Messages

46

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 10, 2006, 12:24:26 AM »

Steve:

Glad to be of some assistance.  As a newbie both to this site and to working on cars in general I'm just glad I could do more than sit idly by.  It's amazing to see and appreciate all the expertise and information on this and the TC site and all of you who so obviously care so much about these great cars.  It's great to see people so willing to help each other out.

Mark

47

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 08, 2006, 11:51:31 AM »

Steve:

Yes the horizantal bars are raised to facilitate chroming, whether it was plating or hot stamping.  And yes, the previous owner told me the grille was chromed.  Everything he has told me has proven out to be true.  He owned the car since 1972 and he is a practicing Christian.  I believe him.

Here is the question and his responses on an email I sent him

1.)                 Do you know if the grille and headlight covers are original to the car?

2.)                 Did they have the chrome on them before you blacked them out or were they always black?

1 I think so
2 yes, painted over bright polished alum or stainless. I ran across a neat item called an eraser at the auto paint store. you put it in a drill motor to remove decals on paint works good you might try it on the grill

Steve, that is as good as it gets for the information on the grille.  It may not be what you wanted to hear, but it is the truth as best as I know it.

Mark

48

General Discussion / Re: Cost of Camaro

« on: October 08, 2006, 11:43:06 AM »

Phillip:

Camaro Specialties is in East Aurora, NY, out near Buffalo.

Mark

49

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 08, 2006, 01:22:03 AM »

Steve:

Here are some pics of the center grille.

Paul, as someone who has been in the injection molding business for 22 years I look at the small numbers you see on the back side of the headlicht covers and say they were mold cavity numbers.  JohnZ may be able to verify this?

Mark

50

General Discussion / Re: Cost of Camaro

« on: October 06, 2006, 11:08:45 PM »

Steve:  We went with Flow Master.  I don;t like the way it was installed with one being lower than the other and one tail pipe angled a little different.  I just noticed it when I posted this pic last nght.  I am going to have to fix that.

Firstgen:  No the car was originally a Z-Z car, British Green with 749 Black houndstooth interior.  It is an 06C car so Tuxedo black was discontinued by then.  The previous owner had it painted black about 7 years ago and the paint is still in real good shape so I will leave it like this for awhile.  We did put the SS stripe backl on and I like the way it looks.  Awhile back I asked for opinions here on to stripe or not and most everyone came back with yes, so I did it.  I am glad I listened to you guys as it looks good.  BTW how's things in Easley?  I really like that area with Lake Hartwell, Clemson, and Greenville.

51

Originality / Re: Correct Fan and orientation?

« on: October 06, 2006, 08:54:10 AM »

Phillip:  Thanks for the kind words on the car.  Yes, Skaneateles is one of the Fingerlakes.  Beautiful but we do get lake effect mostly from Lake Ontario.  I did not even own a snow brush for my grocery getter when I moved up here, now a 9 hp snow blower adds to my "cylinder index".  Since I moved up here from NC (Asheboro) we have had measurable snow as early as October 7th (twice) and as late as May 21st, however they usually don't have to start using salt until sometime in November.  Bummer I know but, hey, at least this gives me time to work on the car and learn more and more about it without sacrificing time on the road.  (At least thats what I am telling myself).

Mark

52

General Discussion / Cost of Camaro

« on: October 06, 2006, 12:48:16 AM »

Guys and gals:  As I calculate it here is the initial cost of my first Camaro.  Please feel free to let me know if I forgot anything.  I'm sure there is a lot more to come

Cost of car $XX,XXX,  Independent appraisal $500; Closed hauler transportation of car from Nevada to NY $1,900;
Additional clean up work, engine detailing, mechanical repair, SS stripe, etc $6,000;  Insurance registration taxes $1,500; Garage restoration, insulation,dry wall, paint $1,200;  Black and white checkerboard garage floor (next year) $1,600;  Expand garage for more cars in future $10,000;  Car detailing supplies, Cali duster Large and mini etc $80;  Car club dues show entrance fees etc $90;  CBTN, AIM, and other books $100;  Couples therapy for wife feeling abandoned 30 hrs @$150/hr $4,500;  Individual therapy for feeling inadequate when on Camaros.org Forum 10 hrs @ $125/hr $1,250;  New first gen Firebird for wife so we can both drive to shows $15,000;
Dues for 12 step meeting for Camaro addicts, $1 per meeting x 90 meetings in 90 days $90.

