Messages

I just purchased a new AC/Delco battery for my R59 topper.  The model number is 34PS it has a flat top and fits very well.  The battery is rated a 660CCA 115RC.   Hopefully my pics will load.

 

"I was just like that when I was growing up, though I remember seeing my first early 68 Z/28 that was pre Z/28 badging and just had 302 emblems and I was utterly stumped because only Z/28's had 302's and there was no emblems on the car, plus it was missing the cowl hood that was apparently standard on all 67-69 Z/28s right? lol.
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I was that guy.  While looking to purchase my first car with my dad in 1971, we stopped at a car lot that had two Camaros for sale.  One was a red/white striped 69 Z/28 and the other was a Lemans Blue/white striped 69 302 sport coupe.  I new my dad wouldn't let me purchase a "fast car" but I did know what a 302 meant in a Camaro.  So we test drove the 68 and putted around in it.  I knew he wouldn't punch it because that would have set a bad example.   All the good stuff was there.  302, check, 4 speed with muncie shifter, check, 15" wheels check, multi leaf rear springs, check, disc brakes, check.  So I bought the car for a princely sum of $1150.  Took it home, dropped my dad off at the house, drove it about 2 blocks and nailed it.  I'll never forget the feeling of elation that I had indeed scored a Sport Coupe with a 302,  but what the heck was the deal with no Z/28 emblems?  Must have been special order?  Nope I just hadn't figured out that the early ones didn't have emblems.  So what did I do the next day?  Stopped at the Chevy dealership and ordered Z/28 badges.  Still have the 302 emblems, wish I had kept the car, but that's another story.

Thanks for the reply.  Who's got the best deals out there?

West Texas is a pretty hot place in the summer months and for that reason, I just don't drive my 69 as much as I'd like to.  So I would love to hear others experience installing Vintage Air in their cars.  Also, anyone know who's got the best pricing out there?

It's time to cool this old horse down.  (Meaning Me)

Just curious....how much value does the original window sticker add?  He's seems to think a lot.

Interesting it took 18 months to sell the first time.

Is that number the one use by Donna Crispino?

Interesting car.  It was purchased about 60 miles from mine.

How fun is that!  I had a similar experience with my car about 10 years ago.  My car was sold at Culberson Stowers Chevrolet in Pampa, TX and I happen to remember seeing it on the show room floor when I was 15.  The owners son and I became friends in high school, so many years later I called him to see if his dad might remember the car.   He did, but I don't think they had a coming out party like yours did.   Great story!

That's a cool car, barsteel.  Congratulations on the purchase.

Nice score Chris!  I had a 68 in high school when it was 3 years old.  Brings back lot's of memories.  The car cost me a whopping $1,100. with 54k on the engine.  Lemans Blue, blue interior.  Traded it in, 1974....for get this a 73 Vega GT.  Now for the tragic part......the dealer gave me $650, for a perfectly good, stock Z/28.   What dope I was.

Enjoy.

Circa 1972, the only two polaroids I have.

Ever tried to run it to ground ? Any VIN records ?

I lived through the gas crunch myself, but fortunately kept my Z.

At the least - you didn't trade for a Pinto -

Regards,
Steve

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I had a 68 in high school when it was 3 years old.  Brings back lot's of memories.  The car cost me a whopping $1,100. with 54k on the engine.  Lemans Blue, blue interior.  Traded it in, 1974....for get this a 73 Vega GT.  Now for the tragic part......the dealer gave me $650, for a perfectly good, stock Z/28.   What dope I was.

I bet the Vega got lots better gas mileage than the Z28!!  and I'd also bet that had a lot to do with your trading it in the midst of the '74 gas crunch, and also impacted what your dealer allowed you for trade in..

Man, there were some great deals on great cars in those days..  one part of me was saying to 'buy one or two'.. and another part was saying .. 'and what if you can't get gas for them?'...

Yes the 74 gas crunch was the catalyst.  Gas had gone from about 23cents a gallon to a whopping 35 cents, and I convinced my self that I couldn't afford to put gas in the Z/28, although I recall getting around 15 on the highway.   The Vega got around 23.  The reality was that muscle cars where going or had gone out of style and I wanted a change.  I remember a friend of mine was driving a Tall Wing Superbird and was constantly being made fun of.   

