It's more like an old man's garage find. :yes:

Hiya folks.

Name's John, I go by "The Redeye Knight". (Long story)

I'm now the proud owner of not only my first Camaro, but a very special one.

On the 13th, I got a call from an old friend. One of my older brother's classmates.

He wanted to tell me that the 69 Camaro that his father had was up for sale. This car is the one that made a Chevy guy out of me in '72 or so. I was amazed his father (now in his 90s) still had it. It's been driven around 5K in the last 25 years.

When I called the old boy, he told me what he wanted for the car, I told him he was nuts, and could get several times that at auction. I was ~tersely~ informed that (I paraphrase) he didn't need the money and he wanted the car to go where it was loved. Not to a reseller.

It's a base model with manual everything. 89K original. Early production, it's equipped with a 2 bbl327, HD 3 speed and single exhaust.

Even has a quadraphonic 8 track player in the dash. :disco:

This car hasn't seen the light of day in a long time.

Please see the attached image. :beers:

The original color was Le Mans Blue, but it was sloppily repainted burgundy. I plan to restore the original color.

A very mild driver. All the performance of a sixer, without that pesky fuel economy! :eek:

This isn't only a terrific find, it's rediscovering an old friend that I thought was lost.

The plan is, front discs, aftermarket sway bars front and rear, and gas shocks. This in addition to freshening up the front end. Not gonna touch the drivetrain. It runs like a happy cat.

I've got about a million questions, so I'll try and really cruise the board and read a bunch before I ask.

John
Redeye Knight

Wow too cool! ask away and welcome to Team Camaro.

You will have to search pretty long and hard, ...but you just might find a few other 69 lovers around here....

Welcome to the Team John. That's an amazing story. Glad you ended up with the car. Why can't I have good friends like that ;)

Some people have all the luck, great find!

Glad to see the car will be in good hands -- welcome to Team Camaro

...sounds like the car is in good hands :thumbsup:
Welcome to Team Camaro...

When I called the old boy, he told me what he wanted for the car, I told him he was nuts, and could get several times that at auction. I was ~tersely~ informed that (I paraphrase) he didn't need the money and he wanted the car to go where it was loved. Not to a reseller.

John
Redeye Knight

Exact same way I got my car John....Guy told me he was passing the torch , not selling the car.
Mine is a survivor with 40K orig miles.
Keep her safe, and welcome!

Uncle Tupelo

Great find, nice car, excellent luck. Welcome to the Club!

Don't be afraid to ask, plenty of knowledge here. Did the previous owner name the car?

Thats an awesome story John, welcome to Team Camaro. Great car too. Im sure the old guy will want to see your resto process as well, take lots of pics as you go along and share them with him, and Im sure you will but take him for a ride when its all safe with new hoses and belts and tires, etc. His smile will be worth millions. :D

shes a beauty - congrats

Tstone's sig reads:
"Classic's only cost alot if you add up how much you spend"

LMAO!

Tstone, as a guy with a garage full of old Harleys, ('35, '42, '51, '60, '78, '88, '04) I can certainly relate. I've *got* to steal that line! :thumbsup:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/redeyeknight04/album?.dir=a7a8scd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/redeyeknight04/my_photos


Ordered new brake lines today. All brake cylinders seem to be tight. No leaks. Front seal looks good too. Water hoses and belts look to be relatively fresh.

That CA smog pump and corresponding manifolds gotta go tho. :wacko: Noisy damn thing. Ugly too.

I'll likely replace the rear cylinders when I upgrade the front to discs. Then blow everything out with solvent and put DOT 5 in.

Any recommendations for gas shocks these days? Those KYBs are getting mighty spendy of late.

Here's a few shots of my new baby, some are with it still coated with dust in the place I pulled it out of.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/redeyeknight04/album?.dir=fd8fscd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/redeyeknight04/my_photos

Redeye Knight
Kittitas, WA

I might be wrong but isn't that a 350? Don't the 327's have the alternators on the other side?

I might be wrong but isn't that a 350? Don't the 327's have the alternators on the other side?

It's a '69 vs '67 & '68 thing. All '69s got the alt on the pass side. 327's came in early '69s and were replaced by 307's part way through the production year.

