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NVU makes a very nice set of aftermarket gauges that I would like to use in my 69.  However, they are in backorder on the gauge pods used to install their gauges.  If anyone has a set they no longer need, I am interested in buying them.  Thank you. 

Installation of 4th gen Camaro seats and 5th gen console and emergency brake in a 1969 Camaro.

Before I did this I looked for examples of others who might have done this.  I could not find anything decent.  So, I thought I would post a few photos of what I did, and if you have any questions, please ask. 

For the console, I removed my original emergency foot brake and all the factory cables.  My rear brakes are wilwood disc brakes.  I used the rear cables from a 4th gen to attach to the rear emergency brake levers.  What is very important is that you get the small rectangular bracket that is spot welded to the underside of the donor car.  This is what the other end of the rear cables attach to.  After test fitting the console where it seemed to be correct, I then took the 5th gen E-brake lever and drilled holes and bolted it to the floor.  I then drilled holes and mounted the underside cable bracket just aft of the E-brake lever.  Now here was the big issue.  The 5th gen E-brake cable does not connect easily to the rear 4th gen cables.  The cable brackets connect very differently to the cable, so I simply made a hybrid by connecting both cable brackets together using small cables with crimps (see pic).  Basically, the 5th gen E-brake lever cable attaches to its proper bracket and the 4th gen rear cables attach to their appropriate bracket, and I simply connected the two cable brackets together with a small section of crimped wire. 

Finally, once I fitted the 5th gen console, I had to make small brackets...one in the rear, one in the middle, and one at the front.  I used the consoles original attachment points and fabricated a bracket and attached it to the floor.  I was lucky too, as the 5th gen console I got had the optional LED lights in the cup holders and at the front...so I get a nice glow if I want them.  If you look at the console bezel, you will see I installed four switches.  These cover up the factory traction control button and the power port.  I made sure to connect the rear power port however, so I can plug in my charger in the console if I want.  The four switches control the following:  Electric fuel pump, Electric radiator fans, low-speed wiper and high-speed wiper.  I installed a 4th gen wiper motor using an Astro/Safari van wiper motor bracket.  The 4th gen wiper motor bolts up perfectly to the van bracket, which bolts directly onto the factory 69 firewall using the exact same screw holes.  No modification needed. 

As for my shifter, which was in the stock position, it had to be raised a bit and moved down and to the passenger side about 2 inches.  I took some plate steel and made a "Z" shaped bracket with spacers that accomplished this.  I then bought a new shifter handle and boot from amazon. The 5th gen donor console was from an automatic, so I took the shifter cover (the one with the PRNDL) and ground down the perimeter until it allowed me to fit the shifter boot over it and then used contact cement to hold it in place.  Once I placed the bezel over it, it looked great.       

When sourcing my console from the junkyard from a 5th gen, I got both, the one with and without the gauge cluster.  As most of you know, the 5th gen duplicated the 68-69 console gauge cluster.  And though they do look cool and it would have been nice to install them on my 69, the wiring does not translate.  The 5th gen console gauges have a single plug harness that connects to the computer the sends the info to the gauges.  I could not find anyway to make the gauges work with traditional engine sending units, so I opted for the change tray instead.  Autometer (part # 5286) makes a dual gauge bezel for 2" gauges for the 5th gen console, but I thought it looked wrong, and chose to just keep the change tray. 

As for the seats, I got the houndstooth covers from Camaro Central, and a set of 4th gen front seats from the junkyard.  The driver seat fit the factory floor holes without too much issue.  Just run a power wire for the power seat and it's all good.  As for the passenger seat, the manual seat brackets are not even close and will not fit.  The legs of the passenger seat bracket are on the wrong side of the bracket, do not line up with any of the holes in the floor pan, and would have required a lot of engineering to fit right.  So, what I did was find an 8 way MANUAL driver side seat bracket from a 4th gen.  This is the optional seat bracket that not only goes back and forth, but has an extra lever for tilt, but is not powered.  I bolted this unit on the passenger seat, and now the front holes line up perfectly with the factory holes on the 69 floor pan.  As for the rear holes, if you try to line them up, you can do it, but the seat will sit cockeyed and not look or feel right.  So, I got a two small 3x2 steel plates, drilled a hole where the floor pan hole was, and about an inch or so over from that, ran a bolt up through it that lined up with the rear seat bracket holes.  The seat fit perfect. 

