Topics

181

Maintenance / Front Brake pads - 69 Z

« on: March 04, 2013, 08:12:09 PM »

I'm reworking my front brakes.    I have rebuilt my calipers, and had the rotors surfaced.   I thought I should probably put new pads on at this point, since the *original* ones (I think they are actually pads I installed in the mid 70's and drove on for a couple of years), which are worn about 1/2 down, and the car has 'sat' for 33 yrs.

Alas!  When I started looking for replacement pads, all of them I've found are a *different configuration* than what was original on the car.   All of the ones I've found available now have added area for holes which the caliper mounting pins go thru (on the outboard pad).   They *look* totally different, although it seems they will work, and might even have some advantage over the original configuration.   A mfg photo showing the addition is attached.

Since I'm attempting to maintain the factory originality of the car, what should I do?   
1)  Use my existing pads, even though worn, as the car probably won't be driven very much?
2)  buy the available pads, and *remove* the additional metal from them before use?, or
3)  Do the judges overlook such changes?   
4)  Another option I've heard of, is to send the original pad metal backing to a 'brake rebuilder' who will rivet new pads to the old metal?   

PS.  I haven't yet found a source for option 4, but I've been told it's possible..

What say you fellas?

182

Decoding/Numbers / '67 vs '69 302 harmonic dampers

« on: February 19, 2013, 06:18:16 PM »

in digging thru my parts, trying to find all the '69 parts to put my 302 back together, I found a couple of seemingly appropriate harmonic dampers, but there are some differences.   I have identified the '69 302 damper, since I stamped my initials on it when I rebuilt the engine back in the mid 70's, and had the machine shop add grooves at 30, 90, 180, and 270.  It's stamped on the front '7708', which I believe I've read is correct for the '69 Z28.
The other large damper I had, which I believe to be from the '67 302 which I disassembled once upon a time..     It only has a '1' and a '7' on the front (see photo).  but I also noticed the keyway vs TDC is not the same as for the '69 damper.   Is one of these weights 'slipped'?  or is there supposed to be a keyway difference?  and if so, why?   If so, I assume the crankshaft keyways are also appropriately different?  Can someone point me to a document that clarifies this?  or perhaps provide clarification here?

183

Decoding/Numbers / 67-68 Z28 Crank Pulley pn 3858533 BJ ?

« on: February 14, 2013, 06:55:42 AM »

I was digging thru some old parts on my shelf today, and pulled out a chrome single groove crank pullley and balancer.   These parts were on a '67 302 I bought in 1971 or 72.   The pulley had been chromed, but is now dirty, greasy, and beginning to surface rust.   I saw a pn on the pulley, so I cleaned it up, and found the number was '3858533 BJ'.   Doing some digging I found this number is associated wtih the '67-68 Z28 and perhaps a few other SHP small block chevy engines in the mid 60's.   The issue is that it is listed as a 2-groove pulley on CRG, but the one I have is a single groove.   Is there any possible explanation for this that I'm not thinking of?

184

General Discussion / question for Kurt re Photo Limitations?

« on: February 09, 2013, 04:32:33 PM »

Kurt,
there's something I'm not understanding or doing correctly re the photo posting guidelines.  Twice recently, I've tried to respond to someone's questions with a response containing 3 or more photos, each of which was less than 150KB, with the total less than 500KB.   Is this a correct intrepretation?   On those occasions, when I tried to post, I received a response that the attachments were too large or exceeded limitations, so I hit 'back' and attached new images which I knew were smaller... and when I tried to post that response, I received a message that the post had already been made and that I must have hit 'post' twice... but after multiple times retrying, never succeeded in posting the reply.    Can you tell me what I'm doing incorrectly?  or is there an error in the CRG software?

185

General Discussion / Nemo storm...

« on: February 09, 2013, 03:37:08 PM »

Here's hoping all our members in the northeastern US aren't without power or heat sources this weekend. Hearing about all the snow/cold up there, while here in the south we're having decent winter weather of 40s to 50's.. and sun... makes us feel very fortunate. 
Stay warm guys - and if you do have power and your camaros in the garage, maybe it's a good time to do some wintertime work on the classic..     !!

