Messages

1771

General Discussion / Re: BLOCK CAST DATE VS PAD STAMP DATE

« on: January 03, 2013, 03:41:08 AM »

My 02A 1969 Z28  (2nd week Feb.)   
                                                   

Second week ?                                                   
                               
         

1772

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

« on: January 02, 2013, 04:16:37 PM »

Gary,
 
I didn't really go into great detail about what I did to mine, but there are a few similarities with your story. I rebuilt my 302 in '75, using the original heads/intake and crank/rods, but I used Manley 12.5:1 pistons, and polished the rods. Removed the original manifolds (stored them !) and added headers, replaced cam with a Sig Erson stick, a Mallory dual point with a Mallory coil, and pulled the 4053 carb and added an 850 DP, Mr. Gasket Pro Shifter on the original Muncie. Yeah, it ran like a proverbial scalded dog (sorry, PETA), but at that time and my age, who thought about restoration ? I was lucky to have saved what I did. 1980 was the awakening point for me - realized I had an X77 Z, got the documentation from the DOT (dealer invoice, MSO, title copies), and then started about collecting NOS parts to restore the car, and been at it ever since, adding cars and parts to the garage over the years.

If your wiper motor is the original, be careful with it - one year only part number I believe, RS headlight washer valve, rare to see them intact. I've rebuilt a couple of them - Impala Bob's is the only place reproducing the valve (beat me to it, I tried for years to build the molds to reproduce the valves as I have a Z11); do not swap your core motor for another, as they are stamped with the correct number on the bearing cover end plate - pretty costl;y to replace. 293BR is the correct coil for the stock 302.

Regards,
Steve   

1773

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

« on: January 02, 2013, 12:24:44 AM »

I was lucky (don't read as smart !) enough to keep my Z pretty intact with original parts. I did, however, briefly consider cutting the roof for Hurst aftermarket T tops a la the "Smokey and the Bandit" Firechicken - no lie. I have a terrible inclination to hurl recent meals everytime I think about it. I even offered the car on a straight trade for a all steel '34 5 window (gulp) Ford street rod that was mostly held together with baling wire, but the guy thought his Ford was worth more than the Z, so he declined. Around '76 - '77.

Didn't mean to digress, but seeing Gary's wonderful RS Z brought back a lot of memories - I'm glad to know there are sensible people still around -

Regards,
Steve

1774

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

« on: January 01, 2013, 08:14:51 PM »

Steve,  Thanks for the pic's. Boy $1000 for that pulley? That's half of what I paid for my car back in the day.

Rick,

Ditto on the pulley price. I bought my X77 in 1973 for $1600 - original except for the missing smog system - everything else was there. First thing I bought for the car was a new GM ZL2 hood (for $86.00). If we had only known then -

Regards,
Steve

1775

General Discussion / Re: BLOCK CAST DATE VS PAD STAMP DATE

« on: December 29, 2012, 04:37:22 PM »

I have to comment about Flint based on what I have seen in engine assembly over the last 30 years or so - I can count among my customers GM Spring Hill (formerly Saturn) for 1.9L, 2.2L, and 2.4L- 4's and transmissions, Nissan Decherd for V6 and ZH2 5.6L V8 production, Navistar/International diesel production V8 (5 heavy transfer lines), Hyundai Montgomery Theta 4 and V6 lines, and got to tour GM Opel L850 2.4L KS Germany and the plum of Stuttgart, Mercedes Engine V6-V8 production. I have helped tool a lot of processes from camshaft to crank machining to cylinder bore/block machining, plus small parts machining like water pumps/front covers and everything else, but in all this time I have never seen anything to beat seeing the film of the block gang installing pistons on the V8 line in Flint. Mercedes touted their robotic assembly in the Stuttgart plant, but the whole time I observed the place I kept thinking about the pace at which our venerable small blocks sailed out of the Flint plant (since 55?) and into what many of us own yet.

Kudos to all who ever worked in either facility. Your craftsmanship still powers us today -

IMO

Regards,
Steve

1776

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

« on: December 29, 2012, 04:45:02 AM »

Beg your pardon - the "original" pulley pic on eBay is not $599.00 - it's $999.00. The other "original" at $599.00 is an ink-stamped version.

Regards,
Steve

1777

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

« on: December 29, 2012, 04:29:25 AM »

Several listed on eBay, from ink-stamped later production to originals - don't get me wrong, I would always rather have original GM over repops (any day of the week), but in light of the fact I don't want to spend $600 on a pulley when I can get a decent repro of one, good price, I'll bite until I can find an original.

