First Gen. . .Z/28 Big Tank

[copo9566aa]

Big fuel tanks 36-gallon optional on first generation Z/28
This is a real RPO or just a legend. ???

[JChlupsa]

Never heard of it on a Camaro before Vettes yes but Camaro's NO ??? prior owner run MOONSHINE ??

[copo9566aa]

it is not the first time that I hears this history about a big-tank in a first gen Z/28

a rumor in Montreal about a dealer received a 67 or 68 Z/28 with a big-tank http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
and no front bumper http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif and this is a special order Z/28 for Todco Racing.

This is a very stangre story......but http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

And i have nothing more about this story in Montreal.

[JoeC]

They did race 1st gen Camaros at Daytona and Sebring but I have not heard of a factory big tank Camaro.
I checked the ad for the 67 Yenko Stormer Z/28 which lists about 20 options and mods but no big tank.
Fuel was a issue on the Penske cars. If you read Mark D. book he mentions a special filler neck that held a few gallons and got a lot of attention at tech inspection. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

I'm searching this morning more info on the web about big tank on first generation Z/28 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Big Tank this is not a RPO but a Special Service Parts

3938924 Fuel Tank (37 gallon, fuel cell type)

Heavy Duty Part List (http://www.67z28.com/heavyduty.htm) http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif


And Smokey Yunick testing a 67 or 68 Z/28 with a cross ram and
big tank for speed records at Bonneville. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

Smokey 1 (http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/vintage/camaro.html)

Stories (http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/stories/hr601/best_camaro.html)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[copo9566aa]

Sorry, JoeC I wrote in same time that you http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I have the original Smokey Yunick Camaro test in a old
pocket book. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif PS JAN 68
If you like i,am scanning and posting on the board.

[olredalert]

------The Corvette big tank option (NO3) started back in 1960 or so. The option progressed thru the 60s until 1967 in very limited numbers. By this time all the governing bodies in racing had taken full notice of the benefits of fuel cells,and the option wore down to a claimed measily 2 orders for the whole year of 1967 in Corvettes. Chevrolet discontinued the option in 1968 on Corvettes because of lack of interest and the 1968 styling change.Because almost all governing bodies in racing were mandating fuel cells by 1967 it seems a relatively sure bet that Chevrolet would not have expended any energy or development money on a big-tank option on Camaros for a precious few people who just wanted to carry around a buch of fuel,but couldnt go on a race track until a fuel cell was procurred..........Bill S

[copo9566aa]

Smokey test P1 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 2 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 3 36-Gallons fuel tanks mention http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 3 Pictures http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 4 Test result http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 4 Pictures http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[olredalert]

------The article and pics are very cool,but we all know how much pull Smokey had with GM. The fact that they had to fill thru the open trunklid is pretty much telling me that the Tech Center put a bit of time in on that car before Smokey recieved it. Wonder where those cars are today? That would be a hell of a find,although the salt probably didnt help the cars longevity any!........Bill S

[rpoz11]

Ya just gotta LOVE that Cowl Plenum! Love to get my hands on one of these for my project Camaro! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[NCGuy68]

The Penske/Donohue team were known for packing dry ice around the trunk mounted fuel cell and filler neck. This chilled the fuel, reduced it's volume slightly and allowed them to add a bit more gas for longer runs.

Pretty ingenious at the time!

However, I've never seen a factory Camaro 'big tank' offered as a RPO to the public.

[berger]

nice shot of his 68 engine compartment, look hard at that firewall , NO trim tag but the holes are there... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[copo9566aa]

Bigger shot of the engine compartment http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 5 http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[copo9566aa]

P 6 The last http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[JoeC]

SCCA, FIA, ACCUS, USAC, NASCAR, NHRA, all had different rules and it could be a bit confusing to follow them all. Some races were joint efforts that combined rules.
I have some of the racing files from Yenko’s Canonsburg office and one is about 2 inches thick filled with correspondence with FIA and ACCUS. Their rules were slightly different then SCCA. The big tank was needed for long races at Daytona and Sebring, which were international races under FIA. The Camaro big tank may be an option that was just on paper to conform to FIA rules. FIA had a something called “Regulations for Recognition” where you had to submit forms, part numbers, pictures of parts, and pay a fee. You had to “obtain the recognition” in order to race with these parts. It is not clear if they required a minimum amount of parts produced. For comparison, SCCA rules required enough special service parts to be available to all racers.

[JoeC]

Roger, what magazine is this article in? Looks like Popular Science?
I know Smokey had at least two 67-68 Camaros. Don Yenko bought one and won the Citrus 250 with it in 1969. Smokey's other 67-68 car was in the same race. It would not got through SCCA tech when Smokey had it. A Yenko crew member told me when they bought it they repainted it and made changes to make it SCCA legal. The first time they took it to SCCA tech, the tech started waving his arms saying " no way don't waste our time, we know that car" It took a lot of talking just to get it looked at because of all the problems that Smokey gave them with the SCCA rule book.

[copo9566aa]

Polular Science January 1968
I don't like these pocket book http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif
but cool stuff inside http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[copo9566aa]

Sorry guy
I'am not scanning this one for the test http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif
too dark
It's me or the hood look strange (Stinger) on this Camaro http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
Or i'am crazy http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It's not easy with this pictures .

[jg95z28]

Looks like louvers on an SS hood to me. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif