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69 SS 350 Valve covers

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Myfirst 69SS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Was it possible in 69 to get the Z28 style valve covers on a 69 SS 350. I have heard this may have been part of a engine dress up option. If so what else would have been included?
Thanks for the help in advance.
 
#2 ·
Mark I dont think the factory would do that but the dealers did that type of dress up at customer request when it arrived at the dealership. Just my 2cents :)
 
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#3 ·
Mark,

I asked the same question after buying my 69 SS 350. The guru's say no dress up was available. But it sure looks "right" doesn't it! :thumbsup:
 

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#4 ·
Dealers would put them on, but 69 SS 350's didnt get them from the factory. They had the plain orange painted steel valve covers.
 
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#5 ·
This has been debated before in this forum, and I don't remember any conclusion being made. :confused:

The 1969 order sheet says this for the Camaro SS (Z27):

"Includes 300-hp Turbo-Fire 350 engine; power front disc brakes;special 3-speed transmission; special hood, ornamentation and suspension; BRIGHT ENGINE ACCENTS; SS emblems on fenders, grille and fuel filler cap; sport striping and F70-14 special blackwall tires."

"Bright engine accents" usually includes air cleaner lid, oil filler cap, and valve covers.

I can clearly remember seeing a white '69 SS 350 on my hometown Chevy dealer's showroom floor in 1969 with the Z/28 style valve covers. Whether or not they were dealer-installed or not, I don't know.
 
#6 ·
Includes 300-hp Turbo-Fire 350 engine; power front disc brakes;special 3-speed transmission; special hood, ornamentation and suspension; BRIGHT ENGINE ACCENTS; SS emblems on fenders, grille and fuel filler cap; sport striping and F70-14 special blackwall tires."
Click to expand...
That looks like the description from the 1968 order sheet, I didnt know the 69 came with an SS emblem fuel filler cap??

Alot of documented L48 low mile pace cars have steel valve covers.
 
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#7 ·
Jonesy, the 1969 order sheet I'm refering to is in my precious copy of the 1967-1969 Camaro Fact Book (by F.J.R. Incremona). I know that a few items in this book have been proven incorrect, but there is a copy of a 1969 order sheet in there. I know this doesn't prove anything, maybe just adds fuel to the fire.

Maybe there was a difference in the Pace Cars? A mid year change?

Who knows.
 
#9 ·
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#10 ·
And again here:

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=1264.0

By JohnZ: There was no option for a chrome engine dress-up package in '69.

<<shows a few pictures of a supposed original '69 SS 350 and it looks to me to have a chrome air cleaner lid as well as the polished finned aluminum valve covers. >>

No '69 ever had polished finned aluminum valve covers - that's an owner-inspired modification to the as-cast finish on the owner-added Z/28 valve covers (the same ones used on the Corvette). The current GM replacements are polished, but they were never that way in production. Only the chrome air cleaner lid is correct, and all L48's had painted stamped steel valve covers.
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BY Gro51: guess the valve covers are debatable. I think those would be correct for a '69 Camaro 350, but JOHNZ disagrees. I find it hard to believe that a '67 and '68 350 SS Camaro would have both chrome air cleaner lid and chrome valve covers and that a '69 would suddenly have a chrome air cleaner lid and painted stamped steel valve covers.

JohnZ:
There is no debate on the valve covers - that's the way it was; the only production Camaro application for those finned aluminum valve covers was the Z/28. However, they were available over-the-counter as service parts, and lots of folks bought them and installed them themselves. Note the oil fill tube extension on the driver's side valve cover in the photo - that's an aftermarket addition of some sort.
Click to expand...
 
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#12 ·
Yep, never saw chrome valve covers on a SBC SS for '69. Even on a pace car. That was reserved for BBC's along with chrome tail pipe tips later in the year. (my car had both)
 
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#13 ·
I understood from reading various forum posts in the last few years that the finned aluminum valve covers were not available on the 69 SS 350 (300HP) engines. However, I found a tidbit of documentation that states that the finned aluminum valve covers were available as an option. Go to the below Wikepedia site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Camaro_(first_generation)

then scroll down to the "Reference" section and click on item #3 "GM Heritage Center". A pdf file will open. Go to page 163 of 186. Near the bottom it shows that the finned aluminum valve rocker covers were an option on the 350/300 engine.

That jives with the story from the previous owner of my 69 SS/RS 350. Although not the original owner he was sure the finned covers were original.
 
#14 ·
The 69 SS350 L48 3 speed I had in 75 had the plain steel valve covers on it when I bought it. Like everything else these were changed to the gold Moroso tall valve covers, Edelbrock RPM and 650 Holley DP. Also an M20. I should have left it alone...but I was young...once.
 
#15 ·
Gary, IMHO you did fine. What fun is it to buy a car a not touch it?
 
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#16 ·
My first Camaro was a 69 Indy pace car. Bought it in 75 from the orig owner. It was an L-48 and had painted valve covers. First thing I did was put z-28 valve covers on it. I still have the painted valve covers and use them when reprinting my small block engines. I should have kept that car!
 
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#17 ·
I really miss that car. My first 69 Camaro and first real car I bought with my own money, well the banks money. Payment was $35.00 a month. I think I paid $1200.00 for it in 1975. Tuxedo Black with the Red Hockey stick stripes. In the USAF I was forced to sell it when I got my orders to go overseas. I couldn't take it with me and couldn't take the time to drive it to Arizona where my mom lives. I was fairly upset. Some kid in Baltimore bought it and in a year it was totaled. Made me feel just as bad when I heard that.


Fred Ficarra said:
Gary, IMHO you did fine. What fun is it to buy a car a not touch it?
Click to expand...
 
#18 ·
I know this horse has been beaten severly, but ... the below documentation indicates that the finned aluminum covers were available on the 350/300 '69 as an option:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrol...st_generation)

then scroll down to the "Reference" section and click on item #3 "GM Heritage Center". A pdf file will open. Go to page 163 of 186. Near the bottom it shows that the finned aluminum valve rocker covers were an option on the 350/300 engine.

Anyone agree?
 
#20 · (Edited)
The reference is from the original showroom album dated September 1968. It's not very clearly shown on page 138 but the photo of the L48 engine depicts it with those rocker covers. As is the case with other early features & options plans changed and the L48 engine never received the finned covers in production. They were never listed as an option and are not in the Custom Features catalog. If a customer wanted them they were directed to the parts counter.
 
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