As for seatbelts, I bought Morris 3 point harness seat belts (they are NOT cheap however...OUCH).  As for the seatbelt rings that attach to the 4th gen seat, I recommend getting ones for a convertible as they have a slot in them for sliding the seatbelt in and out.  What is great is that you don't have to try and find a convertible donor car, you can get these on Amazon for cheap. 

Again, if you have any questions, please ask. I have way too much time invested in making all of this fit properly, and if I can help someone else avoid hours of trial and error, frustration (and swearing), I would be happy to help.   


     

I see that there are very few options for cool side mirrors on our first gen Camaros.  I have seen quite a few Camaros with 2nd gen bullet mirrors and they look decent enough.  However, I did this back in 92 and so it is not really a new idea and has been done.  Plus, it's not like you can find bullet mirrors easily in the junkyards anymore and they are becoming a bit expensive online.   I came up with a new side mirror that I am betting no one has done at all, and is still easy to find. Power mirrors from a mid to late 90's buick LeSabre.  The switch for the mirrors in embedded in the door with the window switches and so not practical.  If you search around and look for a vehicle with a power mirror switch that is all by itself, you can probably use that.  I ended up using a Chrysler/Jeep power mirror switch to make my mirrors work (PT Cruiser or Grand Cherokee). It involved sanding the base a bit to get the right angle, but I think I got it perfect.  I spent hours figuring out the wiring and have made a schematic of what goes where.  If you are interested, let me know and I can send you that info.    Anyway, let me know what you think.

I saw this on ebay and noted that the VIN seemed to maybe just barely match the date code.  Records show that N628000 VIN's began in April and thus, an 04C date code would be off slightly.  Also, this car was listed and sold at Barrett Jackson back in 2010 with a listed date code of 04D.  Did someone change the trim tag? 

Also, I question this being a real Z11, as there are just a few things off slightly.  For example, the seat headrests (non-angled) are too early for being a pace car.  The air cleaner is wrong, the wheels are wrong, among a few other minor issues.  It could or could not be what the listing says, and I have questions.  Anyone else have an opinion? 


https://www.ebay.com/itm/275064139337

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1969-CHEVROLET-CAMARO-INDY-PACE-CAR-CONVERTIBLE-82447

I put a nice chip in my fender and darn it, it was my own stupid fault. And of course, it was an inch above my protective mat.  It's not huge, but it's right on the inner edge of the fender near the hood, and is easily seen.

Anyway, my original paint that I had used for touch up has dried up to a completely unusable rubber ball, and even though I have looked around on the internet a bit, I cannot find a touch up bottle of this color.  Does anyone know where to find a small touch up bottle of paint for 69 Camaro Dover White?  Or, does anyone have any left from a recent paint job?  All I need is a half a nail polish bottles worth.  If you do have some, but it is in a big can or similar, I can send you a clean and empty nail polish bottle to fill.  I will be more than happy to send money and pay for the paint, your time and trouble, and shipping and all that for your efforts.

Thanks.

Steve

I feel like this is a stupid question, but darn it if I can't find the answer anywhere else.  I need to replace all the bleeder screws at all four wheels.  I don't know the sizes or the part numbers of them. Is there a kit of the four bleeders offered out there or does HELP packages have these.  What info can you guys help me with so I can replace my four bleeders. The front are disc and the rear is drum, so I am pretty sure they are different front to back.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Just wondering.  I know it seems so basic of a question, and I think maybe I knew the answer at one time, but I just don't know.  What are the rules on console gauges and center clock and tach?

