Could you please help me decode my car, a 69 Z-28 camaro.

VIN 124379L528199

COWL TAG ST69 12437 VN 315519 BDY
TR 711 71 71 PNT
03D V104

ENGINE CE9B46015 302CU IN NO A/C.....P/BRAKES W/ FRONT DISC

4-SPEED TRANS P9A24B.........79L528199.......3925660

REAR END BU0328G2E

RIMS YH K19 28 ON REAR FW K19 EITHER 9 OR 5 ON FRONT

Dropped tank, no build sheet and have looked under carpet etc for it. Cowl tag is factory flat with round rivets. What can you tell me about some plate I keep hearing about on the frame that only Z28's had?? Speedo cable to right of steering column just under wiper motor viewing from drivers seat. Flat steel hood, Winters snow flake on intake manifold. What other items can I get numbers from that carry a history of the car.


Appreciate all information you can give me.

Steve

The plate is on the LH rear frame rail behind the tire. It is not unique to the Z/28, all coupes with dual exhaust had it. It is a reinforcement for the tailpipe hanger.

The tags look to match up just fine....
Check the rear leaf springs, fuel lines (number and size), and for the exh. hanger.

Could you please help me decode my car, a 69 Z-28 camaro.

VIN 124379L528199

COWL TAG ST69 12437 VN 315519 BDY
TR 711 71 71 PNT
03D V104

ENGINE CE9B46015 302CU IN NO A/C.....P/BRAKES W/ FRONT DISC

4-SPEED TRANS P9A24B.........79L528199.......3925660

REAR END BU0328G2E

RIMS YH K19 28 ON REAR FW K19 EITHER 9 OR 5 ON FRONT

Steve

Steve,
Welcome!!
711 is standard black interior.
71 71 is LeMans blue, top and bottom.
03D-- built the 4th week in March.
Replacement engine.
M21 trans assembled Jan. 24th, 1969.
Rear assembled March 28th, 1969. (unusually close to build date, especially being a Van Nuys car.) (not saying it couldn't be original)
YH rims are Z/28, FW are Monte Carlo if I remember correctly.
Look for the "480" distributor and the "837" alternator just for fun.

Doug

If it is a CE block then maybe all the engine accessories like alternator, distributor, pulleys, air cleaner, exhaust manifolds, master cylinder etc. will be the correct parts. To me that would be one of the best indicators. If you are lucky all the dates code will be right.

also check your radiator tag

Radiator tags reads as follows,

1 H U H
CB
59 0

Radiator shroud 3938615 1
Water pump pulley 393456DV

Thanks for your help,

Steve

There are 4 leaf springs, 1 fuel line which is very close to the e-brake cable size less the spiral protection going to the tank from the passenger side in what looks like factory fuel line, and has dual exhaust.

I need all the advise anyone can give me to look for on key items Z28's had.

What else can I check?

Thanks Steve

Got it, I have dual exhaust.

Thanks Steve

Hi Doug,

Is that not the norm with regards to date codes on cowl tags/ rear ends?? Based on turning the rear wheels I believe I have a 3.73 posi, does that code right?

All help is appriciated. This site is very cool!

Steve

Steve,
Your radiator tag, 4 leaf springs, shroud and your water pump pulley are all correct '69 Z parts. Looks like the real deal. Check your dist. and alt. numbers. The "480" dist. is '69 Z only. The alternator should end with 837. Also check the date codes stamped along with the numbers. Post them here and we can help decode.
Doug

Hi Doug,

Is that not the norm with regards to date codes on cowl tags/ rear ends?? Based on turning the rear wheels I believe I have a 3.73 posi, does that code right?

All help is appriciated. This site is very cool!