Pulling really sweet 68 L78 RS SS into my own garage for the first time while 11 year old step son looks on in wonder-Priceless

53

Originality / Re: Correct Fan and orientation?

« on: October 05, 2006, 11:34:45 PM »

Oh man I have so much to learn.  Steve, thanks for pointing me to the article.  I haven't made the time to search everything yet and wiill keep trying to learn more.  I will especially try to double check stuff on the car before I chime in here.  I checked the radiator just now and it is 23".  Not sure why the 7 blade fan is on there except the previous owner must have done this for cooling.  Here is the link to Ground Up showing what they call the heavy duty GM option.  It is a 7 blade fan kit. http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=camaro6769&Product_Code=FANKIT-5B&Category_Code=COOLINGHEATINGSYSTEM

I mistakenly translated this as an option that was available back then.  Thanks for setting me straight guys.  be patient, I'm learning.

Mark

54

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 05, 2006, 11:22:04 PM »

Steve and all the rest:

I contacted the previous owner who had my 68 RS SS since 72.  He said the grille and headlight covers were the original parts.  He also said they were chrome before he blacked them out.  My car is an 06C car VIN 124378L344xxx.  How does this date and vin compare to those of you who have later built LOS cars?

Mark

55

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 05, 2006, 01:08:34 AM »

Steve:

I finally got the chance to catch up on all the posts.  Sorry it took me so long.  I now see where you are going with all this and will contact the previous owner to get more input.  I am traveling for a couple of days so it may be the weekend before I get back to you on his answer.

Mark

56

Originality / Re: Correct Fan and orientation?

« on: October 05, 2006, 12:44:02 AM »

JohnZ:  Thanks for setting me straight on that.  It is what I thought because we turned it around from when we got the car as the previous owner had it backwards.

Steve:  It is great hearing stories about an original car, and great that you honor your Grandfather by keeping the car up.  I would  love to see more pics if you have them.  My email is listed in my profile if you get the chance to send some pics.  Where are you from?

Rick:  You are correct that AC was not offered on the L78.

Phillip:  how's everything in Winston Salem?  Yes I do have the heavy duty radiator and I believe this is what was specified on the L78. My fan is also the heavy duty 7 blade fan.  I do not know the option code on the 7 blade fan or what the various options needed to be on the car to have the 7 blade fan spec'd out.

Thanks everyone for your help on this one.

Mark

57

Originality / Re: Correct Fan and orientation?

« on: October 04, 2006, 09:28:05 AM »

Steve:

How awesome is that that you still have your original car?  Ground Up Restorations shows the 7 blade heavy duty fan as having been an option and I will have to keep doing some research on that.  The guy I bought the car from had it since 72 and he had another 68 RS SS L78 that got wrecked back then so he may have swapped some parts between the two.  His memory of all what got changed has faded over the last 34 years so there may be some parts off both cars, but both cars were L78 LOS cars.

Any input on the orientation of the fan.  Is it on my car correctly or is it reversed?

Thanks

Mark

58

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 04, 2006, 09:19:37 AM »

Steve:

I checked the AIM page 427 and it shows the following:  The headlight covers P/N 3919063-4 are attached to  the plate assembly P/N 3914747-8 by 4 screws P/N 9425501.  The headlight covers are attached to the mouldings (sic) P/N 3919155-6 with rivets P/N 3899834.  Page 5 in the AIM shows the specified method for uspetting the rivets when attaching metal and plastic parts.  Sorry but I should have checked this first.  I do not know if the factory ever used pop rivets, maybe JohnZ or others could help with this.

Mark

59

Research Topics & Reports / Re: 68 RS center grille

« on: October 04, 2006, 01:26:09 AM »

Steve:

I did not ask him and he did not tell me but I do maintain occasional contact with him and will try to remember to ask.  I plan to try to remove the paint at some point over the winter.  I figure this would be a good thing to do some Sunday while watching football.  We have looooong winters here in Central New York so I have some time.  Not sure yet what I will use as i don't want to hurt the plastic.  I think it is ABS and some chemicals will degrade the ABS so I want to be careful.  I'll have to do some research to see if paint thinner will degrade ABS.  It is my understanding that chromed is correct.

Mark

60

Originality / Re: Correct Fan and orientation?

« on: October 04, 2006, 01:18:33 AM »

I have done some more research and this apparently is the heavy duty option.  I do know the car runs very cool and a cool engine is a happy engine as far as I'm concerned.    Just not sure about the orientation but I believe it is correct.