'69 Camaro with 255/350 and cowl hood

[ckmate]

My name is Dan Fletcher. I'm an NHRA Stock and Super Stock drag racer. My Super Stock car is the winningest car in the history of NHRA with 41 National Event wins. My father bought the car brand new, drove it home, and its been a race car its entire life. Its a real Z/28, but I campaign it with a 255/350 in SS/HA, SS/IA, SS/JA depending on weight. I started in those classes 20 years ago, have run different combos and classes over time, but have recently gone back to where I started.

Now my problem. I recently received a letter from NHRA bringing into question the legality (read originality) of running a cowl hood (ZL2) on a '69 Camaro with a 255hp 350 (LM1). This hood has been run on this combo since the beginning of time, but that doesn't make it right. As I research things, the ZL2 option was available on SS and Z/28 models, and was included on COPOS and Pace Cars. I'm afraid my research also indicates that the 255hp 350 was not available in a SS or Pace Car (obviously it wasn't in a Z/28 or COPO). It's not the end of the world, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to put a flat hood on the car unless I can come up with some evidence to the contrary.

So, is there any way one could order a 1969 Camaro, of any model, with a 255hp 350 and a cowl hood. Please someone say "yes" (and have the ammo to prove it) or the flat hood in my Upstate NY basement will be going for a very long ride to a paint shop in California!

Thanks, in advance, for everyone's time and consideration.

Dan

[william]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but the ZL2 ducted hood was never available with the LM1 255/350.

ZL2 became optional as of approximately December 1, 1968 for Camaro SS and Z/28. It was included with COPOs 9560 & 9561 and a required extra-cost option for Z10 & Z11. The LM1 option was discontinued shortly thereafter. 

[bertfam]

Its a real Z/28, but I campaign it with a 255/350 in SS/HA, SS/IA, SS/JA depending on weight.

Dan, if it's a real Z28 and was manufactured after 12/1/68, then your problem is solved. Just because you no longer have the original engine shouldn't be an issue. LOT'S of race cars no longer have their original engines.

Ed

[ss jim]

Hi Dan,                                                                                                                                  Welcome to the forum. I've followed drag racing for a number of years so I knew who you were. I remember the write up in National Dragster when you decided to give up the day job and turn pro. I knew that was your Dad's car and had wondered if it was a real "Z". For what its worth I think John Lingenfelter(RIP) had a 350/255 in his SS/NA '69 Camaro convertible in 1972. It had a cowl hood on it then. Don't know if that has any bearing on today's rules. Take care and good luck to you.
Jim

[ckmate]

Thanks for the input so far guys. With regards to it being a real Z, that doesn't come into play here. I'm running the 255hp combo, not a 302. I'm not claiming it as a Z. The car was purchased with a cowl hood when my Dad bought it, but the question is was a 255 in some how, some way, ever able to be combined with a cowl hood from the factory?

I understand the "timeline" of the LM1 being discontinued, so I realize in the "real world" it probably didn't happen. I just need to be able to argue that it could have happened. And again, it's not a big deal, it's just going to be an inconvenience.

So, not to be redundant, but as I understand it, one could only get a ZL2 option on a SS or Z/28, and it was included on a COPO and Pace Car, correct? Is there any way one could get it on a plain Camaro? And again, a 255hp/350 obviously wasn't offered in a Z/28 or COPO. But could you get a 255 in a SS model? Again, I don't think so. With that said, I'm not sure about a Pace Car.

Thanks again everyone. I wouldn't be all that concerned right this minute, but I'm getting both cars painted right now due to a new sponsor deal and I don't want two cowl hoods painted blue when I only need one, lol.

[JohnZ]

The car was purchased with a cowl hood when my Dad bought it, but the question is was a 255 in some how, some way, ever able to be combined with a cowl hood from the factory?  Is there any way one could get it on a plain Camaro? And again, a 255hp/350 obviously wasn't offered in a Z/28 or COPO. But could you get a 255 in a SS model?

Answer to all of the above is no. The ZL2 hood was only available on Z/28, SS, COPO, and Pace Car; it was never available with the 350/255.

[69Z28-RS]

An open question was if the 350/255 was an available engine optioni with the Z10 coupe...   ??  I'd suspect that it might have been,..
Gary

[bertfam]

An open question was if the 350/255 was an available engine optioni with the Z10 coupe...   ??  I'd suspect that it might have been,..

Nope. All Z10's were RS/SS. More info HERE.

Ed

[ckmate]

Damn it, lol. Good try though, thats the kind of creative thinking I'm looking for!