Hey guys. I just joined the site. I hope someone can help me out with a few questions.

Ill give you the short version of the story:

My dad purchased a 66' Chevelle SS from the original owner when he was in high school years ago. He sold the car in 77' to help pay for his first son. (that would be me). Well the man he sold the car to back in 77' decided to sell the car recently. To finish the story my dad bought back his old car. Over 30 years later. The car was still EXACTLY as he had sold it. Even still had the same keychain! Same motor, same transmission same everything.

This is where im turning to you guys for help.

His chevelle is one of the few SS's with the 396hp motor. The motor from the 65 corvettes. That sound right?

All numbers match. Now, my dad is 99.9% sure that car has the M-22 rock crusher transmission. When he aquired the car years ago, he had to replace a gear and he specifically remembers buying parts for the M-22.

I have read about there only being 12 of these chevelle/motor/tranny combos produced.

Where do i go from here? I have numbers from the tag off the firewall. I have the engine block stamp. My uncle hasnt given me the stamp number from the tranny yet, but i do know the numbers match the block.

Im going to call my uncle tonight and see if he can go check under the back seat for the build sheet.

Where can i go look up these codes? Is there someone i can call and they do reasearch on the car for me? Maybe a site i can do the research myself?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hmmmm..... 66 Mystery Chevelle.... why does that sound familiar.:confused: :D

Welcome Mike. This site chould get you started on your search. http://www.chevellestuff.com/1966/index.htm


Seb, I was thinking the same thing when I saw the heading!!!!!!

And this one http://www.mysterychevelle.com/ ;)and be sure to get these
http://hometown.aol.com/mysterychevele/page1.html
http://www.chevellecd.com/66cd/index.htm

Welcome Mike

Contact me via my web site and I may be able to help you.. I know a few things about these old 66's..

In short.. you will need to send pics of the engine deck stamp .. above the water pump on passenger side.. should look like T0415 EG 6 A11111111 ( just an example ) EG being the code for 375hp engine

ALL 66 SS cars came with a 396 engine and a few.. 3099 got the high HP 375 hp engine. M-22 Trans. as you say.. in 12 66 Chevelles/Elcaminos.. most are accounted for at this time.. but not all. Get the pics of TRIM TAG and VIN, and all other info.

Mike Crown

Thanks for the quick replys. Yeah, your mystery chevelle website is where i first read of this car / engine / tranny combo.

Ill try to get pics, at least ill see if my uncle could just give me the numbers over the phone.

I didnt even realize when i posted the subject line that i was posting asking you a question. :D

If i post the numbers, you think you guys could figure out what we have?

Thanks for the quick replys. Yeah, your mystery chevelle website is where i first read of this car / engine / tranny combo.

Ill try to get pics, at least ill see if my uncle could just give me the numbers over the phone.

I didnt even realize when i posted the subject line that i was posting asking you a question. :D

If i post the numbers, you think you guys could figure out what we have?

If they can't figure it here.... nobody can, but the #'s verbally isn't the same as seeing pic's.:noway:
Take Mike up on his offer, you won't regret it. :noway:

Mike. The numbers will tell the story. The pictures that MC is asking for are for validation. He has done substantial research on the 66's and like he said, The combo you are describing is rare. If you have one of the "unaccounted for" cars. He would like to add it to his list.
If you don't want to post the pix here, E-mail them to him. His E-mail is at the top right of his home page.

I have the cowl tag numbers, and have them decoded.

Car was built in atlanta in May on the 3rd week. Then i have the bench seat codes with interior color and the C-C for white on white paint.

Now, there is a 20R below this information. I cant figure this one out.

THe engine code is
T 0517 EG 6A 164647

on the back of the block is

38559562

Now, my dad took down the information and there might be a wrong number somewhere.

My uncle is going to check the transmission today sometime.

that's a good start!

I also have the vin figured out thanks to the links posted.

138176A
Chevrolet, SS 396 Concours 8cyl, 2 door sport coupe, 1966, atlanta, production #.

The engine has the EG code which is for the 396 375 hp L78
what do the other letters mean?

T 0517 EG 6A

EG = 396 375 Horsre power Special High Performance with manual transmission.

38559562 = 1966 4 bolt 396

All looks good so far. Get ALL the numbers on transmission. Main case, tail housing, shift cover and the stamped #'s.

Engine stamp de-coding - http://www.chevellestuff.com/qd/engine_stamp_numbers.htm

I have the cowl tag numbers, and have them decoded.

Car was built in atlanta in May on the 3rd week. Then i have the bench seat codes with interior color and the C-C for white on white paint.

Now, there is a 20R below this information. I cant figure this one out.

THe engine code is
T 0517 EG 6A 164647

on the back of the block is

38559562

Now, my dad took down the information and there might be a wrong number somewhere.

My uncle is going to check the transmission today sometime.

Agreed.. so far so good.. My guess is the 20R is transcribed incorrectly.. My guess is the 0 is really something else.. maybe a Q.. Not a "G" which would be typical console code... R will be the Rear Speaker option.

EG code does indicate real 375hp engine...

The Trans. will have the VIN on it as well as the assembly date..assembly date will look like P0510 or something similar.