I was sure I had asked this question before, but damned if I could find it in the archives, or any notes I thought I would have taken from it. 

Anyway, my Quadrajet carb on my 69 SS350 is not original and I would someday like to remedy that if I can.  I currently have a 7029223 IY  2488 on the car and a 7040511 QT  0620 I bought at a swap meet many years ago. 

Anyway, I know the number I need, which is 7029202 with the second to last digit possibility of a 0, 1, or 2 for Chevrolet, and the last digit being an even number for automatic.  What I don't know is what would be a good date code?  The date code is a 4 digit number with the last digit being the year (ie:  _ _ _ 9), and the first three digits indicating the number of days into the year.

My body date code is 04C, with my original block date code being  the 2nd week of March.  How do I find out what would be a proper date code for the Quadrajet?  What determined this?  What range of numbers should I look for?  Is there a chart somewhere that I can print out or refer to?  What is the source of this info?

Thanks.

Just thought I would post this in case anyone is interested. 

I have heard of the 04L date code phenomenon, where it was theorized that the "E" on the dye may have broken and produced an "L" instead.  First, can anyone verify if this was the case or something else?  Finally, here is a pic of a trim tag showing the "04L" on the trim tag.  I never saw this before and thought it cool to finally see it.  So, here it is for other Camaro geeks like me who have never seen it before and want to.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Chevrolet-Camaro-Z11/222740279655?hash=item33dc5af167:g:y3AAAOSw63FaILoS&vxp=mtr

Hey guys,

Bryon and I are in need of your Camaro pics.  Now, usually when I ask (beg) for pics, I get maybe, if I am lucky, 3 or 4 submissions.  This is just plain unacceptable.  Yes, I understand that all of us first gen guys are busy and working tirelessly to fix up, restore, and just plain keeping our wonderful Camaros running.  Now, of one thing I am certain, if you own a first gen Camaro, you  have a pic of it...heck, you have bunches of pics of it....more than you do of photos of your wife, your mother and your first born child combined.  All Bryon and I are asking is for you to send us just ONE pic of your Camaro...just one...PLEEAASSSE.

Now, I have asked nicely, and I am sure that all of you are going to take the 2 minutes it will take to send a Camaro pic to the email below.  While you're at it, send two or three.  Pick your favorites, the one or two photos that really makes your Camaro look awesom. 

For those of you that are going to ignore this request, and still think I am not serious about this request, know this...Bryon and I have hired a Haitian Voodoo Priestess (At great expense I might add), and we have instructed her to conjur up Camaro demons, goblins and gremlins...Thousands of them if need be, and she has instructed them to go out into the world and find every single first gen Camaro, and possess them. 

Yes, I am being dead serious here...this is no joke.  All of you have until Midnight Sunday to send a pic or two of your beloved Camaro to us.  If you ignore this very simple request, these demons will be released and believe you me, they will go to town on your Camaro.  You think you are going for a nice peaceful and enjoyable cruise with your favorite girl this weekend...think again.  It will not happen because you didn't send us your Camaro photo.  You car will develop one of the following "hiccups" if you will...a mysterious water pump leak, an alternator that will stop charging your battery even though it's brand new and you just replaced the voltage regulator, your rear wheel cylinder will spring or horrific leak, your power steering will go out, or your engine will just plain die and you will not know why.  Is it the points?  The fuel pump? Bad coil? Clogged fuel filter?  Fouled plugs?  Oil leak?  You will have no idea what went wrong, and you know exactly what I am talking about.  We all have encountered these same demons before, but this will be worse, much worse.  Picture these imaginary demons on steroids times ten to the 12th power plus infiniti and beyond.....plus one.  That is the damage I am warning you of.  That is how much more badder it will get.  And for those few that have completely ignored this warning, and are now laughing at this small request and saying to yourself, "Not gonna happen losers"...well, you may just find the next time you look in your garage, that your Camaro has been replaced with a Pontiac Aztec.  Not laughing now...are you.     

