A O Smith and Big Blocks

[Dick C.]

While at home due to the Covid virus, i started to go thru my files and found some articles about 1967 Corvettes.
I have read several articles on the 1967 "A O Smith bodies and Big Blocks engines.

• One article stated that Nolan Adams believe there out there. (read this Vol 2)
• Past NCRS National Judging Chairman inspected a 67 at auction and verified it as real.

Is there any other info to date that proves or disputes that A O Smith bodies did get BB engines.

[Joseph A.]

Re: A O Smith and Big Blocks

I have heard that there are a few AO Smith big blocks but they were very early production numbers. The problem was painting the stinger on the hood. I believe there was an issue with that at AOS and that some bodies were made without the stinger being painted, but again very early production. At that point I believe GM decided to make all the BB bodies at St. Louis.

[James G.]

Re: A O Smith and Big Blocks

Same with SIDE PIPES. A.O. SMITH did not want to do cut out on body for side pipes. So no side pipe cars made at A.O. Smith

[Paul D.]

Re: A O Smith and Big Blocks

The stories I've heard as far as A.O. Smith bodies and big blocks (67 model year) was that they had problems painting the stinger stripes in their paint area. I have to believe that it had something to do with available space and not that no one was competent enough to lay out a mask for the painter. If this was the case, then maybe no big block components were ordered or sent to A.O. Smith and thus " no A.O. Smith big blocks " would be understandable. However, if the problem was that they "couldn't get the stripes right", this would suggest that big block components were at A.O. Smith. Were dash clusters installed at A.O. Smith? If so, would you not also expect those components would have been sent there as well as the hoods and any other big block specific body items at the same time preparing to ramp up production? This would open the door to the possibility of a few big block A.O. Smith cars. Is there any document, such as a build sheet that would show a connection between big block options and A.O. Smith body? If not, then I could not see how you could document such a car outside of someone's subjective opinion.

As far as "no side pipe A.O. Smith cars", I could buy that as I understand the tool that sheared off the tabs at St Louis was not available at A.O. Smith. Unless, of course, a few got the tabs hacked off before it was deemed not feasible for the production line. In that case all bets are off!

[Dan A.]

Re: A O Smith and Big Blocks

As far as "no side pipe A.O. Smith cars", I could buy that as I understand the tool that sheared off the tabs at St Louis was not available at A.O. Smith. Unless, of course, a few got the tabs hacked off before it was deemed not feasible for the production line. In that case all bets are off!

John Hinckley has explained many times that he designed the tooling to cut notches in the outer lower edge of the steel channel running under the door sill which was part of the bird cage. The notches purpose was to accommodate the U-nuts required to accept the screws that retained the narrow rocker trim strip covering the side pipe cover attachment. This tooling was at the St Louis plant only. Because only one tool was made A.O.Smith did not have the ability to cut the notches to build N14 optioned cars. The tooling did not "shear off" any "tabs".