Why did GM go with the LSA rather than the 427 if the original ZL-1's had it?

[2cnd chance]

The 1Gen Z/28's were bought from GM and then massaged within the rules of T/A (and whatever else they could get away with).

[OldScoolCamaro]

Originally Posted by ZL1#17

I am the owner of ZL1 #17 and I know a enough about the 69 Camaro to debate the best historians. The 1969 ZL1 was indeed a production car with a factory warranty. While it is true they only built 69 cars, they could not sell them. Who in their right mind would pay almost 8 grand for a Camaro with an aluminum engine? So no you did not have to "game" the system to get one. Some dealers removed the engine just to try to sell the car. I know one Zl1 sat on the dealers lot for over a year and was discounted to $6,000. Chevy also made a cast iron 427 COPO Camaro that was half the price of the ZL1. A little over 1,200 COPO Camaros with iron blocks were produced, and yes some of them went to Don Yenko Chevrolet in PA, to be badged with the YENKO emblems. And to be honest the 69 cast iron 427 engine was a much better stronger engine then the aluminum ZL1. Most of the ZL1 engines suffered major damage due to racing. The ZL1 was about the same weight as the 327 small block, and that was the benefit of placing it in the Camaro.

...all true, Chevy dropped the R&D on the consumer with the sticker price...it was eye opening for those involved at the time.

[OldScoolCamaro]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

The LS7 is NOT an EPA friendly motor. It has been built and sold in the Vette under some type of EPA waiver which limits the volume of LS7s that can be sold in a given year. The only reason the LS7 is available for use in the Z/28 is the LS7 is the C7 Vette isn't using the EPA exceptions. When those waivers expire at the end of 2014 or 2015 there will be no more production cars with the current version of the LS7.

Had the Z/28 development not been put on hold for two and 1/2 years the only available motor that had an appropriate level of power and was available to use was the LSA. In the end, it all worked out for the best. The ZL1 i a great car. The Z/28 is a great car. We have the SS 1LE, ZL1 and Z/28, all with distinct characters.

And now you know the rest of the story.

..thanks Pete for sharing that with us...it sheds light on the conudrum of the motor availabilty.

[winchesterbob]

As a 19 yr old kid, I remember watching a new bright yellow 427 Yenko run low 12s at the local strip in 1969....closed exhaust, street tires and all....

[wally mayfield]

anyone remember grumpy jenkens??

[CanadianZL1#992]

Originally Posted by 2ss-booya

Originally Posted by wally mayfield

i don't think Gm made a 427 camaro, i thought a couple chevy dealers put those cars together..

In 1969 69 camaro's were ordered through GM's COPO office (central office production order). The bulk of them ordered through a dealer in New York. The engines more than doubled the price of a 396 camaro. The cars were built and delivered by GM

[ZL1#17]

Here is a great article on the history of the ZL-1.
http://www.camaros.org/copo.shtml

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by wally mayfield

anyone remember grumpy jenkens??

Yes. I believed he passed away recently. And I think it was Grumpy Jenkins.

http://www.nhra.com/(X(1)S(mckq2l45q...ookieSupport=1

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by CanadianZL1#992

In 1969 69 camaro's were ordered through GM's COPO office (central office production order). The bulk of them ordered through a dealer in New York. The engines more than doubled the price of a 396 camaro. The cars were built and delivered by GM

I believe it was a Chicago suburb dealer. And yes the ZL1's started as a 396 SS before their transformations.

http://www.yenko.net/dealers/gibb.htm

[wally mayfield]

Originally Posted by 2cnd chance

Yes. I believed he passed away recently. And I think it was Grumpy Jenkins.

http://www.nhra.com/(X(1)S(mckq2l45q...ookieSupport=1

i know why they called him grumpy...i was drag racing a h-gas vw at the time..he hated having his grammar and punctuation corrected..

[2cnd chance]

Originally Posted by wally mayfield

i know why they called him grumpy...i was drag racing a h-gas vw at the time..he hated having his grammar and punctuation corrected..

I guess your saying I corrected your grammar and punctuation. Where? I spelled his name correct, mentioned his passing and provided a link for others, assuming you already knew who he was.