Like I said before, this may be an old question, but it's new to me...I have called two different Dealers around my hometown and have had no luck in getting an answer...

Why could you not get Air-Conditioning on a 435HP 427ci Big-Block C2 Corvette?

...this has been driving me crazy me for some time now, and no one seems to have the answer! I mean, the 435hp 427ci BBC was the same physical size as the rest, and I know that engine was for the "Racers Only", but why was A/C not even an option?

If anyone can help me out with this, you don't know how much I would appreciate it...seriously!!!

 

Man, I was really hoping someone here knew...

 

Probably the same reason you couldn't get A/C on a '70 LT-1. They tended to limit it on hi-perf engines probably thinking that people buying those cars weren't interested in A/C.

IIRC L-88s weren't available w/ a heater or radio.

 

Thanks for your reply, shark, I truly appreciate it!

 

Again...thanks for your reply & answer, shark, I really & truly appreciate it, but I would still like to know a more definitive answer on this question! I just don't understand why you could not get A/C in any Mid-Year C2 Corvette with a Big-Block with more than 400HP. I know you said you thought A/C was an Option on the 430HP L88, but I have heard Mecum, Barret-Jackson, Wayne Carini and others actually say it was impossible to get A/C in any Mid-Year C2 with an engine making more than 400HP! I mean...the 390HP & 400HP Engine Cars WERE available with A/C, but even though the 430HP & 435HP Engines are EXACTLY the same physical size, they weren't available with A/C and that just doesn't make any sense at all!

 

Where did I say A/C was an option on a L-88? It wasn't and neither was a radio or heater as I stated.

Duntov's thinking was that the hi-po engines weren't really for the street and by eliminating creature comforts was one way to minimize street use plus A/C saps horsepower, adds weight, and contributes to belt throw-off @ high rpms. Beyond that, I don't have any more info.

Remember you couldn't get A/C on the fuelie cars either.

 

I was under the impression that you couldn't get A/C if any Chevrolet V8 had a solid lifter camshaft, why?
maybe it had something to do with adjusting the valves, maybe solid lifter engines had a higher RPM.
Who knows ????
Gene

 

I used to think it was the high RPM solid lifter engines that couldn't have A/C. But my L82 small block with hydraulic lifters still had the 6000 RPM Redline and you could get A/C with it.