I'm interested in the smog, I had a '69 Calif Camaro 327 2bbl that didn't come with smog (I was 2nd owner back in late '70's) Mine was a powerglide and this ones a 3speed stick. I guess that made the difference. I just rebuilt a carb on a '70 307 2bbl PG Chevelle that doesn't have any smog and it's a 100% survivor.

Anyway that really has nothing to do with anything, Redeye welcome to TC and thanks for the pictures. It's cool to hear when someone finds a deal out there...Enjoy!

I might be wrong but isn't that a 350? Don't the 327's have the alternators on the other side?

To be honest with you, I haven't checked any numbers. The VIN shows it to be early production. I'm not a Camaro scholar, (yet) so I'm still in the dark about many of these things. :confused:

When it was purchased, it was a very low miles bank repo. I *do* know that it's been untouched other than maintenance since the early '70s.

At some point I'll clean up the engine compartment and get the block #. Then I'll know for sure.

Not that it matters much to me. It's a really sweet little driver.

Redeye Knight

It's a '69 vs '67 & '68 thing. All '69s got the alt on the pass side. 327's came in early '69s and were replaced by 307's part way through the production year.

I'm interested in the smog, I had a '69 Calif Camaro 327 2bbl that didn't come with smog (I was 2nd owner back in late '70's) Mine was a powerglide and this ones a 3speed stick. I guess that made the difference. I just rebuilt a carb on a '70 307 2bbl PG Chevelle that doesn't have any smog and it's a 100% survivor.

Anyway that really has nothing to do with anything, Redeye welcome to TC and thanks for the pictures. It's cool to hear when someone finds a deal out there...Enjoy!

Thanks.

I just went out and looked, and as long as that P.O.S. smog pump is there, I have no hope of seeing the number.:clonk:

I don't think it's a year thing. I knew a guy that moved to WA from CA with his 60s Ford van with the itty-bitty sixer, and it had been retrofit with a smog pump.

My car's in WA now, and that pump's outa here as soon as I find manifolds!

Anybody out there have a proper set of exhaust manifolds for this thing? the more I see this smog pump the more I hate looking at it. (As well as listening to it) :mad:

Redeye Knight

That POS smog pump might be worth more than the entire engine. Your engine looks correct, like I said all '69s got the pass side mounted alt.

That POS smog pump might be worth more than the entire engine. Your engine looks correct, like I said all '69s got the pass side mounted alt.

LOL! That would be sad...

I *do* plan on saving the pump and the manifolds, in case I want to return it to "original" status. Same goes for the front sway bar and drums/spindles too when I upgrade the brakes and suspension.

I just hate the look and sound of the thing. Not to mention not having to fight the stuff when performing maintenance. I like the nice clean look too. (No comments please, I haven't had time to pressure wash anything!)

There's a fella in NV in the classifieds that has a set of non-smogged manifolds. I'm emailing him now.

Redeye Knight

Redeye, looks like you found something better than gold. Nice car.

Howdy for bad lands of west Texas.

great find, congrats...

Awesome find.. nice looking car. I could never be so lucky!!

Update:

I gave her new shoes. The oversized 78 series tires had clearance and balance issues. I'll be using those *pristine* mags on a different project.

I happened to have a set of Rallys in the shop for my 63 Nova project, that were equipped with P205 70 R14s. Made a different car out of it, plus I love her new look.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w243/RedeyeKnight/avatar/NewShoes.jpg

I'll be putting proper rally caps on soon.

We're both much happier now. :hurray:

Redeye Knight

Wow, how stinkin lucky. Congrats Redeye

Welcome!

Wow, how stinkin lucky. Congrats Redeye

Welcome!

LOL! Thanx to all. Wife says *dumb* luck is the only kind I'm capable of having. :rolleyes:

With the old tires and wheels there seemed to be a lot of body roll and generally sloppy handling. The new wheels and tires made a *huge* difference. Now when I sling it around a corner and accelerate, it ~squats and goes~ like it's supposed to. The car sits noticeably lower too.

Makes me wish I'd owned one of these years ago, but then I wouldn't have appreciated it the way I do this one. Comes with old age I guess. :D

Redeye Knight
(Knocking on the gates of geezerville)

hey redeye knight names steve and was wondering if u know anything about 383 stroker builds

hey redeye knight names steve and was wondering if u know anything about 383 stroker builds

I looked into it at one point in the past, but never did it. I put together a big block instead. At the time (mid 80s) it was cheaper.

