Hi Guys, I Recently purchased a 69 RS Camaro that from what I can determine so far appears to be a LM1 car. Really don't matter to me
because it's a decent old car with all the right goodies and I like it.
Car is Loaded!

But lets say it is a true LM1 optioned car and I dont have the original engine what is it worth in NOM condition?

The old car is solid but less engine, But I do have a CE 396/375 engine that is date coded for a 69. Do I search for a NOM or do I slap the 396 in it and enjoy?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, JimmyC

I would put the BB in it and have some fun with it. It would be a pretty neat ride.

Guys an LM1 is basically a 2 barrel engine with a QJ. There were 10,000 built; really nothing special.

Guys an LM1 is basically a 2 barrel engine with a QJ. There were 10,000 built; really nothing special.

Huh?

All LM1's are 4 barrel cars. They are at least as special as SS 350's, well, at least GM thought so. The base tranny was the 3 spd muncie, not the saginaw (as in other base manuals), they mostly got 12 bolts (like the ss's) and multi's. They even got the "chrome" air cleaner lids that the SS's got. Many had dog dish/poverty rims, giving the car a "sleeper" stance. Yes, the HP rating was only 255, but everything else about the car was HiPo.



Rich

Jimmy, without the orig motor, you really can't tell. Does it have the original 12 bolt? Multi's? Power Disc, Power Drum or Drum brakes? Prop valve under the door? Gauges?

In the end, w/o the motor, just drop that BB in and have fun!

Rich




Hi Guys, I Recently purchased a 69 RS Camaro that from what I can determine so far appears to be a LM1 car. Really don't matter to me
because it's a decent old car with all the right goodies and I like it.
Car is Loaded!

But lets say it is a true LM1 optioned car and I dont have the original engine what is it worth in NOM condition?

The old car is solid but less engine, But I do have a CE 396/375 engine that is date coded for a 69. Do I search for a NOM or do I slap the 396 in it and enjoy?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks, JimmyC

Rich, Yes to all. Car has P/S, PDB, A/C, factory gauge package with tach.
4 Speed, 12 bolt multi leaf, and the prop. valve. Also has tilt wheel and cruise control. Hey! Worst case scenario it'll make a dandy Friday night crusier. As for the numbers built 10,000 or so is about half the numbers of the1969 Z28's built. And man you gotta love that A/C and cruise? I ain't no spring chicken any more and I've kind of grown to appreciate those creature comforts.
Thanks to all you guys for giving me your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
JimmyC

Jimmy, you can put in the engine you have and then give your VIN for the car to Kurt and other's data bases and see if the original turns up like a lot of us are doing. Also, you can reach Kurt on CRG.

Rich I think you misread Willams comment, it is a 2-barrel ENGINE with a QJ (4barrel) on it... meaning the same engine as the standard 2barrel carb was put on but instead they put the QJ on it for a little more power :) Kinda like Tomatoe or Tomato :)

Jimmy, if it has cruise control, that was most likely put on at the dealership. Im pretty sure it was not a factory option. someone correct me but thats my feeble mind at work. :)

I say find a 350 and put it back stock with nom engine.You have to change alot of stuff to put a bigblock in right.

Ok still missing the point. Is'nt a a SS350 still a 2 barrel engine with a 4 barrel (and hotter heads)? Then a Z28 would just be 2 barrel engine, with heads, cam etc etc........

LM1's ALL came with 4 barrels. The base products on the car were HiPo, 12 bolt rears and Muncie only transmissions. Only the HiPo cars got the muncie's as the base transmission (If I remember correctly).

Why confuse the situation and say it's a 2 barrel car with a 4 barrel???????

Just my .02! You guy's know I am a LM1 fan and I don't think they get the respect that they deserve........

:)

Friends,

Rich



Rich I think you misread Willams comment, it is a 2-barrel ENGINE with a QJ (4barrel) on it... meaning the same engine as the standard 2barrel carb was put on but instead they put the QJ on it for a little more power :) Kinda like Tomatoe or Tomato :)

Jimmy, if it has cruise control, that was most likely put on at the dealership. Im pretty sure it was not a factory option. someone correct me but thats my feeble mind at work. :)

Just my .02! You guy's know I am a LM1 fan and I don't think they get the respect that they deserve.

Ya, they probably don't AND since we are in the "What's it worth?" section, the LM1 option doesn't add a whole lot to the value.

The LM1 was a low-compression engine with a QJ carb; 5 more HP than a 2 bbl. A friends' dealership had 2; neither had disc brakes or dual exhaust. Both were automatics with 2:56 axles.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion; to me they are over-hyped and are nothing special.

The LM1 was a low-compression engine with a QJ carb; 5 more HP than a 2 bbl. A friends' dealership had 2; neither had disc brakes or dual exhaust. Both were automatics with 2:56 axles.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion; to me they are over-hyped and are nothing special.


Not to be difficult, just asking:

OK, What about the 67-8 L30/M20? Is it "special" and why/why not?

Why did the LM1 get the muncie as the base as opposed to the saginaw?

Did'nt some SS350's (autos) come with 10 bolts? Powerglides? Would this car be considered "special"?

Obviouly different guys have different ideas of what they like. Some argue strictly HP rating's (like the LM1 argument). I think that, again, most LM1's were ordered with nice options. I agree that the HP rating was not all that much.

BUT, the 69 Z was only rated at 290hp. The 69 SS350 was rated at 300hp. While the 70 Z is rated at 360hp! Compaired to the 70Z, the 69Z was a turd HP wise. BUT, all of the other options on the 69Z make it as a total package
better (mo specaial) than the 69 SS?

