1969 RS 350/255HP 3 Speed Transmission ?

[John Kaiser]

Hi there, first post. Please bear with me, I am NOT a GM person. I am freshening an original,
never disassembled 69 RS 350/255HP car for one of my best friends. All numbers match on block, transmission, body vin.

Car was bought new here in town November of 69. We know all three owners including original owner. Unfortunately we do not have the protecta plate or invoice so RPO codes aren't here.

Original owner bought this car off the lot, it wasn't ordered by him.

I believe, but not proven, that this is an LM1 car. I am missing the exhaust manifolds, intake and original carb which was replaced in 1978 by the second owner, who we still communicate, with a Holley Street Dominator and Holley 6210-3 4165 carb. He said the carb he removed was a 4bbl Rochester and a cast iron intake. Distributor #1111956.

So 350/255 sticker, 3 speed stick but a Saginaw, 12 bolt rear, multi leaf springs, power disc front brakes. My only question is why this car has a Saginaw 3 speed with a 1.68 second gear when all I have read here states the car should have an MC1, not an M15, and certainly not a 1.68 second gear. Also 10.5 inch clutch, original. No doubler plate on L/R.

I can post pictures. Here's the car info, I X'd out the last 3 of the VIN because it's not my car.

Thank-you!


Serial Number  19N514XXX   T09I7HQ

Tonawanda Plant September 17, 1968

N- Norwood

HQ-  1969 Manual Trans  300hp   2 Bolt   Body- A,F,X

Block Casting # 3932388

Cylinder Head Casting # 3932441    1.94 in  1.50 exh  76cc chamber

Head Gaskets were .015" (measured) steel

Crankshaft casting # 3932442 cast crank

Transmission  M15 Saginaw  S8P10     19N514XXX

Casting #3925647

1-1 3rd,  1.68 2nd, 2.85 1st gear

Decode-    S=3speed   8=1968     P=Sept 10=10th day

Harmonic Balancer 7704H=part #   36 = week 36 or 9/01/69 to 9/07/69....matches all other engine dates/trans dates.

Camshaft Part number 416930X or 3896929 300hp camshaft

Distributor #1111956   8H15 Date

Clutch 10.5"

Rear 12 bolt Posi sticker on fill.

BS 0925G1  3.31 ratio, September 25 G1

Norwood car 10A date

Dual fuel lines to tank

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

According to CRG, the casting number for the Saginaw 3 speed transmission is 3925647 and the ratios you have posted were used for the 6 cylinder engine:

https://www.camaros.org/trans.shtml#m3speed

[John Kaiser]

This car definitely came with this 6 cyl M15.

Easy to tell it hadn't been apart, all of the gaskets were original, the ink from the side cover gasket was transferred to the case.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

The clutch assembly for the 6 cylinder & 350 8 cylinder were 10.5" in diameter with a 1-1/8"-10 spline, so the wrong transmission was used when this Camaro was assembled at Norwood. 

[John Kaiser]

I have the original clutch, a touch of orange paint is on the pressure plate, can't find any dating on either piece. Strange seeing as GM has date codes on everything.

It's quite the snafu for the factory, the speedometer cable is in the correct hole by the master cylinder, left side. The "Muncie" speedometer hole in the firewall doesn't look touched.

[GMAD_Van Nuys]

Perhaps they ran out of 3-speed Saginaw transmissions for the 350 engine and decided to use the transmission for the 6 cylinder rather than pull the Camaro off the production line.  Of the vehicles I ordered from GM when I was a salaried employee, only my 1985 Corvette was delivered with optional leather seats rather than the standard cloth seats.  When I reported this to GM (the dealer didn't note the error as I was not charged for the option), the reply was "Merry Christmas" as the Corvette was delivered just before the holidays.

I have a 1970 BOSS 302 that was built with the optional Detroit Locker differential, even though it was an extra cost option and did not appear on the Ford invoice.  I found 2 build sheets in the car which showed it was equipped with a Detroit Locker and the original "979A" tag is still on the differential.  Seems that Ford could have run out of Traction-Lok differentials as about 5 other BOSS 302s built in early 1970 had the same situation.

I have to note how well the VIN numbers were stamped on the engine & transmission on this 1969 Camaro.  The operators who performed these tasks were proficient at their job.  We were still paying dealers for warranty repairs at Van Nuys when I started there in 1978 and we were tough when it came to paying out claims.