Odd option on LS6 Chevelle

[Don_Lightfoot]

I posted this on Team Chevelle a couple of years ago, but thought it would be interesting to repost on here for some input.

A local car buddy is the second owner of his LS6 that he purchased in 1973. He has GM Canada Vintage Services letter from April 25, 1994 which shows the following option:

GV2 3.08 Rear Ratio.

This was relayed to me on the phone back then so perhaps he read it wrong or I wrote it down wrong. Maybe an error from GM Canada in their notification

My understanding is they came standard with 3.31 with the only available option 4.10. I know in 1969 (perhaps other years as well) you could option down to an "economy" axle. Was this a possibility? Special order maybe? Comments appreciated.

[SS427]

Don, I have only ever seen the 3:31 open (CRU), 3:31 posi (CRV) and 4:10 posi (CRW) in these cars and that is after researching literally hundreds of cars. Not to say that it could not happen but I seriously doubt it. All three of the above rearends were designated 454 rear ends and I know of no special 454 designated 3:08 rear codes nor can I imagine why GM would put an "economy" rear behind a solid lifter 450 hp engine in the first place.

[PeteLeathersac]

Regardless of what the GM Canada paperwork notes, do you know what rear is actually in the car...if the original?.


~ Pete

--------------------
I like real cars best...the REAL real ones!

[Don_Lightfoot]

I certainly can’t disagree with your comments Rick.

Here’s the story on the gears Pete. Shortly after purchase he removed the carrier and gears and replaced them with a new carrier and 4.10’s. He apparently still has the original parts stashed somewhere. Like a lot of us at this age, his memory from 35 years ago isn’t the best, but he seems to think the removed gears were 3.31’s.

I suggested to check the code on the rear axle housing. The car has been in storage forever and a day since restored in the 90’s. He really doesn’t worry too much about this stuff, nor has the interest in these oddball things like a lot of us do. Maybe someday he’ll go check it or actually get the car out again.

Anyway, just wondering if it was in fact a GM Canada glitch. He’s also not interested in getting another letter from them at this point.

[Mr70]

I'd be interested to learn more background on this car Don,because I think it was possible on a very select few.

What plant was it assembled at?
What dealer was it delivered too and on what date?
How long after delivery was it sold to it's 1st owner and for how much?

At least two other LS-6's got a similar ratio on the line that I know of back then.
One being an RPO GV-4 3:36,the other an RPO GV-8 4:11 ratio,both by the ordering dealerships special request.
Both had 3:31/4:10 callouts respectively on their rearend tubes,before the gears were swapped out at the factory it appears.
Both of these Chevelles were found to be "Brass Hat" cars as well,with paper work to back it up.
I've also come across one 1970 L-34 SS Chevelle that looks to have come with a 2:73 ratio,yet to date,has not been substantially proven to be assembly line installed with it.

[Don_Lightfoot]

OK Rick. There was apparently no dealer shown on the GM Canada letter. Perhaps they didn't do that back then. It is believed to be from a local dealer here in Eastern Ontario.

Here is the information he read to me from GM Canada Vintage Services:

- Date of GM letter is April 25, 1994.
- Assembly Plant Baltimore.
- Shipping date Jan. 27/70.
- A31 Power Windows.
- A51 Bucket Seats.
- D55 Console.
- D88 Body Striping.
- F41 Suspension.
- GV2 3.08 Rear Ratio.
- G33/34 computer selected springs.
- G80 Positraction.
- JL2 Disc Brakes.
- J52 Power brakes.
- LS6 454/450 engine.
- M22 HD four speed.
- N40 Power Steering.
- PL4 White Lettered Tires.
- P60 HD battery.
- U14 Gauges.
- U63 Am Radio.
- U76 Windshield antenna.
- U80 Rear speaker.
- V48 Increased coolant.
- W84 Additional Fuel.
- ZK8 tire pressure sticker.
- ZL2 Cowl Induction Hood.
- ZQ7 Canadian warranty booklet.
- Z15 SS package.
- 756 Black trim.
- 28 Fathom Blue.

[Mr70]

Thanks Don.
Can the 1st owner be found today?
I wonder if he paid a significant discount price,possibly meaning it was driven extensively daily and for long distances before he took possesion of it...

[markjohnson]

Wow, I can't believe that if there was a 3.08 geared LS-6 Chevelle built, that there was a 2.20 First gear close-ratio Muncie attached to it. With that relatively long-duration camshaft and that combined "launch ratio" of 6.77 (2.20 x 3.08), this just had to be the biggest slug of an LS-6 ever made. I'm having trouble believing that they would even produce this. Maybe with a wide-ratio 2.5 Muncie or a TH 400, I could see.

[442w30]

[ QUOTE ]
Regardless of what the GM Canada paperwork notes, do you know what rear is actually in the car...if the original?.



[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is the most important comment in the thread.

On the Olds site, someone has Canadian docs from GM that shows the stripe color to be something that it is not - they call the stripe color Azure Blue. If you look at the available stripe from the dealer book and Azure Blue from the color chips (I believe it may be the same color as "Carolina Blue"), you'll see they're different. Clearly the documents were correct in intent, but they named it wrong, which could lead to a misunderstanding.

So is it possible this car came with a 3.08 rear? I dunno, but GM of Canada docs are not the horse's mouth.

[Don_Lightfoot]

I don’t know if the original owner is known Rick. I was wrong about the present owner being the second owner since 1973. I just went through my notes again and he bought it in 1975 and is the third owner.

“Right On” Mark – it would have been a slug for sure. Not something I would want

Agree Diego, GM Canada Vintage Services are certainly not infallible.