1971 LS6 Chevelle SS Production

[SuperCar Races]

I am looking for some information to assist one of our racers. I am looking for documentations and an actual 1971 Chevelle SS that was factory equipped with an LS6. We are unable to find anything concrete from Chevrolet. I figured this would be the right place to ask this question. Thank you for your assistance.

Ralph Barbagallo

[Fast67VelleN2O]

There is no such beast. At least I have never seen or heard of one actually escaping the factory and making it to a dealership lot.

[SS427]

The only Chevrolet that received the LS6 engine in 1971 was the Corvette.

[markjohnson]

There's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet produced a 1971 LS-6 Chevelle. The first major fact is that Tonawanda records show 14 engines being shipped with suffix codes. 10 were intended for TH400 application and 4 additional units were intended for 4-speed applications. This is also in Alan Colvin's books. The other major clue is the existence of 1971-dated #026 open-chamber cylinder heads. Now it could be argued that #026's were intended for the popular crate LS-6's but I've seen several 1972-dated crate LS-6's that were still using the #291 closed-chamber heads. Heck, these 1972 crate LS-6's were even stamped with the TH400 code of "CRR" on the front deck but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway, that's my presentation to the jury for the existence of the much-elusive 1971 LS-6 Chevelle and these are valid points. I'm sure one of these 14 cars will surface one day if it hasn't already. Maybe some collector has one stashed away in his collection next to an L-89 Nova, 1967 L-79 Chevy II, and a 1966 L-88 Corvette! LOL!

[442w30]

Maybe those engines were for inventory and not installed in a car?

I also find it curious that Chevrolet would have built more auto LS6 Chevelles than 4-speeds. I am not convinced.

[BUIZILLA]

what's there to convince you? because you didn't see it yourself?

you weren't even born then..

Larry Costley Chevrolet ordered and had a '71 Chevelle SS built for his son Jamie, he was my roommate, it came off the truck that way, it was light metallic funky green, I was there that day... if it was built elsewhere's I have no clue, but it had less than 10 miles, I personally took all the plastic off the seats and prepped it for delivery... Between Larry, and Leon Sarkisian from Sark Chev, they could order some neat stuff, both had high up_the_ladder connections... I worked PDI for both dealerships in 69-73.. saw some neat stuff... Don Allen Chev also got a couple Z16 ringers, as did Luby Chev. with L72 Impala's,, Costley got a couple '70 LS6 Camino's for construction co. friends and a gold '71 LS6 Vette for himself, Leon ordered multiple truckloads of '70 L78 Nova's and, somehow, even got two '70 LT1 Chevelles/Malibu's, one was dark green/green and one was pale yellow/white, both 4 speeds, the dark green went to one of the Butler Bros... each dealership had their niche' for performance.. Tracy Moyer also had a CRR crate engine that was mentioned above, he bought it locally, and it went in a '72 black short bed Chevy truck that I owned, and I sold it to a charter DC6 pilot in Lakeland... so don't EVER say something never happened..

[MultiMopars]

[ QUOTE ]
There's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet produced a 1971 LS-6 Chevelle. The first major fact is that Tonawanda records show 14 engines being shipped with suffix codes. 10 were intended for TH400 application and 4 additional units were intended for 4-speed applications. This is also in Alan Colvin's books. The other major clue is the existence of 1971-dated #026 open-chamber cylinder heads. Now it could be argued that #026's were intended for the popular crate LS-6's but I've seen several 1972-dated crate LS-6's that were still using the #291 closed-chamber heads. Heck, these 1972 crate LS-6's were even stamped with the TH400 code of "CRR" on the front deck but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway, that's my presentation to the jury for the existence of the much-elusive 1971 LS-6 Chevelle and these are valid points. I'm sure one of these 14 cars will surface one day if it hasn't already. Maybe some collector has one stashed away in his collection next to an L-89 Nova, 1967 L-79 Chevy II, and a 1966 L-88 Corvette! LOL!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would they designate auto or 4 speed unless they were slated for a car on the assembly line?

Did Chevrolet do this with crate engines?

Is it because the end of the crank is drilled for or has a bushing?

[Tracker1]

They were certainly built for road-testing. Motor Trend tested one with two aboard and 3.31s in their October 1970 issue saying "The new low-compression LS-6 lacks the punch of the original SS454 we tested last fall, running .9-second and 9 mph slower in the quarter..." It went 14.7... I have the issue, looking at it now.

The 'Hi-Performance Cars' Supercar Annual changed to 4.10s - they went 13.65. I do not have this issue so I do not know if it is the same car in the motor trend. The press pool may have had a couple cars.

So the test car is at least one, maybe two.

[Tracker1]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
There's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet produced a 1971 LS-6 Chevelle. The first major fact is that Tonawanda records show 14 engines being shipped with suffix codes. 10 were intended for TH400 application and 4 additional units were intended for 4-speed applications. This is also in Alan Colvin's books. The other major clue is the existence of 1971-dated #026 open-chamber cylinder heads. Now it could be argued that #026's were intended for the popular crate LS-6's but I've seen several 1972-dated crate LS-6's that were still using the #291 closed-chamber heads. Heck, these 1972 crate LS-6's were even stamped with the TH400 code of "CRR" on the front deck but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway, that's my presentation to the jury for the existence of the much-elusive 1971 LS-6 Chevelle and these are valid points. I'm sure one of these 14 cars will surface one day if it hasn't already. Maybe some collector has one stashed away in his collection next to an L-89 Nova, 1967 L-79 Chevy II, and a 1966 L-88 Corvette! LOL!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would they designate auto or 4 speed unless they were slated for a car on the assembly line?

Did Chevrolet do this with crate engines?

Is it because the end of the crank is drilled for or has a bushing?

[/ QUOTE ]


I'd say you are right - that and the appropriate carburetor selection/calibration which also changed with trans selection.

[L-79 Nova]

[ QUOTE ]
There's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet produced a 1971 LS-6 Chevelle. The first major fact is that Tonawanda records show 14 engines being shipped with suffix codes. 10 were intended for TH400 application and 4 additional units were intended for 4-speed applications. This is also in Alan Colvin's books. The other major clue is the existence of 1971-dated #026 open-chamber cylinder heads. Now it could be argued that #026's were intended for the popular crate LS-6's but I've seen several 1972-dated crate LS-6's that were still using the #291 closed-chamber heads. Heck, these 1972 crate LS-6's were even stamped with the TH400 code of "CRR" on the front deck but that's a discussion for another day. Anyway, that's my presentation to the jury for the existence of the much-elusive 1971 LS-6 Chevelle and these are valid points. I'm sure one of these 14 cars will surface one day if it hasn't already. Maybe some collector has one stashed away in his collection next to an L-89 Nova, 1967 L-79 Chevy II, and a 1966 L-88 Corvette! LOL!

[/ QUOTE ] Agreed, except the 67 L79 Novas, there are atleast two documented real cars. Ron... P.S. One was at the MCCN show in Nov. Jack Duer's.