And you guys still working on restoring your Camaros and not planning any driving soon, you are not exempt.  I do not give a rat's patootie if your Camaro isn't done.  Still in primer, so what!  You have some rust...who doesn't!  Your wheels and tires are dirty (Really?!...dirty wheels?  Shame on you...clean them and then get your Camera, snap a pic or two, and send them in).  This site isn't about just show queens, it is about ALL Camaros, OUR Camaros, perfect or not, in progress, who's isn't?  I want a pic of your car.  And if you fail to heed this dire warning, Those voodoo gremlins will make sure you are in for it.  Spent countless hours prepping your Camaro for paint...well imagine some Gremlin putting a squirt of WD-40 in your air line (Fish-eye much?).  Imagine him moving your motor mounts over just 1/8th of and inch as you try to install that new crate engine.  Ever seen a Gremlin drop a nut down your carb...you know exactly what it is 2 seconds after you start it up?  They may even cause you to slip with that screwdriver while installing your new $500 door panels.  Or maybe he'll be nice and let you find that last push rod only seconds after tightening down the last valve cover bolt.  Oh the fun these evil little trolls will have, and all because you couldn't be bothered to help a fellow Camaro owner out you selfish so and so.     

Nice Camaro you got there.  It would be a damn shame if somethin bad wuz to happen to it...wink wink nudge nudge, know what I mean?  You know what I mean?  I'm talking to you.  Yeah you, the guy shaking his head no....you with the 67...you know who you are. 

My god, we live in a day and age where everyone has a hi-tech camera in their pocket.  Would it really kill you to take just ONE pic and send it in? Do you hate us that much that you can't be bothered to send in a single photo?  Please, for humanity's sake. 

So, at the stroke of midnight Sunday, if Bryon and I do not have at least ten pics of each year (Yes you too you damn lazy 67 Camaro owners), we will instruct the high voodoo priestess to release the kraken....errrr... I mean release her Goblins, Gremlins and Demons, and instruct them to wreak havoc on your Camaro.  Havoc will be reeked...I assure you.  Heed my warnings.  I am warning you for your own good.  Bryon has told me I am being way too harsh, but I have told him it must be done.  My repeated request will not ignored any longer.  I do NOT want to do this, but drastic times call for drastic measures.  The high priestess has instructed us and stated that we would have to wear beaver pelt hats, houndstooth patterned PJ's, and pink (or yellow) bunny slippers (Don't judge) while singing a secret chant that has hot yet been written, in order to summon the leader of these demons, goblins and gremlins, whose name shall not me named, and he will send out his army of the unpleasant, and they will search out and seek vengeance on you selfish non-sibmittin Camaro picture people.  So be warned, I shall not beg again (unless you want me to).  Do it for yourselves, do it for your beloved Camaros, do it because it is the right thing to do, do it for your country...the red white and the blue...it's Uncle Sam who's asking, so your mother will approve, do it for America...do it to shut me up so I don't have to beg and write nonsense like this again. 

Plus, I hear that every time someone emails a photo of a Camaro, a millennial gets sad and has not safe space nearby.  Also, if you act now, I will personally mail you a coupon for 20% off your next purchase at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  You will receive it within a week or two...I guarantee it. 


So please please please, send pics now. 


Send them to the photo guru, the grand poobah of pics, Bryon.  (Seriously, he is really good at this stuff).  And please, try to send in a good usable photo.  I cannot even begin to tell you how many times someone sends me a photo of what I assume is an awesome Camaro, but you wouldn't know it, because it's out of focus and blurry, cropped so that half the car is missing, shows the gas tank and rear bumper only, or is really a photo of grandma with a small miniscule Camaro a mile away in the background )  I'm not kidding, I get these more than you would think.  You all have seen a car magazine at one time...so yeah...pics like that. 

