Camaro Z28 F Body Project continues

Car Collector Corner

By Greg Zyla

Camaro Z28 F Body Project continues

Photo cutline: Here's an under the hood photo of our 1998 Z28 Project Car. It features a FAST 92 intake and throttle body, SLP intake lid and Pacesetter headers to name a few bolt on items. We're getting ready to change the oil with Royal Purple 5W30 Synthetic, utilize new Purolator air and oil filters, and then change the four old oxygen sensors to brand new Bosch Oxygen Sensors. That's my 1972 Dodge Challenger next to the Z28, another ongoing project. (Photo by Greg Zyla)

Q: Greg, I enjoyed your article on the F Body Project and the LS Chevy crate engines and your 1998 Z28 Camaro. How much is a Z06 Corvette crate motor from GM? What is a fair price to pay? What are you doing now to the car? H.L., email from Georgia.

A: H.L., there are two options in obtaining a quality GM Performance engine. First and foremost, all GM Performance Parts crate engines are available at all GM dealerships. However, some dealerships, like Scoggin-Dickey and Rockenbach Chevrolet, specialize in sales, service and installation of crate engines. Remember, too, that having a GM dealer install your crate engine is highly recommended, as it is not an easy thing to do.If you order an LS engine for a 1998-2002 F Body (Camaro/Firebird), you can purchase either a three quarter engine (complete with block and heads) for about $3,550 (part number 89017349) or you can go to a complete intake to pan LS6 engine, ready to fire up. These 405 horsepower LS6 engines came in the 2004 Z06 Corvette and the Cadillac CTS-V, and the current complete engine cost is about $5,300. This crate engine offers everything you need and even some parts you don't need, like a CTS-V oil pan and, in my case, a pressure plate and clutch assembly. The LS6 manifold is better than the 1998-1999 LS1 manifolds, although Chevy did use LS6 manifolds on its 2000-2002 model Camaro SS/Z28 and Firebird Formula/Trans Am. The complete engine part number is 17801268. (See Rockenbach's offerings at http://www.crateenginedepot.com/ for information, but remember you can order your engine from your dealer in your hometown). The reason I recommend a GM dealer doing the work is both familiarity and to lock in solid the GM warranty. Since certified GM technicians do all work, your crate engine will be warranted for 10,000 miles. Likewise, the GM Performance Parts 4L65 automatic I purchased also carriers a full GM warranty.Currently, we're replacing our old oxygen sensors with brand new Bosch units, along with an oil change (we use full synthetic Royal Purple, Quaker State or Mobil 1) and Purolator oil and air filters. I change oil every 3,500 miles, even with the synthetic brands. We're also going to add more BMR suspension components, including a driveshaft loop and some frame connectors. Then, we're going to take the Z28 to Beaver Springs and Numidia Dragway in Pennsylvania when the season opens and see if it will run in the 11-second range in the quarter mile with our new Mickey Thompson slicks and frontrunner tires. We'll also go to the eighth-mile at Skyview Drags in New York, too.Stay tuned and we'll tell you more about the engine change process next time, along with some photos of the car. Thanks for your interest.

(Greg Zyla welcomes Auto Roundup reader inquiries on anything automotive, from a 1952 Kaiser Manhattan to an 1998-2002 F Body Trans Am at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email to extramile_2000@yahoo.com).

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Vic Edelbrock tells about the 440 Six-Pack Roadrunner and Super Bee manifold

Collector Car Corner

By Greg Zyla

Vic Edelbrock tells about the 440 Six-Pack Roadrunner and Super Bee manifold

Q: Greg, concerning the original Super Bee and Roadrunner Six-Packs that Dodge and Plymouth introduced in mid-1969, which manifold is worth more and which one came first? Was it the aluminum manifold or the cast iron? Dave, email from New York.

