CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: hugrz28 on March 05, 2018, 11:01:30 PM

Title: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 05, 2018, 11:01:30 PM
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
 
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on March 05, 2018, 11:04:54 PM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 05, 2018, 11:47:23 PM
Hi Ed,

Thanks for the quick reply. Well, there is question I've had for thirty-seven years put to rest.
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: 68L30 on March 06, 2018, 02:05:09 AM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: BULLITT65 on March 06, 2018, 02:21:02 AM
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)
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on March 06, 2018, 02:46:15 AM
Quote
The gaskets were used on Buicks.

Yep, that's it! Thanks Steve.

Ed
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: 169INDY on March 06, 2018, 03:16:34 AM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: BULLITT65 on March 06, 2018, 03:37:02 AM
Great pic. Hopefully he posts some more pics, and info about his car.
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: DAVEN1256 on March 06, 2018, 04:11:01 AM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 06, 2018, 04:28:22 AM
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.
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on March 06, 2018, 06:50:06 AM
Quote
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: DAVEN1256 on March 06, 2018, 01:11:47 PM
Ed, thank you for the info on the lens color.

Dave
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 06, 2018, 04:11:37 PM
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.
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on March 06, 2018, 04:29:30 PM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 06, 2018, 04:37:39 PM
Thanks Ed!
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on March 06, 2018, 04:43:42 PM
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

Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 06, 2018, 05:05:38 PM
Wow, have never seen one of those before......awesome!
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: 69Z28-RS on March 06, 2018, 06:43:25 PM
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??
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: BULLITT65 on March 06, 2018, 07:36:48 PM
I am guessing so you could see it in the rear view mirror?
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: ZLP955 on March 06, 2018, 07:45:33 PM
U46 in your AIM!
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on March 16, 2018, 07:11:16 PM
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. 
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: KurtS on August 17, 2021, 03:35:10 AM
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,
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: WaltZ on August 18, 2021, 10:54:17 PM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on August 18, 2021, 11:37:40 PM
Quote
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)

Quote
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: camaronut on August 19, 2021, 12:16:52 PM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: bertfam on August 19, 2021, 01:06:58 PM
Quote
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: camaronut on August 20, 2021, 11:49:41 AM
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
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on November 28, 2021, 06:45:59 PM
Does anyone know of a source that sells the fiber optic cable?
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: camaronut on November 30, 2021, 12:25:49 AM
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.   ;)
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: hugrz28 on November 30, 2021, 04:59:10 AM
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?

 
Title: Re: 1969 Camaro Fiber Optics
Post by: camaronut on November 30, 2021, 11:56:46 AM
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.