1965 Chevelle Z-16 camshaft info...

[bill dedman]

Would anyone with knowledge about the 1965 Chevelle (limited production) engine please read my post on the Tech Forum? I'd appreciate it a lot!

Thanks in advance...

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

would anyone with knowledge about the 1965 chevelle (limited production) engine please read my post on the tech forum? I'd appreciate it a lot!

Thanks in advance...

ok.....

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by bill dedman

Would anyone with knowledge about the 1965 Chevelle (limited production) engine please read my post on the Tech Forum? I'd appreciate it a lot!

Thanks in advance...

True.....I had access to 2 of them when new. One red and one blue version. They belonged to a couple of friends and I did the heads on one and he raced it locally. They both had Hyd. cams. They came WITHOUT posi rears also. Couldnt even order it. The dealer could install one though for big bucks. I had to install a posi 12 bolt carrier in both of them as I worked cheap....LOL. . Gezzzz that was a long time ago !

[bill dedman]

Thanks, Terry!

I really appreciate the information!

[Arnold Greene]

Hey, Terry. Are you sure about a blue one? According to the 1965 order info, you could get any color you wanted as long as it was red, black, or yellow. I worked on a silver one with a black vinyl top at Gordon Thompson Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Florida in 1967. It had a solid cam, don't know which one or if it was original. I didn't know about the paint colors at that time, or I would have checked for a repaint. I understand there was 201 of them...one convertible made for a high level exec. I met a guy that said he owned it and had a picture, but who knows? Hope you are doing well and enjoying retirement.

[Alan Roehrich]

One of the locals that comes in the shop swears that a new one bought in Nashville TN had a gear drive and a reverse rotation camshaft when it rolled off the trailer from Chevrolet. The car was raced here, the original engine was destroyed, and the car later sold.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Arnold Greene

Hey, Terry. Are you sure about a blue one? According to the 1965 order info, you could get any color you wanted as long as it was red, black, or yellow. I worked on a silver one with a black vinyl top at Gordon Thompson Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Florida in 1967. It had a solid cam, don't know which one or if it was original. I didn't know about the paint colors at that time, or I would have checked for a repaint. I understand there was 201 of them...one convertible made for a high level exec. I met a guy that said he owned it and had a picture, but who knows? Hope you are doing well and enjoying retirement.

Hi Arnold.......The one might have been a repaint. It was Marina Blue (sometimes called "Everyones Blue") with a black interior. A popular Corvette color in those years.. Some dealers would paint your car any color when delivered if you had the money. It could have been a custom paint order done before delivery ??? As far as I know they were all Hyd. cammed from the factory but anything is possable. The 2 Z-16's I played with were Hyd. cammed. They had 3.31 OPEN rears. You couldnt even order a posi rear in them for some reason. I put in 4 series posi carriers with 4.11 gears in both. Yes 201 of the hardtops were built and sold. . Rumors of the Convert exist but no documentation and its never been located as far as I know. Im sure the Z-16 guys would love to see that pix and talk to that guy. Retirement is OK but a little boring. Im still looking for a upper classed stocker but now that the NHRA isnt doing anything about the DP's and new Mustangs Im on hold with my plans for now. A nice 34 Ford 3 Window coupe is looking better all the time. Chevy powered of course. Have a Merry Christmas.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

One of the locals that comes in the shop swears that a new one bought in Nashville TN had a gear drive and a reverse rotation camshaft when it rolled off the trailer from Chevrolet. The car was raced here, the original engine was destroyed, and the car later sold.

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..

[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.