I haven't gotten my copy yet either! What, is Long Island the last place to get. Delivery?
Buddy

Got ours today - what a great write-up!

Nice article Steve, where did Scotty L shoot the car.?

Thanks. The Grumman site @ Calverton.

LOL, That is where I took him to shoot my L78 Nova. I suggested it to him and he loved the idea, the pics of my car were taken on the N/S runway, ran more than a few 1/4 mile runs that day!, great spot. Loved you article, great car, Congrats

Great story Steve. We live down the road from where it was bought new. Heres what it looks like now https://www.google.com/maps/place/71...!4d-75.0418792

Ill bet he cruised Vineland NJ with your Z back in the day.. I recognize those original pics of the car next to the home. Def looks like Franklinville NJ to me

Great Article Steve!!

The Story Continues
 

As I've said before our cars have stories to tell and bring back fond memories to all they've touched.

This is an email I received from Larry Beard’s son, the gentleman in TX I sold the Z28 to in 1983. I reference his name in the story.


"Hello Mr. Shauger. My dad bought your Z28 when I was a kid. I was around 8 years old then. It was the object of my affection, to say the least! That car was everything to me ! I literally cried the day he sold it. I never forgot about that day, and still the 69 Z28 in hugger orange and houndstooth interior is my favorite car in the world. I've heard him talk about talking to you over the years and how you bought the car back,etc. Funny story, my cousin had a friend that seen my dad's name in the Muscle Car Review magazine article. He gave the magazine to my cousin who just gave it to me. I was super excited to see 'my car', lol, in the magazine. I've thought about and even have dreamed about that car over the years. Reading the article, I noticed it mentioned your black Camaro's in an earlier issue, so I looked online and downloaded a digital copy of it. I'm in awe of your camaro's! Dad said you had quite a stable of them, but I really had no idea! That's awesome, and I'm proud to know that the car I adored as a kid is with the rightful owner. I have a 5 yearold son and a 1 year old, who both love cars! I told my 5 year old, Major, that daddy was going to get a camaro like yours one day! Maybe notquite that nice, or original, but something we can enjoy. I just wanted to reach out to let you know that I'm happy to have known that car, and I love it as much as a person could love a car. Congratulations of on getting her back. I would love to see some more pictures of her. I would really appreciate any you could send me. Maybe one of these days, I could come see her for myself! lol... I was talking this evening to mom and dad about contacting you and mom remembers you and your wife well. I think she said she may have a picture of y’all when they bought it from"

Larry's son sent me these pictures today. Larry, his wife Roxanne and brother in-law drove up from Crockett TX in a van towing a utility trailer. The pictures are taken at a shop repairing the trailer wheel and bearing issue. The pics are taken fall of 1983. My wife and I are wearing white jackets. The pics were in hiding for 37 years, until Roxanne located them today..... I'm so grateful these were found. We purchased our first house with the proceeds from the sale.


I asked Larry why he sold the car, and he said it was too nice, and he wanted something he could terrorize the streets in his town. The Vega fit the bill :).

Did you ever find Bill? awesome story!!!

No Bill Miller ( William J. Miller) hasn't been located. He had a daughter in 72 ish and he should about 69. He may have relocated to FL.

This is an older thread but IMO, worthy of reviving.

That is one awesome story! Thanks for taking the time to write it up and share it.

I bought my '68 from the original owner that was 76 years old, He'd bought it for his only child and his son passed shortly thereafter. He kept it original, garaged and in great condition all those years. I came across it by chance in '83 but he wouldn't even consider selling it. Finally, after 3 years of my hounding him he sold it to me when I was 26. I got the protect-o-plate, and all of the service records since it was new and with only 47k miles. I kept it until '02 as I had taken a fancy for one of those new 4th gen Camaros so I sold it and quickly realized my mistake. I regretted it for years and my son hounded me all those years for selling it. Finally, 21 years later in '22 the gentlemen that I sold it to, who was about 12yrs. my senior decided to sell it. So, I jumped at the chance and bought it back, so it's back where it belongs. Still in the same great condition as when I had it before with still only 85k miles.

