"Production Trends" - 1965 L78

[Loren L.]

Ah, the joys of quarantine bring us back to the data banks on 1965 L78s. The data shows 748 coupes, 1409 convertibles; 162 without a radio; 649 with F40 suspension; 472 had side exhaust (287 sbc with sides); and 20 with power steering. A mystery arises in the M20 transmission where 2131 are shown - What the other 26 use?

[Gary C.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

Loren,

Could the 26 M20's be part of Zora's secret L78 L88 builds done at the factory?

Gary
....

[Dan A.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

I forget the exact number so check with AL Grenning or Drew Papson on the number of M22's. 26 is abut the number I recall.

[Loren L.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

Well, at least 2 have memories good to Spring 1999 - I believe Al's article had a chart indicating 30 units, plus some for "service". I cannot find a category for M22s in 1965 in the Production Trends document. Is it safe to disregard the possibility of 26 3-speeds?

[Jack M.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

Is it safe to disregard the possibility of 26 3-speeds?

According to initial 1965 Corvette Power Team specs (pre-M22), I don't believe the 3-speed was available for L78:

1965-L78-Power-Teams.jpg

[Dan A.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

The '65 Chevrolet Finger-Tip Facts book Revision Guide on the first page says "CORVETTE 425hp Turbo-Jet 396 cu. in. Engine (RPO L78), the new advanced design V8, is now available with 4-speed transmission." The last page lists POWER TEAMS. For Corvette it states "A new 425-hp Turbo-Jet 396 V8 engine and 4 speed transmission power team option has been added as shown. Limited availability is expected for the 365-hp engine." the chart shows the 425-hp L78 with only one transmission , the 4 Speed (RPO M20) 2.20:1. With the 3.36:1 General Purpose Axle*. Note * Positraction only. Other Positraction ratios available are 3.08:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1 or 4.56:1 The second note, Full-Transistor Ignition System (RPO K66) mandatory added equipment".

It is interesting that the '65 Revision Chevrolet Power Team chart shows the 3-Speed (fully synch) (RPO M13) as available with both the 325-hp and 425-hp 396's with a 3.31:1 positraction Axle. Also interesting for '65 Chevrolet sales material, the chart shows the 4-speed broken out as M20 and M21 for the full size Chevrolet.

Without looking and relying on memory only I believe the '66 Finger-Tip Facts books states transistor ignition and 4 speed transmission are mandatory options with the 425-hp L72.

[Duke W.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

It's my understanding that F-40 was not available with L-78, only L-84. Circa January '66 F-41 was announced as available for big blocks (definitely L-72 with some reports of F-41 on L-36) along with M-22, and J-56. There was an article in Corvette News about these new "HD" options.

F-41 consisted of the same parts substitutions as F-40 for small blocks, while retaining the 9/16" rear anti-roll bar that was part of the base big block suspension. F-41 was only available with big blocks. There was no HD suspension option for small blocks from '66 thru the end of C2 production, but all the parts were available through service parts.

Duke

[Loren L.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

The entry dealt with L78s, but yes, the data does state that 326 L84s appeared with F40, for a total of 985 in 1965.

[David B.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

The 1965 Corvette Engine / Transmission Production quantity does show 2,157 4 spd. L-78's. The breakdown was: 404 3 spds, (all 250 hp) 2,021 M-35 powerglide and 21,137 4 spds. This totals 23,562 (Production quantity is listed as 23,564) where are the missing 2 ?
A footnote indicates: "where units are grouped the application breakdown cannot be determined due to R.P.O. setup." I do not know if this impacts the M-20 or the unlisted M-22 4 spd..

[James G.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

I vote for the 26 cars have the M-22 ''Rock Crusher'' transmission. I know of 5 or 6 such examples, some with race application

[Loren L.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

#23563 was a 300 HP convertible and #23564 was the last L78, also a convertible.

[Drew P.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

I forget the exact number so check with AL Grenning or Drew Papson on the number of M22's. 26 is abut the number I recall.

Hello Dan,
The Corvette Restores volume Twenty-Five Number Four Spring 1999.
The 1965 Corvette And M-22 Transmission By Al Grenning page 18 to page 26 total of 9 pages.
This the information that you mentioned.
Best Regards,
Drew Papsun

[Dan A.]

Re: "Production Trends" - 1965 L78

Thanks Drew. Laziness on my part. I could have searched the Restorer disc. Easier yet I should have reviewed my notes from our conversations.