Great forums/ 69 Z28 info

[ZackB]

First I would like to say that the info and opinions here are invaluable to the supercars from the 1967-1973 era, with everyones input and superior knowlegde of these cars, its like beign there when they were just a common sight on the street! I have a few questions for you guys just to see if maybe can help me out a little. I recently purchased a Fathom Green 69 Z/28 from a friend of my uncles, my uncle has known of this car since new and been around it lots. I am the 5th owner of this car, as the origial owner was killed in Vietnam in 71. The car is Fathom Green, houndstooth interior(black), rosewood wheel/trim, body colored front bumper, it how no wheel opening moldings or the chrome pieces on the quarter panels or chrome drip moldings. The car has 4 wheel disc brakes, I have read that this a rare option, but I do not know if it was an original option or the service option package(there is so much info on this page, without it I would be completely in the dark as to what I am asking), how would I tell the difference? The origial owners dad gave me some other original parts with the car, he purchased a crossram set-up and fiberglass hood that went with the crossram, when the car was new,these parts were never installed but the crossram set-up is in terrible shape from sitting around for so long but the hood is in good shape, and it also has factory headers on it,and a set of torque thrust wheels from 1969, but they are a solid dark color, not like the ones you see now with a polished lip. His dad is looking for the original paperwork on the car,and is sure that he still has it. The car is showing 64,000 miles. I know this is not a SUPERCAR,but any help,opion, or input from any of you would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

[Jeff H]

Zack, check the axle codes on the passenger side of the rear axle tube facing toward the front. Let us know what the code on the axle is. IT should be something like QX0328 G1. Look at the front brakes and check the calipers to see if they are the single piston or 4 piston design. The factory JL8 4 wheel disc brake option had 4 piston calipers front and rear. There should be no proportioning valve under the master cylinder as well. That's a great car you picked up. What part of the crossram setup is in bad condition? Original GM fiberglass crossram cowl hoods are very valuable today because they didn't make very many(less than 100 probably). I have the crossram setup, the hood, transistor ignition, radio delete and heater delete that I'm restoring my JL8 with. If the owner can find the paperwork you'll be in great shape.

[Rat_Pack]

Zack, sounds like you have a great find. Check out www.camaros.org (http://www.camaros.org), those guys at the CRG can help you a lot as well as the ones on this site. There is helpful info on how to look for the codes that Jeff is talking about plus a forum just like this one. Good luck in your research. By the way, since you are in Mooresville, there is a local Camaro club that could help you out also...................RatPack.................... .

[ZackB]

Jeff,

Thanks for you input! The crossram intake is just really dull and dirty and so are the carbs, but all the linkage is there, and a different gas pedal. Why would this set-up have a different gas pedal? The original owners dad called last night and said that he has found some pictures from 69-70 of the car, so he thinks he getting close to finding the paperwork, I am keeping my fingers crossed! His dad also said that he has a camshaft in a GM box that goes with the car that he is going to send, but he said it was rusty, he also made the comment that his son bought everything hi performance for that car that he could at that time. The front and rear both have 4-piston calipers, but have not had a chance to get under the car and look for the codes, its really dirty under there. I own a 89 Saleen SSC and a 97 Viper GTS, so this whole car restoration, finding codes and decoding stuff is all new to me, and really I do not know where to start with this car, but I do not want to restore it to where I can't drive it. One last question, can anyone tell me about these Torque Thrust wheels that are a solid dark color with no polished parts on them, they are in good shape and I would like to put them back on the car, I think that these style look really good on these cars, almost like they were made for Camaros, and once again any help or info is greatly appreciated! /ubbthreads/images/icons/cool.gif

[ZackB]

Rat Pack

Thanks for your input and info, I am sure it will really help me!

[Jeff H]

Sure sounds like a genuine JL8 car. The crossram setup used the 6 cyl gas pedal with a throttle cable compared to the single 4 barrel setup which uses linkage rods to open the carb. Sounds like he has the "140" off-road cam that was designed for use with the crossram. I have that cam but it uses different valve springs so check to see if he has those as well. I don't know what you paid for the car, but another documented JL8 recently sold for around $45,500! Crossram setups sell for $5000-$7000 and those fiberglass crossram hoods sell for $2500+. We'd love to see those pictures if you can get them scanned and onto the computer. Good luck with the car.
Jeff.

