Topics

1

General Discussion / 1004 Hp 2023 COPO Camaro

« on: December 19, 2022, 05:21:01 PM »

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/horsepower-copo-chevrolet-camaro-most-powerful-muscle-car

https://www.motor1.com/news/627180/2023-chevrolet-copo-camaro-zz632/amp/

Sure this is reported elsewhere but I’m just now getting up to speed.

For the track only - not street legal.

Richard

2

Maintenance / A Few Thoughts on Turn Signal Troubleshooting

« on: July 15, 2022, 09:18:07 PM »

From time to time, questions arise on the forum regarding turn signal, brake light, etc. trouble shooting.  I recently had an issue with my left front turn signal so I thought I'd share the approach I used to identify, isolate, and resolve the issue - perhaps someone else may benefit.

My car is a 1969 Norwood built, 01C, Rally Sport.

Before beginning any electrical troubleshooting, I strongly recommend obtaining a complete package of the colored wiring diagrams for your car!!  Tracing wiring with these colored diagrams is infinitely easier than trying to use black and white diagrams.  Having these color coded wiring diagrams will save you time and headaches.

1969 Camaro - Both the left and right FRONT turn signals function as follows:

I.   Switched 12v source from the Fuse Panel supplies power via a 12 gauge pink wire to the turn signal flasher which is located under the dash on a support near the ash tray.

II.   14 gauge purple wire from the turn signal flasher supplies power to the turn signal switch in the steering column via the flat connector on the right side and toward the base of the column.

III.   When the left turn signal is switched on, power is supplied via the turn signal switch through the flat connector to two 20 gauge wires:
      a) light blue wire for the left front, and
      b) a yellow wire for the left rear. 
Both wires connect to separate terminals on the dash side of the bulkhead connector at the firewall.

IV.   An additional 20 gauge light blue wire connects to the light blue wire terminal on the dash side of the bulkhead connector and provides power to the left turn signal indicator light in the instrument panel.

V.   Focusing on the front left turn signal; the 20 gauge light blue wire continues from the engine side of the bulkhead connector to the front of the left inner fender where it connects to the left turn/park lamp assembly wiring harness via a "T-Connector". 

3

Maintenance / Left Turn Signal Issue and Resolution

« on: May 05, 2022, 09:26:55 PM »

The moral of the following is to always check the simplest thing first.

Back in the summer of 2018, I converted the majority of the lamps/bulbs in my '69 RS to LED.  This included the:  headlamps, interior dome and console courtesy bulbs, the side marker bulbs, rear turn signal/brake bulbs, and taillight bulbs.  I did not convert the front turn signal bulbs but left them as original; i.e. the 1157NA filament type bulbs so that there would be enough circuit resistance for both the mechanical turn signal and hazard flashers to function properly.

Everything worked fine up until a short time ago when the left turn signal began to flash slowly (with the engine running and the charging circuit at 14.4 volts) or not at all with the engine off (battery voltage at 12.5 volts).

My initial thought was that the front left turn signal bulb (1157NA) was bad.  I removed the bulb and the first thing I noticed was that both filaments looked good.  I checked the bulb for continuity between both button contacts on the bottom and the outside of the bulb and confirmed that the bulb was indeed good.  Since I had a spare bulb, I changed it anyway.

Still had the same issue.  With the engine running - left turn signal slow flash; with the engine off - left turn signal no flash.  Additionally I noted that with the engine running it was only the left rear turn signal (LED) that was flashing.  The left front (1157NA filament bulb) turn signal was not flashing at all.

Keeping with the thought process of check the simplest things first, I removed and reinstalled the hazard flasher (on the fuse box).  This had no affect - I didn't expect it would as this was the hazard flasher and not the turn signal flasher.  I then removed the turn signal flasher (which is secured in a clip on a brace under the dash in the vicinity of the ash tray/lighter) and reinstalled it.

Well, I'll be.  After removing the turn signal flasher and reinstalling it, everything works just fine.  I have no idea why this made a difference.  The flasher was securely installed in the harness before I removed it.  Additionally, since this obviously is not a digital system, "re-booting" a mechanical flasher shouldn't have changed anything - but somehow it did and at this point, I am not going to question the result or dig any further in an effort to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

I have included a picture of this circuit for reference.

Just a FYI story.

Richard

4

Maintenance / Chevrolet Dealer Product Campaign Bulletin - 3 March 1969

« on: July 02, 2021, 07:48:16 PM »

FYI - Refer to the attachments in this post and the next two posts:

"All 1968 and some 1969 Chevrolet equipped with the Quadrajet 4-barrel carburetor have a type of fast idle cam that could crack and eventually separate from the carburetor. If this occurs, a section of the cam could become lodged in the throttle linkage and cause the throttle to be held in a partially open position. If this should occur while the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle will not slow down when the driver removes his foot from the accelerator pedal. While this is a remote possibility, if it does occur, the driver should shift the transmission into neutral, apply the brakes and bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

Install a new type fast idle cam on vehicles involved in this campaign in accordance with the instructions in this bulletin."