And if you are really really nice, and want the gods to sing praises of you...have stories told about you and your Camaro, passed down from generation to generation, for thousands of years, until you have reached godlike status of yourself, with noble stories told of you and your noble chariot defeating the evil forces of the lords of Ford and Chrysler...send in a few pics and a story telling all about your Camaro.  Tell us stuff like how you bought it, what you did to it, what you plan to do to it, the good, the bad, the ugly.  And Bryon will make you and your Camaro, the FEATURED car of the month.  You will become famous, you will be known throughout the world, people will ask for your autograph, Mustang owners will convert, Brad Pitt will ask you for tips on how to pick up hot chicks, and you will be the envy of all.  Plus, it would totally cool of you to help us out and stuff.

So, send your pics and possibly your car story to Bryon at:

bcm66@cox.net

You will not be sorry, and soon, one day, you will see your Camaro pic on the CRG homepage website.  Now how cool is that?

Thanks guys,


Steve and Bryon.   

Charles Bronson is driving quite insanely in his 69 Camaro.  None of us today would even come close to driving our bone stock Camaro in this manner. 

Anyone notice anything out of place here.  First one to figure it out wins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF8AesX1AOg

Hey guys,

Well here I am again, looking for yet another recommendation in the wonderful world of reproduction parts.  I have a 69 Pace Car, and the hugger orange seat backs are looking bad.  Not just faded, as some spray dye could remedy that, but they are dry rotting.  The plastic is "burned" for lack of a better word, and the scratches I have are deep.  The plastic flakes when anything but a light touch strikes it. 

Anyway, I bought a pair about 15 years ago when I was restoring the car, and they were HORRIBLE.  The orange color was way off, and was almost a light orange as opposed the beautiful hugger orange we all love.  But the color was the least of my complaints.  The shape was not even close.  The curves were not right, and where the cover is supposed to turn in and meet the seat at the top, it looked bad.  Can't explain it fully, but anyone who has aftermarket panels from this time frame, knows they just plain sucked. 

Have the panels for sale today gotten better?  How do they compare to original?  Is the color right?  Is the contours and curves close?

If you have an opinion on the latest offerings, please let me know...good or bad.

Thanks.

Hey guys,

I am looking for hugger orange spray dye.  I bought OER hugger orange years ago, and got lousy results, but it was the only one I could find.  Plus, I can no longer find it where I bought it before.  So, is there a better product for hugger orange spray dye out there and where can I find it?

Thanks,

Steve

Hey guys,

I have a 69 Camaro that I would like to put in a console from another car.  However, my shifter is a little to far forward and to the left.  So, that would mean I would like to bring the shifter down about an inch or so, and to the right about an inch or so.   Are there any companies that sell custom off set shifters? 

Hey guys,

Well, I am looking at the offerings for boot covers for my convertible, and they all look great in the photos, but which one will fit the best?  I see some for about a hundred bucks and some for over two hundred.  I don't mind spending the money, but I have learned that sometimes the most expensive is not better...it's just more expensive.  I have the clips from my original boot, so I don't care if the boot I buy comes with them or not.  I see TMI makes one, PUI makes one, and I read that PUI is better and then somewhere else someone says PUI stinks. 

So, has anyone actually bought a boot and is happy with the way it fits?  Would you recommend it or say pass?  Let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

hey guys,

I came across this 69 Pace Car for sale that says it is a numbers matching big block with manual transmission.

http://smclassiccars.com/chevrolet/92775-1969-camaro-pace-car-convertible-z11-numbers-matching-396-and-4-speed.html


older ebay posting here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Camaro-Pace-Car/351404837307?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211132617%26meid%3D3bd52d1710514bfcbe545506625cad49%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D301636250558%26clkid%3D6282769564688034254&_qi=RTM2067268



However, I have been keeping track of every 69 Camaro pace car that is listed for sale and can be found on the internet.  I have several hundred in my database so far.  When I looked up this same VIN "625725" I show that is was a non-numbers matching small block with automatic transmission and was sold by sfsportscars on ebay back in January 2013.  One of the things in my notes was that the car had incorrect black door pulls...which this car also has. 

