I'm looking at buying a '72 Chevelle. The car is supposidly an SS because of the emblems on the fenders, grille, bumper and door panels. However I noticed this Chevelle had the long style speedometer (I'm assuming this is the standard style speedo), and not the round style speedometer. My question is...did any of the super sports use the long style speedo or did all of them use the round style? Also, I'm sure this question has been asked many times before but is there any way to positively identify a '68-'72 SS from a clone? (i.e. v.i.n. numbers) I'm kinda new to the Chevelles and would like to learn more. Thanx!

The dash you are talking about is the sweep dash.
It's a Malibu dash.
This car is not a true SS.

Part of the SS package was the round style dash. No round style.. Not an SS.

About the other question..
You can identify a 68 by the VIN# to see if it's a real SS.. But in 1969 the Chevelle SS was no longer a seperate model.. It was a package on the Malibu. So from 1969 you can't tell by the VIN.. You can tell by the Protect-O-Plate, or Build Sheet.

You can also tell an SS in 1969 if it had 2 types of Colors that only came with the SS package. The Daytona Yellow color and the Orange color. If the cowl tags list those color as original from the factory it's an SS.

Also in 1972 you can tell some SS cars buy the VIN# because the engine code was in the VIN#.. A 1972 Chevelle with a letter W for the engine code is a SS454 car.

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Shai

1972 Chevelle Malibu custom 4dr (http://72-chevelle.cjb.net)
Restoration started: February 10th 2001
TC member #1278

im pretty sure that you have a malibu dash in your 72 , i got a 72 ss w round gauges and im positive it is a true ss(build sheet.maby a malibu ss but im pretty sure they didnt make a malibu ss in 72
good luck
nick p

72 ss conv
383 stroker

Thanx for the help. The car is actually a small-block (I believe it's a 350) with a 3 speed automatic on-the-tree. It also has the standard bench seat. I haven't looked at the v.i.n. but which digit identifies what engine originally came with the car? And what were the codes for the various engines? Did the '72 SS only come with the 454 engine or could you get a 350 engine in a '72 SS? As soon as I can get these codes I will go back and look at the v.i.n. For all I know it might have originally had a big block in it but maybe was later swapped out for a small block. Thanx again!

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by dirty_dawg:
what engine originally came with the car? And what were the codes for the various engines? Did the '72 SS only come with the 454 engine or could you get a 350 engine in a '72 SS? As soon as I can get these codes I will go back and look at the v.i.n. For all I know it might have originally had a big block in it but maybe was later swapped out for a small block. Thanx again!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

From 1971 a Chevelle SS could be ordered with a 350 engine.. So it could be an SS350 car.. But that's harder to check if it's the real thing.

About the engine ID by the VIN...
It's the 5th digit in the VIN#.

Here is what the letters stand for:
D - 250ci L-6 engine
F - 307ci V8 engine
H - 350ci V8 engine (Could be an SS)
J - 350ci V8 engine (Could be an SS too)
U - 402ci V8 engine (BB engine, and most likely an SS)
W - 454ci V8 engine (BB engine, definitely an SS!)

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Shai

1972 Chevelle Malibu custom 4dr (http://72-chevelle.cjb.net)
Restoration started: February 10th 2001
TC member #1278

The SS package included the round gauges. If it's a sweep style speedo, it's a clone.

Keep in mind that the SS instrument panel could be had with either idiot lights or gauges, but the only way a true SS was delivered was with the round instruments.

dirty_dawg, here is the like with some usefull info to id a SS/Clone
the only way to get a 71 or 72 454 was part of the SS package. So if the block pad matches the vin, AND the rest of the SS stuff is there, you are pretty sure it's a factory SS. This is not to say that the block numberes could not be faked. You could compare cowl tag build dates, engine build date, head casting dates, also the speedo and clock have dates stamped on the back.
The bottom line, assume clone unless you have documentation that matches all the options on the car.
http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

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71 SS-454 El Camino

Thanks. Heres another question for you. Is it possible that the speedo housings interchange in the existing dashboard assembly or not? How easy is it to remove and replace the entire dashboard itself? I'm wondering if maybe someone changed the speedo from round to sweep at one time (if that's possible) is it? Thanx!

It's not only possible it's done all the time only reverse of what you are asking. Many sweep dashes have been replaced with SS style round gauge dashes. You have to replace dash and wire harness. I doubt that someone replaced an SS dash with a sweep style malibu dash, but anything is possible. All the other SS items you mentioned are easy to do compared to the dash.

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Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)
My 70SS (http://www.members.home.com/txss/sshome.htm)