[Hotrodpaul]

Overall, I think the car looks nice, I started the thread because the engine stamping looked suspect. It seems almost every 69 Z-28 I see on Ebay has issues from swapped trim tags, repo trim tags, restamped blocks, forged P-O-P's, and the list goes on and on. Many of the sellers are very honest people who bought the cars from dishonest sellers who knew about the cars history and "restoration" Because of the rising value of 69 Z-28's, you will see more of this. My recommendation to anyone entering the hobby would be to purchase and read as many reference books as possible and frequent this website and ask as many questions as you can BEFORE you lay down the cash for a car.

To the seller, it is difficult to document a Van Nuys built Z-28 since there are no X Codes on the trim tag. What I would recommend to document the car would be do the folllowing:

1) Talk to the previous owners and try to find the original owner. A title search may help but you may have to follow the rope as they say. That is how I found the original owner of my 69 SS L-78.

2) Any other documentation would be great to have. The original P-O-P would document the Engine, Trans assy date, Rear axle assy date and ratio, steering and radio options, etc. These can be reproduced and they look very good. Also LA built cars usually had build sheets placed on top of the gas tank before the tank was installed, and may have survived. If the tank has not been removed, it may still be there. There may be additional build sheets under the carpet, in the seat springs, etc. Norwood built cars very rarely come with build sheets.

3) Check the mechanicals of the car. The rear leaf springs should have 4 leafs although some high optioned cars may have 5 leafs. Take close up photos of all the stampings (Rear, Tranny, Engine) and post them on this site. Many experts here will check them out for you. For an original 4.10 ratio, the axle code will be BV as this should be a 12 bolt (12 bolts holding the cover and ring gear). This will also show on the P-O-P.
The tach should have an 8000 rpm scale with a 6000 rpm redline. Some older Z's have been documented with 7000 RPM scale tachs. The car will have a single 3/8" fuel line. Check to see if it is original, old looking, or has it been replaced? There will also be a 2" X 4" sized plate welded on the drivers side frame rail behind the rear tire for an attachment point for the dual exhaust hanger. All SS and Z-28 cars had these. There may have been a few LM-1 and other dual exhaust small blocks built with this hanger as well.

4) Check for other original Z-28 parts such as front disc brakes, 15 X 7" Rally Wheels date coded that match the car, US stamped master cylinder, 9204 Brake Booster, Harrison Radiator, proportioning valve located on frame rail under drivers seat, rear bumper guards, etc.

I you have any other questions on documenting your Z, give me a call at 713-306-1892. Thanks, and good luck.

Paul