I had friends who owned GTX, Roadrunners, SS Chevelles, big block Camaros, 442 W30's, 69 Trans AM, Buick GSX, Javelins, GTO's, 396 SS Novas, and the list goes on and on.  Funny thing, none of us could predict the future, so they were sold or traded.  Most of us bought them when they were 3 or 4 years old and they were just used cars.

I do have the VIN for the 68, so if anyone knows how to trace it, I'm all ears.

Nice score Chris!  I had a 68 in high school when it was 3 years old.  Brings back lot's of memories.  The car cost me a whopping $1,100. with 54k on the engine.  Lemans Blue, blue interior.  Traded it in, 1974....for get this a 73 Vega GT.  Now for the tragic part......the dealer gave me $650, for a perfectly good, stock Z/28.   What dope I was.

Enjoy.

Circa 1972, the only two polaroids I have.

Looks like Ron's green 69 Z/RS is included.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1969-CHEVROLET-CAMARO-Z/28-2-DOOR-COUPE-178570/?utm_source=EBlast-11212014&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Excitement%20is%20Building%20for%20Scottsdale%202015

Very cool Paceman!   

My car was sold in Pampa, TX and the dealership is still in business also.  Several years ago, I visited the owner who took over management of the dealership from his dad, a friend that was a year younger than me in high school.  His dad was in the office and we got to visit about the car, but neither had a clue that it was anything special.  They let me go into there archives to hopefully find the original dealer paper work,  the records went all the way back to 1970.  The dad told me a few years earlier they cleaned house and threw the really old stuff out.   

I did however find a box of NOS chrome dealer emblems from the time which they gave me, so I did score something.

This is from one of the original press releases from GM.

GM Performance Parts Launches ZZ430 Small Block

Las Vegas, NV, Nov. 3. - The new ZZ430 engine is the highest horsepower
small block crate engine GM Performance Parts has ever produced. And, with
GM Performance Parts planning to build only 430 of the engines, they will
probably be snapped up with the same kind of speed the engine delivers in a
street machine or a race car.

Limiting the production build to 430 units will create an added aura around
the engine, GM hopes. Each engine will be numbered, and will come with a
version of GM Performance Parts' 18-degree racing valve covers engraved with
the GM Performance Parts and ZZ430 logos. A jacket and cap, both with
matching serial numbers, also will come with the ZZ430 engine.

The ZZ430 is based on the small-block, 350-cubic-inch ZZ4, which delivers
355 horsepower and has earned a solid reputation for speed and durability.
True to its designation, the new ZZ430 produces 430 horsepower. This engine
is designed for use in 1973 and older street vehicles and any year off-road
vehicles.

The keys to upping the performance level, according to Michael Fellberg,
general product manager for GM Performance Parts at General Motors Service
Parts Operations (SPO), are a pair of new aluminum "Fast Burn" cylinder
heads.

The 23 degree Fast Burn heads are so named because of the head's ability to
quickly and completely burn the air/fuel mixture, creating higher cylinder
pressures that result in more torque and horsepower. The Fast Burn head uses
GM Performance Parts' cast-ported technology. Cast-ported means that as
incremental improvements in flow, combustion and cylinder fill were
identified during the development process, those improvements were
incorporated in the casting and machining tooling. As a result - unlike most
after-market performance heads - the Fast Burn head achieves maximum
performance "out of the box," with no additional porting needed to improve
performance.

The ZZ430 also gets a performance boost from a hotter camshaft, the "Hot"
cam originally used on the LT4 engine. The ZZ430 uses off-the-shelf
23-degree roller rocker arms and valve train components."

Nice engine.    If I remember correctly the ZZ430 is a ZZ4 with a "Hot Cam" and fast burn heads.   I'm sure there are other differences but I think these were the biggest differences.   

wtexz10,  are you talking of 700R4, or 200R4, when you say you needed to modify the tunnel?

My bad guys, I was on a C10 truck forum at the same time I was reading this and I guess I responded for the C10.  Erase rewind.  Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.  lol