Not true. In 72 they were selling over the counter in the parts department complete L-88's, LS6's ZL-1's etc like this one. Over the counter engines were exempt from the smog rules back then. That's how Motion, Nickey etc got their engines. motion got in trouble in 73 as they were selling turn-key cars and not just the engine.

I'll second that, we raced LT-1 crate motors from '70-'74 (Late Model Sportsman roundy round) and they were always the high compression '70 version. Ours came with stick flywheel and no bellhousing. Changed the pan and oil pick-up and that's it.
All that being said, we were sponsored by the local Chevy dealer and could pretty much order any configuration we wanted. When I say we; my dad built the cars and I was a teenage assistant...lol.
Turned them 7-7,100 RPM all day, adjusted valves constantly and rarely had engine failures. One race in Canada (bigger track), the tach pegged at 7,400! Motors would last a full season before rebuild. Absolutely bulletproof.

I agree, put in a Vega!!

Confusing how this was written up. Agree with this comment. Its a 70 LT-1 Motor on the shelf but it was purchased in 1972, still a 1970 LT-1 engine, now that makes more sense.

I pulled this same engine from one of my cars. The dates are very close and it is the '70 370hp.

The carb is a Holley 4555. Really amusing is the last digit of the intake casting number 397211_ was ground off and stamped '6'.

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Yes I agree
I will tell a friend
Who owns a motion
Vega ..missing its engine

Looks to be a real 70 LT-1 Camaro replacement engine from what I can see. I have a 116 intake that looks just like the one on this engine as it probably came off a crate motor, note the washers under the bolt heads. Great reference pics on how the Flint plant painted these HP engines, even brushing on silver paint on the intake to cover up the orange overspray. I will use these when I restore my 70 Z-28.

Paul

For the overspray and paint details, I am curious if the painting of the engine would be the same on this OTC 1972 version of the LT-1 versus the techniques in use at the time of the original run of 1970 assembly line LT-1's? In other words, were the replacement engine built at Flint in the same way using the same methods as the assembly line engines, or did they batch these in a different department where they were perhaps more hand assembled? If so, this may not be a good template to use for a letter perfect 1970 restoration.

I would assume they were built on the same line as production engines. Only difference may be that this engine was built in 1972, and painting details may have changed since 1970. Maybe, more knowledgeable members can chime in.

Really tempting, that would suit any nom-engine Z.
Interesting to see an over-the-counter engine with a production assembly stamp.

The silver paint was the detailing done to the bolts etc with a brush. My 1100 mile 70Z had plenty of it remaining.