I just bought a 70 Malibu with #'s matching L48, M20 and 12 bolt. It has an SS style dash that I'm trying to determine if it's stock. The tach redlines at 5K. The letters have a definate green tinge. Two wires going to the coil into what looks like the original terminal. There's no sign of the wiring harness being re-wrapped.

The only thing throwing me off is the Fasten Seatbelt Light in the dash. I've read that this light came out in '72. Is this true for the Canadian cars as well?

I don't have the build sheet for the car. I do have an option sheet from GM Canada with a disclaimer that it might be incomplete. There's a few options on the car that don't show up.

Thanks

Never heard of a fasten seat belt light earlier than `72, maybe Canada did, but I doubt it.
Someone may have changed out the dash housing to fix a bad radio opening or something like that.

I will also agree that the Seatbelt Warning light on the dash came out during the 1972 run. The greenish tint to your gauge lettering sounds more like a 1970 than a 1972.

It is interesting to note that in my 1970 Chevrolet owner’s manual (dad bought a Biscayne new in 1970) they offered a group of extra warning lights that included Low Fuel & Seatbelts Fasten.

Canada had basically the same seatbelt laws as were in force in the U.S. The seatbelt warning lights & buzzers (annoying!) came in during the 1972 run.

I would agree with Rick, it sounds like someone may have swapped in a dash face, perhaps to replace an enlarged or broken radio opening. The gauges sound like the 1970 gauges were retained from your car.

Thanks. A dash bezel replacement would explain it. I'm going to check to see if it's wired up as soon as I get a chance.

I checked last night. No wiring. The dash bezel must have been replaced at some time.

By "SS-style" dash I assume you mean round speedo & fuel pods with lamps for water temp, amp, and oil pressure? The optional instrument panel gauges (RPO U14) could be ordered in any V8 Malibu coupe/convertible/pickup with or without the SS option and changed the sweep dash to the round but included tach/water temp/amp and moved the fuel gauge to a small round pod like the water temp & amp. The SS option did not get full gauges as standard equipment. Ordering the U14 gauges with a small block (307 or one of the 350s) would get you a 5000 redline tach.

The car has the full gauge package. I wish I had the build sheet. The interior has been redone at some point so it's history.