Author Topic: 1969 SS350 convertible w/Powerglide, how rare is it? (Read 16710 times)

WFSB · « **on:** January 02, 2007, 10:39:11 PM »

I'm interested in swapping my 69 SS350 Convertible from a PG to a TH 350. After a little research I see it appears to be rather easy and the results in performance would be obvious. My concern is however that I've been told that the 69's with the PG's are extremely rare. Does anyone know this to be true? I'd hate to modify my car if the original configuration is rare to begin with. Any input would be much appreciated.

sdkar · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2007, 05:01:33 AM »

I have an SS350 pace car that also came originally with a column shifter, powerglide and a 10 bolt. Not sure if you car originally had a column shift but I am almost positive that all SS cars with the powerglide did have a 10 bolt. I know of one other guy that has an SS as well that has a powerglide/10 bolt setup. Like you, I wanted a 3 speed automatic. What I did was install a TH350 and took my powerglide and all of the linkages and stored them away for later on. That way, IF I ever sell my car (I would have to be dead broke at this point) I have the original tranny. But the car is for me. So I installed the 3 speed and it is much better driving than the powerglide. So, change it if you want to and just save the tranny. Most importantly, do to your car that will make you the happiest. The heck with what the next owner wants.

Steve
69 Camaro Pace Car
69 Camaro Pro Tour

KurtS · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2007, 06:34:39 AM »

That trans swap is easy and reversible. Just save the little parts....

You are correct, very few 69 SS350/PG cars.
What's the build date of your car? 10 or 12 bolt axle?

WFSB · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2007, 01:47:15 PM »

I'll have to check the build date tonight when I get home however I can tell you it's a floor shift with a 10 bolt and single leaf suspension.

tom · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2007, 03:35:27 PM »

I believe the 2004r 4 speed overdrive auto also fits the bill as any easy to do, easy to undo swap, and may be even more street friendly.

Tom

KurtS · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2007, 07:34:24 PM »

Quote from: WFSB on January 03, 2007, 01:47:15 PM

(It has).... a 10 bolt and single leaf suspension.

Huh?? Something is not original. All 350 motors got multileaf rear springs.

When you get a chance, I'd be interested in the numbers from your car. We run across 69 SS350/PG cars so rarely that we have little data on them. Thanks!

And I agree with Tom, I'd go with a 2004R trans.

WFSB · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2007, 09:28:05 PM »

I'll get the numbers tonight, (I got tied up last night). I'd like to know as well. I just replaced to rear suspension last weekend. What I took out definitely seemed original and untouched.

WFSB · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2007, 02:03:32 PM »

I've got the numbers for the car. I read quite a bit on the site about decoding, most of it I understood, however the X11 portion got pretty confusing. Here's what I've got....

VIN 124679N639355

Cowl Tag:

ST 69 12467 NOR310713 BDY
TR 713 50A PNT
05A X11D80

It appears the car was built the first week of May if I understand this correctly. The only thing I could not decode was the paint portion listed as 50A. I know the 50 signifies Dover White, but I can't figure out the meaning of the 'A'. Also, this car was mildly restored prior to me owning it. I know many people add things such as the blacked out rear panel, cowl induction hood, different stripes, etc. I'd like to know, if possible, if my car is correct. Currently it has a blacked out rear panel, cowl induction hood, black z/28 style stripes on top of the car rather than the hockey stick stripes on the side.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I'd like to get it back to original when I do the body over. So far all of you out there have been extremely helpful, this is a great site!! Some day when I get better educated about these cars maybe I can help someone out. My specialty up until this purchase has been Amphicars.

Thanks again,
Chris.

JohnZ · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2007, 08:37:41 PM »

The "A" means it was built with a white convertible top ("B" would be black).

rich69rs · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2007, 09:11:31 PM »

I was looking at this question as well, and in the CRG decoding section, convertible top colors are listed as AA or BB (white or black) for 1969.

Am I correct in assuming that as a matter of convenience, the single letter A or B was used interchangeabley with AA or BB on the cowl tag when it came to conv. top colors in '69?

