1973 Chevy Camper Special from CA - VIN?

[Rickf]

My 427 & 396 have "pass Hi Perf" cast into the block, I thought all early BBC's have that casting. I'm old and could be mistaken.
The block casting number you are looking for is just behind the driver side head near the bell housing.

 

[DoubleDingo]

The stamped numbers can be found behind the alternator. It's a flat spot with two sets of numbers, like this...

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If you have trouble seeing them in a photo, you can change the exposure to negative or something that makes them stand out more...

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[AuroraGirl]

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[BrianaBruce]

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ooo! i love when people find obscure charts for me. thank you!! I read somewhere that 73 454s were only offered in Cs tho? —Not K/4WD. I have a K. hmmm.

 

[DoubleDingo]

ooo! i love when people find obscure charts for me. thank you!! I read somewhere that 73 454s were only offered in Cs tho? —Not K/4WD. I have a K. hmmm.

Money talks, and maybe the person that ordered/bought it had enough to get what they wanted. Either way, you have an upgraded 4x4 truck. Nice score.

 

[BrianaBruce]

The stamped numbers can be found behind the alternator. It's a flat spot with two sets of numbers, like this...

You must be registered for see images attach

If you have trouble seeing them in a photo, you can change the exposure to negative or something that makes them stand out more...

You must be registered for see images attach

This was VERY helpful. thank you. I can’t wait to get some time this weekend to investigate.

 

[Frankenchevy]

I am not from California but to my understanding because of the year, 73, the only likely things that CARB would require is that the truck be outfitted at a "allowed shop" and that it had the emission equipment required by a 1973 454 engine, but Im not sure. A 1973 454 would not have much, but I think it would have evaporative emissions

Fortunately, if it’s 1975 or older for gas vehicles, there is no smog check. You can get away with running anything you want.

For Diesels it’s 1997 or older. I only mention this because I previously referenced gas vehicles.

Surprisingly, there are no safety checks in California for vehicles. You could have the most clapped out garbage; but if it passes smog or if it’s exempt, for the most part you are good to go.

Only exception I can think of, but I can’t recall why you would need to do it because I’ve never had to do one, is a lamp check. I believe it’s required if you get a ticket for improperly aimed lights or something along those lines. It may come into play in other instances, but I don’t know what they are…

 

[AuroraGirl]

ooo! i love when people find obscure charts for me. thank you!! I read somewhere that 73 454s were only offered in Cs tho? —Not K/4WD. I have a K. hmmm.

id imagine the 454 weight was not ideal on a 4x4 especially if it was supposed to be holding a camber on it. Id think theavailability was probably lower and the priorities would get it like 1 tons, and C20s over a K20 etc. Just thoughts. the federal 73 7.4 had PCV and a vacuum advance/centrifugal weights only it looks like(not HEI) PLus early squares liked to come with np203s , a 7.4 and an np203 is a LOT of weight , imagine that mpg..

a quick google looks like the theory is possible since big blocks were in demand for cars and the trucks were more limited initially. but when cars got reigned in with emissions, it opened wider to more options

 

[DoubleDingo]

Fortunately, if it’s 1975 or older for gas vehicles, there is no smog check. You can get away with running anything you want.

For Diesels it’s 1997 or older. I only mention this because I previously referenced gas vehicles.

Surprisingly, there are no safety checks in California for vehicles. You could have the most clapped out garbage; but if it passes smog or if it’s exempt, for the most part you are good to go.

Only exception I can think of, but I can’t recall why you would need to do it because I’ve never had to do one, is a lamp check. I believe it’s required if you get a ticket for improperly aimed lights or something along those lines. It may come into play in other instances, but I don’t know what they are…

I rolled across the limit line just as the yellow was turning to red, basically rear tires crossing the limit line as it went red, but there was a CHP right there and he pulled me over. As soon as he walked up to my door, he reached in to press the horn button, and it didn't work. (Side/back story on the horn after this) He then walked to the front of the truck and saw the USA 1 license plate. I got wrote up for a non-functioning horn and an illegal front plate. I had to set up an appointment with that officer for him to sign off on the ticket. I installed a column mounted horn button, and installed the second plate on the front and was good to go. That was my safety check.

The reason the horn was unplugged, I had replaced the steering wheel. Me and a friend were cruising backroads drinking beer, and I had it in granny low on a road above the aqueduct. Luckily the road has deep ruts, as I didn't realize that the stock steering wheel wasn't catching the teeth on the steering shaft. We were going slow enough in idle for the truck to track through the curve and not ride up the ruts and into the aqueduct. To get home I made sure to press down on the wheel. I had a GT wheel and installed it, no more issues with non-steering. So, Mom and Pop were in charge of the softball games and I stopped by to watch some of the game, this was weeks later. I was leaving and as I backed up the horn went off. I waved, everyone waved. The horn went off again, I waved, some waved back. The horn went off again, I'm getting dirty looks. I am driving down the road with the horn going off now. I pulled over and unplugged it. Not knowing how to fix it, it stayed like that for years. Eventually I fixed it, but that was why I got a ticket for it a couple years later after I left town.

