Mystery 69??? Not sure. Any help appreciated.

[bowtied]

Hello all, new to the board, located in San Diego, CA.
Here's the deal. I used to flip classic 60-70's cars while I was in the Navy (through the 90's). I arrived in Southern CA to find people still (unbelievably) driving old 60's cars as daily drivers. As a kid who grew up in the Rustbelt (western NY)... I was in heaven.
Any fast forward to now. In 1996 I located a 69 camaro. Burnt Red, missing it's former rat motor, belching tranny juice in the driveway (Turbo 400). Fresh tires on 8 inch (as i recall) rallys. Long story short, I drug it home and stuck it in my garage.
The car as found in 1996:
Th400 (though had clutch pedal)
disc brakes
3:33 (or 3:35) posi (correct date code)
12 bolt
5 leaf springs
3/8 gas line with smaller return to tank
Off-set heater core lines on firewall
Steel cowl hood
no tach
Traction bars (pontiac style i think)
Evidence of drag racing ('cool' can, Rolled rear fender lips)

I built and installed a 396 around 2002 (actually a 402). Anyway, i pittered around maybe a few hundred miles. I wasn't happy with a few details (manual steering box sloppy) or the cooling system (no shroud, still had electric shoddy fan). Anyway, life has taken me other directions but it's time to decode this thing. No special codes that Ive noticed on the cowl tag, Van Nuys car. I peeked in the seats (peeked under the fronts, behind the rear). No build sheet. I've done some research today and going to try peeking on top of the tank tomorrow.
Lastly, the car has the shorter wing (67-68) style. I took crap from some of my bros till I found documentation that they were documented having been put on the 69's during production, especially early on. The car is factory gold (confirmed by paint code) under the current 20+ year old crappy red paint. Anyway, the shorty rear wing is matching factory gold, as are the rest of the panels and doors (though not the hood as I recall).
I'm looking for any insights to deciphering the car. It would be great to find someone who can help figure this thing out locally in Southern California.

Any help is appreciated. I can provide more details if any thinks its relevant. I did talk to a previous owner that was listed on the transfer paperwork I had in 1996 (wished I had his info today!) info and he swore the car had been a race car early in it's life.

Thanks to all,
Dan

Also, wanted to note, it is badged a Z28. Has been for at least the same 20+ years.

[al8apex]

Sounds like you have a L34 or L35 SS 396

an early one would have the narrow rear spoiler, as you have already verified.

1969 Camaros had Z28 emblems added to non Z28 cars starting in 1969, so just because it was on there for 20 years really means little.

You never mentioned the build date, but based on the narrow rear spoiler I would guess an early build, and that would also include the "straight" head rests and the two piece kick panels.

Lots of great experts are over here:

http://www.camaros.net/forums/

[bowtied]

Hey Jim,
"Two piece kick panels?" Are you referring to the footwells of the front seats (on the outboard sides)? Never was aware of a difference.
"Straight head rests?"... Another detail I need to get up to speed on.

Will check out the camaro.net/forums as noted.

Also, there seems to be black on the rear of the car, but more than just the rear tail-light area. I've seen it on the rear deck lid as well and lower panels under the rear bumper. Maybe the rear was shot black and then the gold applied over it from factory? I'm not familiar with the paint application sequence.


Thanks.

[al8apex]

a black tail light panel indicates an original big block, the factory did that on all the BB Camaros (except the 67 & 69 Indy Pace cars) ...

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc435/ricsta127/2020_p50_l.jpg

yes, the foot well vent panels, the early ones were two piece

[PeteLeathersac]

<span style="font-style: italic">&quot;...there seems to be black on the rear of the car, but more than just the rear tail-light area. I've seen it on the rear deck lid as well and lower panels under the rear bumper...&quot;</span>

'69 M<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gifTION style paint?.
Any pics?.

Welcome aboard Dan!.
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[bowtied]

Am looking to get some pics today Pete. The whole car is pretty dirty and needs a serious cleaning up. It's been sitting in a garage rat for 15 years now... literally sat bleeding for a few years before that.

[bowtied]

pics: vin, cowl, car, etc


http://s1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff505/bowtied70/

[travlnz28]

Dan,

I am a local guy (Oceanside area) and would be happy to have a look. You can email me at [email protected] if you want.

Gregg

[resto4u]

It is too early for a copo. If date code on heater box matches car, you have a factory big block.

[bowtied]

Please explain how you determined the build date?

Also, where will I find the date code on the heater box?

Thanks

[69 Post Sedan]

Dan, the VIN is stamped behind the heater box. The pictures below are from my 1969 Chevelle.

The build date would be on the Trim Tag which is riveted to the firewall near the brake booster.

Kurt

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn2/brkyard/1969%20Chevelle/100_0382.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn2/brkyard/1969%20Chevelle/100_0388.jpg

[bowtied]

Also, rear end is code:
BS 0***3G1

couple of letters I couldn't make out because of hoop for sway bar is in the way.


some other info from another thread at Team camaro thread:

Check hood springs. If they have 28 coils (and it seems like the hood is a little hard to shut), then the car has SS hood springs. <span style="color: #FF6666">Coils are 28+ (actually counted 29)

</span>
I would guess the short rear spoiler is OE, but check the torsion rods (right side should be thicker than left). <span style="color: #FF6666">Forgive the ignorance... but Not sure what &quot;torsion rods' are</span>

If it has an original radiator, the tank codes might provide some more data. http://www.camaros.org/coolingsystems.shtml <span style="color: #FF6666">Need to work on this one
</span>
If those are original fenders, you may find the factory SS emblem holes filled in.
<span style="color: #FF6666">They are original fenders, eventually will get to that point
</span>

And actually, the biggest final clue would be the inside heater box itself, which is different between big block and small block cars. One of the gurus would know if they have different codes stamped into them, or if it is just the physical difference necessary for the BBC heater core.
<span style="color: #FF6666">Can anyone outline the differences so I know what I'm hunting for!___
</span>

[al8apex]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowtied</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
&quot;Straight head rests?&quot;... Another detail I need to get up to speed on.

</div></div>

your early car has head rests that are &quot;straight&quot;, in that the line of the seat back is the same on the head rest:

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff505/bowtied70/DSC02517.jpg

The later build cars did not use the straight headrests, they used the angled or vertical head rests

[bowtied]

The deeper I get into the details of this car, the more it's looking like something cool, I'm just trying to understand what it is. Wish I had a build sheet!

[x77-69z28]

dont we all! cool car