The 2 pics attached - one that I pirated from Parts Place, the other is a current eBay listing at $599.00. I saw Pacecar Jeff's listings on there as well. I would rather have the stamped versions as closer to the originals than the ink-stamped ones myself. Note the stamping on the repop is pretty close in font and position to the pic of an original, with the original added "P" stamp at 120 degrees. (at least I belive it's an original - one never knows !)

The disclaimer - this is always my own opinion - everyone has a different one -

Regards,
Steve

1778

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

« on: December 28, 2012, 09:17:30 PM »

I should have added that I have bought from them before - your original post mentioned them (I was confirming them as a source).

$79.00 for the 2458 pulley is a heck of a lot better than the ones I have seen advertised at $600 - $1200 NOS (and higher). I guess it depends on your desire to keep it as a survivor or what level of restoration you want to accomplish or have it judged for.

Regards,
Steve

1779

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

« on: December 28, 2012, 09:07:48 PM »

Check out the Parts Place, Inc. also for spot-on repop pulleys. Decent pricing, too. Complete systems are available (turnkey, less manifolds).

You can put together a correct system for a lot less money than some of the suppliers ask - takes some creative scrounging, but it can be done ( I have three smog cars - thanks goodness for one automatic - ).

Regards,
Steve

1780

General Discussion / Re: 50 Z/28's For Sale ???

« on: December 27, 2012, 10:50:10 PM »

Some one please refresh my memory - when the trim tag and/or VIN numbers were reset towards the end of the '69 model year to extend the Camaro production until the 2nd Gen came out, what were they reset to ? I'm too lazy in my old age to go look it up. Might be in Jerry's Definitive book ?

Gotta love that nice, crisp and perfect trim tag - even with the straight 7's.

Regards,
Steve

1781

General Discussion / Re: 50 Z/28's For Sale ???

« on: December 27, 2012, 01:07:11 AM »

Shame they don't include a trim tag pic or engine/trans stamping details. Good way to get around the "numbers matching" statements. Must be quite a collection to have 50 Z's in one spot.

Regards,
Steve

1782

1969 - Orphans / Re: Orphaned block 19N571318

« on: December 23, 2012, 05:12:16 AM »

Thanks for the $0.02 - that's pretty much how I feel.

The owner's offer is pretty low - I'll keep and build it myself. I'm certainly not afraid of .060 over, seeing as I don't intention Banzai 7000 rpm launches or street racing - old age finally taught me the errors of youth and hormones. I prefer the sound of an idling solid lifter big block than a 10,000 rpm imported FWD sewing machine.

Regards,
Steve

1783

Originality / Re: 67 350 metal vacum line correct

« on: December 21, 2012, 12:32:19 AM »

Hey pracing -

I've got one of these if you need an original - be glad to send it to you if you'll pay the freight. I'll try to dig it out of the frozen garage tonight and get a pic if you want -

Regards,
Steve

1784

General Discussion / Re: any ideas how to find my old 69 Z-28

« on: December 21, 2012, 12:23:22 AM »

Are you sure you don't have an old registration receipt buried somewhere ? I found one from my first car ('57 Bel Air) and tracked the car through my DMV. Yours might not (read as "probably" due to Fed privacy laws), but they ought to be able to tell you if the car is still registered in the state. Local law enforcement might track it for you, if you have a friend -

Regards,
Steve

1785

General Discussion / Re: building a garage

« on: December 20, 2012, 11:53:59 PM »

It's NEVER big enough. I built a 32 X 28 foot, 1-18' roll up, 1-10' roll up, and made 3 mistakes: 1) a 10' ceiling, 2) a 4/12 pitch on the roof, and 3) I had one car when I built it. There are three inside now, with the fourth going in soon. I stick built it myself, so the only person I can complain about for the error in design is me. Do yourself a favor, and put a steep enough pitch to the roof where you can either second-story above the garage space for storage or a rec area. A friend of mine had a good idea (and lived in a heavily code-strict area), so he floored the upstairs in 2 X 10's with a tongue and groove sub floor, a large (wide) staircase attached with hinges and a winch to raise and lower it, and stored heavy items like blocks, heads, and manifolds there by the dozens. Ceiling was at least 12 feet. Clear span, no posts.
I wired mine myself (as long as you permit here, and have the requisite rough-in and finish inspections, they'll approve it), and saved myself a bunch of money plus I got everything I needed. 100 amp primary, ground faulted wall and ceiling outlets, 30 amp 230 service for welder/light compressor, 50 amp circuit for the big compressor/heater, 8 foot strip flourescents and eve lights, side and entry lights. Alarm circuits, cable TV and phone lines to boot. Now, if I had only built it larger - I might have had room to work on the cars inside (parts and cars are tough to step on when walking through the garage).

Good luck,
Steve