Messages

2446

Decoding/Numbers / Re: 1969 SS

« on: March 09, 2006, 12:39:22 AM »

Look at this:
http://www.camaros.org/suspen.shtml#MonoVsMultiSprings
According to this report all 69 12 bolt, 350s had multi-leaf.
JohnZ can tell you definitively.

2447

Decoding/Numbers / Re: LT1 Question and For Sale

« on: March 07, 2006, 07:18:40 PM »

I can see your confusion.  Here's a web site that calls a 69 engine an LT1
http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.html
But then on the same site, it points out the LT1 started in 1970:
http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/z28lt1.html
 

2448

Originality / Re: 1968 Trunk Mat

« on: March 07, 2006, 02:11:58 AM »

Also how should the mat fit around the gas filler neck? I ask this as I have another mat, also original that is formed in another way for the tank filler? Thanks for any help. Bill D

I'd like to know the answer to Bill's second question, as well.  Original or repo, how should the mat fit around the tank filler?  A picture would be great!

2449

Decoding/Numbers / Re: LT1 Question and For Sale

« on: March 06, 2006, 08:46:59 PM »

But wasn't the LT1 a second generation Camaro motor?
http://www.camaros.org/engine.shtml#302Motor

2450

Originality / Re: 1968 Interior RPO options

« on: March 04, 2006, 11:12:19 PM »

Looks like you've got quite a project!

When factory installed, Custom Interior (Z87) did include wood-grained instrument panel trim and molding (can't tell from your picture about wood-grain; the bright molding was Z87, not Special or Standard), bright pedal pads, and assist handle. The Z87 steering wheel was described as "deluxe".  I THINK that would have been N30 (three bar with two horn tabs) not N34 (sport wheel, wood-grained).  I see your glove box is gone, but is there any way to tell if there was a light in the glove box?  That would be another sign of Z87.

I'm still not sure about your 716 seats.  Z87 does have "special seat trim", but I'm not sure what that automatically means from the factory.  Again, I've always assumed that seats was a trim tag issue, not so much RPO.  Could easily be wrong!  When the Mustangs came out with so many options, Camaro had to follow suit.  Most options could still be ordered through the dealer.

Again, I guess you are assuming that your car was not an SS or RS.

2451

General Discussion / Re: 68 shoulder harness

« on: March 04, 2006, 09:52:56 PM »

Some local law enforcement officers are not clear about this.
My 68 was built in December of 1967 and does not have shoulder belts.
I carry a copy of my state's statute in my car.

2452

General Discussion / Re: Replace heater core on 68 without AC

« on: March 03, 2006, 04:46:27 PM »

First, to quote JohnZ, "Do you have a 68 Chassis Service Manual?"
It has a clear diagram and 9 steps (9 in reverse to put it all back together).

I've not done it for myself (My Camaro has AC and I take that stuff to a shop!), but I did help when a friend replaced the core in his 68 Chevelle. (OK, I read the steps, drilled the stud, and ran to the store for more coolant!)
It is pretty much the same in all Chevy vehicles.  The manual does not show any special tools, but a Camaro does reguire that you drill out an air distributor stud.  (Really not that hard: you drill it out and replace it with a new screw and pall nut.)  Beyond that there is just the usual disconnecting of hoses (they suggest plugs for the core tubes) and taking off various connection nuts.

What you are actually doing is pulling the air distributor duct to get at the core and replace it.  My friend was very careful (and lucky) and did not have to replace the seal.  But a new seal wouldn't be a bad idea.

Hard?  Good question... I'm not all that mechanical.  But my friend is a good weekend mechanic and has a pretty good shop and plenty of confidence.  The manual tells you everything --even to the point of telling you, "lay the distributor duct on the floor". 

Good luck!!!

