1965 Chevelle Z-16 camshaft info...

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

That HAD to be an L-88 gear drive cam from over the parts counter. Maybe the dealer installed it? I had one of those cams in my 67 435 HP Vette back in 1967 but I installed it myself..

Not in 1965, there were no L-88 427 engines. Hell, according to NHRA, there weren't even 50 of them two years later in 1967. But no, this guy was there when the car was unloaded. He says it had the reverse rotation cam, gear drive, and trick distributor on it when it rolled in. I can't remember what small part failed that led them to discover it. This guy is pretty sharp, and knew most of the people racing around here back then. No way I can prove it, and he can't either, but I tend to believe him.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Not in 1965, there were no L-88 427 engines. Hell, according to NHRA, there weren't even 50 of them two years later in 1967. But no, this guy was there when the car was unloaded. He says it had the reverse rotation cam, gear drive, and trick distributor on it when it rolled in. I can't remember what small part failed that led them to discover it. This guy is pretty sharp, and knew most of the people racing around here back then. No way I can prove it, and he can't either, but I tend to believe him.

True....I wasnt thinking about what year it was when I posted that BUT there was ONE GM supplied L-88 engine equiped 65 or 66 roadster corvette built and raced in SCCA racing back in the late summer of 1965 with factory connections. Its documented as such but must have been an engine transplant back in 1965 and came with a 396/427/425 HP? I will look it up tomorrow. I have a ton of corvette mags to sort thru. I bought my cam in the spring of 1967 for my Vette. Had to get the whole kit. Dist. gear drive, etc. It was legal for A/SP back then. Loved the gear whine when capped up. I could hear it even with side pipes. I wonder how he got the Z-16 that way? Lots of interesting stuff could be gotten if you knew the right person.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

True....I wasnt thinking about what year it was when I posted that BUT there was ONE GM supplied L-88 engine equiped 65 roadster corvette built and raced in SCCA racing back in late summer of 1965 with factory connections. Its documented as such but must have been an engine transplant back in 1965 and came with a 396/425 HP. I bought my cam in the spring of 1967 for my Vette. Had to get the whole kit. Dist. gear drive, etc. It was legal for A/SP back then. Loved the gear whine when capped up. I could hear it even with side pipes. I wonder how he got the Z-16 that way? Lots of interesting stuff could be gotten if you knew the right person.

I have no idea. Probably because the car was raced out of the dealership. This guy that comes to the shop knew my friend John Livingston back in the day. He said John once told him that he (John) knew their car was illegal by the sound of it. I want to say it was a 56 sedan delivery 2-4 car. I think John told him he had the wrong heads on it and he better not bring it back that way. This is all before my time, mind you, I was only 3 at the time. I'm just going by what people I know who were there have told me over the years.

My uncle sold new Chevrolets for decades, he had all sorts of demonstrators, 66 Chevy II L-79, 67 Chevelle L-78, 70 Chevelle LS-6. He ordered a new C-30 Longhorn for Dad that had a 255HP 350 in 1970. You're right, if you knew the right people, and the right codes, weird and wonderful things could be had.

[greg fulk]

This is a bit off course but "My Dad says" back in 67/68 their was a guy that ran a 67 Camaro @ Ravenrock with a 283 (factory) his uncle (my grandfather's brother) worked @ a Chevy dealer & always called him a cheat n S.O.B. & said they never made a Camaro with a 283??

[rayfin]

I never saw a camaro with a 283 from the factory. Sure is neat reading about this old stuff though. It brings me back in time. Maybe he was thinking of a 302 (283 crankshaft)?

[rallye bob]

283 Camaro?????
Some discussion on this....
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=145068

[Jeff Lee]

I pieced together the highlights of that thread. Interesting. So I guess somebody could build a Camaro class car with a 283 2bbl?

There were 193 export cars built with the L32 283/195 engine. 72 manual transmission cars and 121 automatic transmission cars.

Then what are these engine codes ??
MD 67 283 Camaro 195 Base 4-spd 2-Brl Hyd Cam
MJ = 67 283 Camaro 195 Base Power glide 2-Brl

The 283's were only used in foreign-built Camaros and only in one plant, Switzerland. This was due to tax rules.