What kind of car do I have?

[Cam1970]

Hey folks - just joined this list....

On it's way to me is a car my wife found for me in an estate sale. Thing is, while the pictures are beautiful, I'm not sure what to expect when it gets here. The car is street legal.

It's a 1969 Chevy Camaro RS Convertible, with a completely blueprinted latemodel 454 ci engine with about 100 miles on it; Aluminum HD radiator and electric fan; Hooker Competition Headers flowing into 2-1/2" exhaust system through Turbo mufflers; worked Turbo 400 Automatic trans with B&M ratchet shifter; and a 12 bolt Chevy 3:55 Rear (I think it is a Positraction rear).

I'm a maritime engineer, and I know everything about diesel engines, just not this one. If you can give me any sites, or info on these particulars, I'd appreciate it. Still all new to me. Mostly am curious about the 'blueprinted' term.

Danny

[BleedDodge]

You can expect a nice car!

[tim1950]

Sound like a exciting find. Blueprinting an engine give it longevity as it is balanced and does not wear as fast. It's gonna be FAST.

[1g1yy]

Blueprinting simply means it is rebuilt within specific specifications. In other words, built right!

I must say, it would be interesting to hear the story about how your wife came to buy you this car -- unless that is being too nosy?

[DGB454]

Are you looking for info on late model 454s or the parts bolted on that you described plus the 400 turbo transmission or the whole package?

PS. I wish my wife would find and buy me something like that. The last thing mine found and bought for me was a snow blower that was too small for the job. (I still use it because I don't want her to feel bad)

[Cam1970]

We picked up this car on Wednesday - drove to Austin, TX, got the car off the trailer and drove it 350 miles to the TX/MX border where we live - car is LOUD, even by my standards, but looks and runs great. I'm still spooked to touch anything under the hood, but I plan to spend this weekend buffing and shining everyhting, as well as taking pics of the engine, adn under the car as well.

Since we didn't get too much paperwork on the car, and the prior owner being dead and all, this car is a well-maintained mystery, so I hope you guys don't mind too much if I ask what seem like simple questions....I know diesel and steam engines on ships, not gas engines in cars - yet.

My Wife, on the other hand, is one of those unnatural chicks (she doesn't mind when I say that) that knows her way around engines, and I think that the little sadist liked watching me freak when she pulled off the air filter (look, honey, a K&N! Did you know you can wash this?), and pretended to have a bit of trouble putting it back.

She actually saw a first-gen Camaro at the shop where she had taken her work truck, decided that I would look okay drivign in one, and was right that when I looked closely at the car and realized that - hey, man, I can AFFORD this car now - that I would want one. Anything to keep me from whining that she bought her 1970 240Z so I couldn't drive it (too small).

But she's also right in that I would shop like a chick (oo, pretty....) so she searched for the perfect car for me - and found it.

While I still have an active post - this car's interior was almost completely restored with the exception of seat belts, which are completely missing. Both The Wife and I want to install 3-point belts, even though I'm sure the convertible only came with the lap belts.
Anyone have any ideas how I can get the newer belts installed?

[ElonBlock]

Welcome, and Congrats on your car.

By the way that you described the car, it sounds real nice!

Regarding your question about the seatbelts....

Are you planning on keeping the interior stock looking, or were you
going to modify it???

I hope you and your wife have lots of fun cruising.

Enjoy!

Elon

[DGB454]

I did a quick search for shoulder harnesses on the convertible camaro and found this.
http://www.67camaro.net/options/shoulder_harness.htm


It's for the 67 but if it was available for that year then I'm guessing it has to be available for the 69 also. If that's the case then you can just find a good Camaro parts company like Original Parts Group or the like and purchase it. Good luck.

[1g1yy]

You shouldn't have any problems installing belts -- the '68 + '69 I had both came with belts.

[Cam1970]

The Wife did it again - insisted that we at least have basic belts, so we found good, reliable cheapo ones at AutoZone, then when we got home, started to dig through the carpet to find all four post holes, and installed the seat belts for me, then worked on the sun visors, then crawled under the car to look around, then fiddled around with the windows. Good thing I don't have a testosterone problem with her turning into my mechanic. I'll post on another thread about some things that I'll need for this car, as well as photos (have to figure out how to download pics...better get The Wife for that, too.

[balls_to_the_wall]

WOW...Thank The Wife

[macktoschool]

Well congrats on the new ride. You'll be happy to know that if you like the way it runs now with only a couple hundred miles on the rebuild, it will get even better when the piston rings finally seat.

[NailZ69]

u got a fucking miracle is what u got

[1g1yy]

Originally Posted by Cam1970

The Wife did it again - insisted that we at least have basic belts, so we found good, reliable cheapo ones at AutoZone, then when we got home, started to dig through the carpet to find all four post holes, and installed the seat belts for me, then worked on the sun visors, then crawled under the car to look around, then fiddled around with the windows. Good thing I don't have a testosterone problem with her turning into my mechanic. I'll post on another thread about some things that I'll need for this car, as well as photos (have to figure out how to download pics...better get The Wife for that, too.

Photos of the car? Naw, I've seen all kinds of nice cars! I want to see a pic of this WIFE! I think she's the star of this thread!!

[Cam1970]

My wife is beautiful, smart, and can scare me to death with The Look. She also is convinced that she's too fat (so she gained a few pounds...big deal), but has promised me that as soon as the car gets a great paint job (she already found a top-notch paint shop and airbrush artist), and I get back from sea (I'm a merchant marine heading out next week), that I can take a hoochie-mama picture of her with the car.