CRG Discussion Forum
Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: hugrz28 on March 05, 2018, 11:01:30 PM
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Hi,
New to the site and also a first time post. Long time owner of a 1969 Z/28 that came with fiber optics. My car was built in March 1969 at The VanNuys Plant and sold at Guardian Chevrolet in Brea, CA. I've been looking for info. on the use of a 'black plastic gasket' that sits between chrome bezel and the fender. I've been told that the 'gasket' was only used on Norwood, OH built Camaro's with fiber optics. In over thirty years I have found no factual information to support that Norwood only Camaro's used this gasket. There is nothing in The AIM that shows it use. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Dan
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Hi Dan. Welcome to the site. That gasket wasn't used on any first generation Camaro but if I remember correctly, It was used on the Chevelle and full size cars.
Ed
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Hi Ed,
Thanks for the quick reply. Well, there is question I've had for thirty-seven years put to rest.
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The gaskets were used on Buicks. I don’t believe they are correct on Chevelles or full size Chevrolets. Fyi, Buick also used a Blue tinted dot in the lens as well. Not correct for Chevrolet but often seen.
Steve
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Hey Dan your car looks nice if it is the one used in your avatar. Start a new post introduce yourself and PLEASE post some pics of your Camaro for us.
Thanks! (and welcome to the forum... ;D)
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The gaskets were used on Buicks.
Yep, that's it! Thanks Steve.
Ed
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Hey, I have been Bugging Dan to Tune in and start enjoying the resource and community here at the .org.
Here is a Nice Pic from a event at the Tacoma Washington's; America's Car museum, Lemay silver dome of cars, (Behind the photographer)
This was a once a month informal Cruz-in
Welcome to the Site Dan,
(169INDY)
Jim Weaver
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Great pic. Hopefully he posts some more pics, and info about his car.
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Fyi, Buick also used a Blue tinted dot in the lens as well. Not correct for Chevrolet but often seen.
What would have been the correct lens colors for a '68? Clear in the middle and what on either side?
Thanks.....Dave
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Thanks Jim, I'm glad I took your advice and joined. Thanks to those who have posted on this thread, I look forward to sharing and learning. I will post more picture's of The 'Z' in the next week. I'm a died in the wool Trans Am follower (the early days) and look forward to learning from the experts who were there.
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What would have been the correct lens colors for a '68? Clear in the middle and what on either side?
The Camaro front fender lenses were clear/clear/green (or green/clear/clear depending on what side you're looking at!), and the rear "Cobra Head" was red/clear/red. Note that the fronts also have R (Right) and L (Left) cast into the lenses.
Ed
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Ed, thank you for the info on the lens color.
Dave
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Very nice convertible set, those are hard to come by. Does anyone know where you can get the ferrule, connector that goes on the end of the fiber optic cable? It retains the cable inside the front fender light monitor. I'm missing a few.
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Dan, a lot of these parts were shared by other models and divisions, so even though they may not be carried by Camaro vendors, they may be carried by others. For example, CORVETTE AMERICA (http://www.corvetteamerica.com/catalog/1968-1971-corvette-fiber-optics?searchdest=%2Fcf%2Flearnmorelist%2Ecfm%3Fkeyword%3Dfiber%2Boptic&keyword=fiber%20optic&idlist=2949%2C1337%2C2050%2C4823%2C4830) has the ferrules and boots on their web site (P/N 26154 for the front and P/N 26155 for the rear), as do other Corvette vendors. The boots aren't exact for the Camaro, but the ferrules are. You'll also notice they're made by Lectric Limited, so you might want to check on their web site too.
Ed
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Thanks Ed!
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You bet Dan. And you want to talk hard to come by? How about the Cobra Head for the 68-69 Camaro convertible with fold down rear seat!! This one has the long bracket instead of the short bracket as shown in the picture above.
Ed
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Wow, have never seen one of those before......awesome!
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OK.. so pardon my ignorance, but I've never seen one of those parts... :)
Where were those 'heads' and brackets located? Isn't it an indicator? Wouldn't it have been under the dash or on the console?? Why would an indicator be related/mounted to/with the backseat??
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I am guessing so you could see it in the rear view mirror?
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U46 in your AIM!
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While cleaning up my fiber optic housing I noticed a copper tone paint mark on the fiber optic cable and the black rubber housing. It was on both sides (left & right) and seems to indicate the headlamp fiber cable and the the center lamp on the housing. Has anyone seen this before? See the attached picture.
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Here's some info on the U46 light monitoring system fiber optic cables from Ed.
Front fender head light/parking light assembly:
1. Both the front head light cables (left and right) are 16" in length
2. Both the front parking light cables (left and right) are 35" in length
Rear convertible "Cobra Head" tail light/license light assembly:
3. The rear driver side cable is 85" in length
4. The rear passenger side cable is 89" in length
5. The rear license light cable is 115" in length
The front cables are approx 1/8" in diameter for the head lights and approx 3/32" for the parking lights.
The rear cables are all the same diameter, approx 3/32".
The cables were made by DuPont Company and were polymethyl methacrylate optical fiber (PMMA fiber), also known as Crofon,
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unsure where the fiber optic cables enter the rear right and left tail light housing.
did the fiber optics come in the ashtray as standard, or was it optioned.
any thoughts, better yet any pictures.
thanks in advance
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unsure where the fiber optic cables enter the rear right and left tail light housing.
The optical cable didn't enter the housing. It instead plugged into the socket (see below)
did the fiber optics come in the ashtray as standard, or was it optioned.
The ash tray lamp was RPO U28 in 1967 and in 1968 it was either RPO U28 as a stand alone option, or part of the RPO ZJ9 Auxiliary Lighting Group. In 1969 it was only available in the RPO ZJ9 Auxiliary Lighting Group.
Ed
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And for those looking for the rear Cobra Head for their convertible (better sit down): https://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/product/1969/1969-chevrolet-camaro-convertible-rear-vigilite-cobra-head-u46-fiber-optic-monitor-assembly-gm-6294162/99780
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And for those looking for the rear Cobra Head for their convertible (better sit down)
And it doesn't even include the fiber optics cables!!
Ed
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Well to answer the first question, yeah - the Camaros never got the gasket - however, I use them anyway to keep the edges of the housings from biting into the paint and causing cracks, etc.
I'm not having the car judged by any Camaro expert - so I really don't givva rats if they aren't correct.
BTW, The Parts Place has them too: https://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/product/1969/1969-chevrolet-camaro-vigilite-fender-bezel-gasket-ea/101686
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Does anyone know of a source that sells the fiber optic cable?
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Here ya go!!!
http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Jacketed.htm
Furthermore - if you have a local junk yard - uh sorry - automotive recycling yard - look for it on older Cadillacs / Buicks. That's where I get my stash.
Shhhhhhhhhhh.....don't tell anyone. ;)
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Thank you for getting back with me. I found this on eBay and it looks like it might work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124233178181
What are your thoughts?
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I'm sure it'll work, but the cable will need to be properly sized and cut.
You just can't cut this stuff with wire cutters, and think it'll pass light properly.
The ends that you see can be bought at Paragon Corvette.