Rare L72 69 Impala SS

[HustleRussell]

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/1969-chevrolet-impala-ss-lhp/6484387246.html

[Z28Project]

I love those cars!  I could never undertake a restoration like that, but the idea of a factory 427 L72 Impala 4-spd with no A/C is thrilling to me!

I had a 69 factory 427 Caprice automatic with hideaway headlights that was cool, but nothing like an L72 4-spd.

John

[bcmiller]

Very cool car.  That would be a great project. 

[Daytona Yellow 69 Z/28]

I saw it on ebay, I think it went to 10500.00. Very cool car!!

[Kelley W King]

I did not see any engine pics. Would be interesting. I thought I read someone the L72 solid lifter was not available for the 69 big cars.

[Z10Mike]

69 SS B-cars came in two 427 configurations only:  390hp and 425hp.  NO A/C on 425hp versions.  My brother has had a 390hp version for 30 years.  Impressive for a big car.  But the L72 would increase the fun factor by quite a bit.

[bcmiller]

I “THINK” there might have been three.

http://www.impalass427.com/69engine.htm

[Daytona Yellow 69 Z/28]

I “THINK” there might have been three.

http://www.impalass427.com/69engine.htm

I have a "LE" coded 335 horse version I found on craig's list a couple of years back. It is my understanding the only difference between it & the 390 horse version was the camshaft.

[Z28Project]

I think it was Car Life magazine that did a test on a 69 L72 Impala pulling a big Airstream trailer. The goal was to hit 100mph (which they did).

John

[Kelley W King]

The pics in the link remind me of another post I made. I was wondering why a COPO would have chrome valve covers not being a SS. I think it was said that by 69 all big blocks got chrome but these pics look like they only did chrome on the SS big cars. I don,t remember seeing a 335 427. I wonder if the cam could derate HP that much or was it something else? The 390 HP cam sounds pretty mild to me.

[Stingr69]

I would expect the valve covers would be specified as part of the discrete engine suffix, not related to the "SS" package. 

[Daytona Yellow 69 Z/28]

I'm pretty sure the 335 & 390 horse have the same compression, intake, heads etc.. so the only difference I see is in the cam shaft. 
Here is a chart from Crane that shows the specs..



There is a pretty big difference between the two cams, I dont know if its 55 horse worth, but I guess anythings possible..   

[maroman]

The specs for the 335 seem close to the 325hp 396.

[bcmiller]

Also remember this, Chevrolet played around with the RPM that they used for horsepower and torque ratings. The numbers below are for 1969.

427/335 hp - the 335 hp was @ 4800 - Torque was   470 @ 3200 (10.25 compression)
427/390 hp - the 390 hp was @ 5200 - Torque was   460 @ 3600 (10.25 compression)
427/400 hp - the 400 hp was @ 5400 - Torque was   460 @ 3600 (10.25 compression)

427/425 hp - the 425 hp was @ 5600 - Torque was   460 @ 4000 (11.0 compression)
427/430 hp - the 430 hp was @ 5200 - Torque was    450 @ 4400 (12.0 compression and more timing)
427/435 hp - the 435 hp was @ 5800 - Torque was    460 @ 4000 (11.0 compression - 3x2 barrel carbs)