Coupe-sold! Now A Convertible!!!

[Leadfoot1]

Wow! things really do happen fast in this life....On wednesday i saw an ad for a 69 Camaro convertible1 owner, protect o plate original bill of sale, 1 paint job, stored for like the past 20 years or so.... NAME IT! I called the guy up and talked to him, he just got the car and wanted to flip it.(still registered under original owners name) OK, i want it!

I called a few friends (round 'noon) and at 7 pm my PT coupe project was sold!

I hooked up the trailer and did the 7 hour drive to and back in a non stop event to pick up the car. It is still on the trailer at this time (10 to 7 am...)and i'm making coffee right now...going to the garage!

Car is 327, glide, power top and original down to the radio! everything works.
Ihave all the cocktail shakers in it (do we need those at all????) and it is rock solid as you can imagine. it has had 1 repaint in 78 at maaco and it is starting to show a bit but hey! from sitting 20 years (stored since '82) ITS AWESOME!!!

I had a bunch of work in the coupe and some dought too, but this is gonna be much more fun! With the kids, (2 and 4 this week end) the house, work i was beginning to think the project would never see the day...I never had time to get on it for more than a few hours a month. Well, it will see the day, just with a new owner! I'm going topless!!!

I kept my 12 bolt, 345-25-20's, i have a set of offset shackles in a box, the LS1 and 4L60 are still on the floor....So that might be what's gonna happen in the next winter! (unless i can find my way around a 572)

Car is mint and i'm really happy i took a day off to go get it before someone else did! I will find a way to post pics soon. I used Racing junk before but i'd like something better any suggestions?

Thanks guy's! Hoping your gonna like this one!!!!!!!!!

Edit; I took the liberty of borrowing the pics of the ad...A big thanks to Tim (my seller) who really is a gentleman that i look forward to doing more business with!

http://www.camaros.net/classifieds/data/44/14306IMG_0002_1-large.JPG
http://www.camaros.net/classifieds/data/44/14306IMG_0001_2-large.JPG

More to come when i get a chance....

Lead. :D

(I might have a few original parts to sell in the near future i.e. like those cocktail shakers if not needed in my build...I'll post 'em up!) In need to find out what they do and if i really need em?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Congratulations, I have someone that needs cocktail shakers

[Leadfoot1]

Thanks Frank!

Maybe you can clear this up for me....What is it they do anyway? ( i understand its a balancing act of some sort???) Do i really need em in my build?

What is the street price for original 63k mile top cond units? I heard about 500$ ea.

Hey while we're at it, any idea if my 345's will fit with a, say, "DSE" minitub job under the dropped top? For now i only want to tune it up (327/ glide) and put a killer stance with wheels on it to take my girls out for a spin before end of summer.

Hey i have all the assembly plant marks and stamps on the firewall! Its gonna be hard to cut up!

Thanks again,

Lead.

[ProTouring442]

According to someone at Pontiac, per a book on Firebirds, it was done by Pontiac engineers to get a cowl shake out of the car. I understand that the convertibles would continue to exhibit cowl shake for several oscillations beyond the actual road imperfection. In other words, the car kept twisting like a spring back and forth several times each time it hit a bump. The book goes on to explain that they tried all kinds of bracing, but to no avail. Finally, they came up with the weight suspended between two springs, the things we now call cocktail shakers. I understand that the lead engineer was very impressed that they had solved the issue until he learned how they did it. Apparently, he thought it was a cop-out. In any case, they kept trying other ways for a while, but gave up and went back to those cocktail shakers. As to weather or not you need them now, I have no idea. Since it was a body flex thing, I would imagine a good set of sub frame connectors would solve the problem, but I don’t know for sure.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
’72 442 “Inamorata”

[Garage Dog 65]

Cocktail shakers are still common in the broadcasting and lighting industry to dampen oscillations. You see them around all over the place on street light poles, traffic light poles, long expanses of electrical lines between poles, and on tv/radio towers. They look like mini-barbells mounted on the sides of the poles. Basically a heavy spring with a weight on each end. IMO - it is a cop-out on a vehicle. :yes:

[cam69]

i also did not know what those things were or what there purpose were, so i just left them their.at first i thought they were for the conv top,but then i saw nothing conected to them,now we know :thumbsup:

[Leadfoot1]

Thanks guy's!


I've been over to Team Camaro.....Those resto guy's have threads and threads of info on those shakers...Still, there seems to be a debate on wether you should keep 'em or not. I've read frame connectors should take care of the cowl shake somewhat but others say you'll still need 'em.

This is a dead end. :rolleyes:

'Guess they're stayin for now.

Thanks again.

Lead.

Cam, Thanks for the pics! I'm starting to plan my mini tub winter project!
Keep us posted and the pics 'comin!

[Rob07002]

I was always under the impression they were a counterbalance of some sort, very interesting about the cowl shake thing.

I would think that if the body was flexing too much due to not being a full frame car, once SFC's are installed there is no need to have them.

Don't know for sure, I left in my car.

BTW really nice find, good luck!