1968 Yenko Questions
 

I'm sure this stuff has been covered before, but I have a few 68 Yenko Camaro questions. I know what I think are the correct answers, but all three of these questions have started a debate among Yenko experts, so, if you have any thoughts please chime in! I'm trying to get my car ready for judging at Vettefest and want to make sure I get it as good (correct) as I can prior to the show...so here come the questions:

-What is the correct Holley carb list number?

-The Pontiac Rally II wheels: 14x6 or 14x7? And the code?

-Lug nuts: Stock Chevrolet lug nuts, Pontiac Rally II lug nuts, or ???

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!
Colin
YS-8021

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

I don't know the carb number, nor the wheel codes, but I do believe they were 14x7 wheels and used the Rally II style lugnuts. Here are 2 original photos of a 68 Yenko taken in 68 prior to the car's delivery, while still in Canonsburg. They're blurry, but hopefully will help you out a little.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif
https://www.yenko.net/attachments/294342-Picture022.jpg

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

another.
https://www.yenko.net/attachments/294343-Picture023.jpg

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Sweet...

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Joe,

That is awesome! I guess that settles the question, or at least gives me a decent photo to use if I get into any more arguments over the wheels and lug nuts https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/grin.gif

So, I am assuming they would have used trim rings (as is the accepted practice), but this car didn't have them because it wasn't prepped for sale yet??

Thanks!
Colin

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
Joe,



So, I am assuming they would have used trim rings (as is the accepted practice), but this car didn't have them because it wasn't prepped for sale yet??

Thanks!
Colin

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know about that... I have photos of several cars WITHOUT trim rings, including one that was used for advertising purposes, so I would almost thing no trim rings was more the standard practice than the exception in 68. Yenko was buying the wheels to replace the standard steelies, GTO's didn't have trim rings, trim rings cost extra...and we all know about Don's thoughts on spending extra money...would make sense to say he likely didn't use them unless the customer specifically requested it. One oddball thing I should note, is I have some pics of a 68 Yenko (possibly the same car as in the above photos) with trim rings on one side, and none on the other... I'm guessing they were deciding at that time if they were "necessary" or if they could get away with selling the cars without them. This is all of course total speculation on my part, just using old photos as a guide. Compared to the 69's, it seems like there's still alot of unknowns when it comes to how the 68's were equipped and sold. -JB

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Aren't the Deuces sans trim rings also?

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Yep.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

The thought to be logic was that you could leave the dealership, go to the strip, go through tech, and not have to remove the trim rings.ie: race ready off the showroom floor.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

I've got promo pictures of one of the bronze '68s in Florida with trim rings.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

14x7's weren't offered until '69 on any Pontiac. Those appear to be 14x6's and per Paul Zazarine's GTO resto guide, '68 spec Rally II's should be code JA (p/n 9787279) for disc brake apps and code JC (p/n 9789329) for drum brake applications. I wouldn't be surprised if Yenko offered them sans trim rings that year, for the reasons outlined by the other posters.

TOM

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

My reply was deuce related. That's what the dealer told me when I asked him why it didn't have trim rings.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

[ QUOTE ]
14x7's weren't offered until '69 on any Pontiac. Those appear to be 14x6's and per Paul Zazarine's GTO resto guide, '68 spec Rally II's should be code JA (p/n 9787279) for disc brake apps and code JC (p/n 9789329) for drum brake applications. I wouldn't be surprised if Yenko offered them sans trim rings that year, for the reasons outlined by the other posters.

TOM

[/ QUOTE ]

Well that sounds legit then... 14x6's are what they would have had to be if 14x7's didn't come out til 69. I always wondered why he chose the Poncho wheels instead of something from Chevy or the aftermarket... you can bet there was a good story behind that choice.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Remember Don had to change wheels for a reason,he's to frugal for anything else .....I'm betting it was for more than just for looks. Does the 14x6 Pontiac wheel have a different offset than the Chevrolet 14x6 steel wheel or rally ? Maybe he went with the Pontiac for the wide-track...

Steve

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

That's a possibility, another thought was that the rally II wheels gave a "mag wheel" look to the car without spending the extra $ for aftermarket aluminum wheels. in 68, Chevy didn't really have a styled steel wheel available other than the rally wheel or fake mag hubcap, so the rally II Pontiac wheel was about the only decent looking factory wheel he could buy cheap to add some flair to the cars. Knowing Don, he probably had a Pontiac connection too, and got 'em for near nothing.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

When Don decided to use that wheel, it may not have been a Pontiac only wheel.
Early ’68 option booklet showed it as a Chevy option with a bow-tie center cap but Chevy must have canceled it.

Don may have selected it in late 67 or early 68 not knowing that it was to become known as a Pontiac only wheel in later years.
Just my opinion
Attached a picture from a Chevy promo booklet

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Joe...that's a cool looking pic. Those wheels are probably one of the best styled factory wheels ever produced https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

In the first set of pictures the wheels don't have the trim ring but they do have the 'Y'enko center so I would think they could have sold them without the trim ring. It lookes like a fully prepped wheel/tire. But without real paperwork it's a tough one to call either way. But those wheels look great with and without the trim ring! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Colin
I researched this for my car and pretty much came to the concensus that the carb is the 4053 DZ part# 3923289 that was used on the L78 and the Z28 cars. They would have just used the parts that came with the original 396. Also the wheels were JA coded 14X6's. Hope this helps.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

If all the parts on the 68 COPO L78 Camaro engine were the same as the standard L78 than why do the COPO engines have a different suffix code?


Jason

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

My understanding is that when the cars were converted at Yenko the 396 was pulled out and the shortblock was swapped with the crate 427 L72. Everything including topend that could be used from the 396 was put back on the 427. This saved money for the dealer and the parts worked. The MV suffix on the 396 was probably an emissions issue. I think there have been several threads outlining both of these issues here before. There are more knowledgable people here than me that can help with the suffix question. We are talking 1968 here only not the factory copo's of 69. Good question.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

I agree, all the top end parts would have been saved. The must be some original cars out there to verify which parts are original. I heard the 851 intake was used on the 68 COPO but have never had it verified.



Jason

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Just an interested bystander here but I always understood the MV suffix was specified to include a larger carb as it was destined for L72 conversion although not all MV suffix cars got one?.
Searching online results in threads noting #3925519 carb specified for the 9737 option instead of the production #3959164 DZ carburetor?.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif
~ Pete

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Pete
I heard the same thing. In my research everyone told me that they couldn't verify the larger carb being used on a car, so I should go with the crowd and not cause questions. I went with the DZ. It seems that if cost was an issue to the dealer, and it usually is, they would just reuse the carb from the L78. Also I think just the 9561 copo was available in 68 the 9737 was with a factory installed 427?? What do I know, I was 8 at the time.

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Dana, has the resto been completed on your car? Any current pics? I remember reading the post of when it was found out in the desert... curious to see how it's progressing!

Re: 1968 Yenko Questions
 

Joe
Thanks for asking. I have collected just about all of the parts I could find. I am doing another car now and then it is next. I can't wait to see it on the road. I will post pics and update here.