Just a random thought. JL8 COPO?
 

Were any made?

Based on build configuration information provided in 1989, Chevrolet produced 1,066 1969 Camaros with 427 engines. Over 50 years hence, the current body of knowledge includes build configuration for about half of them, via cars that still exist or original paperwork. None of those COPOs were built with JL8. That leaves quite a few COPO Camaros we know nothing about.

Was it possible? My opinion, probably not. COPO 9560 [ZL1] and 9561 [L72] were not regular production options. They were custom-engineered combinations of equipment that included a special rear axle assembly only used with 427 engines. The JL8 option included a different, special rear axle assembly modified to adapt Corvette disc brakes with parking brake. A COPO 427/JL8 Camaro would have required yet another production rear axle assembly. There are no axle codes or technical information to support the existence of such an axle.

Of the 206 production JL8 Camaros, 50-60 are known. Only one is not a Z/28.

Wasn't the non-Z28 a 6-cylinder car?

The one I am aware of was a 307 or 350/2v 4-speed.

Someone is bound to mention the 2 track Z11s used for the Indy 500. They were converted to JL8 at the Chevrolet Tech Center. No idea why they weren't ordered with it.

...You just answered a question I was going to ask.

William,

When I got out of the Army in December 1971, my Dad got transferred from MN to a small town in central WI and I lived with them for a while. In April of 1972 I met a guy from Chicago who's parents had a lake home there and he had a burgundy 69 SS 396/375 4 speed with the JL8 package.

I had a 69 Z/28 at the time, so I was into Camaros at the time and when I seen the 15" rally wheels on the car I got down and looked at it closer and I noticed the rear caliper. I asked him if he purchased the car new and he said his Dad bought it for him off a lot in Chicago. He was aware that the car had the 4 wheel disc package because he mentioned it.

About a month later, I heard a loud muscle car in my parents driveway, and this guy with the JL8 knocked on the door and asked me to go for a ride. He explained that he had damaged the original Muncie and his Dad had sent another up to replace it and it seemed different. We went for a short ride and I assume the original m21/m22 had been replaced with the m20 that was in the car.

The car was totaled out weeks later and that is the last that I knew of the car as I moved back to MN around Memorial Day. I heard later that he replaced it with a ram air lll 69 GTO and he rolled that car over shortly after getting it.

The Camaro was only 3 years old at the time and everything else was stock on the car, so I have to assume the JL8 came on the car. I did not know enough about the JL8 option at the time to check the front calipers.

The only restrictions on ordering JL8 [as of April '69] were that it required G80 Positraction and was not available with 2.56 or 2.73 axle ratios. Included 15 x 7 wheels. So just about anything could have been built with it. But, costly; JL8 MSRP on an SS or Z/28 was $500.30; $623.50 for others.

William, did the JL-8 axle use the big housing ends like on the Corvette and Impala rear ends or the standard 12 bolt housing ends?

Production JL-8 axles were built up from standard Camaro 12 bolt housings with some slight changes in bracketry and brake line routing. JL-8 axle shafts are slightly shorter and have access holes in the flanges.

Best source for info on JL-8 and other special racing components is "Camaro Untold Secrets" by Wayne Guinn.

"Camaro Untold Secrets" by Wayne Guinn. This book should be in the rarity section at Amazon. There is a copy at Amazon for $87.50. I'll asked Santa for it but I'm sure I'll I will get it a lump of coal instead. Thanks William.