1967 Big Block Question

[Lorne G.]

Do all 67 Big Blocks have a rectangular cut out on the lower valance centered over the RH bumper brace? The cut out is approximately 4 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" deep?
If so, what was the purpose of this cut out as I can not see any practical use for it.

Thank You
Lorne

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

If you are referring to the front lower grille panel. Yes, far as I know, all `67 bodies had that cut out.

[Lorne G.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

Wayne, The cut out I am referring to is on the bottom or underside of the lower valance and only visible if you look from the bottom. I was told these were available only on big blocks.

My friend recently had his 67 BB 435HP judged at an NCRS meet and this was the first thing one of the judges looked for.

Lorne

[John C.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

Lorne

Is this the cutout you are referring to?

My BB car has it but I see no purpose. I've never heard it was a way to identify BB cars.

John

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

The cut out is not BB specific. It is on SB also, and I believe it was actually meant to give clearance to the lower outlet of the SB radiator. It is very close in that area. In 66 when the radiator support was pushed up into the valence area and the radiator angle changed, the lower part of the radiator got pretty close in that area. Cut out, is a slight misnomer, because the panel was actually formed with the relief already there. It was not physically cut out.

[Lorne G.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

John, Thank you for the pictures. This seems like the cut out I am referring to if it is on the passenger side of the car.

I have not seen this cut out on the two small blocks I inspected over the last couple of days. I too was shocked to hear the NCRS judge say it was Big Block only cut out and a way to determine real big block cars. I still see no purpose for it.
Wayne your comment makes sense but maybe the reasoning was for Big blocks only.
Lorne

[Michael J.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

I have never heard this cutout as a BB only thing before. Never mentioned in many Top Flight judging rounds. Mine doesn't have it, but it has a replacement front end, since many BBs had wrecks and lost their originals. I think I like the other ways to tell if it is an original BB car, much more reliable.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

My 67 is 327/300hp and has the cut out..

[Richard E.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

my 435 and 300 both have the notch in the lower panel...

[Dick W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

May be big block specific (urban legend) but I can show you a 4,000 miles 300 hp and a 30k 350 hp, both untouched that have the notch

[Mike M.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

Guys, there was a thread on this a year or so ago.
If I recall, one of the then "Factory Guys" said the cutout by hand occured as early as '65 fairly regularly and in early '66 then, became part of the moulding in '66 that carried troughout '67 production.
Original purpose had nothing to do with HP, it was to clear the dehydrator on the increasing number of A/C cars during the body drop.
He's a regular, perhaps he will jump in to clarify.
HaND

[Wayne W.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

Guys, there was a thread on this a year or so ago.
If I recall, one of the then "Factory Guys" said the cutout by hand occured as early as '65 fairly regularly and in early '66 then, became part of the moulding in '66 that carried troughout '67 production.
Original purpose had nothing to do with HP, it was to clear the dehydrator on the increasing number of A/C cars during the body drop.
He's a regular, perhaps he will jump in to clarify.
HaND

That doesnt make much sense because the dryer would have been installed on the radiator support, and the support was already in the body at the drop. Nothing in that area would be a problem at body drop.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

Last night I looked at a 66, in the 6000 vin area, had the notch, looked more cut than molded.

[John H.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

All 67's had the molded-in notch in the lower valance panel - it was not engine-specific.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1967 Big Block Question

John,
66 too, correct?