1967 Camaro RS Convertible numbers--unsure.

[rsconv]

Hi,

I think I have most of the tag deciphered, but I am confused about the engine block and want to see if it's matching numbers, or if the car might have something not original. VIN numbers show this is a 67 V8 convertible. It has a 327, which I don't know if it's a 210 or 275 hp. It has a 4-speed manual transmission. All tag data shows correct information, I *think*, which matches the car, but I'm not sure about the eng/trans. I think I've got it, other than the engine (and HP) and trans confirmed. Below is the info, can anyone provide some insight?

11B M492
ST 67-12667 LOS 787
TR 472-Z R-1
ED 2LGR 3SL

VIN number: 124677L118264

Engine: VI223ME (or MF, I can't tell due to a small chip)

Maybe that's V1 (i.e., 'Vone', not 'Vi')?

ME = CE/327cid (doesn't say if AT or MT) or Automatic/327cid.
MF = Automatidc/CE (CA Emissions)/327cid (doesn't say MT).

Flint plant, Nov., 23rd and ME or MF suffix? Looks like it might be the right engine, perhaps? Or am I totally off base? :-)

As far as I can tell, the information on cowl tag is:

1967 Camaro RS Convertible.
Bolero Red, White top. Red custom buckets/interior w. rear seat speaker.
Built in LOS plant in second week of Nov. '66, and is the 492nd car in the 'M' production period.
Four speed manual transmission.
Center console.
RPO Z22 and Z23 (Interior decor & RS package).
ED = Power top convertible & Tinted windows? (Maybe all?)

Does that sound about right? Did I miss anything or get anything wrong? This seems to match everything on the car now, which is a good sign.

Most importantly, however, I'm wondering about the transmission. The cowl seems to confirm it's manual 4 speed (Muncie, right?), but the last two numbers on the engine seem to (from all the web sites I've seen) indicate it's a manual transmission. However, another site says it's "CE" for the California Emissions, and didn't say if that was for manual or automatic. I assume it's a correct numbers engine for CE/manual trans, or does it appear this might have been changed?

I don't know if there's any other relevant information and I'm not sure if I need to jack up the car to see if it has any numbers for the transmission (I've not found it, but I don't know exactly where to look). Any insight into this would be very appreciated and I thank you in advance for any information you can provide per the transmission and the likely HP of the motor.

[rsconv]

Sorry, that would be engine was Dec. 23rd? If that's right, and the car being built in the 2nd week in Nov., unless I misread that, wouldn't something be amiss since the car is a month newer than the engine?

[elcamino]

Both engines, ME and MF are same except MF is CA emissions. Both came with a power-glide trans and a 2-bbl carb.

But VI223ME was built about 5 weeks after the car was. Must be a transplanted engine.

V - Flint Engine
12 - Dec
23 - Day

Gr.1
E - A01 Tinted glass (all windows
D - C06 Power Top

Gr. 2
L - M20 4-sp trans M-21,M22
G - D55 Console
R - U80 Rear seat speaker

Gr.3
S - Z23 Interior Chrome
L - Z22 Rally Sport

[rsconv]

Thanks for the data. It seems everything is correct, but the engine (so far). I was wondering why it was made after the car. I might have looked more closely to see if it was perhaps a funky situation (though I suppose that would have been pointless) because it didn't look like this engine was ever out of the car (yeah, I know), but added the date difference with the AT engine, I don't see how it can be anywhere close to being numbers matching, unless there's some really strange deal with it, and that doesn't happen. I can also at least conclude it's a 210 HP anyway. Thanks again.

[elcamino]

If you are not the original owner then there is no way of telling what someone did. Maybe something happened to the OEM motor and they were lucky to find another just like it. Would seem it had to be changed way back when .

The engine is a common Camaro engine and there should not have been a shortage that could be expected with some hi-perf option.

Have you found any VIN derivative on the engine pad? Something like 7L118264 ?

[Rick H]

Not all 67's had the partial VIN. Matter of fact it would be more correct without it. I have an 03D numbers matching car with a POP and I have no partial VIN on the block. My motor was build about 7 weeks before my car was completed.
Most likely the car had an early failure and the motor was swapped out. It was not uncommon.
ME is the 327/210hp with powerglide.

Rick

[jg95z28]

None of the 327's had partial VINs in 67. Only the 350, 302 and 396 got them.

[rsconv]

Hi,

Indeed, there's no partial VIN, as expected. Looks like it's what everyone thinks it is (210/hp, powerglide). That's alright though, I got the car for a good price and counted the price as likely not being a matching # engine/trans (though the trans might be, I need to check), but I was curious about it overall, along with confirming the rest. Thanks a lot.