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Is there anyway to know how many of these cars were built with MH Engine Stamp with K66 transistor ignition? Car was produced in November, 1969. I have not found any in all my searching. I have owned many 435 cars with K66, transistor ignitions, but I have only seen one with my engine code. All original K66 installed when purchased car our of Phoenix, AZ.
Anyone can help. Thank you.
Last edited by kenvette69; Sep 17, 2019 at 10:42 PM.
Here is what I can tell you about the use of the 'M' in the assembly stamps. They did not start using the MH and other K66 M codes until sometime around the 13000th car I believe but I am not sure exactly (I used to know but forgot....). The early 390hp cars with K66 just received the LM stamp. Here are a few MH stamps that I believe are legit. I am not a expert on identifying original stamps but these look correct as far as the font goes. The one you show above looks good to me. Someone just posted another example of a MH stamp this past week with a vin of 716xxx which would be a Feb 69 car. I forget the thread name but it was just a day or two ago and should be easy to find in the General section.
Last edited by ed427vette; Sep 18, 2019 at 01:23 PM.
Notice engine dates. June 17 twice. 450 cars apart. Then 9 days later. 1100 cars later. They probably ran 390 hp vette motors for a week here, week there. Then switched over to Impala or truck or SS 396 motors. Would make more sense than changing setups after 30 motors...
A friend of mine went to a NCRS seminar back in the 90's and the speaker was from Tonawanda. The information he received put the production for MH around the 640ish range.
A fellow member her has a LM suffix with a factory K66 option, his block is dated T0130 LM. My car is a MH with T0205 MH date so some where between the dates they changed.
So an MH block would be considered to be somewhat rare, considering there were 1000s of LM L36s built before and after the introduction of the MH without the K66? Is this just an oversight or did it matter?
A friend of mine went to a NCRS seminar back in the 90's and the speaker was from Tonawanda. The information he received put the production for MH around the 640ish range.
A fellow member her has a LM suffix with a factory K66 option, his block is dated T0130 LM. My car is a MH with T0205 MH date so some where between the dates they changed.
Your MH car is one of the earliest I have seen. I know you blocked your VIN out on your engine pad pic but I was able to see thru it....so I am guessing your car has a trim tag of Feb 11? That's a pretty early car for the MH code. I have in my database a poor quality pic of what I have labelled as a car with a vin of 713??? with a MH code which I think shows a date code of Jan 11th but I am not sure because the pic is so bad. The vin could be 718??? not 713 so I discount it as evidence.
640ish 390hp cars could be believable but I think its more. They made a total 5702 k66 cars. Take away the mandatory k66 cars (L71, L89, L88, ZL1) which total 3230 that leaves 2472. The 400hp 390hp and 350hp could get the K66. However, I don't recall seeing a 350hp car with K66. I am sure they are out there but truthfully if I did see one I probably wouldn't have paid any attention. I think the vast majority of the 2472 would have been on the big blocks. If 640 of the total of ALL the 390 k66's had a MH stamp I could believe that is reasonable.
Last edited by ed427vette; Sep 19, 2019 at 12:05 PM.
Considering the large number of 390 cars produced, does the MH carry any sort of premium in value? I own a few cars and very curious as to if I chose well or not? MH vs LM valuation?
TI is a desirable option, could and probably would push a knowledgeable collector to pull the trigger on your car over other available cars given similar attributes. .
TI is a desirable option, could and probably would push a knowledgeable collector to pull the trigger on your car over other available cars given similar attributes. .
I agree completely.
If the car is restored then it is a nice thing to have. But in an unrestored state it just adds another big bill to the restoration. The resto of a TI system is considerably expensive. But overall I think its a preferred option. However, not one that people seek such as sidepipes or a special color combo (excluding engine options, meaning all else being equal). I am not sure you can add a premium just for it alone and expect that to carry the car.
But with respect to Kens beautiful burgundy car above, that car doesn't need a TI for it to be very desirable! That's a nice looking sidepipe big block car with AC. That checks quite a few nice boxes in my opinion. The TI is just icing on the cake. The 988 looks correct, the way I remember that color looking. So many repaint that color and make the car look like a custom hot rod. Its the most often messed up color. The car above looks like they nailed it. Whoever did the paint deserves a medal.
What is more important that any option is, of course, good, legitimate documentation. That is especially key when you have any unusual options.
Help...1969 L36 MH Engine Code with K66
