COPO Survivor Complete Smog Set-up--Wow

[68camaroz28]

Good friend of mine just picked up a complete smog set-up that came off a 69 COPO hugger orange RS Camaro with white interior. Original owner told him he took it off when the car was two weeks old and it looks like it. Thought I'd post some pictures for future reviews as set-ups like this are rare and its pretty neat to see exactly what it was like from the factory. Great piece of Camaro history.

[68camaroz28]

More to come!

[68camaroz28]

And still more pics!

[68camaroz28]

Black painted pulley!

[68camaroz28]

Note how the original is flared/bent.

[ko-lek-tor]

And I thought I was the only one who kept everything?! Nice Chick and many thanks to you and your friend.  Indeed, A rare opportunity to see how the OEM pieces look and compare to repros.

[ZLP955]

Great photos to capture the details Chick!
Interesting that the Wittek clamp is dated 1st quarter of 69 for a July-built car, I guess I just assumed that most would be very close to car build date due to the large numbers of this type of part required. I've been hunting down a couple of 1/69 heater hose clamps for my 04A car, but maybe 4/68 could do just as well.....

[bergy]

Great pics Chick!  Thanks for posting.  Now go find the car that they came off of - I'd love to have it sitting next to this:

[jdv69z]

Where are the straight tubes that the mounting bolts are sitting on used?

[vtfb68]

Jimmy,
 Inside the exhaust manifold ports.
    VT

[KurtS]

That diverter valve is not the original. The decals weren't used until the 70's.

[cook_dw]

That diverter valve is not the original. The decals weren't used until the 70's.

Debbie Downer..  lol

[dannystarr]

Also, sure looks like it is showing WAY more use than 2 weeks. If it got taken off 2 weeks after purchase it would be beautiful.. Should be way cleaner than that. Looks more like 10 years.. D

[cook_dw]

Your kidding right..??..  From original cars I have seen this is inline with the look of others..

[JKZ27]

Think the undercoating spray is from the 70's also? It seems to conflict with either the diverter valve or the system removal date.

[BULLITT65]

Not sure about the sticker, but my car was ziebarted 2 days after purchase, and I have parts that have overspray on them, that look like that.
my 2 cents 

[cook_dw]

Dealerships would up sale the undercoating when the car was new..  My fathers 68 was undercoated from the dealer..  They lived in Ohio close to the lake and salt from bad winters in Mentor so it made sense..

[ko-lek-tor]

Also, sure looks like it is showing WAY more use than 2 weeks. If it got taken off 2 weeks after purchase it would be beautiful.. Should be way cleaner than that. Looks more like 10 years.. D

Yea, further inspection reveals that this is not suitable for a high $$ nice car Chick.  Tell your friend to send it to me. It would look right at home on my low $$ beater BB!? Probably this unit is good enough for a H.O. car?

[68camaroz28]

That diverter valve is not the original. The decals weren't used until the 70's.

This is most interesting Kurt as I know for sure the guy who had this bought the car new.
Danny, you got to be kidding!

[69z28302]

Where was the car sold? Just curious.

Thx
Mike

[68camaroz28]

Where was the car sold? Just curious.

Thx
Mike

Sport Chevrolet in Silver Springs, MD where my Dad was a salesman.

[dannystarr]

I actually was serious.. But what do I know.. I think I meant to say 2 years instead of 10.  But no matter... D

[FortLangleyBC]

For what it's worth Danny - I thought the same thing

[z28z11]

My X77 was undercoated by the dealer in Nashville - stated on the invoice. I'll have to dig out the '68 invoice - seems like it was, too - also a Tennessee car. Common thing for the dealers to offer around here, even though we didn't have the road salt then like we have now.

Anyone ever spot a date code on a diverter valve ? I've never seen a GH sticker, but the rest of the unit is phenominal. Love survivor parts like I do cars - 

[68camaroz28]

Also, sure looks like it is showing WAY more use than 2 weeks. If it got taken off 2 weeks after purchase it would be beautiful.. Should be way cleaner than that. Looks more like 10 years.. D

To clarify without arguing. Look at the inside of the pulley belt groove and face, and condition of the zinc screw heads. This unit sat in a 3 car garage (no temp control) for 36 years. Yes, dust and cob-webs accumulated along with some very minor rust from humidity over the years but this unit could be easily cleaned up (not restored) and utilized on a restored car or for a survivor. The aluminum is outstanding as I have a pair of 69Z/LT1 valve covers purchased in 1970 (box dated 1/70) and they do not look as good and were never on a car. I placed these pictures in so people could review for now and in the future.

[bergy]

Thanks for posting Chick. Your pictures are great historical documents. You & Skip could have chosen to just keep your survivor information to yourselves. It's generous of you to take the time to share it with the community.

[janobyte]

 Sort of a sore spot. When #1 owner got in touch with me a few years ago, one of the things he mentioned was how he had justgotten rid of the smog system. Had been up in his Mom's garage all those years. On one hand would be nice to have on the shelf, other then that I honestly doubt I'd ever hang it back on the car.

Z was undercoated at dealer, my complete exhaust was dropped soon after delivery, still retains quite a bit of overspray. Other then lite surface rust on the pipes, great shape, butafter almost 50 years of sitting up in garage attics, it doesn't look like it was taken off the car 2 weeks ago, lol.

[BULLITT65]

Are you going to install that exhaust back on the car when finished?

[janobyte]

no, maybe down the road, like the toys loud.

Should be able to get back to it this Fall.

[68camaroz28]

Thanks for posting Chick. Your pictures are great historical documents. You & Skip could have chosen to just keep your survivor information to yourselves. It's generous of you to take the time to share it with the community.

Thanks Bruce! Yikes, 46 years it sat in that 3 bay garage, not 36..... Oh, and loved your picture of that orange 429. Know you will let me drive it. LOL......

[68camaroz28]

That diverter valve is not the original. The decals weren't used until the 70's.

Since this is a research group we dug in for some more information Kurt. The original owner of this smog system who took it off was contacted and he again claims it was taken off 2 to 3 weeks after purchase, and the car had not been back to the dealer for any service/warranty work. How it came was how it was taken off and it was taken off as a whole package and nothing was removed or broken down. Inspecting the clamps and hoses, they show absolutely no signs of ever being removed and placed back on.  Next, we contacted Bill Hodel and Bill stated "The diverters with the sticker started to appear in late 1969---possibly late October, November and December 1969." Bill looked at the pictures posted and noted the sticker of course is the real deal. Upon more review Bill communicated the pump date is early for a July car which many of us were thinking but also concluded this was an unmolested unit. Bill's comment told to the current owner of this unit was something like never say never.

[69Z28-RS]

Perhaps another example of how the late '69's got parts intended for the '70 model year, just as many other things we've found.. contrary to 'popular knowledge'..

[BULLITT65]

Well all we can do is go by all the information we can gather right? Good job getting in touch with the original owner and finding out that info.

Only question I have is: who is Bill Hodel? (smog expert?)

[69Z28-RS]

Well all we can do is go by all the information we can gather right? Good job getting in touch with the original owner and finding out that info.

Only question I have is: who is Bill Hodel? (smog expert?)

Bill Hodel has been collecting, trading, restoring, selling Chevy smog systems (mostly to the Corvette world, but also 'other GM') for many years.  25 or more years .... I think I met him at Bloomington in the 80's...

[BULLITT65]

very good, thanks.

[JKZ27]

Thanks Chick. I admit I was shocked when Kurt suggested the diverter was not original after I saw the pictures. Because I don't really know any better, I was hoping for some more info regarding sticker/stamp usage.
Chick, if you ever write a book on Camaros, I'll buy it.