Geneus

This is not solely Corvette related. I am having a bit of an argument with a friend of mine. I am saying that the original L88 heads that came on a 427 were of cast iron design, and that the aluminum version of these had a designation of ZL1. He clains the L88's were all aluminum.

Also, can someone verify when the L88 motor became available...and not just for a Corvette?

big_G

L-88 had aluminum heads. ZL-1 had aluminum heads and aluminum block. L-88 first year was in '67 Vette, last year was '69. ZL-1 was 1 year only, '69. Used in 'Vette (2), and Camaros.

66427-450

Agree.

Some will say there were several "L-88's" built/sold with Iron heads in '66, GM put them in '66 coupes and sold them as "factory cars" to Penske, etc. (legal)?

Obviously not regular productions engines, or option in '66...... you can argue they weren't true L-88's... but they sure weren't L-72's either.

Geneus

Well...you answered my question. As I recall, there was a 66' Coupe from Mystic, NJ ( called "007") that campaigned running B-Stock and I think this was a 427 w/ L88 heads...cast iron. I saw the car run at Atco a number of times in 67-68. At least, that is what I remember.

Which brings me to my story and why I recall there being "cast iron" L88 heads. My friends dad was a chief mechanic at a Chevy dealership in south Jersey back in the mid-60's. He had a 66' Coupe w/ a 396 and ran C-stock at the local 1/8 mile track in Pleasantville, NJ (it no longer exits). He decided he could "cheat" a little bit and got ahold of a set of these L-88 cast iron heads (hey...he worked at a dealership) and bolted them on to his 396. In those days, it was impossible to notice that type of difference from a "visual" inspection. He beat everyone...of course until one day someone protested and they wanted to "break him down." He refused. A few weeks later he showed up with a 427 under the hood and those same L88 heads on top of it...of course, now running B-Stock.