JoeC
07-15-2000, 04:02 AM
In an article on the COPO 1968 Camaro (Super Chevy Aug 94) Fran Preve said he had documentation from Tonawanda on special 396 engines built for 1968 Camaros. The documents read " 396 COPO 9737" and " CONV L78 COPO F BODY" part no. 3940985 and was coded MV. There were 79 code MV engines built through 7-24-68.
This was believed to mean 396's "converted" to 427 cu.in. engines but were not labeled as 427's. Chevy did this in 1969 with the COPO Chevelles where they listed the "L78 4BBL V-8" on the build sheet and used the 9562 code to specify the L72 427 swap without calling out the 427 by name. Could they have built a MV code L78 and also a MV code CONV L78 that was actually a 427?
If you read the story on the 68 Yenko Camaro on the Kevin Suydam Musclecar web site, he claims to have a Chevy Engineering test order for smog testing a 1968 Camaro equipped with a L72 engine for Yenko.
Chevy must have been nervous about the Shelby GT500 and the 428CJ Mustang in 1968 and they wanted to build a 427 Camaro but GM would not allow it. Maybe they sneaked them out anyway.
This was believed to mean 396's "converted" to 427 cu.in. engines but were not labeled as 427's. Chevy did this in 1969 with the COPO Chevelles where they listed the "L78 4BBL V-8" on the build sheet and used the 9562 code to specify the L72 427 swap without calling out the 427 by name. Could they have built a MV code L78 and also a MV code CONV L78 that was actually a 427?
If you read the story on the 68 Yenko Camaro on the Kevin Suydam Musclecar web site, he claims to have a Chevy Engineering test order for smog testing a 1968 Camaro equipped with a L72 engine for Yenko.
Chevy must have been nervous about the Shelby GT500 and the 428CJ Mustang in 1968 and they wanted to build a 427 Camaro but GM would not allow it. Maybe they sneaked them out anyway.