A: Dave, to answer your question, we went right to the source of the manifold, Vic Edelbrock Jr., who along with George Hurst and his Hurst 4-speed shifter, are the only two aftermarket brands to ever have their names on products that Chrysler put in its original factory parts list.In 1969 the Plymouth Roadrunner and Dodge Super Bee Six Packs came out in mid year complete with a 440-inch high performance engine and three two barrel carburetors rated at a conservative 390 horsepower. However, there were indeed two distinct manifolds, one the Edelbrock aluminum unit and the second, a cast iron Chrysler model. Said Edelbrock, “Bob Cahill from Chrysler product planning came to me with a print of the manifold they wanted, and asked me to make 1,500 aluminum intakes for the first 1,500 Six Pack cars (that were sent to dealerships). Later, Chrysler felt it was costing them too much money (for our aluminum Edelbrock intake Chrysler #P04529056), so they went to their own cast iron model, which was a big mistake. Matter of fact, I just got my original 440 Six Pack car back about a year and a half ago that I bought in 1969½. When I was doing the work for Cahill, I told him I wanted one with my manifold on it so he picked one out and told me what to order.”Edelbrock’s car was the Dodge Super Bee model, which he owned for seven years until he sold it and it ended up in Washington (State). “About three years ago, a guy called me and told me he had my car, and that maybe I wanted to buy it back?,” said Edelbrock. “I didn’t believe him, and I told him so. So, I sent my rep over to look at it and sure enough, it was my car. So I bought it back, and it still had a Washington plate on it. I’ve since had it restored, and it is absolutely a knock down gorgeous, beautiful car.”Thus, those owners that have the original Six Packs with the Edelbrock aluminum manifolds and the Chrysler part number from the factory are indeed the first of the 1,500, and these cars are surely worth more money than the cast iron counterparts.Today, Edelbrock still offers the Aluminum Six Pack intake. Designed for 440 Chrysler engines with 3x2-bbl. Holley Carbs, it also fits 413 and 426 Wedge engines. It’s part number #2475 and is stock replacement/street legal part for 440 V8s from 1968-71. It will not fit 1962-64 Max Wedge heads. Edelbrock makes numerous other street and hardcore pieces (over 8,800) for hundreds of cars, trucks and even motorcycles. You can check all of Edelbrock’s offerings from carburetors to cylinder heads at http://www.edelbrock.com/.

(Greg Zyla welcomes reader questions at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840, or email at extramile_2000@yahoo.com).

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Rare 1962 Chrysler Newport

Car Collector Corner

By Greg Zyla

Rare 1962 Chrysler Newport

Q: Greg, I own a 1962 Chrysler Newport 2-door coupe. I have been told by several sources but can't confirm that it is one of seven built as a dealer display model. The story goes that Chrysler spies reported that Ford and Chevy were down-sizing middle class cars (Fairlane, Chevy II), so Dodge and Plymouth attempted the same. This left nothing full-sized to compete with in the under $3,000 market. My car reportedly was one of seven built with a Dodge 880 body, a 61 Newport front clip, a 361 V8, 3-speed manual shift on the floor, a 40/60 bench seat, crank windows, manual steering, and brakes.Each one of the seven built had one option, and mine has a gold tone radio. These cars were sent to dealers to be priced at $2,939.00. The car that I have went to a dealer in Hay Springs, Nebraska. I have the build sheet but no one can find production records. I took my car to Legendary Auto Interior and they won't touch it because they can't replace the crank window door panels. My Father was a Chrysler tech in the 1960's, but never saw one like this and there is nothing in any of his old manuals. The Chrysler museum at Dearborn, Michigan, could only find records for 10 three speed transmissions which were sent to my car's assembly plant. Could you please help me find out what I have and what my car's value is? Brian K., Sodus Pt., NY

A: Brian, I’m hoping one of our readers out there can help you out, as all of the people I’ve spoken to about your car came back with the same information you received, a big zero. However, because you have the build sheet, it at least proves that the car was indeed factory built and worthy of some additional price considerations with the 3-speed floor shift. However, here’s what I’ve been able to uncover, so read on. Chrysler first used the Newport name way back in the 1940s and 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1961, as you already know, that the Newport became a standalone model. The lower price, full-size entry-level 1961 Newport carried a base price of $2,964 with the 361 V8, which is very close to your $2,939 car’s value. With the demise of the DeSoto line, the Newport was an instant hit, even in “plain Jane” version. Many had crank windows, but I don’t remember any with that 3-spped on the floor.As we move to 1962, which is your model’s year, Chrysler continued to use the 1961 body, which would mirror your car’s 1961 front end. However, over at sibling Dodge, Chrysler gave the OK to share the full-size Newport body and called it the 880 line. However, the 1962 Dodge models used the 1961 Dodge front clip and the Newport's nice looking rear end clip and interior. The Dodge Custom 880 became available in January of 1962. In your case, however, it seems your Chrysler has the Newport front end and, since Dodge shared the Newport rear clip, your car actually has the official Newport rear clip, too, so the way I see it, your car is 100-percent Chrysler as it was Dodge that shared the Chrysler rear body/interior and chassis with the Dodge front end in 1962. The rear of a 1962 Dodge Custom 880 is exactly the same as the Chrysler Newport, sans the badges.Hope this helps initially, but your car’s 3-speed manual on the floor delivered from the factory with build sheet make this all the more interesting to look into further. I’ll also check some pricing and get back to you.

