1966 Corvette - RPO K24

[Jack M.]

I was looking through the 1966 Corvette 'Information Kit' (from the GM Heritage Center) and noticed something I hadn't seen before. On page #29 of the extensive PDF document, there is a reference to RPO K24 as an option with the L36 engine. I can't seem to find any other reference to this code. Is anyone familiar with this option... are there any known examples of RPO K24 in existence? Any insight would be appreciated.

RPO_K24.jpg

[John C.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

Jack

K24 wasn't an option on L36 engines used in Corvettes. Corvettes came standard with a closed PCV system. L36 engines used in passenger cars did not come standard with a closed system and K24 was an option. I believe K24 was required if the car had the optional K19 AIR system or if the car was to be sold at high attitude locations.

The difference between an open vs. closed PCV system is where they get the fresh air from. In an open system it typically comes from a breather on the valve cover. On a closed system it come from the air filter housing.

John

[Jack M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

Thanx for the clarification, John. Since the documentation listed K24 as a Corvette option, I wasn't certain if K24 may have been seen on an early L36.

[John C.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

Jack

I've never heard of K24 on a Corvette. I think they were just using a generic description of the L36 engine in the Corvette specifications, unfortunately the 1966 Impala specs aren't on the heritage center website to see if they used the same description there.

John

[Jack M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

I too had never heard/seen K24 listed for the '66 Vette... I figured it was either a common descriptive error, or there may have been an early production change (much like the 427/400 converting to 427/390). Since all corresponding paperwork took time to reflect the running updates, I was curious if anything had ever materialized.

[John H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

K-24 Closed Positive Crankcase Ventilation was designed into all '67 Corvette engines, except L-88. Passenger cars were different in 1967 - they had "Open" positive crankcase ventilation as standard (except L-78), and you had to order RPO K-24 to get the "closed" system (K-24 was a mandatory option on cars delivered in California).

[Jack M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

John - Your insight into the RPO K-24 option is appreciated. Just to be certain, in 1966, was the description in the document shown above totally incorrect (perhaps copied from passenger vehicles), or was there a last minute change for L36 Corvette engines (L72 engines list the 'closed' system as standard)?

[John H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

John - Your insight into the RPO K-24 option is appreciated. Just to be certain, in 1966, was the description in the document shown above totally incorrect (perhaps copied from passenger vehicles), or was there a last minute change for L36 Corvette engines (L72 engines list the 'closed' system as standard)?

Jack -

The reference in the item to RPO K-24 being a separate option for the L-36 engine is correct for passenger cars and Camaro, but it was a mistake to include it in the Corvette specifications. Easy enough mistake to make for people not intimately familiar with the differences between Corvette and similar passenger car engines.

[Jack M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette - RPO K24

Thanx for the update and closure on the issue.