1967-1969 Camaro Convertible Top Colors
67-68 1969
Code 1967 Color 1968 Color Code 1969 Color
----- ----------- --------- ---- ----------
1 White White AA White
2 Black Black BB Black
4 Med. Blue Blue

WFSB · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2007, 10:36:47 PM »

Thanks for the definition on the A and B convertible top codes. I couldn't decipher it because the car currently has a black top. When I replace it I'll go white. Keep me posted on the single leaf versus multi leaf situation with the Power Glide cars. As I mentioned earlier my build date appears to be May. Is this amongst the time period where you all are short on info on these cars? If so, let me know what other questions you may have and I'll try to answer them.

KurtS · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2007, 06:17:41 AM »

Hmm, I'm not sure why that's listed in that table that way. Looks like it should be just A.

Chris,
Can you post the drivetrain (engine, trans, & axle) codes?

Powerglide or not, all 69 Camaro 350's had multileafs. The axle code should tell us more.

WFSB · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2007, 10:30:58 PM »

I'll try to get those numbers tonight

WFSB · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2007, 04:39:32 PM »

Here are the numbers I found. I was told when I bought the car that the engine was not numbers matching. Here are the engine numbers, there were two sets found below the aternator on the passenger side of the engine, I'm not sure what it could be out of:

15N570573
VO or VD 211CMU, I couldn't tell if it was an 'O' or a 'D'.

Tranny numbers:

C8A18D found on the pan. I think this decodes to Powerglide, 1968, January 18th, dayshift?

8Y156780 or 790, not sure if it was an '8' or a '9'. Not sure how to decode these.

Rear axle numbers:

BP 0410G1 found on the front passenger side of the axle shaft. All I could get out of these was April 10th, not sure what BP means or G1?

C39 found on the back left side of the meatball, upside down, in about the '10 O'Clock' position. This numbers seems to indicate March 3rd, 1969?

This car has a singleleaf suspension, it appears to be original as I just relaced everything it was an incredible task removing the old leafs and hardware. I also discovered while I was under there that this car was originally a column shift car, which makes sense since your research shows that there were no floor shift PG's in 1969, correct?

In any case, any help you can give me is incredibly helpful, I really do appreciate it as I'd like to get this car back to a close to original as possible.

Thanks again,
Chris

JohnZ · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2007, 09:09:53 PM »

The engine is a 350/145hp 2-barrel out of a 1975 Camaro built at Norwood. The transmission is out of a 1968 full-size Impala/Caprice built at Wilmington, Delaware.

WFSB · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2007, 09:33:19 PM »

Is there anyway to tell what engine and tranny the car had originally based on the numbers I posted above?

KurtS · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2007, 10:07:41 PM »

Yes. The car is not a SS350. It originally was a 307. Can't tell what the trans was originally. Is the column shift indicator still there?

You could always get a powerglide with a console.

WFSB · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2007, 10:11:24 PM »

Can you tell me how you were able to decipher that from my numbers so I can understand as well? Thanks.

bertfam · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2007, 10:47:20 PM »

Chris,

The 2.73 rear axle (BP 0410G1) is the giveaway. That axle was "standard" on the two L6 engines and the base V8 (307/200). Yours appears to be original to the car going by the date (April 10th, 1969), so unless it was one of the L6 engines, it would have to be the base V8.

What's your VIN? This will at least tell us if your car was a V8 or an L6.

Ed

tom · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2007, 12:29:27 AM »

My 69 307 PG has the console, with floor shift. I believe it to be original.

Tom

KurtS · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2007, 01:34:18 AM »

More importantly, BP is a monoleaf axle. Only L6 and 327/307 cars got the monoleafs.

WFSB · « **Reply #21 on:** January 10, 2007, 05:29:43 PM »

Going by the VIN, which is above in one of my previous postings, the car was a V8 originally. Thanks for all of your help in deciphering this, I do appreciate it. I'm sure I'll have more questions as the restoration moves on.

bertfam · « **Reply #22 on:** January 10, 2007, 10:02:49 PM »

Yes, going by the VIN the car's a 307. (I didn't see it up in your post. Sorry...)

Ed

News:

Author Topic: 1969 SS350 convertible w/Powerglide, how rare is it? (Read 16710 times)