(Greg Zyla welcomes reader inquiries at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or at extramile_2000@yahoo.com).

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Special Chevelle SS 396/402

Car Collector Corner
By Greg Zyla

Special Chevelle SS 396/402

Q: In 1987, I purchased a 1969 Chevelle that I was told was "special ordered" and came with a 402-inch big block instead of the 396, and the SS (Super Sport) badges were NOT present. However, a 396 emblem sits above the left and right fender side lights, and is in the same place as the 307 V8 identification (which was the standard V8 engine that year). The transmission in my car is a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed and it has a 3:73 posi rear. My Chevelle also has a bench front seat.I re-did the whole car, and also replaced the upholstery, dash pad and put in new gauges. I had the motor and transmission overhauled, and it runs great.How rare is this car? I am not looking to sell it and plan to pass it on in the family or to someone who will appreciate it and not beat it. I see a lot of them at drag races. It's not an SS, but is it a special order car and what is it worth? Thanks, Rick from Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

A: Rick, please send me a copy of your vehicle identification number (VIN), and I'll be able to decipher it quickly and tell you what your car really was when it was delivered from the factory.However, from the information you've given me, it sounds like your 69 Chevelle is a clone and did not come equipped in the manner you were told by the person your purchased it from. The 402-inch big block is not a rare piece, because in 1970, all "SS 396" Chevelles sold came standard with a 402-inch big block, as Chevy bored the engine .030-over from 4.09 to 4.13 size. For marketing purposes only, GM decided to keep the 396 moniker as it had long been embedded into the muscle car lover's dictionary. Many people don't know that GM had five big blocks, including the popular 396-427-454 engines and the not as famous and many times forgotten 402 and 366 inchers, the latter which came in the heavy duty truck line. All big blocks, except for the 454, relied on a 3.76-inch stroke crank, while the 454 had a 4-inch stroke crank and a 4.0-inch bore.Since the 4-speeds sold by the factory in 1969 were Muncie M21 and a "rock crusher" M22s in close and wide ratio form, it sounds like the Borg Warner T-10 (I had one in my 1963 Chevy - a great tranny) is an aftermarket bolt on. With all this said, I wouldn't feel too bad as your big block Chevy 402 is still a very neat car, and worthy of your restoration efforts. If I were selling it now, I'd ask in the neighborhood of $13,000 to $15,000 for it, and you'll probably get more to the right buyer. Overall, it sounds like this car was assembled with a 1970-72 402-inch big block and might have began life as a 307. If you have a 10-bolt rear, it was a 307, if it's a 12-bolt, it could have been an SS or an option upgrade for a 327. But we need that VIN number to clear it all up. Finally, to help confuse everyone even more, in 1969 there was an SS Chevelle built on the "Chevelle 300" 2-door post sedan platform. This was the only year that a 2-door post sedan SS was ever produced. Most of the '69 SSs, and all the '70-'72 SSs, were built upon the 2-door Malibu pillarless coupe. However, the 402 was definitely not available in 1969, unless for some reason, you got a late year run with the 402 in it (which I doubt). It's not totally out of the question; but that T-10 4-speed is a dead giveaway your Chevelle is not a special order car. Still, I'd love to own it, especially if it's a 2-door post model that came in SS trim and someone removed the engine, tranny and badges. Then it's worth more for sure.

(Greg Zyla welcomes reader inquiries at 116 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 18848 or emails at extramile_2000@yahoo.com).

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