Big Block Distributor Hold Down Clamp

[Camarocards]

Thanks Ed.

My friends Vette is also a 427/390. Not sure of his build date though. I'll ask him what his build date is.

Thanks,

Bob

[bertfam]

Here's an interesting tidbit. On the Corvette side of the world, it's known that the wire clamp was used on ALL engines in 1967. Since both Corvette and Camaro engines (as well as all the rest of the divisions) were assembled at Tonawanda and Flint, I can't see any 1967 engines using the stamped clamp.

Ed

[Mike S]

I'd be shocked if there are no other members here that have a BB 67 or 68 to reply to.
I'm not that lucky to have two 67 L35 BB's and both have the stamped clamp, especially on the survivor I have had since 1980.
I'll go play Lotto now 

Mike

[bertfam]

That's why this is such a mystery Mike. Your two engines should NOT have the stamped clamp and the 69 Corvette Bob referenced above SHOULD!! I can see this is going to be another one of those items that'll drive us all nuts!!

Ed

[Camarocards]

Ed - Well, here is more more interesting info. I found this picture in the '68 Chassis manual. Unfortunately, the picture is for a 6 cylinder engine but the interesting thing to note is that it clearly shows the wire type clamp.

Mike - What is the build date on your cars?

It's still a mystery to me why some cars have stamped clamps and others have wire clamps, particularly in light of what Ed reported in an earlier post. It also doesn't look like there is a rhyme or reason as to which size engine got which clamp since the Chassis manual shows a wire clamp on a 6 cylinder engine.

[bertfam]

Bob, 6 cylinder cars got the wire clamps from the beginning of time! Even way into the 70's. I don't think 6 bangers ever got a stamped clamp, but of course, in light of what we're seeing, who knows!

You can't go by images in the service manuals. Most of the time they just found a picture that was good enough to show what was being referenced. It may be from a prior (or even several years before) and may not even be a Chevrolet part! HERE'S another example of what I mean.

Ed

[Camarocards]

Thanks Ed. Looks like mystery continues!

[67 RS Ragtop]

My '67 10B LOS L-30 has the wire clamp. FWIW

[68camaroz28]

Our 12/21/67 built 302 had the wire holder where our 69 Nova 396 had the clamp. I as others have seen the wired clamp style on 68's.

[Mike S]

 The more accurate way to gauge this is when the motor was assembled being the distributor was installed then.
My 67 L35 block assembly date codes are:
T0214MZ and T0308MW - both have the stamped clamp.

Chick, I assume the 302 date is what is stamped on the pad?

This is certainly an interesting topic.
Mike

[Camarocards]

Well, I didn't think I'd cause such an in depth discussion when I posted my original question! I figured surely someone must have run into this during their restoration, I'd get my answer and continue on with my project. Boy was I wrong!!

Anyway, I thought I would start to tabulate what we know so far from all of the previous posts:

Year    Engine    Build Date     Clamp Type

67         L30          610B               Wire
67         L35          704B               Stamped
67         L35          705B               Stamped

68         Z28          801B              Wire
68         L78          806?               Wire
68         Z28          807C              Stamped

[bertfam]

Bob, I put them in monthly order for you and added a year digit at the begining of each date code. i.e. , 610B would be the second week of October, 1966.

Let's keep it going folks.

Ed

[Mike S]

Hi Ed,
   Good compliation. As a suggestion, I think it would be more granular if the engine assembly date was recorded too being some units sat on the rack from days to months before being placed in the chassis. Maybe something like below?

Year    Engine    Engine Date   Body Date     Clamp Type

67         L30                          610B               Wire
67         L35         0214          704B               Stamped
67         L35         0308          705B               Stamped

68         Z28                          801B              Wire
68         L78                          806?               Wire
68         Z28                          807C              Stamped


Mike

[Camarocards]

Thanks Ed!

Mike - Good suggestion!

[vtfb68]

Guys,

   68   L35    0321    805C    Stamped
     VT