Silver 69 Z28

[Steve Shauger]

These three wire retainers were used on both big and small blocks. I've seen them on very early thru June and believe they were used the throughout production. This pic is a 4D NOR L48.

[Steve Shauger]

Here's a 9D Z, and I believe I have a picture of a 10D car as well.

[BULLITT65]

passenger side only from what you have seen? or just not shown in the pics?

[69Z28-RS]

The AIM showed both sides, Austin...        Why are you doubting the AIM? 

[Steve Shauger]

The AIM showed both sides, Austin...        Why are you doubting the AIM? 

passenger side only from what you have seen? or just not shown in the pics?

Both sides. Heres a 9B of 68, NOR L34 2Q wires

[BULLITT65]

The AIM...hahaha. I am sure the assembly did not stop if they ran out of stock of this clip, or if a car made it out the door without one.

But hey I will check my wires and see if there is an impression of that clip having been there. Its very possible it could have been.

[Steve Shauger]

Here are pics of my 5K mile 68 Chevelle with the 3 wire retainer clips. There are always going to be anomalies in the manufacturing of mass produced cars. Just like today, products are built with very specific work instructions, but processes, suppliers and/ or persons are not perfect. There were so many variables that could have contributed to variances, but we must focus on standards rather than one off instances. That being said once a trend is found such as x# of cars having rear stripe discrepancy at a specific timeframe and plant, we need to accept and use this knowledge when restoring and judging cars.

[Mike S]

 I guess the 3-wire retainer was a SB thing. I checked my 67 BB and have two 4-wire at the tall rear valve cover towers and two 2-wire on the valve cover shorter towers.

Mike

[cook_dw]

I have not seen one on a 67 or 8 BB car..  Though I would think Steve would have a larger viewing window than myself.

[Mike S]

The 67 AIM, in section L35, shows what looks like a loose 2-wire retainer on both sides that is for securing wires right after the 4-wire retainer and before the fixed 2-wire retainer but I don't have them on either 67. Either they were discarded by previous owners or not used.

Do you have them on your '68, Darrell?

Mike

[cook_dw]

Had the 4 one on the drivers side and nothing on the pass.  I pulled it (4 wire one) off a couple years ago and put it in the tool box and forgot to reinstall it when I had the 1 broken valve spring.

[69Z28-RS]

I worked on some Camaros, Z28s etc of that era when they were new, but I don't recall such insignificant details as the 'wire separators).. ..  actually, I have trouble remembering some much more significant things after all these years! 

Regarding such items as these wire separators, for myself and many others I'm sure, the first time we work under the hood, changing plugs, wires, checking our oil, etc... we likely would reroute wires to be more consistent with where we think they should be (depending on our own viewpoints, etc).  When we change wires or plugs, those separators break, fall off, or don't get put back on (they've been referred to as 'mickey mouse!'), none of us ever intentionally removed or didn't re-install items that we considered to be 'mickey mouse' or unnecessary, did we?  (thinking about the smog stuff right this second!).. 

Yet now 47-49 yrs later, we're trying to determine if the factory *really* put them on every car???  hmmmm..        as Paceme Steve stated, we have to go by the 'standards' and documentation we have which is what the factory used; whether every single car got them or not...  who knows?  I challenge anyone of you to prove your car did not get them!   I'm really waiting to see the proof that Austin can come up with to 'prove' his car didn't come with them...       

[cook_dw]

I challenge anyone of you to prove your car did not get them!   I'm really waiting to see the proof that Austin can come up with to 'prove' his car didn't come with them...       

But isnt that the fun of the whole thing Gary?  To learn and discuss?  Isnt that the reason we are all (ok most of us) are here?  If I wanted to restore a car and it be in black and white I'd restore a vette.

[69Z28-RS]

I challenge anyone of you to prove your car did not get them!   I'm really waiting to see the proof that Austin can come up with to 'prove' his car didn't come with them...       

But isnt that the fun of the whole thing Gary?  To learn and discuss?  Isnt that the reason we are all (ok most of us) are here?  If I wanted to restore a car and it be in black and white I'd restore a vette.

Yes, it is Darrell....     I love hearing about/reading about the 'anomalies', but believability requires some degree of 'proof'.. not just hearsay over 5 or 6 owners over 45 yrs...   

PS.   Even in the Vette world, there are anomalies!   I assisted a friend in ordering a '96 CE Corvette; we special ordered it with the LT4/6 speed and for 'museum delivery' (one of the very first ones!).   When we received it, and I got to drive it.. I immediately noticed that it had the tachometer for the LT1 (LT4s had a higher redline!) - the young buyer didn't notice that! ...  We inquired thru the Corvette Action Center at that time; they first suggested that we take it to a dealer (which we refused to do).  They refused to send us the correct tach and allow us to replace it and send back the other.   We ended up arranging for the Corvette plant 'squeaks and rattles' guy to come over to the museum during a Corvette event we attended - and the squeaks and rattles fella came in and replaced the tach for us in the museum garage (with 20 of us looking over this shoulder!).   That made it 'documentable' and provable..    AND I have a few photos somewhere..

[cook_dw]

 My comment was meant as a jab/joke of the Corvette restoration guideline books that NCRS puts out..  I am gonna stop posting/replying in this thread as I having nothing more to say other than great car and would like to see more pics of this subject.