[Jeff H]

Sure sounds like a genuine JL8 car. The crossram setup used the 6 cyl gas pedal with a throttle cable compared to the single 4 barrel setup which uses linkage rods to open the carb. Sounds like he has the "140" off-road cam that was designed for use with the crossram. I have that cam but it uses different valve springs so check to see if he has those as well. I don't know what you paid for the car, but another documented JL8 recently sold for around $45,500! Crossram setups sell for $5000-$7000 and those fiberglass crossram hoods sell for $2500+. Is the hood fiberglass or metal? We'd love to see those pictures if you can get them scanned and onto the computer. Good luck with the car.
Jeff.

[ZackB]

Jeff

Can you explain to me what the "140" offroad cam is?

[Jeff H]

That's the GM part # 3927140 cam which has .473" and .492" lift compared to .455" with the stock cam. It was designed for use with the crossram setup for racing purposes.
Jeff.

[ZackB]

Jeff,

Thanks for the info on the cam, are there any aftermarket cam companies that make this cam profile in a roller design, that is what I am going to put back in the engine when I rebuild it. Some guys here at work are helping me to decode the car. Good news, I got all the original paperwork on the car, and the window sticker, it has the four wheel disc brake option(JL-8) on it, but the price is faded to where I can't read it, how much did this option cost? Where would be the best place to get the intake and carbs bought back to new condition? The guy that is helping me decode the car found the numbers on the trans and he said that by the codes it is an M22, is this correct or not? We have not gotten to cleaning off the rearend to look for numbers yet, but I know it is a 4-wheel disc brake car from the window sticker, and the VIN on the window sticker matches that VIN on the car, that was the first thing I checked,and again thanks for any info,opions and help!

[Jeff H]

I'm not sure if anyone makes that 140 cam in a roller. I think there were a couple of companies offering the original muscle car cams but I'm not sure if they still have them. That's pretty sweet that you got the window sticker showing the JL8. There were different prices on that option during the year. What is the build date on your trim tag? I would recommend going over to www.camaros.org (http://www.camaros.org) and submit your car's information for their database they are compiling. They have my information and the more information they can gather on original cars it can help us all out. Plus, being a documented JL8 like that will help increase it's value. Does the car have the factory headers on it? One resource for cleaning up and restoring the crossram would be Jerry MacNeish in MD. His web site is www.z28camaro.com (http://www.z28camaro.com) and I think some of the people here have used him before. We'd like to see some pictures of those wheels if you have a digital camera. Do a search here for the American Racing wheels and you'll find some older discussions about vintage mags. A lot of these guys can help you out better than I can. Sounds like a great car.
Jeff.

[whitetop]

Has anyone else read Jerry Heasley's article in the latest Mopar Muscle magazine? Is this what is happening here? Maybe I'm too cynical.
whitetop

[MikeA]

Whitetop,

Please provide some detail about the article.

[JoeC]

on the mags.....A lot of people don't like the curved spoke of the repop Americans. The old style had a straight spoke. I hear that they may repop the straight spoke design because of all the people asking for them.

[MikeA]

Whitetop,

Forget it. After re-reading the posts I think I have a good idea what the article was about. /ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif

[Jeff H]

WhiteTop, I don't get Mopar Muscle so I have no idea what you're referring to. Could you clue us in?

[whitetop]

O.K. I'll probably catch hell but here goes(I've put my foot in my mouth before one more time won't hurt): Jerry wrote an article about people calling/writing/emailing about bogus rare finds that they recently picked up that just plain don't exist. It is the latest trend on the internet/magazines for some reason. May be an easy way to get 15 minutes of fame so to speak. Am I the only one who finds this Z story to perfect? First off, anytime I hear of a car bought and the owner was later killed in Vietnam put up a red flag to me( No offense Astoria Chas). Last time I looked we lost 58K servicemen in Vietnam. How come it seems like I've heard at least 200,000 stories over the years about owners killed in Vietnam. Who knows, maybe the government is hiding the actual casualty figures. Here's more, 64K with factory headers still on the car-what's left the flange and header bolts?, Hotmail email adr., Father gave him the cross ram/hood/later(at no charge ) to come back with all the paperwork etc. None of the previous owners went back to get parts/information and found out what they had? Car is optioned like a dream fantasy-no pun intended. Zack, if you post pics of the car and parts I will be the first one here to apologize.
whitetop

[COPO]

whitetop, I tend to agree. Has everyone forgotten the highly optioned '69 BM Phase 3 Camaro story already?

