« December 2004 | Main | November 2005 »
February 28, 2005
Before Resto
Condition of the Chevelle on the day it was bought in August of 1989.
Original Engine was removed, but the block, crank, & heads came with the purchase.
The body was in excellent condition, having spent the majority of it's life in Southern California. The car retained all it's original sheet metal, the floors & trunk were solid, with minimal dents/rust. The interior was very rough, due to the hot So Cal desert sun.
The car was towed home and quickly dismantled to begin a frame-off restoration.
Rough Interior:
Original Engine/Block/Crank/Heads:
Posted by Hans at 09:22 PM
Background & Options
This Chevelle first entered the state of California in 1974. Owner history prior to 1974 is unknown.
Car History:
- Original Owner: Unknown at this time
- Current Owner (Hans Littooy), purchased the car in July of 1989 from Robert Ruzicka.
- Robert Ruzicka purchased the car from Rick Deamicis on June 30, 1988.
- Prior Owner: Rick Deamicis, Lancaster, CA
- Documentation& discussions with Rick states he owned the car in the early and mid 1980’s.
- Rick acquired the car from his uncle. His uncle owned an automotive repair shop in Palmdale. Apparently the owner at the time dropped the car of for value train noise. Total repair cost was approx $800. The owner never returned to pick-up the car and was lien sale to Rick Deamicis.
Based on titles and old plates, it appears the car entered the state of California in 1974. History prior to 1974 is unknown.
Condition of car when purchased in 1989 by current owner:
- Body was in excellent condition. Other than a minor ding or two, quarter panels and doors were extremely straight and all original.
- Odometer showed approx 7000 miles (I assumed 107,000)
- Passenger side front fender had significant damage (dents/rust). Replace with GM Fender in 1990.
- 4 sp tunnel in the car was enlarged to accommodate a Toploader T10 transmissions. Re-welded correctly during the restoration.
- Car had a non-original 375HP – 396 engine
- Original engine had been stripped to a bare block and was in the garage along with heads, bell housing, intake, and pulleys. Missing the carburetor, distributor, water pump, and exhaust manifolds. Verified correct engine casting number, Pad ID, VIN stamp*, and date codes. * Owner at the time did not realize it was a numbers-matching engine, due to VIN location on oil pad, not on block pad, and I of course, didn’t tell him!
- Interior was rough. Rear seats original, but very rough. Front seats had been covered with cheap vinyl. Carpet was original, as was everything else, including console, seat belts, dash pad, dash bezel and headliner.
- A deal was negotiated for the car and the 396-375HP engine was removed and left with the prior owner.
Restoration:
- After purchase, the car underwent a complete frame-off restoration. Frame-off restoration was completed by August of 1990.
- Located correct carburetor, distributor, alternator, exhaust manifold (pass side), and other misc parts.
- Also had a ’69 Chevelle 307 parts car that I used for missing pieces to ensure originality wherever possible.
- A second, frame-on restoration was completed by June of 1998. The car was re-painted, (single stage, acrylic lacquer). The engine bay was re-detailed and improved. See photos in other sections
- Car is driven approximately 500 – 1000 miles per year. Total mileage on engine since re-build is approximately 6000.
- A third freshing was completed in 2005. The transmissions was rebuilt, the engine bay and engine re-detailed. The steering gear was re-built, the distributor was re-built and an new fresh coat of BC/CC was applied to perfection.
Posted by Hans at 09:22 PM
Body & Paint
Frame-Off Restoration:
Frame after sand-blasting. Frame was in excellent condition with minimal, if any, pitting.
After Paint before front clip installation:
Firewall of '69 Chevelle
Posted by Hans at 09:19 PM
Powertrain
Shifter Tunnel Cut-Out
Posted by Hans at 09:18 PM
Interior
Posted by Hans at 09:17 PM
Component Details
Original T3 Low Beam and High Beam Head Lights. These head lights were on the car when original purchased in 1989.