Applies to all 1968 and 1969 prior to LOS VIN L-523411 and Norwood VIN N-599752 (approximately mid-February 1969).

Richard

5

Garage Talk / First Car Show of the Year - Felt Really Good!

« on: May 06, 2019, 10:44:20 PM »

Here in the Carson Valley in northern Nevada, the days are warming up and this past Saturday was the first car show of the year for me...a local event, combination car show/bar-b-que, hosted by our church and open to anything driven by a motor.  This was the 8th year for this event and there were about 65 local rides in attendance.  Parked the '69 RS and the 2011 SS side by side. 

The 17th-18th is Hot August Nights "Spring Fever Revival" in Reno which will be the next one on the calendar.

Richard

6

Garage Talk / My First Camaro - What was Yours?

« on: August 17, 2017, 11:40:54 PM »

Cleaning out some old documents today and came across this.  It is the dealer invoice copy of the first Camaro I owned - a 1976 sports coupe.

I had graduated from college in late Aug 1975 and took my mechanical engineering degree to my first job in Deer Park, TX (Houston suburb - on the industrial/ship channel corridor).  Within a month I had purchased my first Camaro from Timmers Chevrolet in Pasadena, TX - a 1976 Camaro Sports Coupe - and although from a performance standpoint, she couldn't get out of her own way - she was mine - all mine, my first Camaro.  I clearly remember that I had negotiated an out of the door total cost (car, tax, title, license, etc.) for $5,000 - and I felt pretty good as a brash 22 yr old.

The poor car had a horribly detuned, EGR equipped, 305 CID engine with a Rube Goldberg assortment of hoses and vacuum lines running all over the place - early attempt at emission controls.  The heat riser valve was actually operated via a vacuum canister mounted up on the passenger side of the engine that either left the valve closed or opened it based on vacuum to the canister.  What a mess.  The 305 was rated at 140 HP at the flywheel, and if I got 90 to a 100 HP at the rear wheels I was lucky.  Top speed, flat out, pedal to the metal, long straight run of highway was 90-95 mph.  The mid to late 70's was not the high point of Detroit manufacturing prowess to say the least.....but she was mine all mine.  A pretty car, by mid-70's standards with Firethorn Red Metallic paint.

I kept that car until mid-1988 when a growing family and other transportation needs dictated that it was time to sell - which I did via a private sale to a lady for $1500.

When I sold the car, the door hinges were in need of replacement.  That car had some big, heavy doors on it and by 1988 the hinges were showing the strain of supporting those heavy doors.

All good fun.

Richard

7

Garage Talk / A Beautiful Day in Northern Nevada

« on: March 02, 2017, 08:26:47 PM »

Finally getting a little break in the weather in between winter storms.  Just had to get the '69 out for a drive today. 

The mountains in the background are the Sierra Nevada with the highest peaks varying from 10,400 to close to 10,900 feet.  The pictures were taken in Gardnerville, NV (a little south of Carson City, NV in the Carson Valley (approx. 4750 feet in elevation).

It just doesn't get any better for taking the car out for a drive.

Richard

8

General Discussion / Hot August Nights 2015; Reno, NV 3-9 Aug

« on: July 28, 2015, 03:56:56 PM »

Anyone going to be there this year?  I'll be taking my annual 10 days of vacation for HAN, beginning tomorrow.  Prep and some local cruise-ins this weekend.   Show really begins next Tuesday, week from today.  Barrett-Jackson begins Thursday, 6 Aug and runs through Sat 8 Aug.

http://hotaugustnights.net/

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Home/RenoTahoe-2015/09dcb5bf-b9f6-41d9-918b-d2720ce3f6c6


Richard

9

General Discussion / Various Car Movie Clips

« on: January 16, 2015, 10:49:22 PM »

Ran across this link: http://www.tvraaca.org/oldmovies.htm#story

Although probably well known to many, it was a new one to me - thought I'd share it here.

....and be sure to use the Internet Explorer "Find" (search) function to search the list of clips with the words "muscle" and "Camaro" along with any other searches.

Although the clip re: '67 Camaro that will come up with the Camaro word search is good, the one you get by searching "muscle" is even better IMHO.

Richard

10

General Discussion / My 69 RS - Part of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Intro From Hot August Nights Reno

« on: August 14, 2014, 03:05:22 AM »

A little late posting this due to being out of town for the last 10 days on business, but to make a long story short, during the introduction to the Barrett-Jackson Auction that was part of Hot August Nights in Reno on Friday, 1 August, of all the cars that they could have used, my '69 RS was part of the opening sequence.  