I'll guarantee there's plenty of folks on this forum that do though. Google it, then do a search of the board, if you come up empty, start a thread!

Redeye Knight

thanx for the advice.. maybe u could answer this question. I built the motor 8 months ago with 40 over flat tops high rise intake pete jackson geardrive 750 DP carb and stock 305HO heads with brand new seals and it smoked pretty bad so i changed the heads to 350HO and still have the same prob. Any advice on that for me Thanx again 4 your time... STEVE 79 STROKED Z

That POS smog pump might be worth more than the entire engine. Your engine looks correct, like I said all '69s got the pass side mounted alt.

Dennis is correct John :thumbsup:

If I were you I would remove all the "POS" stuff you don't want on there and but it all together for a "Classifieds" listing on here, or on eBay if your so inclined.
Correct, dated coded, and complete systems are bringing some hansome prices at times.
Here's some listings on 'Z-28.com' - http://www.z28camaro.com/nos.html

Finding replacement, non-smog castings without the air-tube holes is relatively easy - just look for truck manifolds in your local 'Pick-N-Pull' type places. I can find a few sets of these on each trip if needed and they usually cost me @$20 a set locally.

Congrats on your new car - it will look great repainted to Marina Blue :thumbsup:

John

thanx for the advice.. maybe u could answer this question. I built the motor 8 months ago with 40 over flat tops high rise intake pete jackson geardrive 750 DP carb and stock 305HO heads with brand new seals and it smoked pretty bad so i changed the heads to 350HO and still have the same prob. Any advice on that for me Thanx again 4 your time... STEVE 79 STROKED Z

Sounds like you've ruled out valve guides. Fresh heads, right?

First thing I'd do would be a dry compression test, then with some oil in the holes. If the compression goes up significantly with oil in there, you're probably looking at rings not seated or scored jugs.

Smoking worse on acceleration? Decel?

Does it have a lot of blowby? PCV equipped? Might be pumping a lot of oil vapor to get burned that way too.

Hard to tell without being there.

Redeye Knight

Dennis is correct John :thumbsup:

If I were you I would remove all the "POS" stuff you don't want on there and but it all together for a "Classifieds" listing on here, or on eBay if your so inclined.
Correct, dated coded, and complete systems are bringing some hansome prices at times.
Here's some listings on 'Z-28.com' - http://www.z28camaro.com/nos.html

Finding replacement, non-smog castings without the air-tube holes is relatively easy - just look for truck manifolds in your local 'Pick-N-Pull' type places. I can find a few sets of these on each trip if needed and they usually cost me @$20 a set locally.

Congrats on your new car - it will look great repainted to Marina Blue :thumbsup:

John

Thanks John.

I already looked at what the smog stuff goes for, and I nearly wet my pants. We used to throw that stuff away! :clonk:

I've decided to leave it alone. So few cars are all original any more, I think I'd be doing it a disservice by messing with it.

I'll concentrate on getting the reverse lockout stuff working again so I can have proper backup lights.

Then the occasional leisurely drive. :D

Redeye Knight

Shes a beauty :thumbsup: .....wow

Hellow John from over here in Renton ,neet story and car ,have fun maybe run into ya ,I buy you a beer ,as new guy here buys :beers: Happy Motoring

Hope to see ya sometime Jerome.

the "Cruisin Kittitas" car show here in town might be a fun place to meet. (around the 2nd weekend in August) I'll be there with the Camaro. and the wife will be there with her 64 Chevelle ragtop. (Took best of show last year)
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w243/RedeyeKnight/Chevelle/Chevelle-nova.jpg

My ratty little Nova can be seen in the background. :D

Hope to see you there! Right off exit 115 from I-90

Redeye Knight

John ,hope to meet you too ,where is Kittitas( I havn't looked a my map yet)east or west side ...P M me the date we will try to make it over or down (my car has to stay home as I am still running my Drag race motor ) til next year ,my buddy is so busy you half to take a number and mine is in December,to have my motor detuned (pistons and cam) 13.0 to1 need the good gas local is all I can do this year nice to meet you Happy Motoring

PM sent. Hope to see ya.

Redeye Knight