Author Topic: Help with my 1969 ss396!  (Read 9168 times)

mikej454

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Help with my 1969 ss396!
« on: October 03, 2011, 03:07:47 AM »
Hi guys.... New guy here.

two questions
1. Is this a true numbers matching big block ss396 car?

2. What is its approximate value?

Story...

I am 39 years old now, but when i was 19 my dad bought this car.  It looked to have been drag raced and abused!!  It looked to have been the origional lemans blue paint and i have never painted it.  There was a small block in the car but the 396 was disassembled and given to us in pieces.  The 4 speed was in the car and the small block ran.....barely.  The heads given had several broken valve springs and were off a 1972 motor.  The rear end was a 12 bolt but out of a 1967 car with the passenger side torque arm bracket and mono leaf springs.  I found out later that the owner before my seller had also owned a 67 convertible and swapped the 12 bolts because he hated the 4.56 gear that was in my car?  With the motor, I got factory exhaust manifolds and cast iron intake, and cast crank.  The hood is obviously off another car but i got 2 sets of louvers....   The car has the big block heater core support, center console with gauges, disc brakes, manual steering, and what i think is the reinforcement doubler plate on the rear frame (thanks to this forum i was able to look for it).  When I was 21 i totally striped the car down to the shell (thinking i would resore it).  Then it sat.... in my dads garage... while i finished college and graduate school..... got married.....had kid....etc.   I have collected things over the years...... Found a set of multi-leaf springs locally for cheap......  Dad worked for chevrolet in the mid 80's so we bought origional GM fenders and quarter panels from chevrolet.... they are still in boxes in my dads attic.  Now.... with a 16 month old son at home and no chance of getting to this car for the next 20 years I am thinking of selling it to my best friend.  Recently, i had a local camaro guru come by and look at the car to give me an idea of its value but he did not believe it was a big block car (i'm not sure he knows how to identify an early production car and the block was at my house so he did not get to see that). 
  The car is loosely put back together, but in need of a restoration with rust in the lower quarters and typical body problems.  Vinyl top is gone, but i have all the stainless trim and most of the white interior.  Under-structure is Very solid!

I have attached some pictures so any advice and help with my questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all and love the site!!

mike weaver

mikej454

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2011, 03:10:58 AM »
having trouble posting pictures....

IZRSSS

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2011, 03:18:33 AM »
PM sent...

Marty

mikej454

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2011, 03:20:44 AM »
car, vin, cowl, block

does the stamping look authentic?

mikej454

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2011, 03:23:19 AM »
these number were stamped on the 4 speed.....   pass side.

Were these stripes touched up or that was from the factory?

I think this is the reinforced doubler plate??? there was an exhaust hanger screwed to it......

mikej454

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2011, 03:36:45 AM »
oh yeah.....is that 12 bolt with the passenger side torque arm bracket worth any more than a regular 12 bolt?

firstgenaddict

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2011, 11:47:14 AM »
oh yeah.....is that 12 bolt with the passenger side torque arm bracket worth any more than a regular 12 bolt?
To someone restoring a 67 YES they are valuable depending upon the axle code and date.

The door stripes were stickers and the fender stripes were painted using a stencil.

The block appears to have the suffix stamp JD, could you confirm or correct this?
If you have higher res photos I will host and post them, if not please try to get some, not too much can be determined from the block or trans photos.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

1968RSZ28

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2011, 04:23:46 PM »
The block appears to have the suffix stamp JD, could you confirm or correct this?

It's "JB", which is a L35 engine.

Paul

bcmiller

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2011, 05:28:02 PM »
Parital VIN stamps on engine and transmission seem to match and appear original to that car.

Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

mikej454

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #9 on: October 03, 2011, 06:07:49 PM »
Yes it is JB on the block.  Another member is going to help repost the pictures.
I will try to look up the rear end codes!!
Thanks so far guys!
Mike

firstgenaddict

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2011, 06:16:16 PM »
I agree, the VIN derivatives appear to match from the photos.
James
Collectin' Camaro's since "Only Rednecks drove them"
Current caretaker of 1971 LT1's - 11130 and 21783 Check out the Black 69 RS/Z28 45k mile Survivor and the Lemans Blue 69 Z 10D frame off...
https://plus.google.com/photos/112392262205377424364/albums?banner=pwa

IZRSSS

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2011, 07:03:09 PM »
Here you go Mike...

IZRSSS

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2011, 07:03:51 PM »
...

IZRSSS

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2011, 07:04:24 PM »
...and 1 more...

IZRSSS

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Re: Help with my 1969 ss396!
« Reply #14 on: October 03, 2011, 07:11:54 PM »
Here is where your axle code is located. Tough spot to photograph. Might help if you take the pic from an angle, and you use a secondary light source, other than the flash from the camera.

http://www.camaros.org/drivetrain.shtml#axle