Bill Clements 1970 L89 LS6 Convertible

[markjohnson]

Well, if you check the older Chilton's manuals from the early-70's, you'll see there is actually a code for a 1970 454-450, aluminum head engine, listed as "CRS". I've even actually been around one of these "CRS" blocks and can vouch that they do exist. A friend had one in his '69 Camaro in high school and had installed a 396 crank into it, making it into a 427. Now I was around about 4 different LS-6 cars back then and I always told him that his particular block was pretty rare and he needed to be careful with it and one day the air cleaner stud fell back into the secondaries about one block from home and window'ed the block. Now if "CRS" comes up as something else instead of 1970 454-450 hp, Alum. head and is maybe a mistake in the Chiltons' manual, I'd love to know. But I do know that there was at least one 1970-dated "CRS" block.

[markjohnson]

By the way, I'm not trying to validate the '70 Chevelle LS-6 convertible being discussed in this thread. While it may be a true LS-6 convertible, I think he got a little greedy with that buildsheet listing way to many questionable things on there. I could see trying pass off one, maybe two very cool rare options, but to have multiple things like the L-89 heads, the 15-inch wheels, the factory lightweight hood, etc. Just too many things.

[PeteLeathersac]

The Nasty listings include the CRS Suffix as LS6 w/L89 but as M40 only...nothing for stick cars..

CRS 1970 Chevelle 454 450 TH LS-6 SHP, alum hd


~ Pete

[al8apex]

I have heard that a business owner in TX did some time for making up / doctoring VIN tags / cars, is this the same person?

[SS427]

"The Tonawanda engine plant kept VERY accurate records on engines built during each model year. These "Summeries of Engines Built" list EVERY engine we built by assembly number and description. This number crossed over to a suffix code so from them I could determine how many of each SUFFIX CODE we built. Sometimes, as in the case of the L-89 engines built, I had further records. In these cases it was "engine canceled, not replaced" and then a date.

In the case of the L-89 engines in 1970, in October 1969 the L-89 396 option was canceled, not replaced. As far as the LS6/L89 NONE WERE BUILT. Period. In model year 1970 NO aluminum head LS6 engines were built. In 1971 there were 200 LS6 engines built and put into Corvettes, ALL were aluminum head (due to the lowered compression ratio).

I've spent many years researching big block production (ALL big blocks). I'm always open to new information, DOCUMENTED AND IRRIFUTABLE. But if anyone wants to contradict me they'd better have better records than I do!.

Sorry if this sounds "hard", but it's late and I'm tired. If you need anything more feel free to Email me.
Fran Preve"


Just quoting what I was told by Fran. As many know, he was a plant manager for many years at the Tonawanda plant and had aquired all the records for a period of time including the late 60's and early 70's. To my knowledge his widow now maintains these records. R.I.P. Fran

[Verne_Frantz]

Rick, PM sent.

[Tracker1]

[ QUOTE ]
"The Tonawanda engine plant kept VERY accurate records on engines built during each model year. These "Summeries of Engines Built" list EVERY engine we built by assembly number and description. This number crossed over to a suffix code so from them I could determine how many of each SUFFIX CODE we built. Sometimes, as in the case of the L-89 engines built, I had further records. In these cases it was "engine canceled, not replaced" and then a date.

In the case of the L-89 engines in 1970, in October 1969 the L-89 396 option was canceled, not replaced. As far as the LS6/L89 NONE WERE BUILT. Period. In model year 1970 NO aluminum head LS6 engines were built. In 1971 there were 200 LS6 engines built and put into Corvettes, ALL were aluminum head (due to the lowered compression ratio).

I've spent many years researching big block production (ALL big blocks). I'm always open to new information, DOCUMENTED AND IRRIFUTABLE. But if anyone wants to contradict me they'd better have better records than I do!.

Sorry if this sounds "hard", but it's late and I'm tired. If you need anything more feel free to Email me.
Fran Preve"


Just quoting what I was told by Fran. As many know, he was a plant manager for many years at the Tonawanda plant and had aquired all the records for a period of time including the late 60's and early 70's. To my knowledge his widow now maintains these records. R.I.P. Fran

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Rick. Fran's say about big-block production is pretty much the last word.

[Allen]

[ QUOTE ]
"The Tonawanda engine plant kept VERY accurate records on engines built during each model year. These "Summeries of Engines Built" list EVERY engine we built by assembly number and description. This number crossed over to a suffix code so from them I could determine how many of each SUFFIX CODE we built. Sometimes, as in the case of the L-89 engines built, I had further records. In these cases it was "engine canceled, not replaced" and then a date.

In the case of the L-89 engines in 1970, in October 1969 the L-89 396 option was canceled, not replaced. As far as the LS6/L89 NONE WERE BUILT. Period. In model year 1970 NO aluminum head LS6 engines were built. In 1971 there were 200 LS6 engines built and put into Corvettes, ALL were aluminum head (due to the lowered compression ratio).

I've spent many years researching big block production (ALL big blocks). I'm always open to new information, DOCUMENTED AND IRRIFUTABLE. But if anyone wants to contradict me they'd better have better records than I do!.

Sorry if this sounds "hard", but it's late and I'm tired. If you need anything more feel free to Email me.
Fran Preve"


Just quoting what I was told by Fran. As many know, he was a plant manager for many years at the Tonawanda plant and had aquired all the records for a period of time including the late 60's and early 70's. To my knowledge his widow now maintains these records. R.I.P. Fran

[/ QUOTE ]

What was the build date of that '70 Nova SS L89 that was previously discussed?

[kwhizz]

I believe that the Nova was a 3rd week of March build.....Humm!!.......Makes a guy wonder.....

Ken

[Mr70]

...get em Ken!


Paulette...........Ken.........March,3rd week L-89 Nova owner.