JL8 available first week of Nov, 68?

[Verne_Frantz]

Educate me.
I'm guessing the JL8 was intended for SCCA or Trans-Am racing (??). Was there an upcoming big race that Chevy wanted to win, and have a car with "RPO"s that could compete?
I know Chevy did that for other years and RPOs just ahead of Daytona, or the Winternationals.
Has it been documented that the first JL8 equipped cars went into successful racers hands? That was the case with some of their other "special" RPOs (such as Z-06, Z-11).
Is there a known quantity of factory JL8 built cars? Who manufactured the rear assemblies for Chevy. Does anyone know, or have a good guess why that great option was so short lived? And wasn't '69 Chevy's most successful Trans-Am racing season? How come no more 4-wheel discs?
Sorry for so many questions. I'm just a dummy where these cars are concerned, and I'll propably never own a Camaro, but I'm curious. If someone would take the time to educate me, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Verne

Hey Lynn, I just noticed I'm 2 posts behind you. You must be nuts!................Hey, wait a minute...........what does that make me??????

[Mark_C]

206 factory JL8 Camaros. Probably short lived becasue it cost 500 bucks.

Service axles were available to "race teams". That axle is not physically the same as a factory axle though.

[69greatyear]

That car on Ebay has a LOS trim tag... I was under the impression that all Z's were NOR cars. Is that correct?

[Enoch]

I am restoring 2 J-L8's as we speak 1 is a Norwood car and the other a LA car both cars have all original drive trains and factory documentation.

[Lynn]

[ QUOTE ]
That car on Ebay has a LOS trim tag... I was under the impression that all Z's were NOR cars. Is that correct?

[/ QUOTE ]

Plenty of 69 Z's from LA.

Lynn

[Lynn]

Hey Verne:

I think Mark C. nailed it. The option was just too darn expensive, especially considering few guys in the day were concerned with how fast they could STOP!!

The 68 Z that William referenced in the Car & Driver road test comparo had a service package rear. Rules were that they could prep the cars with any part that could be purchased over the counter at a local dealer, i.e. "any factory installed or dealer available part would be acceptable if it was homologated." C&D guys were a little surprised the Camaro camp didn't opt for the Corvette's wider wheels.

BTW, if any of you ever get a chance to buy an old copy of the July 68 C&D, buy it. That is by far the coolest article from the muscle car era, IMHO. Sam Posey was a riot. I first read it in college doing "research" in the library for a history class. Ran across it on microfilm on accident and then had to have the magazine.

The Camaro did a 13.77 1/4 at 107.39 on the factory E 70 15 skinnies without traction bars. Yellow with black vinyl top, custome interior and power steering.

I am with William on this one: where IS that car? Talk about a piece of history.

Lynn

[Lynn]

In fact, here it is, and well worth the money (I have no stake in the sale).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-driver-1968-lot-...1QQcmdZViewItem

[William]

"The 68 Z that William referenced in the Car & Driver road test comparo had a service package rear."

I beg to differ. I have under car photos of it showing parking brake cables. The OTC conversion did not use a parking brake.

[Lynn]

[ QUOTE ]
"The 68 Z that William referenced in the Car & Driver road test comparo had a service package rear."

I beg to differ. I have under car photos of it showing parking brake cables. The OTC conversion did not use a parking brake.

[/ QUOTE ]

William:

First, post some pictures of that car! I would love to see them. Second, you are correct in that it would have been a true JL8 set up, complete with the little drum type park brakes and cables, but I still believe it was only available over the counter in 68. It was an RPO for 69, but the rear axle is the same as what what sold over the counter for the 68's which, if equipped with disc brakes, would already have the four piston calipers in front.

I shouldn't have used the term "service package rear" as that has come to mean the different over the counter rear end sold in 69. So the "service" rear in 68 became the RPO JL8 in 69 and a slightly different unit became the "service" package rear in 69.

According to Colvin, speaking of the RPO JL8, "This rear axle assembly was available through Chevrolet service in 1968, but few people other than factory supported race teams knew of the option."

As usual, I could be wrong. Anyone seen a documented 68 equipped with JL8 from the factory?

Sorry for any confusion.

Lynn

[Verne_Frantz]

Thanks Lynn,
I probably have that issue. I subscribed for over 20 years until I finally got too tired of reading about Porsches.

So, do you think a '69 Trans-Am car would be "legal" with rear discs? Are there any?

Thanks
Verne