[jorge costas]

I am considering purchasing a 1974 z28. In looking at the dash I noted that it has a 150mph speedometer. All other 1974 cars that I have seen have a 130 mph speedo. Does anyone know if any 1974s came with the 150 mph speedo?

[gro51]

My brother has an original '73 Z28 and it has a 130 MPH speedo. I doubt very much that a '74 would have had a 150 MPH speedo as the Z28's horsepower declined through the seventies.

[BonzoHansen]

Check the pages at www.nastyz28.com

[SY1]

Jorge,

150 mph speedo is correct for 70-74 Z28. I have seen 130 and 150 in 74 Z28s. Mine had 150, my wifes 72 Z had a 150, every 70-73 I've seen has 150, but I haven't seen them all and over the years someone may have replaced one with a 130.

Here are some guidelines, there are always exceptions, but most of the 74Z cars I've looked at over the last almost 30 years since I purchased mine follow these guidelines. 74 Z28 will also have Z28 stamped on the trim plate on the firewall. There are a lot of other things to look for as well. Does it have the Type Lt package? If so it would not have had any fender emblems, Camaro or Z28. But would have the Type LT behind the windows and on the tail panel. It also would have had the Z28 lettered stripe decals applied to the hood and trunk. 74 Z without the Type LT package would have fender Z28 emblems as well as one on the right side rear valence, unless it came with the Z28 stripe decals, then nothing on the rear valence. A dual short snorkel air cleaner also came on the L82 350 motor.

If it has the original motor you're in luck. While the heads weren't the greatest they still had 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves, guide plates and blue tipped pushrods. They were 76cc chambers. The bottom end of an L82 is the best kept secret around. While only 9:1 compression it had a forged steel crank, pink HD connecting rods, forged TRW pistons, windage tray and the Z28 oil pump. A great bottom end for a street performance engine. Just bolt on some 64cc chamber heads and you're at 10:1. I'd also suggest a better camshaft than it came with. They had cast iron intake with Rochester quadrajet carb and HEI ignition was introduced during the 74 model year. You could get A/C as well. Also the 74 Z came with a HD flex fan that really moved some air.

25 years ago I had a 74, 72 and 69 Z28s all at once. The 69 was my favorite to drive, the 74 was the slowest, but the best driving of them all. I had more offers to buy that car than either 72 or 69. People would just stop me and ask me if I'd consider selling it.

Good luck with your purchase.