186

Originality / 69 smallblock (302) Oil dip sticks

« on: January 31, 2013, 02:20:55 PM »

I removed and disassembled my original 302 engine in my Z28 many years ago, stored the parts away (using the 'store' term loosely), and installed a 350 LT-1 engine for awhile.   The car has sat undriven in my garage since 1980, but the last 3-4 yrs, reading this forum has gotten my juices flowing about cleaning up the car, reinstalling all the original parts, etc.  I spent probably a year searching thru my 'garage 'storage' looking for the parts I removed and *stored*... . but hadn't been able to find a 'green tipped' oil dipstick, which most of the stuff I'd read said my Z28 should have come with.   a week or so ago, I saw a dipstick/tube laying with a pile of 'crap' (in storage in my garage), but noticed it didn't have the green tip, but it triggered my old memory a bit.   This one had a flattened tip on the handle and no green tip, see photos,  so I've been searching for information on original '69 Z28 dipsticks.
I came across a great thread and post on Yenko.net regarding '69 Z28 dip sticks..  link below for anyone wanting some great data!!

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=416817#Post416817

This thread and post with labeled photos, seems to totally address the question of '69 Z28 dip sticks..
AND.. I find that I do have my original dip stick..  which makes it even more great!  

187

Restoration / 'EY' coil springs.. update

« on: January 31, 2013, 03:50:53 AM »

A few months ago, I was dismantling my front suspensioni for rebuilding, intending to just clean and replace ball joints/bushings/rubber...  but ALAS.. I found one loop of one of my springs was broken (the bottom loop.. still lying in the bottom of the cup).   When I got them out, i also found both springs still had their original 'EY' factory tapes on them, so at least I knew what I needed.   I spent a couple of weeks looking ..  ordered what was supposed to be the original replacement (MOOG) ..  tried two different spring numbers recommended here and in TC..   but neither of them even *looked* like the springs I removed (wrong number of coils, different wire dia etc).    When I requested help, Steve Shauger recommended I contact Coil Spring Specialties (Lenexa, KS).. so I did.   They do custom springs for just about any application.   I sent them my one good original spring, and we had many discussions on the phone and via email over a couple of months.   My concerns were that the replacements...
1)  had the same number of coil loops (
2)  had as close as possible to the same wire thickness and free length (equivalent)
3)  Had at least the equivalent spring rate (new 340 lbs/in vs 320 measured on the old one)
4)  Sat no higher than my origiinal spring when static loaded in the car - yet to be checked.

Today, I finally received the springs via Fedex.   Cost me $209, plus shipping my spring out there, which is more than twice the cost of the *replacement MOOG numbers* via Autozone/Advance/etc, BUT...   the springs LOOK like my original spring.   See photos of the two new springs flanking the original spring!    The only remaining things to do is to assemble the front suspension, reinstall ALL the parts I've removed for cleaning..  ... and check the ride height!    I'll let you fellas know how it works out.   In the meantime, if anyone else wants to duplicate the original EY spring, Coil Spring Specialities has the data now from measuring my spring and producing my new springs.. so it should be lots easier/faster and cheaper for them to pop a couple off for you.   OR you can wait to see how mine work out..

PS.  I asked them not to paint the springs, so they are bare steel right now.   Should I clear coat them?  or ??

Gary

188

Maintenance / Clock repair

« on: January 29, 2013, 05:02:29 AM »

Today I removed the dash pad and the remainder of the instruments from my dash to check.   I'm going to try to re-glue (construction adhesive?) a few places along the edge of the dash pad where it's loosened from the plastic backing, and also wanted to check the remaining instruments.

I put 12 volts on the clock on the bench, and found it to not be working.    Can anyone recommend a 'clock repairman' to repair these?   mine is the center mounted (small) clock between tach and speedo.

189

Originality / Heater core and resealing inside heater assy

« on: January 26, 2013, 06:33:59 PM »

The heater core in my car was tested *good* by the radiator shop, and I've cleaned up the heater/def box for re-installation and I've a few questions for those of you who have done this before.
1) there was a 'thick material'? on the heater door (behind the heater core) which either served to insulate? or to dampen noise ?from the blower.  Of course this material was deteriorated and came off during the cleaning operation.  Now for re-installation, I'm unsure if I need anything to replace it, and if so, what is the preferred material for doing so ?
2)  The heater core was installed inside the box using a 'weatherstrip' like material to seal the core against the heater box.  Again, this material came off/out when I cleaned it, and again I've a question of what I should use to reseal that area?

The external (firewall) blower motor housing seemed to be sealed to the firewall using gray 3M rope seal, so I plan to put that back to augment what was left there.