2453

Originality / Re: 1968 Interior RPO options

« on: March 02, 2006, 01:30:17 PM »

I've expereinced the same "confusion" over my 68.  I'm assuming you got the 716 reference for your buckets off your trim tag.  The problem is 68 trim tags don't tell you much of anything else about interior.  If you do not have original documents on your car, it IS hard to know how it was originally ordered (and later modified).  I've looked at an options list from GM and several web sites for 68, and from there it is difficult to tell you if there was an overall RPO that covers your car.  For example, pedal trim and a console could be signs of one "appearance group" (actually, I would say the combination of two), but they could have been ordered (or added) seperately.
What else can you tell us about the options on your car?  Do you at least suspect it was an RS or SS or not.

I waited a couple of days to respond to your post to see if anyone (Help John or Kurt or anybody!) could tell just from that information.  I'd love to know if there was a simple way to tell just by looking, but after three years of seaching, I suspect there is not.

Hey guys, help supernove and me out....

2454

Maintenance / Re: Hissing brake booster?

« on: March 02, 2006, 01:15:34 PM »

And like my daddy always told me, "Before you make her go faster, first make sure she'll stop!"

2455

Originality / Re: 68 jack color

« on: March 01, 2006, 04:03:09 PM »

Take a look at this discussion of 67 jacks:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=272.0
Mine is black, but I'm sure it is not original.  I've also seen some gray 68s.
There is the possibility that both were used.

2456

Maintenance / Re: 406 small block

« on: February 28, 2006, 11:19:47 PM »

As always, John is right.  It is not an original first generation Camaro motor.  What you have, however, is a potentially great "street racing" machine.  The great thing about a small block 406 is that it has "street manners" (torque, rpms, etc.) but it is really a racing motor (depending on how it is set up... may have 600+ hp).

What else can you tell us about it???

Here is another article about the 406: http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/68999/

By the way, THE decoding book for first generation Camaros is: Chevrolet by the Numbers: The Essential Chevrolet Parts Reference, 1965-1969 Alan L. Colvin.  By what John said above (no 406 until 1970) it may not help you much on the motor, but it is a wealth of info. about the rest of your car.  There is a 1970-75 edition.

2457

Maintenance / Re: 406 small block

« on: February 27, 2006, 10:51:57 PM »

I'll let the CRG members give you the low down on decoding, but you might want to go to the decoding button on this site and start with the flollowing link:
http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml

I can tell you that the 406 does exist.  The following link is an article from Chevy High Performance about a 406 build up.
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/148_0306_406/

2458

Restoration / Re: 1968 Camaro Restoration

« on: February 27, 2006, 07:02:01 PM »

Not only is it not funny, it sounds like a crime!
Please post back and tell us you are joking!

2459

General Discussion / Re: powerglide shifting

« on: February 24, 2006, 09:49:36 PM »

Rich,
Thanks for the web site.  I back tracked into the home page and found all kinds of interesting manuals and brochures.  First look, didn't see anything on 1st Gen Camaros.  Are there any other sites like that, which you know of?
Sorry, dab67, for getting this thread a little off topic...

2460

General Discussion / Re: powerglide shifting

« on: February 23, 2006, 02:26:37 AM »

dab67,
John mentioning the Assembly Manual made me think...
The linkage adjustment procedure I'm talking about is called "Auto. Trans. -Trans. to Carb. Linkage Adjustment".  Remember my car is a 68, so I'm speaking from the 68 Assembly Manual.  In the 68 manual it is page 340 (handwritten), UPC M35 A17.  What I called the kickdown rod, the manual calls "throttle valve rod".  The procedure does look pretty simple: someone has to fully depress the accelerator pedal, while you adjust the swivel on the throttle valve rod.
Assuming neither one of us have the problems John mentions above --and since both cars seem to run fine otherwise, we probably don't-- this should be our fix.
As I recall, the mechanic who looked at my linkage did it by himself, so he may not have set it right.  John's advice about taking the manual to the shop is right!
Maybe this will help.  The weather is so lousy here.  It will probably be a couple of weeks before I can try it out.
Good luck to you, too!