Does anyone know if these are correct for a 70 SS 396. I've heard both ways, anyone know for sure. I put them in my cars but I just have a feeling they aren't really supposed to be there. I don't notice them in the factory photos. Maybe they were available only with certain options or equipment.?

Well Tom, this has been a regular debate regarding our 69's as well. Mine has them and I plan to keep them there. However, the general consensus when this was brought up was that 69's did not get them. Don't know about the 70's, maybe it had something to do with whether you had a cowl induction hood or not?????



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

Thanks Don, I read that about the cowl induction deal. I have them in my 69 too. They weren't there though. I put them there. They just look right to me. The guy I got my 70 from was a real detail fanatic and when I got my car from him I asked him about the grilles and he said 70's didn't have them. He also had an LS6 that was done to the 9's and it didn't have them either. I haven't looked through the assembly manual yet to see if they are shown there, but I don't recall seeing them. I guess the question is, if they aren't supposed to be there, what cars are they made for ? Pontiacs and Buicks ? They usually have them don't they ?

Tom, a little background here regarding your "other makes".

I had a 69 GTO years ago that was essentially an "original car" with the exception of one repaint in 1983. This car was a National Winner with the GTOAA before and after I bought it. I took it to two GTOAA National Meets and the judges were very aware of this car and referred to it on numerous cases regarding certain matters of originality. It was a late production car (July/69 if I recall) and it had the grills which were correct. Apparently, according to the judges, the grills were added to the GTO's during the production year, the early cars did not have them.

When this subject was brought up in here previously, a member in here (don't remember who, but it was someone who's input I respect greatly) mentioned that Pontiacs and Buicks (???) or Olds (???) got the grills but the Chevelles never did for 1969.

I'm sure that our friend Rick (mr70) could provide a definitive answer for you.

And the debate goes on. Talking about this BS is fun http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

You know Don, BS ing is half the fun. We're talking about three little plastic grilles that aren't supposed to be on our cars but we have them anyway and we're not taking them off. Where else but out in the garage can you talk about stupid stuff like that.? LeMans blue really is cool on a 69 don't you think ? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW - I just called a friend of mine who bought an original LS-6 in 1973 and still has it (although it now has an LS-7 with aluminum heads). His cowl does not have the grills but he seems to think they were on it when he bought it way back then????

Yeah Tom, I'm a Blue type of guy, but appreciate all the other colors.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

Just curious, did your friend's LS6 have a cowl induction hood ?

Most 69's and 70's I've seen that are supposed to be correct down to the air in the tires didn't have them. But I put them on mine (many things not correct) because it looks better and most important to me, keeps leaves, trash, animals, and small children out of the vent cavites.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://sites.netscape.net/von69ss/homepage)

I like your style, Von http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

The '69 Chevelle that we bought new didn't have the grills. Our '72 Lemans Sport does. It was just one of the many little ways for Chevy to cut costs. Von's answer is sensible. Over time, cars left outside near trees, got a lot of trash down the sides of the cowl. It would stay wet and pretty well rot the cowl sides off the car. Once the drains to the rockers got plugged, water could actually start coming in the kick pad vents during heavy down pours. You can always take the grills out for shows if you like. My half cents worth.

I spent alot of time in bone yards looking at original stuff that had been there for years. I found alot of unmolested cars over time. The first car I ever saw with these grilles was a Buick Skylark they were in very poor shape but I had to have them. Never saw a Chevelle with them, but saw a yard full of Olds' with a wire screen mesh over the cowl.
Olds wasn't as cheap as Chevy at least they put the old screen door to use!
I have since purchased a brand new set for my 10 year resto. Still have the original set I found on that Buick down on the shelf.
I think they look great. No complaints.

Fastss396man

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69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Keith Tedford:
My half cents worth. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keith, don't short change yourself, everybody's opinion is worth at leat two cents http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Tom - my friend's car has the induction hood.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

For what its worth, I bought a bone stock 68 Chevelle 4-door last year and it had the grilles. None of the other Chevelles I've owned had them.

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Rainer Seitz
Vancouver, WA
Team Chevelle Gold #50
ACES #3784

'68 SS396
'70 LS3 400 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible 350/300hp


See them all at Rainer's Hot Rod Shop! (http://rseitz.homestead.com/main.html)
rseitz@chevelles.com

Other than them being important to keep "stuff" out of the cowl and lowere rear fenders, were they really supposed to be there? My orig, unmolested 70 SS that I bought ten years ago did not have them either, nor have I seen any references to them in the assy manual. It only seems reasonable that they "should" be there, however Chevy did not seem consistent in their use from what I've gathered from some of the above posts. FWIW, my cowl has holes predrilled or punched so that they "could" accept them.

When I first bought my car, every time I washed it the carpet would get wet. Thanks to people here, I managed to get the vent pockets cleaned out and now all is fine. In the passenger side I found a small screwdriver, old leaves, mud, two hose clamps and one of those kids puzzle rings. I am with Von on this one. Mine is getting them correct or not!

Mine does not have them either, but the holes are there for them. I happen to like the look, sometime in the future I will be installing them. Von, you forgot beer bottles too... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

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My70ChevelleSS (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1551080&a=11764957) "Together we stand, devided we fall"

Oh yeah, I forgot bottles, cans, tools, marital aids, etc.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://sites.netscape.net/von69ss/homepage)

Posted by Von
marital aids, etc.

Come on now Von!!!! Not on the hood of that car!!!

Tom,

Check out this post - seems they were not on Chevelles.
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum23/HTML/000333.html

Hope this helps.

Rich

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70 SS - L34
Member # 442
ACES # 3480
http://www.my70ss.com
http://www.chevelles.com/feature/august2001.html] (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/august2001.html)