PS. I also found a date code on the Heater Core (Harrison 69 J' )     Does anyone know what month J is for heater cores?   is it September?   My car is an 09C..

Any other suggestions from you guys before I do this task?

190

Originality / 69 Z28 Radiator Re-coring ?

« on: January 24, 2013, 05:22:48 PM »

I just spoke with my radiator shop.   I'm told my heator core is GOOD, but the original '69 Z28 (UH) Radiator core is bad (at the header at the bottom).   I'm told he can replace that with an *identical* core for $300.   I just told him to proceed, but I feel I should inquire here to make sure I'm doing the right thing.  I definitely need to repair this original radiator.   Should I be asking the radiator shop any questions re anything?  manufacturer, type, size, etc?
Thanks in advance for whatever suggestions you might make!
Gary

191

Decoding/Numbers / Wiper Motor codes....?

« on: January 16, 2013, 05:22:10 AM »

Attached is a photo of the silver sticker on my original  1969 RS wiper motor...

it has the PN (5045605) as well as a second line of codes:    227  9  6  A.
I think/suspect (based on my 09C build date) that the 227 is a Julian date (mid July or thereabouts), the '9' is the year, but I have no idea about the 6 and the A.   

Can anyone provide a better decode of these numbers??

Thanks,

Gary / 69Z28-RS

192

Maintenance / Wiper Motor Repair

« on: January 12, 2013, 06:30:38 AM »

I removed my wiper motor for maintenance and cleaning..  and I've got some questions that hopefully someone can help me with:
1) Is the motor repairable?   Are replacement bearings for the rotor available?  Does anyone provide that service?
2) My car is an RS, so the wiper motor has the vacuum pump works as well.  IS the wiper motor portion the same from an RS to a NON RS car?  ie. Can I use parts from a non RS car to repair my RS wiper motor?   

Gary

193

Originality / Original/Reproduction Smog Setups for '69 Z28??

« on: December 28, 2012, 04:20:12 PM »

I've owned my '69 Z28/RS since 1976.   it's an original car, 95% complete (missing the smog).  It's unrestored, and I want to retain it's unrestored status, although I am doing some cleanup and *preserving* in getting it back on the road (it's been stored in my garage for 32 yrs).   I have new ceramic coated headers which I'd planned to use to replace the rusted out hedmans I removed.  I also have an extremely nice set of '69 exhaust manifolds (removed on day 1 from a friend's '69 Z28) which I *could* use if I wanted to put it back to 'factory configuration'.  My problem:   Since I don't have the smog setup, and know essentially nilch about them, I'm not clear on what is correct, acceptable, or unacceptable.   
The Parts Place (illinois?) has an ebay listing for a smog system supposedly correct for '69 and '70 Z28s.  Combination of original restored and new components for $795 BIN.    They supposedly have 15 such systems.   I'm interested in what you fellas, much more knowledgable than I on smog setups, think about this system.    Should I buy one and put it on my unrestored (but smogless) Z28?   Am I adding 'correctness' if I do so, or am I just adversely impacting the 'unrestored' status of my car?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270361054902?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Gary  / 69Z28-RS

194

Maintenance / Which Master Cylinder Repair Kit?

« on: November 30, 2012, 06:12:28 AM »

I just ordered an Master Cylinder Repair Kit for my '69 Z28, and was sent an MK472 (which has a 1" dis piston).   
My Z28 has a 1-1/8" piston, so I'm returning the MK472 (unless one of you fellas need it for a different car combo?).   Is the MK1108 kit correct for the '69 Z28 MC?   It's very difficult to get specs on these parts from the online sellers...

Gary

195

Maintenance / source for 69 Z28 Exhaust Pipes?

« on: November 15, 2012, 04:54:41 PM »

My '69 Z28 has the original pipes over the differential and behind the diff muffler and tail pipes, but I've ran headers since I bought the car in the '70's, and thus had a 'muffler shop' connection from the headers to the differential pipes. Question: Is there a source for *original type* exhaust pipes from the factory exhaust manifolds to the rear section? I think this would consist of the exhaust or header pipes and the resonator section (for my late 09C '69 Z28).   I have the original 'day 2' takeoff exhaust manifolds which I plan to use.
If there is no source, is my only option to have a muffler shop bend up a replacement?
__________________
Gary
69Z28-RS