I need a little help authenticating a 1969 Z28. The stamps on the block match with the VIN, and the DZ code is correct...Trim tag on the firewall is also correct. I understand there is a stamp under the right cowl vent and behind the blower fan, but don't want to disassemble the car if it can be avoided.


Are there any tips you can pass along to me, or is there an expert in SoCal that can prove this car to be a true Z28?


Thanks!

 

Those are only a partial vin code in those two locations. If you think the vin maybe wrong on the car it may be stolen do you really want to know that?. There are a lot of keys to authenticating a Camaro.. Engine decoding will help tell if it might be the original motor. Look at the block casting numbers and see if the engine was made before the car. Casting numbers tell a tale on Transmission, Rear axle, engine how many leaf springs it has. etc. Trim in the car, holes that are made in factory locations for a Z28. The protecto plate will tell you some details but those can be made today. Does the interior match the plate information? Color code? Without paper work to prove it is in fact a original car, its tough to guarantee it now a days. They only made 602 in 1967 but more than 20,000 in 1969. Its not a rare car by any means by 1969 with so many made... The Z/28 performance package was designed (with further modifications) to compete in the SCCA Trans-Am series. It included a solid-lifter 302 V8, 4-speed transmission, power disc brakes, and two wide stripes down the hood and deck lid.

 

Matching VIN on the body and engine means the car is matching numbers, as long as the VIN tag hasn't been tampered with and the block hasn't been re-stamped. Reinstalling a VIN tag just like GM did it is hard to do. But you can rent original style block stamps to make it look real. Beginning in 1968, the block stamps were done using a "gang stamp" which holds all the numbers and letters together, so yours should all be in a line. Before 68, they were stamped individually and didn't line up all that perfectly.
Here's some helpful stamping info: http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w..._Chevy_engines

 

There is no way to be 100% sure. Most high end buyer want documentation all the back to the original owner. I have seen people display a speeding ticket that was written in 1969, under the car type the Cop wrote Z28. Picture with the original owners and something signed by them with documents back to the original purchase is the best way.

There is also a couple of guys that have good reputation for finding fakes. If they authenticate it your golden. They claim to know some undocumented things to look for.

 

Here is some added information for you.. No first generation Z28 had an automatic trans, drum brakes.


Identifying a First Generation Z28:
the best place to start to try to verify a first gen Z28 is by checking the engine codes and dates. We hope more people read this before buying a Camaro not after buying that so called Z28. All had a 302 cubic inch engine with a suffix code MO or MP in '67, MI or MO in '68 and DZ in '69. To get the 302 engine Chevy took a 283 crank and put it in a 327 block. Some people say Chevy put the crank in a 350 block but since 1967 was the first year for 350's and 302's and both used the 327 block it is better to say they used a 327 block. A 302, 327 and 350 block are exactly the same except for the number of main bolts which would depend on the application and the year. The 1969 302's had 4 bolt mains. The 1967 and 1968 302's did not have 4 bolt mains. They were in fact 2 bolt main blocks used in '67 and '68 302's. In 1967 they are small journal blocks and in '68 and '69 they went to large journals. The reason for the Z28 was to compete in SCCA Trans-Am Challenge Series. The engine requirements to race in SCCA was limited to 305 cubic inches. All had 4 speed Muncie manual transmissions. All had power front disc brakes at least. All had 12 bolt rear ends but didn't have to be posi. None had A/C. None were factory convertibles except one beautiful '68 Z28 was a convertible which was made for the head of Chevrolet at the time (Pete Estes) and if you own it email us a picture and all the info you can please! Just remember badges do not a Camaro Z28 make. There is NO code in the VIN that recognizes a Z28 in any first generation Camaros. Late '69 Camaros had an "X" code on the trim tag though. A Protect-o-plate can be helpful in identifying a first gen. Z28 but be careful because there are places that make reproductions of both trim tag and protect-o-plate. Before emailing us in the hopes that we know some secret to identifying Z28's check the engine codes given below. If the Camaro doesn't have the original engine then finding out whether it was a Z28 at one time just got that much harder and in most cases impossible.
YearTrim Tag Code?Check Engine Code Table or get Help 1967YESMO or MP1968NONEMI or MO1969Some X codesDZ

 

Thank you for your help. I believe what I have is in fact a true Z28. The VIN stamp on the block does match the VIN tag on the dash, the trim tag codes match the car, it is a 4 leaf rear suspension. So by these features, I can hopefully believe it to be a true Z28.

 

The Z/28's also came with deep-groove pulleys, belt below the sheave lip.
Came with a 1110837 37A alternator.
Also had a bent carb linkage lever making room for the low profile air cleaner.
LIST 4053 stamped on the air horn of a Holley carb.
-472 casting number on intake.
Tach redlines at 6500, I think.
Only year with chambered exhaust and only 200 or 201 Z/28's had RPO JL8 rear disc brakes.
Could you be so lucky in finding a build sheet either under the rear seat or between gas tank and trunk floor?
Van Nuys built Camaros' did not have build sheets, VN threw them away.
Norwood put them into the Camaro 124379N = Norwood 12437L= Van Nuys

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