OK, if Belair says I can start it - here goes!
My particular Camaro is a 1969 SS 396. Hugger orange, black
vinyl top, L/34, THM400, N/66 sport wheels, D/90 striping,
rear spoiler, std. black interior, chambered exhaust car.
My Grandmother bought it for my grandfather the day he
retired from the Philadelphia Navy Yard. I was only eleven
then, but I remember how excited he was when he saw the car
for the very first time! Grand-mom was something back then!
Grand-pop wanted only one other option to his new car.
Ready for this, Umm, err - dealer installed hood pins. They
were a dealer installed option back then.
I would always ask grand-pop back then to sell me the car
one day. He always replied that it was too powerful and
that my mom ( his daughter ) would never allow it.
Remember the gas shortages in the early 1970's and the
rising insurance costs? Seems funny now, doesn't it?
Well, grand-pop decided to take that gas guzzling big block
out of the car and opted for a 327 two barrel, more tame
engine to reduce gas costs and insurance rates. He had the
engine under a tarp in his garage for many years. Every
once in a while when my brothers and I were visiting my
grandparents, we would sneak off to the garage and peek
under theat tarp. Kinda like boys with playboy magazines.
Well, after high school, then college, I went on my way.
Sadly, grand-pop died in 1980 and at the funeral my grand-
mom asked me if I wanted grand-pops car. The Camaro, I
asked! I hadn't seen it in probably six years and figured
he sold it long ago. When I saw it for the first time, I
almost cried. That once beautiful car was reduced to a
rusty, dented, torn headliner heap of junk. But, it had
46,000 original miles and the interior was almost in
perfect shape. As soon as I had the opportunity, I went to
my grandparents house to look for that 396! Guess what I
found. Just the tarp !!! The engine was gone and grand-mom
had no clue where it was. That's the second time I cried!
So, I started to buy all GM original sheetmetal, bumpers,
chrome, etc. and I completely restored the body &
interior. In the early 1980's there was little to no known
knowledge about completely restoring our beloved Camaros.
I had the most difficulty with original fasteners, the D/90
striping configuration and my ultimate decision to
re-install those hood pins. I researched the issue by
buying a book written by Michael Lamm ( The Great Camaro ).
In his book the verified the hood pin ( dealer installed )
option. So, I kep the hood pins. That my friends was my
only mistake.
I tried in vain to locate a clean ( non racing ) big block,
but such was not the case. So, I left the 327 in there and
just drove it the way it was. Then came marriage, and two
babies in the carriage. Forget that big block 396 dream -
right!
Fade to 1999. One night while surfing the web, I found a
thing called eBay. Anybody ever hear of it? Just playing
around, I typed in "69 Camaro" - HOLY CRAP !!!!!! I could
not believe what I saw. It's a whole new world now.
Well, some $15,000 later, I now have all correctly numbered
and dated engine components. Just a few additional items
to find ( like that $#%@&&*#*@ starter heat shield
). Next
summer, the drive train gets restored to its former glory.
I think I will drive back to PA and visit grand-pops grave.
Hope he doesn't roll over!
That's my story and I'm sticking with it.
Steve