JL8 available first week of Nov, 68?

[Lynn]

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

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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]

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"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.

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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

[Jeff H]

According to Wayne's book, the 4 wheel disc brake system was made available in March 68 as a heavy duty service package. There were 2 components to the kit. The front portion of the kit was part # 3957993-92. The rear axle assembly was part # 3945131 and was a complete rear package that included the parking brakes and re-routed brake piping. So that's probably what was on the test car. Not a true JL8 setup but the heavy duty service package rear assembly.

[1967Z28]

I have spoken a couple of times with a guy who has a yellow '68 Z/28 and it has 4-wheel discs plus it has the original protect-o-plate showing the rear disc code. Only one I've heard of, but I haven't personally seen the car or the p-o-p. I guess I need to give him another call.

-Jon

[Jeff H]

Hmmmm, that would be interesting to see what he really has. What did you say his phone # was?

[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

[Jeff H]

Verne, the SCCA said that Chevrolet had to install the option on at least 500 cars to make it legal for Trans Am racing. And Chevrolet showed them that the option was being ordered(Chev probably installed it themself on cars to run up the numbers) so it was a legal option. But in the end, there were only 206 cars built with the JL8 option. Most of the racers used the HD service package rear since it was much cheaper than the full JL8 option. The ZL2 cowl induction hood was another option that they needed to produce a minimum 500 units to make it legal. Racers were using the fiberglass crossram hood(estimate of around 100 made) but the ZL2 option was a steel single 4 bbl hood which made the fiberglass one eligible as well. In Wayne Guinn's book he describes how the JL8 rears were built by modifying standard 12 bolt rears. They were done in batches which also made availability limited. When you look back at it now, 4 wheel disc brakes on a 1969 Camaro is pretty awesome considering the only other cars to have it were the Corvette or some exotic exports. But it's not just that it's 4 wheel disc brakes, the setup was created and tested to allow for serious road racing and could handle an incredible amount of braking during a race without heating up too much and fading out over time. Most new cars with 4 wheel discs have tiny rear rotor which would never be able to handle the rigors of racing.