1970 RPO NA9 Questions

[Rich D.]

Hi, folks. I'm the lucky owner of a 1970 convertible originally equipped with RPO NA9 California Emissions Equipment. I find this especially interesting, because according to the original window sticker that came with the car, it was delivered to a dealer in Colorado.

Any insight into this? Maybe something to do with the altitude in The Mile-High City?

BTW, all the NA9 stuff is still in place, including the 7040503 Rochester. The only thing I'm missing is the plastic carb bolt insulators. Any sources for these?

Thanks.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

When I ordered my '77 in New Haven, Indiana I asked about ordering CA emissions (I wasn't going to do it, just asked a bunch of questions) and was advised I could, but if I lived in CA I could not order the Federal Emisions. May be the same with yours. I ordered an '84 and an '85 from dealer in Brush Colorado and was advise he could drop ship to Indianapolis where I lived and have Federal Emisions.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

Hi, folks. I'm the lucky owner of a 1970 convertible originally equipped with RPO NA9 California Emissions Equipment. I find this especially interesting, because according to the original window sticker that came with the car, it was delivered to a dealer in Colorado.

Any insight into this? Maybe something to do with the altitude in The Mile-High City?

BTW, all the NA9 stuff is still in place, including the 7040503 Rochester. The only thing I'm missing is the plastic carb bolt insulators. Any sources for these?

Thanks.

Rich-----


I don't think there was a federal high altitude emissions requirement for 1970.

I don't know of any source for the carb bolt insulators. It would seem that they'd be easy to reproduce, but I don't think anyone does.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

Not living in California, I have seen more NA9 equipped 1970s that were originally delivered to states other than California than were delivered to California. I'm sure my experience would be different if I resided closer to the western states.

I'm not sure if Chevrolet forced some NA9s to other locations, or some folks were thinking green in 1970 -- but I have never seen anything that would restrict anyone from ordering NA9 wherever the car was to be delivered. I think Steven has the right idea.

[Robert C.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

You all forget all the "tree-hugging hippies" that lived in Colorado back then. The hard part to find was one of those guys with enough cash to buy a new Corvette!

[Jack H.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

Nice try, Bob! But, the 'tree huggers' are still alive and well in Colorado and MANY are well heeled...

My neighbors fought the new HDTV broadcast antenna (not in my backyard) sucessfully using the courts, county commissioners, various Federal/State agencies for six years. It literally took an act of Congress (rider on a bill sponsored by both our Republican and Democratic Senators in the last lame duck session) to block their efforts to errect the antenna and allow HDTV broadcasting to Denver...

They're an affluent group comprised of college professors, lawyers, Etc. So, they can and do have purchasing power!

I seem to remember some 'squawk' back in '70 about the California Chevy dealers wanting to restrict NA9 option ordering to California based dealers to thwart competition from the 'low overhead' dealers in neighboring states (Nevada, Oregon, Etc.) from being able to sell/deliver the emissions system that was required for cars built/sold in California after 1/1/70. Sorry, I don't remember clearly how events unraveled. But, I'm pretty sure NA9 was available to any/all dealers when it first made its debut.

On the special carb mount insulating washers, I had to dig up a setup for Roberto Luis in Buenas Aires. They're nothing really special...just fiber based flat washers....

If memory serves, we found a set on a scrap yard '70 Chevy with NA9 QJet carb. If when Roberto, checks this thread, he might provide pix + physical dimensions so the poster can fabricate a set....

[Robert C.]

Re: 1970 RPO NA9 Questions

Don't take the comment about broke, dope-smoken, Colorado " Hippies" personally. Remember the song........Rockey-mountain-high..........Colorado.