Copo Automatics

[sYc]

Jim; Thanks, this has been debated numerous times on this site, glad to get a definite answer. Makes sense since they are the same.

Now, to another question. The COPO cars (427) came with a 396/375 HP emission sticker. Why was this? It had been runored that they were "snuck" through, to save the hassle of going through the whole certification thing for just a small number of engines/cars. But, since the engines were the same, and were grandfathered in, why not have a 427/425 sticker?

And, by the way, hope the search for the Chevy records is going well. We all are anxiuosly waiting. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[Jim Mattison]

The 427 Camaros and Chevelles, from a scheduling (and internal paperwork) standpoint started out as L78 cars. The parts and pieces to build these cars as 427's was a lengthy process of adds and deducts to the L78 option.

I can only guess that the emission label was accidentally overlooked.

Jim Mattison

[sYc]

Jim; Thanks, makes sense. Another myth put to rest.

[JIM]

Hi; Your car being built in Aug of 69 has no bearing on how it was equipped . The only 70 Big blocks out side of Calf. cars that had smog were the L-78 and the LS-6. Thats it Period. There is no discussion on that one. Jim

[JIM]

Hi Bill; I can't answer that one. Did the dealer remove it and plug the manifolds? It wasn't uncommon for dealers to do that. One of my most memorable rides was in a red 70 LS-6 Chevelle on a sunday morning hanging the front wheels in the air , while everyone else attended the awards cerimony. Really wish I had made it back to drive the Ol' red thu the auction. Jim [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/[/img]

[Kurt S]

There was a really good thread on this a while ago.
Finally found it!
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/show...p;Number=13895

For the low-volume COPO, Chevy could piggyback off of the Vette certs. But for the RPO engines.....

From JohnZ:
ALL big-block '69 Camaros (L34/35/78/89) had A.I.R. systems, regardless of transmission application. EPA emission certification was done not only by powertrain, but by carline application, vehicle weight, aero drag, and coast-down horsepower testing, which created many variables. Every different situation required full EPA certification, including 50,000-mile durability testing, and Chevrolet apparently decided that rather than go to the time and expense of developing and certifying eight different low-volume Camaro big-block combinations, they'd go with only four, that they knew would pass and certify with A.I.R. For the high-volume passenger cars, however (Impala/Caprice), which were built in Nine assembly plants at 7,500 per day (vs. only one plant of Camaros when you factor out the Firebirds at Norwood), it made sense to certify high-volume passenger car combinations as much as possible without the added per-unit cost of the A.I.R. system, so many full-size Impala/Caprice big-block applications were developed and certified WITHOUT the A.I.R. system. I had a brand-new '69 Caprice 2-door hardtop with the 427/THM400 combination, and it didn't have A.I.R. either. Full-size cars and Camaros were totally different certification situations.

[olredalert]

Jim,

------You absense was duly noticed and recorded.Find me a nice clean original 86/87 El Camino and Ill forgive ya!............Bill S
------P.S.No,there were no plugs in the manifolds.

[mike32]

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I HAVE A CANADIAN BUILT 69 IMPALA CUSTOM SS427(L-36). THIS CAR IS ROUGH BUT #'S MATCHING AND 98% ORIGINAL / UNMODIFIED, IT HAS NO INDICATION OF EVER HAVING ANY SMOG EQUIPMENT INSTALLED.

MIKE

[Keith Tedford]

The hydraulic cammed big blocks outside of California wouldn't have the smog pump in '69. The only decals under the hood of our COPO Chevelle was the little Tonawanda piece on the passenger valve cover. There was no positraction decal in the trunk either. These decals may have been hit and miss like the steering wheel emblems. Not being RPO, the guys on the line probably slipped up by times. They can just about build RPO stuff with their eyes closed.