396 SS/RS Congratulations!!! Now post some pictures we'd love to see your car...

Steve, I never get tied of reading this tread and looking at your pictures!

I will take some time and do a write up about it. There is a unique story of how he happened on it and acquired it and how I happened upon it and acquired it, both times.

Great back-stories make great cars even better!

Might I suggest collaborating with Bruce, AKA Xplantdad, on a "Members Rides" feature so that your thread won't become lost over time. You will be happy that you did...:beers:

Steve I still have to get over my brother's house and find that picture of your Z you bought from Paul back in the mid 1970s at the chews landing mall auto show.

Well it's been almost 12 years since I installed the rebuilt original engine. Although the engine on the dyno produced great power over 400hp and 367 lb/ft torque, it had low oil pressure 10lb at 1100 rpms and noticeable vibration at high rpms. I had contacted the machine shop but not interested in reconciling. Fast forward 10 years 2500 miles I also started noticing engine running rough when starting and ultimately found water leak into cylinder #8 after changing plugs.

I pulled the engine in Aug 24 and used a different machine shop. The engine was determined to have multiple issues many of which the original rebuilder caused.

Well, take two, just reinstalling the rebuilt engine. My trusting helper was not available (my daughter now is a wife and mother of 4 children ages 9 years to 9 months).
I'm very excited to drive the car again, it's been over a year since I took it off the road.

What a perfect Christmas present.

----Will it be built to make the same #'s? Any Dyno #'s, Steve???....Bill S

Everything is identical, just corrected 5 issues that the previous rebuilder caused or missed.

Very cool Steve.
Glad to see you got the best help available.

I think I am going to go back with the original engine in my Z as well.

Will wait until I get the 70 LT-1 done.

Fun getting the next generation involved.

Amazing.

Steve:

What camshaft are you running?
If not a roller, are you using EDM lifters?
I have two NOS Comp cams #12-107-3 with lifter kits purchased BEFORE CC started having cam lobe issues. However, the lifters are not EDM. I am hesitant to use one of them in my 302 build.

Does anyone know if I can purchase a good, high quality set of EDM lifters that will work fine with the CC #12-107-3 camshaft? Jerry M swears by this cam (at least the ones made before 2009), and uses it in his D/Stock 67 Z/28, which runs 10.40. Pretty hard to argue with those results, especially considering the heads aren't ported. But he does run headers.

My apologies for derailing the thread here. FWIW Lynn, this is the cam and lifter set I have been using in recent solid lifter builds. A basic copy of the LT1 cam with EDM lifters. I just ordered another one for an upcoming engine build I have to complete. Great power, no drama, no failures.
https://www.howardscams.com/mechanic...00-2800-6600-0

Well done Steve. looks great. Who did you use this time for the rebuild?

Hampton Engine. Just chipping away on installation. Next shifter and driveshaft. No rush, don't plan on running engine until spring.

Installation Complete
 

I just installed the headers, radiator hoses & filled, distributor and oil primed the engine (since it sat for 5 months). Upon startup the rear on carb stuck and I shut it down. I was inspecting for leaks and found the fuel pump weep hole had fuel leaking out. Installed new pump and tapped on the carb rear float housing and she started up and ran at 1700 rpm for 10 minutes.

The rub is the engine has about 11 in of vacuum which make it difficult to tune the idle circuit, and the power brakes are not operating correctly. This is a pretty stout cam but it was dialed in before the rebuild with no issues. I am going to play with initial advance and may loosen the lash. It does sounds more radical than before so think the lifter lash may be a little tight. The car performs well at RPMs above 1500. Low oil pressure and vibration has been corrected. I will keep you posted

Steve, might I ask at what RPM is it making 11 inches? My previous owner had the idle at 750, and when I dialed up to 950 hot it helped a lot with stable idle and the power brakes (though I have the mild 30/30 cam and .030”/.030” lash). I also did not make enough vacuum when I tried .026”/.026”.

RPM is 1100. I connected manifold vacuum to vacuum advance and idle is now stable. This is not fixing the root cause, but car runs perfect now. I'm going to verify the PCV is not the low vacuum source. If all else fails I will increase the valve lash which is now 16 &18 to 20 & 22.