67 Camaro L78
 

When was the first L-78 67 Camaro first introduced? Spring or fall of 1967

Dave
67 Nova Boy

The #1 Indy pace car was the first car with a factory installed l78 Camaro, however it was replaced with an L34 prior to race duties. Grumpy Jenkins 67 L78 was the first available for sale. I believe they were built mid March 67.

I know there is a story here, so why was the L78 replaced with a L34 before the race? Seems to me that the L78 would have been the better engine for this purpose.

Thank you Steve...

Dave
67 Nova Boy

I've heard there were reliability concerns and the noise of the solid lifters. I don't no, perhaps Charley can provide some insight.....

I think Steve is right for once. They also spec'd 307 gears but changed to 331's as they wanted more power out of the turns I believe. The rear end had the work order # and gear ratio stamped in it and then they restamped the ratio. I have pics here somewhere.

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can't find one readable

Thanks. I wonder what their concern was with reliability? Seems like it would have been reliable enough, but without being there we may never know.

Readable version of the build order for the three pace cars.

As a footnote the readable one on the left was a retype of the hard to read one I had posted. Al Young had his secretary type it. I purchased the car from Al Young. His Dad owned Dan Young Chevrolet and they purchased the car after Chevrolet was done using it. In Al's conversations with Vince Piggins Vince told him only two Pace Cars were built even though the work order calls for three.

I wonder why they started with a L78 4 speed car and then converted it to a L34 with TH400. Seems like it would have been easier to just start with a car that had these already. Was there a problem with availability or something like that?

The paperwork calls for three and three were built. My friend has the engine from what would be considered the third one. By order of VIN, the "A" car and one that paced the race is the last of the three built. The back up pace car was the first built and the third, which was most likely the car that was intended to be presented to the race winner (before it was declined by Foyt) was between the two VIN-wise. NCRS reports run on all three VINs are identical as far as who they were shipped to or meant for.

Grumpy Jenkins' L78 was the first L78 coupe built and it came shortly after these three convertibles.