 

[DoubleDingo]

id imagine the 454 weight was not ideal on a 4x4 especially if it was supposed to be holding a camber on it. Id think theavailability was probably lower and the priorities would get it like 1 tons, and C20s over a K20 etc. Just thoughts. the federal 73 7.4 had PCV and a vacuum advance/centrifugal weights only it looks like(not HEI) PLus early squares liked to come with np203s , a 7.4 and an np203 is a LOT of weight , imagine that mpg..

a quick google looks like the theory is possible since big blocks were in demand for cars and the trucks were more limited initially. but when cars got reigned in with emissions, it opened wider to more options

Back then gas was maybe $0.40 a gallon, if not less, nobody cared about miles per gallon.

 

[BrianaBruce]

Back then gas was maybe $0.40 a gallon, if not less, nobody cared about miles per gallon.

but the gas crisis of 1973?

 

[Frankenchevy]

I rolled across the limit line just as the yellow was turning to red, basically rear tires crossing the limit line as it went red, but there was a CHP right there and he pulled me over. As soon as he walked up to my door, he reached in to press the horn button, and it didn't work. (Side/back story on the horn after this) He then walked to the front of the truck and saw the USA 1 license plate. I got wrote up for a non-functioning horn and an illegal front plate. I had to set up an appointment with that officer for him to sign off on the ticket. I installed a column mounted horn button, and installed the second plate on the front and was good to go. That was my safety check.

The reason the horn was unplugged, I had replaced the steering wheel. Me and a friend were cruising backroads drinking beer, and I had it in granny low on a road above the aqueduct. Luckily the road has deep ruts, as I didn't realize that the stock steering wheel wasn't catching the teeth on the steering shaft. We were going slow enough in idle for the truck to track through the curve and not ride up the ruts and into the aqueduct. To get home I made sure to press down on the wheel. I had a GT wheel and installed it, no more issues with non-steering. So, Mom and Pop were in charge of the softball games and I stopped by to watch some of the game, this was weeks later. I was leaving and as I backed up the horn went off. I waved, everyone waved. The horn went off again, I waved, some waved back. The horn went off again, I'm getting dirty looks. I am driving down the road with the horn going off now. I pulled over and unplugged it. Not knowing how to fix it, it stayed like that for years. Eventually I fixed it, but that was why I got a ticket for it a couple years later after I left town.

I may be wrong, but I believe as long as your front wheels have entered the intersection, you are good. However, I read the cvc section for red lights and that language isn’t present. Although, he didn’t write you for that; it seems that was the premise for the stop. I also think that reaching in and attempting to honk someone’s horn may be a fourth amendment issue. However, if your horn was clearly disabled visually; that’d likely fall under plain view doctrine and he could ask you to show your horn worked.

Then again, if having the entire vehicle past the limit line before the light turns red is the threshold, it’s better not to press the issue on the horn thing and end up with a red light ticket.

I believe the horn and front plate used to just be fix-it tickets. The plate stuff changed recently, because people would keep their generic dealer plates on forever to avoid toll and red light violations. I know a very successful guy who regularly commutes to the bay. He never put plates on and used to drive right through the fast track toll lanes and HOV lanes for over a decade.

 

[DoubleDingo]

but the gas crisis of 1973?

I just looked it up, average gas price in 73 was 39 cents, it jumped to 53 cents in 74.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I may be wrong, but I believe as long as your front wheels have entered the intersection, you are good. However, I read the cvc section for red lights and that language isn’t present. Although, he didn’t write you for that; it seems that was the premise for the stop. I also think that reaching in and attempting to honk someone’s horn may be a fourth amendment issue. However, if your horn was clearly disabled visually; that’d likely fall under plain view doctrine and he could ask you to show your horn worked.

Then again, if having the entire vehicle past the limit line before the light turns red is the threshold, it’s better not to press the issue on the horn thing and end up with a red light ticket.

I believe the horn and front plate used to just be fix-it tickets. The plate stuff changed recently, because people would keep their generic dealer plates on forever to avoid toll and red light violations. I know a very successful guy who regularly commutes to the bay. He never put plates on and used to drive right through the fast track toll lanes and HOV lanes for over a decade.

This happened in late '89/early '90. This officer was known to be around College of the Canyons, I just didn't know that until after I was ticketed. I didn't run the red, but he was looking someone to pull over and I was it. I was shocked when he just reached in and pressed the horn button. Granted it was my '65 Mean Green, but there was no indication anything was inoperable on the truck. After that, whenever I was driving around the college I made sure to keep an eye out for him and to also drive like a granny...lol...

 

[BrianaBruce]

You've done your homework; your interpretation of the VIN is correct.

My vote would be that someone put the wrong badges on the fenders at some point in it's life (even as far as back as the assembly plant).

Fremont was not known for it's stellar build quality back in the late 60's or early 70's.

K

Keith! On my ongoing quest to figure out if this is a K20 or K30: I assumed it was a 3/4 ton with the wrong badging since the VIN has a “2”. But my google homework told me to look at the front diff to see if it’s a 44 or 60 to tell the difference. It looks like a 60 to me? (please disregard the goofy green paint from the PO). So 30 badging, 30 front axle, but a 20 VIN? what in the same hill is going on here? Camper Specials are weird.