69 Camaro Questions

[Bill Pritchard]

This is a non-Supercar and non-Musclecar question, but it concerns a 69 Camaro, and I know there's a lot of knowledgeable people here for that subject, so please bear with me....

A friend just dragged home a standard 69 Camaro. It's a real looker - Code 65 Olympic gold with dark green standard interior and green vinyl roof The car is amazingly original and untouched, but is badly rusted. It has the original 255hp 350 engine with smog pump and all tubes, floor mounted 3 speed trans (Muncie shifter still intact ), and 12 bolt rear . Also has factory 8 track player and all speakers, which still work. Engine runs but clutch is gone, so it's not driveable.

The Trim Tag shows an 11D build date. The car has a factory wood steering wheel, which my friend had already removed when I saw the car. Any chance this could be the Walnut or whatever non-Rosewood wheel came on early cars? My knowledge on this is limited to Chevelles, so I apologize if it is not applicable to Camaros.

The car also has a chrome air cleaner lid, with unintelligible remains of a factory engine ID decal on top. It was always my impression that only the SS cars had a chrome air cleaner lid. Any chance that the non-SS 350 69 Camaros got a chrome air cleaner lid?

[MosportGreen66]

Bill... I am still vague on first gens but I think all non SS Camaros got a single snorkle air clean which was painted gloss black. I think a chrome valve cover was used on a 4 barrell cars, which s/b 350s were not.

[Bill Pritchard]

Dan,

The car has a single snorkel air cleaner, but the lid is chrome. It definitely has a 4 bbl. Q-jet, which is what the info I have says comes with the 255hp 350 (code HQ).

[Kurt S]

All LM1 (4 bbl) Camaros had the chrome air cleaner.
Neat car.

[camarojoe]

A November 1968 built Camaro with an N34 wood wheel will most likely be a shallow offset walnut, which was replaced by the rosewood in December. A very rare piece.

[DarrenX33]

Yep, walnut just like mine Bill. See if you can sneak some pics.

[69LM1]

"Any chance that the non-SS 350 69 Camaros got a chrome air cleaner lid?"

Yep, My 69 LM1 (Oct 68 build) has the chrome air lid.
Have you checked to see if it is a LM1 or not (some hints: dual fuel lines, dual exhaust, valve under drivers door, 12 bolt rear)?

[Bill Pritchard]

The engine code is T1108HQ, so I guess that would make it an LM1. I didn't look at the fuel line configuration or exhaust, but the VIN on the engine matches the car's VIN, so it's undoubtedly the original engine. The '1108' engine assembly date is consistent with an 11D body build date, too.

I'm guessing that he is going to sell this car, because it's more of a project than he envisioned it to be.