Accuracy in Corvette Publications

[Kevin Whiteley]

I've been going through some common Corvette publications and I've found conflicting info. I realize there is no "Holy Grail" about what exactly such and such year Corvette had such and such part number.

As an example, my Corvette Black Book (98 edition) says that 1969 Block P/N 3932388 was used for 350ci, 300hp and 350hp cars. The TIM&JG (2nd) says that 3932388 is used only for 350hp and in March 69 only. Then my Colvin book states that 3932388 was used for Passenger cars and Camaro's.

My question is how accurate are these publications and how much should we rely on them? I suspect that we have to review all the available info and make our own judgement call.

Thanks.

[William C.]

Re: Accuracy in Corvette Publications

The NCRS Judging Guide and Technical manual is by far the most well researched and documented of the items you mentioned. However, at least some of what you state is not contradictory. If the 393238 block were used in passenger cars, it would be available for use if needed by GM for a Corvette application. As i recall, there were some production disruptions in '69 leading up to the strike that year so who knows. The NCRS Bowtie Program and the teams working on the manuals generally represent a broad cross-section of members who have been studying various aspects of these cars for a number of years. All of these publications are subject ot some level of humen error, but the NCRS publications have the eyes of the owners available to help find errors. That may be why my current '69 JG is the third edition.

[Art A.]

Re: Accuracy in Corvette Publications

Bill, As I recall within Chevrolet Engineering the term "passenger car" did NOT include Corvette. Most of the time the Corvette was a stand alone vehicle called out individually. I think lots of time "outsiders" interpret GM data incorrectly which causes confusion.
Even though I supplied Alan Colvin with a great deal of the data for his book, and can vouch for its acuracy when it left GM,I cannot be certain that HE did not misinterpret such terminology and therefore perpetuate the confusion to some degree.

Art

[William C.]

Re: Accuracy in Corvette Publications

I agree, even down in the component groups, Pass car was generally respected as NOT including Corvette applications unless specifically mentioned. The car Biz has a language all it's own...

[Tom R.]

Re: Accuracy in Corvette Publications

My take is this and the others have alluded to it...the Corvette body of knowledge is not crystalized but rather fluid. What you see in print is a snapshot of what we know on a given day. Each day, purists learn new things that contribute to the body of knowledge.

Understand, as indicated this body of knowledge didn't come about on a given day...rather it evolved and continues to this day. This past April at the NCRS Southeast Regional, a judging school had an original, unrestored solid axle being looked at and it was pointed out that the hose inside the gas filler door had paint on it. Well the solid axle manual stated "no paint" Yet others there with bowtie solid axles confirmed indeed their hoses have paint on them as well. The hose is used to connect to the fuel line and onto the fuel pump. On this particular issue, the manual had not been corrected.

And so it goes with most Corvette publications...they are correct for a brief point in time until some anal purist comes up with new stuff and publishes it.

Noland Adams wrote Volume 1 because the one book published on Corvette restoration was not correct...that was before NCRS had become what it is today. That was some twenty years ago...and guess what! Today, owners pick it up...compare and conclude it ain't correct. Yet, it was landmark and persists to this day with reprints...go figure. Oh...by the way...a restorer at the same Stone Mountain meet had used Volume 2 and had restored a 67 big block but was only presenting the frame. An excellent tool to learn frame restoration techiques. Yet the author made deliberate, informed decisons and changed the restoration on selected items for the sake of maintenance. He had choices and options and had access to resources that gave him the precise knowledge he needed...a compilation of resources you might say.