[rszmjt]

I know that all 69 Z28,s made in June had 06A cowl tags, but the other day I saw a 70 Z28 with bullit proof documentation that had a 01C cowl tag and the block was cast A-27-0, and the pad was V0206CTB and original with factory broach marks and the vin down by the filter.
What gives? Was there a problem with cowl tags in 70 production?
Any One know?

[Jeff H]

What's the VIN? My 70 L78 car is an 01C car as well and my motor is a late October 69 engine. It's hard to compare because my motor was shared with the Novas and Chevelles. The 70 LT1 motor was new and used on the Camaros and Corvettes only so they may have been behind on production due to the delay. I would want to see some good paperwork explaining why that happened. Was it a Canadian car? If so, the GM of Canada paperwork should show the date the car was delivered. If it was delivered before the motor was built then it's a restamp.

[rszmjt]

I have seen the documentation and like I said it is Bullit Proof, Original Protecto Plate with signed documentation from a commisioner of oaths, lots of original paperwork including original dealer invoice etc. The dealer invoice shows the car being sold in Mar/70. No it is not a Canadian car. The pad is original for sure as is the block vin stamp by the filter.
It puzzles me as to why a car would have a engine cast and stamped after the cowl tag production date. That is why I was wondering if GM had a abundance of 01C cowl tags in 1970 or if there was some cars held back for some reason?

Could GM have screwed up the cowl Tag? Maybe it should have been 02C?

[Jeff H]

That's what I was thinking, maybe it's supposed to be an 02C car. My L78 VIN is 5022xx dated 01C and the shipping date was Jan 27, 1970. If the car you're talking about has a VIN close to mine then it probably is an 01C car. My 01C trim tag is a little odd with the date stamping line off to the left of where it should be. The L78 is also off center as well. Maybe they had problem with the early 1970 Camaros with the trim tag stampings.

[rszmjt]

Jeff, I will have to check the vin and see what it is compared to yours and get back to you.
Interestingly the L78 car I emailed you about has the L78 off centre as well. It is a 05E car. Another friend I do work for has a 70 Z28 also a 05E car ( 200 vin numbers off the 05E-L78 car ) and the Z28 is stamped off centre to the left as you describe with the L78 tag, Maybe there was a problem with the trim tag suppliers after all?

[Jeff H]

I never really thought too much about when and where the tags were stamped. I guess with the NOR # being assigned at the time it was possibly done when the order was accepted. Or would the trim tag be stamped at the actual assembly plant as they prepared to build the cars.

[CamarosRus]

If you want more expereinced opinions, this subject should be brought to the ORIGINAL Forum at www.nastyz28.com.

I have never heard or seen this myself. As someone who has experience and judges 2nd Gen Camaros at Carlisle, I would want to see EVERYTHING, before I draw a conclusion.

Was a "mistake" possible.....YES. Was it probable???? ........... NO!!!! Having said that curious minds would like to know.......

[Z15CAM]

My 70Z is a 03A 28.10 (March 1st Week 1970) Norwood Canadian car. Unfortunately when I bought it, in the mid 70’s, it had a L78 from what I guess came out of a 66 Vette as the rear cam journal was Grooved Rear and had a Canister Oil Filter; SO, I can’t comment about the time issues between the 360 Hp LT1 and production date on the cowl regarding my car, other then remind you that GM did have a ½ year production delay introducing the 70 Camaro. The engine of the 70Z was shared ONLY with the Vette, not a Chevelle or Nova or any other GM product. The answer may lie somewhere in the possibility of a similar discrepancy in the 70 Vette tagging. I do recall a similar discussion years ago (say 1980) when I considered finding a suitable LT1 for my car and a friend of mine who is very knowledgeable said to me that the Tag #’s of a 70Z could be out as much as 2 or 3 months either way. This is the first time I’ve heard a similar discussion. These cars are getting very rare and the records are not accurate especially for the 70Z. Because GM was scraping Hi Hp Big Blocks like the LS6, the 360 Hp Solid Lifter LT1 was grabbed for by both the Camaro and Vette production lines. GM actually over bored older 396 castings rusting in the warehouses to put in the Camaro, hence the 402.

The stampings on my Tag are very well centered with a constant Font.

One thing I have found different between 70 Camaros is the size of the Ball Joints. Mine are the larger ones as used in the 69 Chevelle, where as later models NOT Z’s of that year have smaller ball joints; then again, I’ve yet to get my hands on another 70Z to compare mine to. I believe the 70 Sub Frame is specific perhaps 2 specfic - LOL

[rszmjt]

Jeff,
The car in question is 506XXX, so maybe the V0206CTB is correct. Wonder why it has a 01C cowl tag?
Any body know the monthly vin ranges for Jan and Feb of 1970?

[MN 70L78]

I know this post is 5 years old but I was just linked to this discussion from a post on NastyZ28 and thought I would add to it... and my 1st official post here!
It's a known fact on some 2nd gen Camaro's, especially Z28's, to have an engine installed in a car body that started production before or at the same time the engine was built. It's possible for the motor to be at the Norwood assembly plant the day after it was built as delivery time by train was only 1 day away.

For those interested, here's a link to a previous disscussion.
http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showth...+vs+build+date

[x77-69z28]

If there was a problem with the car, and it came off the line for one reason or another it is possible for the engine could be after the trim tag date. Does the protect-o-plate list the same stamp?

[twozs]

i know its an old thread but , i worked at a gmad plant starting in 1980 . the cowl tag went on the under body or the beginning of the line . if the body got severely damaged it would either be fixed at the end of the body line ( most likely scenario ) or sent to salvage to be dismantled . believe me Ive seen some cars get pretty damaged on the body shop line . they would have to come off the line to be fixed it usually didn't take a week to fix but this is an early production car after a complete model change , so who knows .

[RichSchmidt]

Maybe it has something to do with production delays at the body plant. Check the sheet metal date codes,especially the rear quarters if they are original. If the tag was made way earlier then the car and was awaiting a body to be put on,it may explain a lot. Compare the weeks that the rear quarters were stamped to the weeks that the rear speaker deck,inner A-pillars,outer rockers and floor braces were stamped. The quarter panel stampings were what delayed production and might be dated a bit later then the rest of the panels.

[twozs]

Originally Posted by MN 70L78

I know this post is 5 years old but I was just linked to this discussion from a post on NastyZ28 and thought I would add to it... and my 1st official post here!
It's a known fact on some 2nd gen Camaro's, especially Z28's, to have an engine installed in a car body that started production before or at the same time the engine was built. It's possible for the motor to be at the Norwood assembly plant the day after it was built as delivery time by train was only 1 day away.

i actually read this post and its NOT a known fact . , my 73 is a week ( motor is a ...the motor was allways built before the body .... it had to be shipped to an assembly plant back then . it was a train from Flint MI or Tonawanda NY to Norwood OH or Van Nuys CA . mine took the short ride from Flint to Norwood . do you have picts of the date code on the block and the engine stamp on the head surface .

[6667ss138]

I did not know that all June built cars where stamped 06A. What about July built cars?