Whew! mouthful. Any insight helpful.......

Rich

I had 1 now 1 of my friends owns it. Daytona yellow RS, th350, 12 bolt posi w/2:56's, 4bbl, chrome breather top, q-jet, valve on subframe, w/POP too.
This 1 has manual drum brakes and power steering, houndstooth, cool!

OK, What about the 67-8 L30/M20? Is it "special" and why/why not?

It is special to me, but mostly because I restored the car. To most everyone else the only reason that my car is "special" is because it is a red four speed ragtop. The L30/M20 option doesn't really add to it's value as far as I'm concerned. Who knows though, maybe someday someone will think that my car is special or worth more because it's an L30/M20.....I doubt it though, it's just a nice, clean, red 67 convertible to most.

sounds like a very nice car Jim

Once the original engine is gone, put whatever makes you happy
in it. Not everyone is all about the numbers anyway. Sure a matching
DZ 302 in a Z, or 396 in a SS, would make them worth a lot more, but in most cases, without original engine, make it what you want.

Gee Guys, I didn't realize I would open such a can of worms with this question! But so far all the response has been very insightful and interesting.

Personally I love all the old Camaro's I own 3 currently in various stages of reassembly or disassembly, If I had to choose just one it would be the 69 L78 car. I and Don't even own one of those. They are all kind of like our kids, One may be better at somethings than others. But we love em all the same.

Thanks, Team Camaro and all who have responded.
JimmyC

Hey Paul! I think your car is "special" :)

There all great. Heck, even a 6 banger is still a Camaro. Even a Yenko is just a COPO w/ dealer added "bling" when you get down to it.

Bottom line Jimmy, like everyone says, put what you want into it and enjoy it.

Rich


It is special to me, but mostly because I restored the car. To most everyone else the only reason that my car is "special" is because it is a red four speed ragtop. The L30/M20 option doesn't really add to it's value as far as I'm concerned. Who knows though, maybe someday someone will think that my car is special or worth more because it's an L30/M20.....I doubt it though, it's just a nice, clean, red 67 convertible to most.

BUT, the 69 Z was only rated at 290hp. The 69 SS350 was rated at 300hp. While the 70 Z is rated at 360hp! Compaired to the 70Z, the 69Z was a turd HP wise. BUT, all of the other options on the 69Z make it as a total package
better (mo specaial) than the 69 SS?

Whew! mouthful. Any insight helpful.......

Rich

The HP numbers for some of the cars that time period is wrong.
The power is way more:)

I have heard about 400hp for 69 Z.
400 for the BOSS 302
500-600 for the hemi cars
and about the same for the Yenko
and so on and so on.
But i´m not an expert that is just what i have heard and read in books and papers:) .... not facts

But if i´m way of crusing now please tell me and correct it:thumbsup:

Mvh Peter

Hey Paul! I think your car is "special" :)

Thanks Rich, I appreciate that!

As-installed 302s were in the range 325-340hp @6500 rpm; the MCR dyno report in the late '80s verified that. The rating of 290 hp @5800 rpm is actually correct. They swapped in the '140' cam and picked up 20 hp.

The recent L72 build in MCR eventually reached 425 hp; took a lot of tuning.

Years ago Bill Porterfield did a ZL1 build up: 375 hp as-installed. With headers and some tuning about 525. MCR did others [Pontiac, Olds] and most are very close to their ratings.

my very first car was an Lm1 dusk blue cpe with a 4 speed. the car had 11000 miles on it when i bought it. i had some fun with it but it wasnt long before i became tired of that " 255 hp " motor. well needless to say the motor came out and in went a big block, headers , 488s etc.. you get the picture. wish i knew then what i know now. the car would have stayed an Lm1

my very first car was an Lm1 dusk blue cpe with a 4 speed. the car had 11000 miles on it when i bought it. i had some fun with it but it wasnt long before i became tired of that " 255 hp " motor. well needless to say the motor came out and in went a big block, headers , 488s etc.. you get the picture. wish i knew then what i know now. the car would have stayed an Lm1

This is extactly why I like em. They (mostly) came with all of the same goodies as other HiPo cars, and for less. You could order an LM1, add the 4Speed, 12 Bolt, Duals, power drum brakes and the next day drop in a 427.

I by no means are saying that they are COPO's etc, but just cool cars. I don't know why, but most of em were Dog Dish "sleeper" looking cars. I have personally inspected over 10 LM1's, and owned 4 of them. Most have had gauge pakages and all have had Dual Exhaust and 12 bolt multi's (oddly enough, two have had 4 leaf and the rest 5 leaf springs).

One of the two I currently have has some neat options. Gauges, Power Windows, Blk Houndstooth Interior - Fold Down Rear Seat, 12Bolt and is an
original Hugger Orange car. Someone put SS badges on it sometime in it's life. It was flooded in Katrina, but will be going back as an LM1. Way more cool in my book than an SS (IMNSHO). :)

Rich

Rich, Just reading your post concerning the muilti leafs and my car has the 4 leaf springs on it.

Hello All
This is my first post, great site.
I am going to look at a 69 yenko clone, next week. What do I need to be looking for. I assume if the car was orginally a big block 4 speed would help?
I do not know any thing about camaros. Any help and or suggestions would be greatly appericated. I do know some about 1st gen rivieras and some on 65 gto's. This car supposidly sold for over 25k in 01. Depending on conditon is it worth that?
Thanks in advance Yvonne:hurray:

Good Info here that may help..................

http://www.camaros.org/lm1.shtml:noway: