Messages

1756

Originality / Re: column shift v8

« on: October 28, 2015, 10:03:50 PM »

The transmission selector was column-mounted for all automatic transmissions unless D55 Center Console was ordered. Did not matter which interior was ordered, the console was always optional.

Also for 1968 the TH400 could be ordered with M11 Floor Shift Control-no console. Very few were built that way.

1757

Originality / Re: firewall chalk - how did this look originally

« on: October 25, 2015, 03:56:06 PM »

More likely bright blue.

1758

General Discussion / Re: D90 stripe - dealer sales album

« on: October 22, 2015, 04:13:46 PM »

My 1969 SS trim tag is 11C, so I should end my stripe at the fender extension seam? Was this the same for L and N cars?

Thanks - Andy

Popular Hot Rodding tested an L89/TH400 Camaro SS in the April '69 issue; photos show the car was built with the 2nd design stripe. The car still exists; 124379L507834. Tag shows 11A; car was final-assembled on or about November 7, 1968.

Since styling would have had to approve the change both plants would have been affected. The Assembly Manual is vague on where the stripe terminates.

1759

Originality / Re: LM-1 original wheels

« on: October 22, 2015, 12:06:05 AM »

N10 was available on any 8 cylinder engine that did not have dual exhaust as standard equipment.

1760

General Discussion / Re: D90 stripe - dealer sales album

« on: October 21, 2015, 11:57:56 PM »

D90 striping continued about 1" onto the fender extension until early November 1968. At that time it was revised to terminate at the fender extension seam.

Just for the record, cars used for print ads are virtually never production units.

1761

General Discussion / Re: Responsible for the design of the 69 Camaro?

« on: October 21, 2015, 05:46:30 PM »

William, did ZL1 #68 originally come with the DX1 stripe?

Paul

Sure did; only COPO known at this time have been built with DX1. Looks sharp with the ducted hood. You can view the cars' $7919.85 invoice here: http://www.camaros.org/images/copo/copo8.jpg

Now restored and owned by Craig Jackson.

1762

Originality / Re: LM-1 original wheels

« on: October 21, 2015, 04:28:13 PM »

LM1'S did not get any special performance stripes?

Once again the LM1 was not a performance engine option. It was a low-compression engine with a 4 barrel carb. Came with single exhaust. If the car was ordered with Z21 style trim group or as an RS it would have had the D96 fender pinstripes. D90 or DX1 striping was optional.

1763

General Discussion / Re: Responsible for the design of the 69 Camaro?

« on: October 21, 2015, 04:13:44 PM »

None of the 69 ZL1s had special paint. ZL1 #3 was Daytona Yellow, an RPO color. Still has most of its original paint. Some, #55 for example, received custom paint treatment at the dealership.

There is a ZL1 site on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.380178832003708.87009.147133495308244&type=3

1764

General Discussion / Re: Responsible for the design of the 69 Camaro?

« on: October 20, 2015, 05:04:45 PM »

The book is not exclusively 1st Gens; 2nd gen is covered as well. It was published in 1978 so some of the people and history behind the car from concept through production were available. Lamms' book is the reason the VINs for the 1st 25 production '67 Z/28s are known. Someone at Chevy [probably Vince Piggins] still had the dealer list and gave it to him when he was researching the book.

If you're looking for the story behind the Camaro it remains the best resource. If I were him I'd re-release it.

1765

General Discussion / Re: Responsible for the design of the 69 Camaro?

« on: October 19, 2015, 08:50:10 PM »

Larry Shinoda was a stylist at Chevy who also had involvement with the '63 Corvette I believe. Shinoda was trusted ally of Bunkie Knudsen, a GM executive who had become restless. Henry Ford II brought Bunkie in as Ford VP in '68; Shinoda came along.

Didn't work out for either of them.

1766

General Discussion / Re: Responsible for the design of the 69 Camaro?

« on: October 19, 2015, 02:57:38 PM »

Chevy/GM was design by committee in those days. I have never heard of one name associated with the design.

Best resource with some interesting photos of design proposals that didn't make it is "The Great Camaro" a book by Michael Lamm. Should be able to find a copy on line someplace.

1767

Originality / Re: ZL2 hood on LM-1 engine pack

« on: October 18, 2015, 04:39:41 PM »

Not possible. An LM1 would have been built with the standard hood. It was not a high-performance engine.

The ZL2 Special Ducted Hood was released as an option on the December 1968 revision to the dealer ordering information. It was an option only on Camaro SS and Z/28. It was included with COPOs 9560 & 9561. The earliest known ZL2 cars were final-assembled late December 1968 at both plants.

1768

Originality / Re: firewall chalk - how did this look originally

« on: October 17, 2015, 12:11:05 AM »

During body fab Fisher Body workers wrote certain codes/notes on the firewall with grease pencil prior to any paint being applied. It stained the metal and is visible if the car is media blasted. Firewall blackout was applied after the car was painted. Paint doesn't adhere well to grease pencil and over time the writing becomes visible. Would have been no reason to write "RED" or anything else across the firewall of a body that was already built and painted.   

It is not unusual to see a build sequence number written inside the lower grille panel. Possibly done to ease matching the body with the front sheet metal assembly. I have a vintage road test photo of a Nickey/Bill Thomas 427 '68 Camaro and there is definitely something on the firewall behind the engine; appears to be 48 E. Could have been SOP to write it there also and later wipe it off.

Also, '69 COPO Camaros often have '427' written inside the front fender extensions.

1769

General Discussion / Re: 1969 rear antenna and spoiler - here's the rub...

« on: October 16, 2015, 02:58:17 PM »

All RF hinge pillars were pre-punched for an antenna lead. The hole was plugged on cars built without a radio or with a rear antenna.

1770

General Discussion / Re: 1967-1968 396 production numbers

« on: October 15, 2015, 11:12:41 PM »

Does anyone know how many 69 Camaro SS/RS convertibles with the L78 engine were produced?

No. Statistical interpolations are worthless.