Author Topic: Ralley Green Z at MCACN  (Read 7295 times)

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« on: January 30, 2018, 11:45:16 PM »
Does anyone know anything about the '69 Ralley Green Z that is both X-11 and has an engine with a M code? It was featured on Speedville site.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

69Z28-RS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5778
  • owner since 4-Apr-1976
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2018, 03:10:05 AM »
I talked to the owner (Al Krebs at the time) two different years at the Camaro Nats..  I was a skeptic initially, but after much discussion with him, he made me a believer that the car is real...

09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

Stingr69

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 901
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2018, 01:09:46 PM »
Whats an "M" code block?

69Z28-RS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5778
  • owner since 4-Apr-1976
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2018, 02:05:58 PM »
Hopefully someone that knows more about this will respond, as I don't trust my memory anymore on this sort of stuff, but IIRC from my discussions with Al, the 'M' was used to designate 'Test' or 'prototype' or 'developmental' casting; perhaps they'd made some slight change to the casting, but then decided that the block was usable as it was and proceeded with the engine build...   If I'm remembering this incorrectly, someone please update/correct this...

09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
69 Corvette, '60 Corvette, '72 Corvette
90 ZR1 red/red #246, 90 ZR1 white/gray #2466
72 El Camino, '55-'56-'57 Nomads, '55-'57 B/A Sedan

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2018, 02:16:21 PM »
That is how it was explained in the article. It was a block cast to test a modification but not used in production, had no date code. I am not questioning this car, I have been around long enough to know you never say never. Stuff happens.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

cook_dw

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3981
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2018, 03:42:36 PM »

westonz28

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 66
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2018, 08:00:20 PM »
Kurt will have to weight in on this one. I do remember reading about a original 1969 Z28 that had X11 on the trim tag. I bet Kurt has more information on it. This Camaro may be the "ONE".
67 RS L30/M20 numbers, 68 BB 396 12 bolt posi
68 Z28 project, 68 numbers 327/210 4 speed
69 LM1 turbo 350 12 bolt numbers,70 L65 350
68 Chevelle L30 3 on the tree, 68 El Camino BB

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2018, 09:00:48 PM »
It is claimed to be the only one with both X-11 and M code. As no Z-28s were to have X-11 it would be interesting to hear the story, if it was special order or mistake.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

bcmiller

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4010
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2018, 09:08:29 PM »
That’s the car. November of 69 build. X11 was most likely a mistake on the tag - but the car was built as a Z - as intended.

Oh and on the M coded blocks, they used M because L was December - the last month of the year. I have had a few M coded blocks over the years and might still have one. Not sure.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2018, 11:08:10 PM »
Would they have used M code for all experimental blocks or just four bolt main?
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

bcmiller

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4010
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2018, 12:03:08 AM »
Would they have used M code for all experimental blocks or just four bolt main?

"Research by the Saginaw Metal Casting Operations of GM Powertrain Division has found that these "M" codes are not date codes, but actually a foundry code used to indentify parts that were made to evaluate a casting process change."

There is no reason to think that it was only for four bolt main blocks.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

maroman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1067
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2018, 12:33:51 AM »
I had read that. So, how are blocks marked as whether they are four bolt two bolt, etc.? I realize the blocks were probably not meant to be put into use but it does say they could be, as this one was. I had not heard of these M codes before.
Doug  '67 RS/SS 396 auto I know the car since new

bcmiller

  • CRG Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4010
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2018, 04:55:31 AM »
Not sure there is a way to tell on a small block, its usually best to remove the oil pan and look.

There are some external clues on big blocks for 2 bolt mains versus 4 bolt mains.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

ZLP955

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2186
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #13 on: February 01, 2018, 10:27:15 AM »
There are 'M'-coded heads too. I have a set of 3927186 'M' heads on my CE302. Have compared them to regular production heads and can't see anything obviously different, but so many subtle changes (including internally) could be possible during evaluation. I surmised that they were released into circulation (rather than being scrapped or returned for melting down) because their evaluation pattern was close enough to being finalised for production that it wasn't seen as risky - but purely a guess.
Tim in Australia.
1969 04A Van Nuys Z/28. Cortez Silver, Dark Blue interior, VE3, Z21, Z23, D55/U17, D80, flat hood.
Sold at Clippinger Chevrolet in Covina, CA.
AHRA Formula Stock at Lions Dragstrip, NHRA E/MP at Pomona Raceway

Kelley W King

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1410
    • View Profile
Re: Ralley Green Z at MCACN
« Reply #14 on: February 01, 2018, 12:59:41 PM »
There were more "M" blocks used than you would normally think. I remember years ago they were refered to as "Mexico" engines because they were thought to have been built in Mexico.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

 

anything