Real 69 cowl hood or a reproduction ?

[firstgenaddict]

I would say that seems a normal date stamp to me when I compare to mine.  My Z is a 12D 68 build so it's about 2 weeks before James' example, and all my body panels on the car are stamped with 50 or 51.   But what confuses me is that I thought the body panel stamps (weeks) started over at the first of the year???

My car is right in about the same week range where the cowl hoods hit production too and the serial number is just a few numbers past the first reported cowl hood car in Norwood which was a ZL1 if not mistaken.

No there is a documented 12C Z28 with ZL2. Window sticker - Body broadcast and a folder of paperwork.

As for the Yenko... it is what it is and there is a 53 there.

[Z28Project]

Good info!  I think the first ZL1 is a 12E car.  I have a picture of the trim tag from that car and although I was a few feet away, I think it says 12E.

Nice to know a 12C car had the hood.

[KurtS]

That's all here: http://www.camaros.org/exterior.shtml#cowlhood

[Z28Project]

Off subject, but is it confirmed that ZL1 #1 is a 12E build?

I don't have any other 12E cars in my info collection, and since my trim tag pic is a little fuzzy, I just wanted to make sure I have the correct info.

[william]

Yes both ZL1s #1 & #2 have 12E body tags.

In a 1989 interview Fred Gibb recalled they were delivered on New Years Eve 1968. Probably final-assembled December 30.

[Z28Project]

Thanks!

[X33RS]

That is the one I'm referring to in my post.  I think it's even mentioned in Jerry's book it's one of the first with a cowl hood.  Interesting to note it's a 12E build, but the serial number is before my 12D build, which is what I was talking about in my earlier post, knowing that cowl hoods hit the production line around that time frame.

Must have been some sort of delay to have a tag dated that late with a serial number that is earlier than mine that has it's tag dated a week prior.

[william]

The body tag date has only a general correlation to a cars' final assembly. Our db is sorted by VIN and it is not unusual to see mixed tag dates.

However in the case of these ZL1s it is well-known that Chevy GM Pete Estes personally requested they be expedited. The Broadcast sheets for them state "SHIP 1230 ESTES REQUEST RED HOT PILOT 427 ENGINE OPT 9650BA."

So what held them up? Good question. The check-in sheet with the protect-o-plate imprint for #1 is with the car. The ZL1 engine and BE axle were produced weeks prior to the car; the CX trans was available at the start of 1969 production. Strong possibility it was the ZL2 hood.

[firstgenaddict]

Weren't they waiting on correct carbs in the beginning?
It would be interesting to know what the hood dates were on the first two cars. 

[X33RS]

James,   For some reason I seem to remember the cars were shipped with the incorrect carbs, and it was caught and fixed later when NHRA or AHRA inspected the cars, I think in January at the Winternationals.  Not sure why that is sticking in my head but hopefully that can be clarified.

[X33RS]

The body tag date has only a general correlation to a cars' final assembly. Our db is sorted by VIN and it is not unusual to see mixed tag dates.

However in the case of these ZL1s it is well-known that Chevy GM Pete Estes personally requested they be expedited. The Broadcast sheets for them state "SHIP 1230 ESTES REQUEST RED HOT PILOT 427 ENGINE OPT 9650BA."

So what held them up? Good question. The check-in sheet with the protect-o-plate imprint for #1 is with the car. The ZL1 engine and BE axle were produced weeks prior to the car; the CX trans was available at the start of 1969 production. Strong possibility it was the ZL2 hood.

  That's cool stuff William.  I've read about the vins and mixed tag dates and I simply find it interesting.  I think you told me mine was built around the 27th based off the vin.    Kind of neat that mine was assigned a vin and built right in the middle of the first ZL1 (which had an earlier vin but later tag date)  So there must have been a hangup of some kind on that car, like the cowl hood possibility you mention.  My car got pushed through however, maybe because it's a flathood car.  Kind of makes you think about it.    Just interesting stuff to me.

[Z28Project]

James,   For some reason I seem to remember the cars were shipped with the incorrect carbs, and it was caught and fixed later when NHRA or AHRA inspected the cars, I think in January at the Winternationals.  Not sure why that is sticking in my head but hopefully that can be clarified.

Yeah, I looked at the original drag tests in SS&DI and you can see it looks like a regular 780 Holley with vac. secondaries.

[william]

Most if not all of them were built with 4346 carbs. May not be because of a shortage however. Production ZL2 air cleaners had a 90º vent tube in the base. The tube will contact the rear lever on a DP carb, causing all sorts of problems. Possibly this was noted during production and the short-term fix was to use a different carb. Gibb recalled Chevy sending someone to the dealership to retrofit the 4296 DP carbs. Maybe fitted a thicker gasket also.

Every service ducted hood air cleaner I have seen has a vent tube with 2 45º bends which clears the pump. The 09D survivor '69 Z/28 discussed on the site has the later air cleaner with the bead in the base but still has the 90º vent tube.

[Petes L48]

Looking at a 1968 (which was a leap year) calendar, I wonder if the 53 stamp represents the short and final week in December, where Monday was the 30th and Tuesday the 31st? 

[X33RS]

It would be interesting to know what the hood dates were on the first two cars. 

Could we make a pretty good guess based off my car?  Since mine is a 12D and estimated to be finished on 12-27-68, and since the first ZL1 started right before my car and was finished just a couple days after.

All my original panels are dated 50 and 51.  So if the ZL2 hood was part of the delay and the car went out days after mine (which put it into the very next week of Dec) then would it be safe to assume the hood may have a date of 52, or maybe 53 like the yellow Yenko in an earlier post here??  Pete's thought about the leap year is pretty interesting.