Posted by Hans at 09:16 PM
Documentation & Numbers
1969 Chevelle SS 396-325 HP, 4sp, Fathom Green, Bucket Seats
Significant Part Numbers, Dates Codes, and Identification Codes:
VIN Number: 136379K380135
Trim Tag Information:
Body by Fisher
ST 69 136379KAN2140598BDY: ’69 Chevelle V8, Kansas City, MO for assembly
TR 796 57 S PNT: Bucket Seats, Fathom Green, Vinyl Top
01B 08114 L Built 2nd week of January, L = ?.
Engine Block Number: 3955272
Engine Casting Date: L 13 8 (Dec 13, 1968)
Engine Pad Number: T1216 JA (325 HP)
Engine VIN Number 19K380135 (numbers matching engine)
Engine VIN Location: By Oil Pad
Intake Manifold Part Number: 3931067
Intake Manifold Casting Date: L 3 8 (Dec 3, 1968)
Carburetor # (70)29201ED
Carburetor Date Code: 3318 (331st day of 1968)
Distributor # 1111497
Distributor Date Code: 8 M 5 (Dec 5, 1968)
Coil # 293 R-R
Exhaust Manifold RH Part Number: 3916178
Exhaust Manifold RH Date Code: K 18 8 (Nov 18, 1968)
Exhaust Manifold LH Part Number: 3909879
Exhaust Manifold LH Date Code: K 22 8 (Nov 22, 1968)
Water Pump Pulley Number: 3932430DW
Power Steering Pulley Number: 39141__67
Smog Pump Pulley: ? (I know it’s correct – purchased from ASL in 1990)
Crank Pulley Number: 14025185BN
Alternator: 1100843 61AMP
Water Pump: 13969871 (not correct)
Transmission Part Number: 3925660 (Case - correct PN)
Transmission Code: P9T03A (date correct)
Transmission VIN Number: None - Not Original Trans
Rear Axle Code: CF (3:31 Posi)
Rear Axle Date Code: 12 9 8 (Dec 12, 1968)
Master Cylinder Code: BU
Power Booster Code: 135
Cooling Fan Number: 3947772
Date: J68 (Oct ’68)
Spiral Shock – Frnt,
PN & Date Code: 3192824, 348 8 (Dec 14, 1968)
Chevelle Engine Pad Stamp:
Posted by Hans at 09:13 PM
February 16, 2005
Before Resto
1969 Camaro RS Z28
Original SoCal, Black-Plate Car, Original Driveline.
How the car looked the afternoon I picked it up:
Features and Options include:
- 69 69 Cortez Silver
- Original, All numbers matching, Factory-Installed Drive-line
- Original Rallysport
- 713 Deluxe Houndstooth Interior
- Van Nuys built, 04B. Documented with Chassis Broadcast Copy and Detailed Owner History.
Rallysport headlight vacuum canister:
Posted by Hans at 10:42 PM
Background & Options
1969 Camaro RS Z/28 Owner History:
VIN: 124379L529307
Lic: CA YZU 495
General Car Info: ID/Code Serial #
Year: 1969 ST 69 12437 VN318866
Engine: DZ 302 V0328DZ 19L529307
Trans M22 4 SP P9C03C 19L529307
Axle 4:10 Posi BV0403G1 -
Exterior 69-69 Cortez Silver 69 69 -
Interior 713 - B&W Houndstooth 713 -
Manufacture Date: 2nd Week of April - Van Nuys Plant 04B I644
Owner History:
March 21, 1990 to Current: Hans Littooy
Mileage: 72,100
Modifications:
Restoring car to original factory condition. Located date code correct carburetor, exhaust manifolds,A.I.R. system, YH wheels, obtained original bell housing from Owner III
Body & paint work performed by owner & American Muscle Cars (panel welding) Detailed restoration performed by owner.
Owner V
May 1981 – March 21, 1990: Owner V
Mileage @ purchase: 71,000
Paid: $3,500
Car:
Modifications: Replaced custom deluxe interior w/standard seats
Added white stripes
Replaced American Racing mags w/14X6 front and 15X8 rears.
Owner IV:
Summer 1980 – May 1981: Owner IV,
Mileage @ Purchase: 69,000
Paid: $3,250
Modifications: Re-built heads
Owner III
1975 – Summer 1980: Owner III, Covina, CA
Mileage @ Purchase: 50,000
Bought For: $1,850
Modifications: Stripped the car to bare metal and had the car painted a 1975 light blue Corvette color, similar to LeMans Blue in appearance.
