NorCam (Graeme Browne's) Lemans Blue 1969 Z/28

[NorCam]

Thanks...forgot about that thread. It's as you mentioned above.

Off to the shop to get it cleaned up and reinstalled.

[Edgemontvillage]

Originally Posted by NorCam

Can anyone tell me what color the sway bar was? I have seen the bar being black, grey, and a couple in between. I'm looking to repaint mine and I'm also curious what color the 2 outer mounts were as well? I believe the inner staps were natural and the outer mounts were black? I'm thinking the sway bar was originally black as well.

Thanks in advance for any confirmations on this.

Sway bar was painted 30% gloss black, the end link hardware (bolt, nut, bushing retainer-washers) is either clear (silver) zinc or silver cad. The frame mounting brackets are also painted 30% gloss black, the bolts attaching the bracket are manganese phosphated and the bushing retainer clamp (originals had a P stamped on them) is natural. The bolt & nut are manganese phosphated.

[NorCam]

The front sway bar is now painted and back in the frame with restored original hardware and some NOS bushings & end link hardware with correct bolts. Looks way better than it did before. Here are a few before and after shots of the front suspension to add a little perspective of the cleanup work. (lol)

(The original front sway bar mounts and inside bushings/clamps after P/O painted it all black).


(After taking it all apart, detailing it and reinstalling it earlier today. Much better looking IMO).


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(Original grease and dirt build-up on the control & steering arms along with those gaudy gold end links).


(And here are the NOS end links installed after the front suspension was cleaned up. Miles ahead of where it was before).


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(Installed a set of NOS end links and bushings on the sway bar. Bolts have WB head marking).


(End links installed showing the underside of the a-arm. I need clean this up a bit when it's off of the jack stands and more accessible).

[DW31S]

Looks great my friend!

[Edgemontvillage]

Graeme, great work on cleaning up the front end components. I noticed that you replaced the end link hardware with NOS parts and this may not matter, however the end link bolt with the WB (Wales-Beech) head marking used on 69's was a Grade 3 bolt with fine threads. For some larger GM vehicle applications the bolt used was instead a Grade 5, with 3 radial head markings as shown on your replacements, which is also course threaded. The correct bolt has no radial markings.

Original End Link WB Bolt from Skip L's 22K mile 69Z Survivor


My original WB bolt (restored)

[Salvatore]

Real nice work Graeme. Your photos are a big help to all of us too.

[napa68]

Originally Posted by Edgemontvillage

Graeme, great work on cleaning up the front end components. I noticed that you replaced the end link hardware with NOS parts and this may not matter, however the end link bolt with the WB (Wales-Beech) head marking used on 69's was a Grade 3 bolt with fine threads. For some larger GM vehicle applications the bolt used was instead a Grade 5, with 3 radial head markings as shown on your replacements, which is also course threaded. The correct bolt has no radial markings.

Original End Link Bolt WB Bolt from Skip L's 22K mile 69Z Survivor


My original WB bolt (restored)

That's what came out of my LT-1 as well

[NorCam]

Originally Posted by Salvatore

Real nice work Graeme. Your photos are a big help to all of us too.

Just having some fun here Sam. The mission to clean it up did change a bit as I have gotten into this car but was never to restore or overcorrect things along the way. Things that are easily cleaned and/or touched up during the process have been done along the way, and any pre-existing service parts that were incorrect to the car have been replaced with the best originals available to me at the time.

The car is miles ahead of where it was and it will definitely be fun to get out with this summer. Who knows, maybe I will actually keep this one for a while. The color has definitely won me over, and I cannot wait to drive it.

Originally Posted by Edgemontvillage
Graeme, great work on cleaning up the front end components. I noticed that you replaced the end link hardware with NOS parts and this may not matter, however the end link bolt with the WB (Wales-Beech) head marking used on 69's was a Grade 3 bolt with fine threads. For some larger GM vehicle applications the bolt used was instead a Grade 5, with 3 radial head markings as shown on your replacements, which is also course threaded. The correct bolt has no radial markings.

Always fun to learn a lot of things about these cars from you and others Lloyd, and thanks for the info on the bolts. The ones sourced will stay in place and although they do have the radial markings, I'm just fine with these in there. I'm trying to clean it up some while addressing some obvious concerns during the process. In doing so, I am sure there will be a few errors but I do appreciate being corrected as there is always more to learn with these cars.

Again...thanks for chiming in.

[NorCam]

And thanks for the earlier tip on the fuel pump plate color Lloyd. Painted the piece black yesterday and plan to mount it back onto the motor today. If all goes well with time management over the weekend, I will hopefully have the engine back in the car. Business is rolling for us here with large projects and that has been keeping me away from getting this car done as quickly as I had hoped, but here's what's keeping me motivated to some degree. (lol)

[Crush]

Every time I open this thread I look forward to the updates and also anticipating the car is for sale!?
Either way well done and I respect the work and detail. I am “ cleaning” and updating a vehicle in a similar fashion and with the weather improving I am anxious to take it for a spin!!