It appears to me, this seller is being less than honest, and someone is doing some numbers tampering. 


Just thought that any prospective buyers might want this info before buying this all original numbers matching pace car.

Hey guys,

Just looking thru ebay and came across this 69 pace car.  Not sure if it is real or not.  The trim tag shows 02D and the VIN matches up to that  date range.  However, this would put it within the same range as the festival cars.  Yet this VIN is not on the list of the known festival cars. 

So, I have a couple questions.  First, were there non-festival cars built within the date range of the festival pace cars?  And, what is your opinion on this being a real pace car or a fake?  The trim tag shows Z11, but we all know that can be done.  There is just way too many things that do not look right, even with just the few photos the seller posted.  There is no wood dash trim.  Someone added the console gauges as there is no clock, but I do know that not all pace cars had the gauge option.  The seller states he is unsure of the pedigree of this car as well.  So, based on the little bit we know, what is the overall opinion?

I have what I was sure was a 69 Camaro headrest.  I needed to replace one of my headrests as it was ripped.  I found a single headrest at a swap meet, and bought it.  It has the bend in the bar, and a date code of "12-5-68-2" stamped on it.  The hole punched in the lower half of the bar is a circle, whereas, my other headrests have a date of April 1969, and a square hole punched in the lower bar.  What is really confusing though is that my four original known Camaro headrests that I have are all approx. 13-3/4" across.  Whereas, the one I bought that is dated 12-5-68-2, is only 13" across.  It is smaller, and the underside plastic cover does not fit and it sticks out over the sides. 

It looks in every way like a 69 Camaro headrest.  I read the article on headrests here, but cannot find out why this one headrest I have smaller.  It is not a 67 or a 68 as it has a December 1968 date code, and a bent bar, which from what I understand, is indicative of 69.  So, what do I have?  Is this from a Firebird?  Were Firebird headrests smaller?  Is there another car using a headrest like this?  Any help would be great.

Hey guys,

I am looking for a stock sub-frame for my 69 Camaro.  It doesn't need to have anything on it, but wouldn't mind if it had the upper and lower A-arms.

I live in south Florida, but will travel a little if need be.  Nothing too rusted out.  Mounting locations I can fix if need be. 


Thanks,

Steve
sdkar@bellsouth.net

Hey guys,

I have an issue with Classic Industries where they sent me seat foams for my Camaro with deluxe interior.  They sent me SF105

http://www.classicindustries.com/product/camaro/parts/sf105.html

...which is the seat foam that has no wire frame and relies on a wireframe that is on the metal backrest.  However, my seat frames have no wiring on the seat frame, and I need part number SF116

http://www.classicindustries.com/product/camaro/parts/sf116.html

...however, Classic Industries tells me that the SF105 is for houndstooth, and nothing else.  When I asked what SF116 was for they state that the SF105 is for deluxe houndstooth or comfortweave interiors, and SF116 is for all non-houndstooth and non comfortweave deluxe interior.  I tried desperately to to explain to them that there are only two seats offered by GM in 69 Camaro and it is standard or deluxe.  And that deluxe could be either comfortweave or houndstooth, and that there is no other deluxe seats.  But they only refer to their notes in their paperwork, with from what I gather, says houndstooth/comfortweave under part SF105 and deluxe seats under SF116.  Obviously, the four guys I have discussed with them so far (Darryl, Dennis, Dave, and Tony) do not know 69 Camaros and seat options, and instead, rely on what they read in their paperwork. 