Replaced flat hood with GM Cowl Induction hood
Re-built engine
- Bored engine 30 over
- Replaced solid lifters with hydraulic
- Ground crank 10 under
- Replaced pistons with TRW 0.030, 12:1, shaved to 11:1 compression ratio
- Three angle valve job
- Replaced valve guide studs with srcew-in guides
- New valve springs
- Lightly polished heads and intake to match
- Replaced 10.5” flywheel with 11”
- Added scatter shield
- Windshield Replaced
- Wheels replaced w/American Racing Mag Wheels
- Replaced radiator core: kept side tanks
Owner II
1974 - 1975 Owner II
Mileage @ Purchase: TBD
Modifications: Painted car black. No other modifications noted by David. Car was Silver w/Black stripes when he bought it.
Original Owner:
June 6, 1969 – 1974 Original Owner
Los Angeles, CA
Known Facts: Appears was believed to have been purchased at Warren Biggs Chevrolet, located at Vermont and 8th in LA (no longer in business). Registered June 6, 1969.
The car was apparently stolen once or twice and recovered relatively unharmed. Damage included:
- Door lock damaged (driver side)
- No radio
- Front passenger fender replaced
- Carburetor replaced
- A.I.R. system replaced with headers
Unknowns: The passenger side was side-swiped at some point unknown at this time. The passenger fender replaced, pass door very poorly repaired, and the rear quarter panel was lightly damaged. The car was also hit in the lower rear pass quarter at some point in time. David Masen thought the original owner’s wife may have crashed the car, but not sure.
Posted by Hans at 10:42 PM
Body & Paint
Current Status of the Car. It's been painted, and getting ready for the subframe and rear-axle to be re-attached.
Underside of Z/29 Floor Plan and Tunnel, prior to restoration. Note all black, no grey primer showing through.
Frame Rails and Trunk Pan showing Factory Overspray:
Underside after cleaning and sanding:
Underside after paint (~30% Gloss w/Overspary). Note gray/silver-ish hues on trunk pan:
Side Rails and Trunk Pan, After Paint - showing overspray:
Finally, apparently the factory ran out of black paint so they painted the firewall on dark green (appears to be fathom green). Note it is original - see the "3" on the right cowl side -
Posted by Hans at 10:41 PM
Suspension & Frame
Pictures of control arms and spinals. Note factory inspection marks and underside of rivets.
Posted by Hans at 10:41 PM
Powertrain
Shifter Cut-Out:
Posted by Hans at 10:40 PM
Interior
Posted by Hans at 10:40 PM
Component Details
Original T3 Headlight:
Posted by Hans at 10:39 PM
Documentation & Numbers
Original Chassis Broadcast Copy. Since this is an LA/Van Nuys Z28, the Chassis Broadcast Copy (aka "build sheet") was found on top of the gas tank. Finding the build sheet can be very useful with documenting the factory options. For example, as can be seen in box 161, the "R" denotes that this Z is a factory Rally Sport. Other significant boxes are 175 - DZ carb, 269 - UH radiator (Z/28 only), and 292 - the E70 15 are Z specific.
Engine and VIN Stamp on the right-side engine pad. Partial VIN matches vehicle VIN, meaning original, factory-installed DZ302 engine.
Transmission Code (Orignally M22, noted by the last "C") & VIN stamp. Partial VIN matches vehicle VIN, meaning original, factory-installed transmission.
Picture of Z from mid 1970's:
Picture of Z from mid-'70's, after re-paint by then owner:
Trim Tag Information:
Trim Tag Picture - with original Firewall Color:
Transmission ID Tag for '69 Z28 with M22:
Hidden Partial VIN by Heater Core:
Chalk Marks on Firewall:
Posted by Hans at 10:39 PM
Completed Restoration
Posted by Hans at 10:38 PM
1969 Chevelle Partial VIN
Partial VIN Stamp for my '69 SS396 Chevelle, located near the oil filter.
Posted by Hans at 09:26 AM | Comments (0)