you know who".

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Bill;
Good Luck with the car, bummer on the speedo though. Unfortunate situation with Vince.
M