I have a set of seat foams that I cannot use.  Or...am I wrong?  I have a set of seat frames for a deluxe interior that do not have a wire frame on the back rest.  I believe I need SF116.  Anyone have any opinions on this.  Classic does not want to listen and despite my trying to tell them, say they delivered the correct parts to me and it is my fault so to speak. 

And for the record, when I ordered the seat foams...I did not give them a part number, and simply told the guy I placed my order with that I wanted seat foam kit for 69 Camaro with deluxe houndstooth, and that my seat frame did not have the wire frame and that I needed the foam with the wire embedded in it.   he stated he knew exactly what I needed, and then sent me SF105.  Now, they say they did nothing wrong. 

What do you think?

Hey guys,

I have received my new houndstooth interior.  However, I have an issue with the rear seat backrest.  The original seat cover as well as a new standard cover measures at approximately 35-36 inches from the very top wire to the very bottom wire at the center where the hump would be.  My new houndstooth cover measures at 32 inches.  When it is hog ringed in place at the top, No matter how much I pull and stretch, it will NOT reach the section where it is to be crimped at the bottom.  I set it in the sun, and gained maybe an inch, but it will just not work. 

So, is it me, or the material?  What is the measurement, if anyone has it, that is proper for the back rest rear seat going from top wire to bottom wire, at the center supposed to be?

Hey guys,
I think I know the answer, and it is horizontal.  As in the rombuses (rombi?) long sides go left to right, and they are connected horizontally.  I ordered a a complete set from Ricks that ordered them from Distinctive interiors and within this set, I have the houndstooth running both vertical and horizontal.  On top of this, the houndstooth on some of the seats is not straight, and run in a slight diagonal.

Anyway, thought I would ask and see if anyone else has this issue.  I even wonder if this post here is going to make more than a few Camaro owners upset in finding out that their houndstooth seats have been incorrect this whole time.

Anyway, let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

Hey guys,

My pace car is in need of a new top and boot.  I still have my factory original boot, but it is 45 years old now, and no longer looks and functions as it used to.

Who makes the best top and what do you guys recommend?  Also, I see there are several options for top boots, and I am confused as to which one is best.  Classic Industries has three different offering just within their choices.  Which one is best?  Which manufacturer makes one that will fit properly, and withstand being installed with 60 mph winds?  Are the aftermarket boots the same thickness, and are the clips any good?

Finally, I have a white well liner to match my white top.  I am unsure, but is black or white proper for the 69 pace car? 

Any suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated.  Also, I am going to install this myself, so if anyone has any tips, tricks, or hints, that they think I should know when installing this myself, please share it with me.  If you have installed a convertible top yourself, what info do you have that you wished someone had shared with you prior to your installation.

As always, thanks guys.

Okay, I see that the two companies both sell 4th gen houndstooth seat covers.  Classic Industries sells PUI covers for 1993 - 1996.  Rick's Camaros sells TMI covers for 1997 - 2002.  The prices are roughly the same coming in a $400 and $440.  I have a pair of both 4th gen seats, early and late.  What is the difference?  Any suggestions on which is better?  They look the exact same to me.  So, what makes them different?   Will one match the Distinctive Industries houndstooth rear seat better than the other, as both Ricks and Classic sell Distinctive Industries houndstooth rear seat cover.   

Arghh....why so many different manufacturers for one set of seats?

I am looking to upgrade to a pair of 4th gen front seats for my 69 coupe.  I want to go with the houndstooth covers.  I understand that several manufacturers make them, such as PUI, PMI, and some others I do not remember.  Who has used any of these and what is your opinion of them?  Also, where to buy them?  Year One, Ricks, Classic Collectors, etc.?

I have a Classic Collectors credit card, which says I get 15% off my order, but find that the shipping is almost $50...so it might be a wash.  Any coupon codes for any of these guys, or any free shipping offers out there?  Thanks for any and all suggestions.