I just purchased a 472 intake for a 302. It is the earliest dated one I have ever seen. Dated 7-18-1968. Has anyone ever seen one earlier than this? This would have been on some of the first produced Z/28's. Production started in August 68 I think for the 69 model year. I am just curious if there are any earlier ones known. I guess this could possibly help answer some date spacing questions. I would like to hear some thoughts. I can provide a picture for anyone intrested.

If you can read the date code the heat shield must be missing.

The earliest known DZ engine date is late August '68, about 1 month prior to this intake. Even considering the machining/queue/transportation involved that is a heck of a lot of lead time; hardly "lean" manufacturing. In the 20s Model T plants turned iron ore into a running car in about 72 hours.

But it is possible 472 intakes were scheduled in batches and inventoried for later shipment. This practice has been documented for 1967 Corvette 300/327 iron intakes which can have casting dates as much as 9 months prior to engine build date. The entire years' production plan for that intake was completed late in 1966 due to manufacturing capacity conflicts. Batch manufacturing is common for special hi-performance parts such as BE axles and some big-block engines. A certain distributor used in a low-volume hi-perf application has only 3 known production dates.

A "0-" casting would indicate an engineering part. This is simply one of the first batch of production 472 intakes, no different from the rest.

http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/421610868/0.jpg

There is no -o or anything. It looks like it was polished at one time, plenum is cut out also. Probably from an early drag racer. What is the possibilty of a late 68 Z having this installed?

How could a casting be forged? Would the time be worth it?:confused:

http://www2.propichosting.com/Images/421610868/0.jpg

There is no -o or anything. It looks like it was polished at one time, plenum is cut out also. Probably from an early drag racer. What is the possibilty of a late 68 Z having this installed?

About 0. '68 production ended 07E. Z/28s built at that time have mid-July engines.