RonOwensRacing

Your welcome I'm kinda a freak for those car's also .

Tod74

Highjack Question

My 72 Chevelle came from Canada....at least the inner fenders did(they say General Motors of Canada...they are also plastic) were there any differences on the Canadian cars vs American?

RonOwensRacing

I don't think so Tod i think those are the aftermarket one's that came out a few years back i have tons of info on those cars that is one of my favorite cars ever built i have done lot of research on those cars for the last twenty years i have had about 14 of them and only 6 was real SS cars you can just about buy the car after market today.

RonOwensRacing

Tod here is some info on the 72 chevelle

This year, the government mandated that all engines be rated in "SAE NET" horsepower rather than the "GROSS" horsepower ratings used before. The "SS-454" package was still available, and although the '72 LS5 motor was virtually identical to the '71 LS5 motor, the '72 version was underrated at 270 horsepower due to governmental and insurance concerns. The '72 SS equipment was the same as in '71. It was, however, possible to order a '72 SS with any optional V8 (454, 402, 350-4, and 350-2). Some early sales literature implies that an SS-307 was available, but that is probably not the case since it was contradicted by some mid-year documents. Performance oriented options (especially hood stripes and Cowl Induction) were downplayed by all the Chevrolet literature. As a result, Cowl Induction production was even lower than in '71. The '72 Cowl Induction option could be ordered with the 454 or 402 engines. Interestingly, you could get a "Malibu 400" model with hood stripes even though these came with the non-SS "flat" hood. Only a few Malibus were ordered with hood stripes. This configuration was also available on the El Camino and Sprint.

The Heavy Chevy package was carried over, basically unchanged, from '71. The VIN on a '72 Heavy Chevy starts with 1C37, while the VIN on a V8 Malibu or SS coupe starts with 1D37.

The '72 GMC Sprint was available with the same equipment as before, including the SP package. Production of '72 Sprints was slightly higher than in '71. A total of 749 '72 SPs were built.

Starting in 1972, the 5th character in the VIN number of all GM vehicles indicated the vehicle's engine type. The engine codes for 1972 are as follows :

*

"W" - LS5 454 V8 4bbl
*

"U" - LS3 402 V8 4-bbl
*

"J" - 350 V8 4bbl
*

"H" - 350 V8 2bbl
*

"F" - 307 V8 2bbl
*

"D" - 250 L6 1bbl

Since the 454 was only available as part of the SS (or SP) package, any Chevelle, El Camino, or Sprint with a "W" as the fifth character in the VIN is a genuine SS-454 (or SP-454 in the case of the Sprint).There was no SS package for the '72 Monte Carlo, but unlike the others, it could be ordered with a 454 without an SS package.

1972 was the last year for a lot of things. For example, it was the last year for the LS5 454, the 396/402, and the 307. In '73 the Chevelle line was completely redesigned with driving comfort being the major theme rather than performance. There was still an SS-454 package available. It used the low-compression LS4 454 rated at 245 horsepower. This motor was less powerful than the earlier LS5, although with the right tuning, head porting and pistons it could equal the LS5. The LS4 had a cast crankshaft when mated to automatic transmissions, and a forged crankshaft when mated to a 4-speed manual. In 1973, an SS package was available with either a 350 or a 454 engine. A few post-'72 454/4-speed cars were built. These are seldom seen and are becoming more sought-after. Unlike previous years, it was possible to order the 454 without the SS package. There was also an SS package available for the '73 Chevelle wagon. These are fairly rare and few details are known. Baldwin Motion (famous for their hot "tuned" muscle cars of the late '60s) had one more card to play in '73. The '73 Baldwin Motion SS-454 Chevelle was the most potent of all the special cars that they had built. At least one example is known to have survived.

Around 1974 the "Laguna S-3" package was introduced. It was similar to the '73 Chevelle SS package. The "S-3" package was available only on the Chevelle, not the El Camino or Sprint (they still had the SS and SP packages). 1975 was the last year you could get a 454 in the Chevelle, El Camino, or Sprint. Like the earlier SS-454s, the '73-'75 SS-454s are scarce today. However, they are not in demand as much as the '72 and earlier SS-454s. The same is true for the SP-454, although it is even rarer than any '73-up SS-454.

Scooterz

Wow there is alot of info there! I had no idea the 70' was so confusing for indentification. I am going to cut & paste this stuff. I saw a 70' in a nearby rural town out in a field the other day I want to se if I can buy.

Tod74

I am currently resurecting mine since it got flooded last year...This car has no rust anywhere but I just let it sit around since getting the race car, and we all know what sitting does to them.I have not plated it since 1999...I love this car..It was my first car and I built the whole car . My best friend and I did all the bodywork and he painted it( we were both 18 at the time it was painted)......lots of memories with this one. Used to race it in "trophy" .It has a hydraulic cam 406 in it now, 4.10 12 bolt rearend .... but I'm gona put a 454 in it this time. I wish it were a 1970 however.

Scooterz

Tod,

My first Chevelle was a 72 (not as nice looking as yours however)... I miss that car. Nothing better than a Hot Rod that has alot of sentimental history. I could never find my 72 again to save my life. Anyways, I found a 70 in a field that is complete looking w/ the original hub caps on it & 307 emblems. I am going to try to make contact w/ the farmer who owns the property. Who knows... can't hurt to ask.

Thanks to all how posted about 70 Chevelle info, I have printed it & know better how to indentify them more. I hope to have one some day.

Tod- your Nova is almost the exact color of my 69 Camaro.... which was a Honda color w/ pearl in it... nice looking Nova.

ashbros

Regardless of the year she still looks like a purty dang nice ride 8)

Tod74

The nova is 1995 Ford Purple. It is also a turd. Needs painted badly. Take a picture in the late evening always makes them look better. :wink:

Tod74

That picture was taken in 1995...The paint is faded now, and I just pulled the vinyl top off last week and started the bodywork... I said there was no rust but I meant rust holes....it is starting to rust under the top and has a few dings in it to fix but nothing major except a passenger side fender that I kicked during a temper tantrum ops: (I put moderate sized dent in fender,so out of anger I kicked it and ruined the fender...smart,huh?)....Interior is shot(was new in 1992) since it was flooded last summer...floorboards and trunk 100% rust free original. Had new quarters in 1992