That will not tell us whether it is an M-22 unfortunately :(

I'd look at the Radiator as well.. if Original Harrison, it will have a two letter flimsy tag attached to the top tank.. something like VM ;)

T 0517 EG 6A = Tonawanda assembly plant for engine assembly built May 17, 1966 EG = L-78 Option 6 = Model year and A = Atlanta ssembly plant for final destination to meet up with car.


Mike Crown

You guys are awesome! Thanks again for the help.

I just need to get those numbers off the tranny and see what I got.

Thanks again! :thumbsup:

[quote=66 MYSTERY CHEVELLE;1792947]I'd look at the Radiator as well.. if Original Harrison, it will have a two letter flimsy tag attached to the top tank.. something like VM ;)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/66Chevelle1/L78VertPacerSurvivorL7861vette002.jpghttp://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/66Chevelle1/Bronze66L78Chevyvettefest2007037.jpg

The Tag that Mike Crown is trying to describe is actually not flimsy, in fact it is considerably rigid. Because of its method of fixation, it can be easily torqued off...as many of them were. Therefore it is more likely than not that your radiator will not have this tag. If it doesn't have this tag, it does not mean that your radiator is not original to your car. There are a couple of other things you can look at to determine if in fact your radiator is correct for your car...

In the rare event that your tag is present, an VI embossed in the tag would represent option V01, the heavy duty radiator option. This particular option calls for a fan shroud.

If VM is embossed in the tag, then your L78 was likely not ordered with the heavy duty radiator option. In this case, the radiator should not have a fan shroud...instead it should have a flat metal finger protector mounted at the center of the upper tank.
These finger protectors were also easily broken off.

Here is an example of both VI and VM tags...Both are from very low mileage survivor
66 SS L78 Chevelles
Orlando Cruz
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/66Chevelle1/L78VertPacerSurvivorL7861vette002.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n210/66Chevelle1/Bronze66L78Chevyvettefest2007037.jpg
Orlando Cruz

So, with the VM radiator, you got the clutch fan but not the shroud. Is that right? I've been thinking that the clutch fan and shroud always went together.

All 66's that received a 375hp engine, received as standard equipment.. RPO K-02 ( CLUTCH FAN )

RPO K-02 could be ordered however for any Chevelle and HP rating 66 SS.

Standard Radiators which are 3 core.. Receive a FINGER GUARD.

Heavy Duty Radiators, which are 4 core....Received a Shroud

Heavy Duty Radiator RPO V-01 could be ordered for your chevelle anytime, regardless of L-34, L-35, or L-78

If Your Car was Ordered with Air Conditioning (RPO C-60), The HD RPO-V01 radiator came as standard with that option.

Mike

Got it. Thanks Mike.

All 66's that received a 375hp engine, received as standard equipment.. RPO K-02 ( CLUTCH FAN )

I Agree
-------------------------
RPO K-02 could be ordered however for any Chevelle and HP rating 66 SS.

I Disagree:
If RPO K-02 could in fact be ordered for any Chevelle, then there should be examples of RPO K-02 on all 66 Chevelle configurations.

Show us an original survivor and or documentation to non-L78, non-AC, non HD Radiator RPO-V01 car with a clutch fan. ie, show me a car as stated above, such as a non A/C 283 car with a clutch fan? You don’t even have to show me the car, just produce a real window sticker showing a 283 with RPO-K-02…If you can do this, then maby I'll buy your statemtent, otherwise...:noway:
----------------------------

Standard Radiators which are 3 core.. Receive a FINGER GUARD.

Not so sure that I agree with this statement
Show me an original unrestored VM tagged, finger guard L78 3 core standard radiator!! If you can do this, then maby I'll buy your statement, otherwise...:noway: Your statement may be the case for standard radiators found on non-L78 cars such finger guard radiators tagged VX, but remains to be proven as it pertains the L78 cars.
------------------------------
Heavy Duty Radiators, which are 4 core....Received a Shroud

I Agree
--------------------------------
Heavy Duty Radiator RPO V-01 could be ordered for your chevelle anytime, regardless of L-34, L-35, or L-78

I Agree
---------------------------------
If Your Car was Ordered with Air Conditioning (RPO C-60), The HD RPO-V01 radiator came as standard with that option.

I Agree





Mike, the proof is in the pudding...Either put up orrrrraaaa...re-evaluate your statements...:yes: IMHO, there is way too much mis-information circulating regarding 66 Chevelles. ...way too many know-it-alls. Popular statements like...I've been around chevelles for 40 years, or I've owned 66 chevelles since they were introduced, or I've researched chevelles for 20+ years hold no water. People must be careful with what they hear read and come to believe. The real answers can be found in the true unrestored survivors cars...,both SS and non-SS cars. A lot about 66 Chevelles needs to be researched and thoroughly documented...hopefully by more than one person. One man's opinion is not gospel. One persons personal experience just fosters bias and the perpetuation of skewed or otherwise bad information. Personally, I have created my own little registry of Survivor L78 Chevelles which I use as reference for the restoration of my cars. The restoration of my cars are based largely on pre-restoration photos, corresponding survivors and other verifiable sources...not just one source or one persons personal observations. However, I must commend you on your ground breaking work on 66 Chevelles...

Any new news?

No, nothing yet. The transmission should be taken out very soon. My uncle had to repair his transmission in his 67 and move that car to make room to work on my dads 66'

We want pics, We want pics, We demand picturesssssssssss. LOL Really do you have any pictures.