[Jeff H]

That's what my first thought was about the post but I always like to pursue possible finds because I've seen some of them in person. It sure sounds too good to be true, but it's still worth pursuing to see if the person can come up with some pictures or evidence. The Internet has made it easier to find specific information on any subject so it's hard to tell if someone is playing games or not.
Jeff.

[whitetop]

Copo
I forgot about that car. Was that the one the guy inherited from his Grandfather and by chance had the same color/wheels etc as the recent Ertl diecast that just happened to be released about that time? Didn't we conclude that his original paperwork was the Walmart receipt?
whitetop

[Stefano]

I am with you Guys regarding the Phantom cars starting to show up everywhere. There have however been some real cars that popped up on this site, which were great finds.

A couple of local teenagers showed up at my door just recently soliciting funds for their travel scoccer team.

I didn't recognize them ,so just asked where they lived. They provided a correct name and address of a new neighbor so I didn't ask for any identification.

The conversation quickly turn to the Baldwin 427 1969 Camaro that his father had sitting in the garage awaiting for his 16th Birth day, just a couple of months away.

He called it a "Baldwin Camaro" from a New York Dealer that had a 427 installed when new.

I expressed an interest in seeing the car as it was to be less than a mile from my house.

I have yet to find anyone home, but am inclined to believe that it was a Scam and that the info they used was obtained from this site.

If I am wrong I will be the first to a /ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif pologize.

[JoeC]

There was a guy on Team Chevelle who said he bought an LS6 for $1000.00 at a storage facility auction. It was a hoax.

[Jeff H]

A guy near me just bought his dad's 10,000 original mile 69 Z28. He didn't know a whole lot about it and was asking a bunch of questions so I helped him out. I obviously offered to buy it if he wasn't going to. I think he got it for under $10K but that's a car that stayed in the family so it's a different situation.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I think everyone has heard about the one the owner died in vietnam,I have heard it numerous times,I think it is a possibility for the car to be real and the only way to know is for the person to post some pictures and info such as trim tag and vin# this way you guys that know about these cars can give him information he is looking for about the car.POST SOME INFO ON THE CAR ZACH AND A COUPLE OF PICTURES!!

[Steve Shauger]

I was skeptical of Zack from the beginning. He knew nothing about Z's but asked specifically about the rarest most desirable option/ parts. I bet he finds the car has TI ignition on it next. I can't wait to see the window sticker.

[Unreal]

OK Zack, you have a Saleen and a Viper. Surely you have a digital camera to post some pics!

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Yea Zack be like festival 78,he needed some answers and posted pictures for the guys here to help him out.I'm like unreal with the Saleen and Viper, surely you have a camera to take pictures with,come on guy don't let the site down show your rare find so these guys can help you figure out what it is you have found, if anything

JUST WONDERING /ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/icons/confused.gif

[jon rand]

This storys a little herd to beleve,but there are those cars our there that the owner was killed in vietnam. I know of a 69 RS/SS 350 Camaro with 1,100 some miles all original exept rear wheels and tires,tork thrust an 60's the originals are still in the trunk.The car has sat in the same spot since 69 still taged 69. They are out there bu this ones douptfull.

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

I agree with you Jon,I have heard of similar stories as well,I also know where a 67 corvette is and a cushman scooter that has sat in the same garage for over 30 years.The father of the owner will not sell for no amount.He keeps both in running condition,I knew the owner,he was a couple of years older than I was,and a real nice person. His Dad bought him the corvette new for graduation,a year and 6 months later he went to Vietnam and was killed in action in 1969.I think it is a shame for things like that to set up and not be driven,but I can understand the memories.I used to stop and talk to the man from time to time and he says that everytime he sees the car and scooter it is like having his son there with him.He pulls the car out every now and then and washes it then puts it back up.Big block 427,4 speed,tri power,red with black interior,has not been tagged since 1969,still has 69 tags and sticker on the car don't remember the mileage but I am pretty sure it was very low around 14,000 or so.Sure would be a nice one to have.

Bobby