Do all 1972 454 cars have AIR (a smog pump)?

[Mark E.]

The Corvette Black Book lists these 454 engine suffix codes for 1972:

CPH: 454, manual
CSR: 454, manual, AIR
CPJ: 454, auto
CSS: 454, auto, AIR

Yet the table of suffix codes on page 107 of the 70-72 JG 6th edition does not include CPH and CPJ (non-AIR engines).

And page 166 says "Cars equipped with the AIR system were... all 1972 454s..."

Are there 1972 non-AIR 454s with these codes?

[Joe L.]

Re: Do all 1972 454 cars have AIR (a smog pump)?

The Corvette Black Book lists these 454 engine suffix codes for 1972:

CPH: 454, manual
CSR: 454, manual, AIR
CPJ: 454, auto
CSS: 454, auto, AIR

Yet the table of suffix codes on page 107 of the 70-72 JG 6th edition does not include CPH and CPJ (non-AIR engines).

And page 166 says "Cars equipped with the AIR system were... all 1972 454s..."

Are there 1972 non-AIR 454s with these codes?

Mark------


All 1972 Corvettes were equipped with AIR except federal (49 state) emissions base engine.

[Mark E.]

Re: Do all 1972 454 cars have AIR (a smog pump)?

Does this mean no cars have suffix CPH and CPJ? Or these exist but have AIR?

[Joe L.]

Re: Do all 1972 454 cars have AIR (a smog pump)?

Does this mean no cars have suffix CPH and CPJ? Or these exist but have AIR?

Mark------


I don't know. However, if they exist, they have AIR. The fact that codes CPH and CPJ do not specify AIR does not mean that they did not have AIR. Of course, that begs the question how were they otherwise different than CSR and CSS.

My GUESS is as follows: the engine codes were established before it was known that 1972's with LS5 would require AIR to meet federal emissions standards for that model year. If that's how it was, then the CPH and CPJ codes were "stillborn". Keep in mind that emissions standards and compliance was a RAPIDLY evolving activity in that time frame.

[Mark E.]

Re: Do all 1972 454 cars have AIR (a smog pump)?

Thanks Joe.