Go Back   The Supercar Registry > Dealer Specific Discussion > COPO - United States


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-11-2019, 02:41 AM
GMC_Typhoon GMC_Typhoon is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Nashville
Posts: 410
Thanks: 2
Thanked 166 Times in 67 Posts
Default Just a random thought. JL8 COPO?

Were any made?
Reply With Quote
Click here to view all the pictures posted in this thread...
  #2  
Old 12-11-2019, 12:03 PM
William William is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New Berlin WI USA
Posts: 2,468
Thanks: 194
Thanked 2,101 Times in 664 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to William For This Useful Post:
bergy (03-01-2020), cook_dw (12-17-2019), John (12-11-2019), my70454ss (03-01-2020), YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY (12-11-2019)
  #3  
Old 12-11-2019, 12:37 PM
x44d80 x44d80 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: American Fork, Utah
Posts: 351
Thanks: 161
Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts
Default

Wasn't the non-Z28 a 6-cylinder car?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 12-11-2019, 03:39 PM
William William is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New Berlin WI USA
Posts: 2,468
Thanks: 194
Thanked 2,101 Times in 664 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-11-2019, 03:48 PM
Mr70's Avatar
Mr70 Mr70 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20,408
Thanks: 70
Thanked 2,489 Times in 1,139 Posts
Default

...You just answered a question I was going to ask.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 12-11-2019, 04:30 PM
bigsixman bigsixman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MN , USA
Posts: 372
Thanks: 505
Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by William View Post
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.
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.
__________________
69 camaro X11, 56,000 miles, original HO paint
67 camaro SS/RS, Butternut yellow, bench, fold down
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-11-2019, 11:03 PM
William William is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New Berlin WI USA
Posts: 2,468
Thanks: 194
Thanked 2,101 Times in 664 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to William For This Useful Post:
cook_dw (12-17-2019)
  #8  
Old 12-11-2019, 11:12 PM
x44d80 x44d80 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: American Fork, Utah
Posts: 351
Thanks: 161
Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts
Default

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?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-12-2019, 02:11 PM
William William is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New Berlin WI USA
Posts: 2,468
Thanks: 194
Thanked 2,101 Times in 664 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to William For This Useful Post:
cook_dw (12-17-2019), Xplantdad (12-12-2019)
  #10  
Old 12-12-2019, 09:56 PM
x44d80 x44d80 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: American Fork, Utah
Posts: 351
Thanks: 161
Thanked 76 Times in 41 Posts
Default

"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.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:02 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

O Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.