They (FOX Sports 1) began from inside the auction hall showing a couple of the cars that would come up on the block, then went across the street to the Atlantis Hotel Resort Casino which is one of the venues for Hot August Nights (over 6500 registered classic rides - by far the largest car event that I know of in North America - lasts for 10 days).  I had reserved VIP parking at the Atlantis venue and had gone across the street to the convention with my son-in-law to watch the auction.  All the time not knowing that across the street, my ride was on national tv.

I didn't realize my car had been on until the later that weekend.  I had recorded the auction on the DVR and when I played it back - guess what I saw!

The FOX Sports 1 commentator is April Rose and she spent quite probably 30 seconds or so with my car before moving on to another ride.  Picture below isn't the best - hard to take a good photo off of the tv, but anyway you get the idea.

Richard

11

General Discussion / Got My '69RS Back From Paint and Body

« on: April 14, 2014, 01:05:22 AM »

Just sharing a little happiness on my end.  I bought the car on 1 Nov 1991 and over the years have had it apart and have been completely through it mechanically.  On 3 September last year I dropped it off at the restoration shop in Sparks, NV (Reno).  It went down to bare metal, body came apart, glass came out along with 70% of the interior.  Front buckets were recovered with new foam and springs repaired as necessary.  New custom door panels (I have my originals, but they were cracking in the arm rests).  Inner fenders, license plate brackets, misc. bracketry under the hood, and the wheels were all powder coated.

I picked it up this past Tuesday, 8 April....just in time for spring time in northern Nevada and a multiplicity of car shows and events that begin in ernest next month.

Post with pictures:  1 of 4

Richard

12

General Discussion / Amazing Survivor Chevrolets - Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction End

« on: August 21, 2013, 11:50:26 PM »

Amazing Survivor Chevrolets & More! Lambrecht Chevrolet Company Auction End of September

I don’t believe this – stuff urban legends are made from.

Guy owned a Chevy dealership in Nebraska for almost 50 years (reminds me of the old Chevy dealership here in Minden).  Cars that didn’t sell – he kept.  Some of these cars have 1.5 to 10 miles on the odometer.  Other than being dirty and needing some serious TLC, many are essentially new cars that are 50 something years old and have never been titled.

Auction is end of Sept – I need to find a reason to be there.  Apparently a lot of other dealer related items, manuals, memorabilia, etc . to be auctioned off as well.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/08/20/vintage-chevy-auction-to-deal-in-low-mileage-gems/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmCSv3wzOfU

http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auctions_details.php?detail=135

13

General Discussion / American Car Brochures:

« on: February 10, 2012, 10:08:14 PM »

Many may already know of this site, but I just found it and thought it might be of interest -

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html

The Chevy Brochures span from 1914 to 2010

14

General Discussion / Soon a New Camaro SS in the Stable

« on: February 25, 2011, 07:38:33 PM »

Although not a 1st Gen addition, just wanted to share that this week I special ordered a 2011 Camaro SS with the 2SS option package, Red Jewel Tintcoat paint, and the following additional options.

Model Description; 1ET37; Camaro 2SS

Option Code

GAQ; Red Jewel Tintcoat Paint
KAE; Hurst Short-Throw Shifter
VQL; Satin Nickel Finish Fuel Door
VRV; Quarter Flares
VYX; Body-Color Painted Engine Cover
Q9J; 20" Polished Aluminum Wheels
VYW; Premium Carpeted Floor Mats
VL1; Cargo Mat

Kind of cool that I can track the progress of the build on line as well.

15

Restoration / Master Cylinders: Drum vs. Disc vs. Power vs. Manual

« on: November 11, 2009, 11:31:58 PM »

Master cylinders have been discussed on several occasions on this forum in the past.  Often the discussion has been on the topic of residual pressure valves (check valves) located behind the tube seats in the outlet ports of the master cylinder body on cars with drum brakes and whether or not they should be there.  Some of those discussions can be found at the following links:

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=5189.0

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=3428.0

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=3657.0

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=3541.0

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=2938.0

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=3674.0

Recently, I acquired a copy of "BRAKES, standard, disk and power" which is a  training program booklet that was used by Chevy in their training programs.  The manual is #TP-53 and is dated 1969.

Attached to this post is a copy of the cover of the booklet.  My '69 RS has power drum brakes.  The master cylinder part number is 5460465 with a CT application code.  This past weekend I rebuilt my master cylinder with a rebuild kit that I obtained from NAPA.  The rebuild kit came with a new complete primary piston assembly, check valves and springs, and rubber cups for the secondary piston.  As you will see in the following postings - it is the critical dimensions of the secondary piston that establish the application code.