Say it Ain't So

[Duke W.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

As has been discussed if the car was delivered to a CA dealer by GM, it should have had AIR whether the buyer lived in CA or out of state. A non-AIR '66 or '67 or later model years that were not built to CA's unique emission standards could only be registered in CA as a "used car" once it had accumulated at least 7500 miles. This means it would be technically illegal for a dealer to trade for an out of state new car that did not have AIR, but who would know?

I had a buddy who wanted an L-82/TH400 Silver Anniversary Coupe, but L-82 was not available in CA in '78. So he found a low mileage example in Texas, and by the time he drove it back to CA it had the requisite 7500+ miles, and he was able to register it in CA with no problems.

I think John's explanation is about as close as you will ever get. This one fell through the crack... some kind of administrative error, and it's unlikely you'll ever be able to figure it out.

Sh...t happens!

The '67 L-88 presented a similar situation. It was illegal to register it in any state because it didn't have a PCV system that was required on all USA cars as of 1963 ('61 in CA), but I'm sure a few of the 20 did get registered, either when new or later. For '68 and '69 L-88s got a PCV system and AIR.

Duke

[Robert G.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

Any comments on a January built engine put in an April built car? I would have expected to see March. Is the block casting date readily available?

[Joe L.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

Any comments on a January built engine put in an April built car? I would have expected to see March. Is the block casting date readily available?

Robert------


This is very possible. Assembly plants did not use a first in, first out system when pulling engines out of the engine bays. It was more of a last in, first out. So, some engines languished in the engine bays for quite some time. Eventually, they got pulled out, though.

[Rick R.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

Any comments on a January built engine put in an April built car? I would have expected to see March. Is the block casting date readily available?

The block casting number is 3892657. The casting date is L226. (December, 22, 1966).

Rick R.

[Bob H.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

My verified 67 BB was a May car and the engine was late January

[Julio G.]

Re: Say it Ain't So

Rick,

it sounds like you may have just received the wrong stamping for a California car and it slipped through the cracks which makes it rare! To properly put the stamping forgery myth to rest and ease your mind, you can measure from the main journal to the stamp pad and tell if the block was ever decked to allow a new set of numbers, this is obviously a huge project though. Doubt it's a forgery, were they actually doing this way back in the day anyway? Nobody cared back then.