L88 Article by Ken Kayser

[Tom M.]

Ken, What a great article in the new Corvette Restorer magazine this month,
Can you tell me if there is a Vin or date when the " LO "
open chamber heads came out in late 69 ?
As my late 69 L88 has the LO heads.

Regards Tom

[Dick W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

Open chamber heads first started showing up in March, give or take a few weeks. Useage was sporatic, some cars still came with IT engines, some with LO. I may be off a few weeks, but I think by late June to early July the inventory of IT engines was used up and the rest of the year they were all open chambers

[Patrick B.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

The open chamber heads on my 69 ZL-1 engine were cast in Dec 68.

[Dick W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

The open chamber heads on my 69 ZL-1 engine were cast in Dec 68.

Camaro engine
??

[Warren F.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I too enjoyed Ken's article very much, but I am a bit confused as I believe the first 2 ZL-1 optioned Camaros arrived at Fred Gibbs dealership in La Harp, Ill. on New Years Eve December 31st, 1968. The rest of the original 48 cars arrived shortly thereafter.

I noticed in Ken's article that he states approximately 56% of the '69 L-88 production used the open chamber design heads, but I heard somewhere that approximately the last 44 '69 L-88's only used the improved design aluminum heads. Any clarification to this information?

[Norris W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I took my early '69 L88 to Bloomington for Earthquake '88, my Gold L89 there in '89 and a friend's Monaco Orange late '69 there in '90 for Survivor (first L88 given Survivor status although a previous owner of the black '69 that may be the one that Mecuum is fixing to sell has claimed his was first and only as of several years ago). Anyway, at one of these three events someone was talking about open chamber L88's and said all the pre strike '69 L88's were closed chamber and the post strike open chamber. I can't recall who, or what year of the 3, but whoever/whenever it was seemed knowledgeable on L88 history and I've always passed that statistic along assuming it was true.

[Dick W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I too enjoyed Ken's article very much, but I am a bit confused as I believe the first 2 ZL-1 optioned Camaros arrived at Fred Gibbs dealership in La Harp, Ill. on New Years Eve December 31st, 1968. The rest of the original 48 cars arrived shortly thereafter.

I noticed in Ken's article that he states approximately 56% of the '69 L-88 production used the open chamber design heads, but I heard somewhere that approximately the last 44 '69 L-88's only used the improved design aluminum heads. Any clarification to this information?

I have been aware of the Camaros. I have been also told that the early ones were closed chamber (I may eat my words later, but I call BS on that) I have wondered why it took 90-120 days for the OC L/88 engines to appear.

[Clem Z.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

i should have kept the first set of OC i got from GM as these heads had the aluminum around the exhaust ports not contured to shape of the exhaust ports and the head bolts were down in a counter bored holes next to the exhaust ports. i think these heads were sand cast. these heads made 29 more HP even when used with closed CC pistons as i did not want to tear the whole engine down at that time.

[Clem Z.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I have been aware of the Camaros. I have been also told that the early ones were closed chamber (I may eat my words later, but I call BS on that) I have wondered why it took 90-120 days for the OC L/88 engines to appear.

i have see written proof to that. i also have seen and worked on a ZL-1 engine with CC heads.

[Philip C.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I took my early '69 L88 to Bloomington for Earthquake '88, my Gold L89 there in '89 and a friend's Monaco Orange late '69 there in '90 for Survivor (first L88 given Survivor status although a previous owner of the black '69 that may be the one that Mecuum is fixing to sell has claimed his was first and only as of several years ago). Anyway, at one of these three events someone was talking about open chamber L88's and said all the pre strike '69 L88's were closed chamber and the post strike open chamber. I can't recall who, or what year of the 3, but whoever/whenever it was seemed knowledgeable on L88 history and I've always passed that statistic along assuming it was true.

Maybe he had the first; black L88 or conv/coupe or orig air in the tires (could list 1500 first) Phil 8063

[Loren L.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

L88 open/closed heads would be an IDEAL example of "some pigs are better than other pigs" = those who could pick up the phone and talk to Ed Cole, Gib, Vince, Zora, McKenzie, probably didn't have to wait.......

[Patrick B.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

Camaro engine
??

Yes, the engine was out of a Camaro.

[Steve B.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

I believe that there may have been four open chambered L88s that went to racers in Jan of 69. As for production cars, the earliest one that I have seen were built in June with a 22xxx vin. I have not received the article but it's interesting to read some of the comments on open vs closed chamber heads on ZL1s. As I am sure that most people realize is that the second design L88s had several important changes vs the earlier motors. A new piston was used to along with stronger rod bolts as the 3/8 bolts were prone to failure during high rpm use. If the stock IT piston was used the compression ratio would be more like 9 to 1. It also used the holley double pumper carburator. The camshaft was also changed. It wasn't as easy as simply swapping out the heads. I can't wait to read the article as I find this stuff very interesting.

[Dick W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

L88 open/closed heads would be an IDEAL example of "some pigs are better than other pigs" = those who could pick up the phone and talk to Ed Cole, Gib, Vince, Zora, McKenzie, probably didn't have to wait.......

That did factor in Loren. When I wanted a crate L/88 open chamber engine, none available in the warehouses, I called Piggins on his direct line and just over a week the freight carrier delivered my engine to my local dealer. Parts manager could not understand how I got one and he could not.

[Duke W.]

Re: L88 Article by Ken Kayser

When did open chamber iron heads show up on production engines? Were any '69 L-71s so equipped?

Duke