Greetings all. I've posted this on a couple of newsgroups with no luck, so I'm hopeint that someone here may have an answer.

I've recently purchased a 1970 SS/RS 396 car missing its
original L34 engine and TH400 transmission. The car is a Van Nuys model and I can't locate a build sheet. I've completely checked under the front seats as well as the rear seat back and bottoms. I've also dropped the tank with no luck. I'm getting ready to drop the headliner to have a look up there. My question is, are there any other possible locations where a build sheet might be located? I'm working on building a replacement L34 with a date correct one. Another concern that I have is if I can't find any
documentation for the car, how much of its value would be lost if I decided
to correctly covert it to a 4-speed car. Any advice would be much
appreciated. Thanks in advance.

CE

I found my build sheet on my 70 Z under the passenger side seat. Unless the headliner needs to be replaced I don't know if I would take the headliner down..but I hear ya, curiosity is a tough thing to control and it sounds like you are on a mission. I would try the second generation forum at www.nastyz.com (http://www.nastyz.com) were you will probably have better luck for an educated response.
I am also Bay Area so good luck with your ride.

There was a build sheet for my 70 VN built Z28 between the right front fender and the frame rail, where it makes the curve going up. Also one was on top of the tank and one was in the drivers seat, tucked under the cover.

It's a long shot, but you could check with GM Vintage Vehicle services in Canada and see if they have your VIN on file. If the car was by some fluke originally sold in Canada, they'd have full documentation.

Thank you all for your responses. I'd love to have a 4-speed car, but this was somewhat of an oppurtunity so I didn't want to pass it up. My thinking was that if I couldn't document the car, I could build a replacement L34 396/350 and do a correct 4-speed conversion and keep some of the value. The car does still have its original 3.31 non-posi 12 bolt and F41 suspension. As far as I can tell, it was not sold in Canada. I've spoken with Chevrolet directly about that. I did ask why GM didn't have any records on these cars to document them and their response was that back then, they simply destroyed/discarded the records. Unbelievable.

I was told that sometimes they where put under the dashbord.

Is that the Black car out of San Jose?

Yes, that's the same car. It looked rough in the photos, but with the exception of some missing parts, it's not as rough as it looked. It does need a full restoration though. Are you at all familiar with the car?

CE

Chevy thunder, your link doesn't work for me. Here is the link, again, that should work for all.

http://www.nastyz28.com/

OK.. is this the car that was on Craigslist forever ? The guy said he bought it out of a collection of cars? They were auctioned off for some reason .If it is the same car the seller told me that the original owner had the build sheet but would not give it to him. If you have that guys email address I could do a search on my email files and probably find the ten or so emails the guys sent me about this car.

Chevy Thunder, I greatly appreciate you help, as I do for eveyone who has responded. Thank you.

It's very likely the same car. I did see it on Craigslist but only after searching for SS and Z/28 cars for awhile. I dealt with the seller primarily by phone, and I don't have his email. But, I'm certain that I can get it. Once I have it, I'll forward it to you ASAP.


Essentially, he told me the same story. That a collector had the car in storage for years but had the car collection siezed for some reason and the cars were eventually auctioned off. I'd never heard anything as what may have happened to the original engine and trans.

Yes, I've seen it. I think I looked at it in 2004 and he wanted way to much. He is the same fella with a "low mileage original hugger orange" 69 in primer.I'm pretty sure his name is George. SF that is an excellent car to start with no doubt, it was just to rich for my blood at the time. Maybe the next time I see that car you will have it restored! Have fun!

Same guy. Yes, he was making an issue out of the fact that this car was originally Hugger Orange and that he also had a 1969 Hugger Orange car as well. I took a quick look at the 1969, and it was indeed in primer. He didn't have much information on any documentation or the original drivetrain though.

OK.. is this the car that was on Craigslist forever ? The guy said he bought it out of a collection of cars? They were auctioned off for some reason .If it is the same car the seller told me that the original owner had the build sheet but would not give it to him. If you have that guys email address I could do a search on my email files and probably find the ten or so emails the guys sent me about this car.

Chevy Thunder, I can't seem to locate his email address, but after looking at my documents, I can tell you that his name is Sandor. From the looks of things, it aappears that several people in the Bay Area have spoken with him and have looked at the car.