Quote:
Originally Posted by GotGrunt
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Interesting info:
jeffschevelle
Unfortunately I made a deal on another Z16 project car literally the day before this one hit the internet. I tried to pass that deal along to someone else, in favor of switching to try to get this one due to its very very interesting story, but looks like that is not going to be in the cards!
This blue one is definitely real, and as I said has a really interesting story. But not my story to tell, so I'll leave that for the next owner to post! (If he or she chooses to share.) Hopefully it ends up with a good new caretaker and gets restored to match the car's unique story and not how it was delivered from the factory. As to Z16 special parts and cost of a restoration, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. The following parts ONLY came on Z16's (or on Z16's and a limited number of other models, as indicated): Certain parts of the body cowl sheet metal are different from any other 65 Chevelle. Frame - It is not just a 65 Chevelle convertible frame as people often say. There are other differences and it has its own part number. Rear axle - including the housing and the axles (it is not just the 11" Impala brakes that are different). Lower rear control arms. They are not the same as later years F41 boxed lower arms. Rear sway bar. It is not the same as later years F41 rear bars. Front upper ball joints Front spindles Front brake backing plates Front wheel hubs Front brake drums Front sway bar Front sway bar bushings Wheels Power steering box Power steering brackets - they are very slightly different from 66. But also used on 65 Impala big blocks, so can be found Fender bracket for Power steering reservoir Radiator Fan shroud Upper radiator hose (shared with 65 L78 full size cars) Lower radiator hose Firewall wiring harness Positive battery cable Distributor Air cleaner base (shared with 65 L78 full size cars and 66 L72 full size cars) Air cleaner emblem Carburetor Intake - same as 65 L78 full size and Vette, but very early intakes (which is what you need for any correct Z16 engine) have a different casting number format than the later 65 intakes, and are very hard to find. Choke pipes (both) Fuel lines (same as 65 L78 full size and Vette, but Z16 is chrome plated). Vacuum advance pipe (ditto) PCV pipe (ditto) Dipstick (ditto) Timing chain cover (same as 65 L78 full size and Vette, but completely different from a 66) Balancer - used on other 65-66 solid lifter big blocks, but different from 67 and later 8" balancers. Water pump pulley - only shared with 67 Chevelle L78's, and the 65's are made a little different from the 67's so technically they are Z16-only. Crank pulley - only shared with 65-66 L78/L72 full size, 66 Chevelle L78, and 67 solid lifter big blocks with PS. Alternator pulley - only shared with 65-67 solid lifter big blocks, and 67 Z28 Alternator brackets - they are different from 66+. Oil pan Exhaust manifolds Tailpipes and tailpipe hangers Bellhousing (same as 65 409 full size) Transmission - there is some conflicting info here. There was a special part number in the AIM but it is showed as cancelled before Z16 production actually started. So I am not sure that unit was actually ever used in production.
Driveshaft (heavier than a 65 small block shaft) Gas tank sending unit Speedo cluster FM radio (available on other 65 Chevelles but very few were ordered, and it is a very expensive part) Multiplex - contrary to popular belief these are Z16 specific. Not the same as an Impala or a 66 Chevelle. A real original Z16 MPX will actually have a blank Delco Radio Model # sticker with a hand-written number on it! Multiplex mounting bracket Kick panel speaker grills Remote mirror (available on other 65 Chevelles but few were ordered, and it is a very expensive part. And contrary to popular belief certain components of the mirror do not interchange with a 66 remote mirror) Rear trim (obviously) Decklid (you could weld all the holes shut on a regular decklid but it would be a challenge to grind the back side down and metal finish all those holes up inside the inner liner structure without someone with an eye for detail being able to tell). And I am sure there are other trinkets I am forgetting. Then add the fact that they were all (except the prototype) built at the KC plant, which means that to do one "right" you need to get all hardware that has the correct head markings and finishes for late Feb - early April built KC Chevelles, and hood hinges and hood latch with the AVM manufacturer's stamp that was on all 65 KC Chevelles but not on east cost built cars, and various other KC-specific details. So the intricacies (and cost) are never ending!! Especially if you try to use only NOS parts wherever possible.