Steve

Steve,
The rear end on my 02C Van Nuys car was assembled Dec. 20th, 1968.
To have a 03D build date and your rear end is being assembled March 28th back east and then shipped to Van Nuys to be installed is a little unusual but not impossible. The car might not have been completed exactly on the build date.
The 3:73's are the typical gear ratio for the '69 Z but you could order what ever you wanted. Not all were posi as some think. My car is stamped BO for 3:73 open. Protecto plate and build sheet verify that's what came with the car originally.
Doug

Doug,

Makes sense. Did Chevrolet stamp a partial vin on the rear end anywhere.

If my block was changed to a CE under warranty would Chevolet use the same external parts that came off the orginal DZ? Everything looks correct but I don't have anything to prove it is a true Z and not some clone. I don't know the history of the previous owners. It seems to have the correct year CE.

Thanks again, Steve

Steve,I'm not real familiar with replacement blocks but it seems a Chevy dealer would transfer the external parts during the swap.
The rear ends did not get a partial VIN.
Doug

oops wrong button hit.

One real convincing component that's it's either a real Z or L78 car is the M21 transmisssion. This trans (along with M22) were only available in with these two engines.

Since the trans partial VIN matches the vehicle VIN, it's got to be one or the other (Z/28 or L78).

Nice find!

Hans

One real convincing component that's it's either a real Z or L78 car is the M21 transmisssion. This trans (along with M22) were only available in with these two engines.

Since the trans partial VIN matches the vehicle VIN, it's got to be one or the other (Z/28 or L78).

Nice find!

Hans


Or L72.;)

An M21 could be in a Z28, L34, L78, L89, L72 and of course the ZL1. But the Z28 would be the only one with a small block heater core.

Hey Doug,

I checked the dist and found HH 500 9M 5 .This was stamped on the outside edge of the distributor next to the firewall, very tight. Is that right to look there? It has a mallory cap and wires but I did'nt remove the cap to see if there were more numbers under it next to the points.

Bell housing is 3858403
Starter is 1109056 8 6J23 3
Alt is LL00928 55A LM2 12VNEG Stamped on top.
Intake manifold is 3932472

Thanks for all your time so far, it is again appreciated.

Steve

Gary,

What is the difference between what I think I have a Z28,

and what you guys say about an L78 or L72?

Thanks Steve

Mark,

How do I determine if I have a small heater core?

Thanks Steve

Hey Doug,

I checked the dist and found HH 500 9M 5 .This was stamped on the outside edge of the distributor next to the firewall, very tight. Is that right to look there? It has a mallory cap and wires but I did'nt remove the cap to see if there were more numbers under it next to the points.

Bell housing is 3858403
Starter is 1109056 8 6J23 3
Alt is LL00928 55A LM2 12VNEG Stamped on top.
Intake manifold is 3932472

Thanks for all your time so far, it is again appreciated.

Steve

Steve,
Maybe your original dist. was replaced with a Mallory?
Bell housing is correct.
Starter should be stamped 1108367.
Alternator is not correct.
Intake is correct.

A small block heater core will have the inlet and outlet on the far right side of the heater core cover. (engine side)
Doug

L34/L78/L89/L72/ZL1 are all big block based Camaros. L34/L78/L89 have 396 CI engines and are SS models; the others have 427 CI engines and are COPO models, or special factory order cars. Ref: http://www.copo.com/

Due to the engine size (width) of the big block engine, the Camaro heater core inlets/outlets are relocated to the center of the heater core cover in the engine bay. This was not required for small blocks, which how you can deduce yours must be a Z, since it was the only small that you could order an M21 trans with.

Regarding the car your are looking at, here's a good reference book that can really help you ID the car and others you may come across:

http://www.z28camaro.com/publications.html

Hey Thanks,

All your post have given me satifaction my car is truely a Z. I see what your talking about with the heater cores now, I appreciate everyones responses about this topic. I will check out the link. You guys know your camaro's!!

Steve

ALSO ...

the Van Nuys built Camaros had the top or the cowl painted STRIPE color

So if your car had white stripes, the top of the cowl (under the cowl vent) will be white from fender to fender

Norwood cars were painted body color

sure fire way to tell a 67-69 Z28 or Z10-11 Van Nuys car