69 Heater Control Lens Lettering

[camaronut]

Ok.....I see there are two different lens used on the 69 Camaro...(and Nova, etc).

I noticed there are ones with the marks that indicate fan speed and others without the marks.

Is there a time as to when each was used?  I would assume that the lens with the Fan Speed marks were used on later models??

Any takers?

[ZLP955]

Can you post pictures of each style you've noted? I thought there was only the AC and non-AC versions.

[camaronut]

Talking about non AC cars.....should have been more specific...

[bertfam]

Post links or pictures of the two you're seeing. As far as I know, there was only one. There's nothing in the AIM showing any revisions.

Ed

[z28z11]

I never noticed this until you asked - shown are my X77's original vs. an NOS bought in the 80's (box is dated '88). Fan speed plainly marked on the NOS piece, must have been a superseded earlier.

Small sample size, but in my estimation originals weren't marked with fan speeds.

Regards,
Steve

[z28z11]

Spotted on eBay - looks pretty close. This is just the background lettering piece, but if you're rebuilding or refreshing it should be a good replacement.

Regards,
Steve

[bertfam]

356199 is a 1973-1975 Olds, 1970-1975 Nova and 1973-1975 Buick control, but as far as I can tell, was never used on the 69 Camaro.  The original 69 Camaro (and 69 Nova) lens was P/N 3946918 and was also used on the 1970 Nova. Since both part numbers are shown for the 1970 Nova, I would guess there was a change sometime in the 1970 model year necessitating a new part number.

Edit: I DID find that the 356199 was used in service for the 69 Camaro and Nova starting in 1981.

Ed

[z28z11]

Ed,

I don't dispute it - GM has always changed numbers frequently to accommodate multiple models and model changes even within the same year of production. My parts manual edition is 6/74 - it showed then as 6273371, fitting Nova and Camaro - by the time I ordered on in the '80's, the part number 356199 was the only one showing available for the 1969 Camaro, Nova and several others. I wish I had been astute enough to order in the '70's - my personal quest for parts started in 1979-80. Up until then, I only bought what I needed for repair or replacement, not for future restorations or projects. Hindsight for me is always 20-20 -

Regards,
Steve

[bertfam]

Steve, I was editing my above right as you were posting! Yes, it was used as a service replacement for the 69 Camaro and 69 Nova starting in 1981.

Ed

[z28z11]

Ed,

Sorry - I typed and researched too late, I should have looked before I hit Respond !

Regards (and thanks),
Steve

[camaronut]

I dunno.... the explanation of the service replacement would seem viable but I know of at least three supposedly original 69s that we’re 06A cars and one 05B (I think) that had the fan speed marks on them....

So..............

[z28z11]

I can't speak for later cars - I've owned this one since March '73, knew the car from '72; it's an 01C January car - if later cars had a new part number/superseded part maybe it would show in the AIM. That's why I commented on the small sample size - one original and one NOS replacement makes it tough to determine what's correct past my production date -

Hopefully more owners will comment -

Regards,
Steve

[bobs69z]

My 06A 69Z just says fan on the lens.

[jk1969z28]

Steve, the one you spotted on eBay is from Classic Headquarters and the fonts are to small, I got one hoping to replace mine and did not like it, so I found one like your original one and cleaned it up.  Note the lettering on your original is greenish, I think it is Krylon that has a pistachio paint that matches the color of the lettering spot on as far as I could tell.  If someone is looking to restore theirs, take note though that the lettering is very shallow and molded from the back of the piece so getting the paint to stay is hard.  The one you show as an NOS piece from the 80's looks like the lettering is white along with the obvious difference.

Regards,
Jerry K.

[z28z11]

Steve, the one you spotted on eBay is from Classic Headquarters and the fonts are to small, I got one hoping to replace mine and did not like it, so I found one like your original one and cleaned it up.  Note the lettering on your original is greenish, I think it is Krylon that has a pistachio paint that matches the color of the lettering spot on as far as I could tell.  If someone is looking to restore theirs, take note though that the lettering is very shallow and molded from the back of the piece so getting the paint to stay is hard.  The one you show as an NOS piece from the 80's looks like the lettering is white along with the obvious difference.

Regards,
Jerry K.

I agree. The CHQ piece is similar; I don't know if I will swap my old one out or replace it (it has a small scratch on the face, otherwise just like it was when removed from the car in 1980). By the way, the CHQ pic was out of an ad by Chevy World, Bryant, AL (noted on the pic).

I also notice the NOS piece has a blue border at the bottom of the front panel - similar to the blue lens treatment I've seen on AM and AM/FM mono radio lenses from 1970 and later (not Blue Light stereo lights), Only one I could get as an NOS piece from my local dealer at the time, another hindsight purchase -

Regards,
Steve