1969 Chevy Camaro SS

Author
Discussion

LeighW

4,414 posts

189 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Harry Flashman said:
I'm just bloody confused as to which one to buy, as my car has been modified with a 427 Corvette engine, from the same year (1969). I assume this is the kit? My car has no Aircon controls in it, so I assume no factory air.

https://www.vintageair.com/custom/product-pop.php?...

https://www.cvfracing.com/chevy-camaro-1967-1969-v...


and the kits requires the following questions answered. As I am new to the car, and not with it, I have no idea what to specify!


Pulley will depend on what belts/pulleys it is running 8 rib serpentine will be an aftermarket setup.

None factory

Have you got a mechanical or electric fan?

Last 2 are your own choice.
You can just see in this pic from earlier in the thread, it's a mechanical fan, and it doesn't have an 8 rib serpentine belt.



Edit - found the old Collecting Cars advert, better pic here:



Link to advert:

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1969-chevrolet...

Edited by LeighW on Tuesday 1st August 16:15

Jhonno

5,793 posts

142 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
LeighW said:
Jhonno said:
Harry Flashman said:
I'm just bloody confused as to which one to buy, as my car has been modified with a 427 Corvette engine, from the same year (1969). I assume this is the kit? My car has no Aircon controls in it, so I assume no factory air.

https://www.vintageair.com/custom/product-pop.php?...

https://www.cvfracing.com/chevy-camaro-1967-1969-v...


and the kits requires the following questions answered. As I am new to the car, and not with it, I have no idea what to specify!


Pulley will depend on what belts/pulleys it is running 8 rib serpentine will be an aftermarket setup.

None factory

Have you got a mechanical or electric fan?

Last 2 are your own choice.
You can just see in this pic from earlier in the thread, it's a mechanical fan, and it doesn't have an 8 rib serpentine belt.



Edit - found the old Collecting Cars advert, better pic here:



Link to advert:

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1969-chevrolet...

Edited by LeighW on Tuesday 1st August 16:15
Cool.. Questions answered then!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Thank you guys!

Should I, as Braddo advised, get the electric fan version and change to an electric fan, given the car will spend time in traffic in the crowded South East?

Jhonno

5,793 posts

142 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Thank you guys!

Should I, as Braddo advised, get the electric fan version and change to an electric fan, given the car will spend time in traffic in the crowded South East?
Yes. It has an electric fan currently.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Sorry chaps, I'm confused, and not near the car currently so cannot check. From the pics above, is the fan electric, or mechanical?

You can see I'm a bit of a newbie trying to find his way, so I really appreciate your patience as I try to learn. It's been a while since I owned a true classic...

In the CC pic the fan looks to be connected to the front of the engine (water pump?) So I assume mechanical...

Jhonno

5,793 posts

142 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Sorry chaps, I'm confused, and not near the car currently so cannot check. From the pics above, is the fan electric, or mechanical?

You can see I'm a bit of a newbie trying to find his way, so I really appreciate your patience as I try to learn. It's been a while since I owned a true classic...
Electric

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Harry Flashman said:
Sorry chaps, I'm confused, and not near the car currently so cannot check. From the pics above, is the fan electric, or mechanical?

You can see I'm a bit of a newbie trying to find his way, so I really appreciate your patience as I try to learn. It's been a while since I owned a true classic...
Electric
Thanks Jhonno. Leigh said above he thinks electric, and I can't really tell from the pics whether the fan is actually connected to the water pump or not!

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Well, that plan is out as the boxes for the Vintage air system are more numerous and large than I can check as baggage.

Next project: EFi kit. That may be smaller and easier to bring home.

braddo

10,572 posts

189 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Electric
Have you seen the collecting cars photo up above? Unless i am mistaken it shows a big fan running off the fanbelt!

One big or smaller twin electric fans would be able to pull a lot more air through the radiator at low revs/speed than a mechanical fan (which is fixed to spin at engine speed) so for a big block i think it would be a wise upgrade. Saves a few HP too!

LeighW

4,414 posts

189 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Harry Flashman said:
Thanks Jhonno. Leigh said above he thinks electric, and I can't really tell from the pics whether the fan is actually connected to the water pump or not!
Academic now, but I said it wasn't electric. Looks like a clutch fan.


Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
Thanks guys!

Chucklehead

2,741 posts

209 months

Tuesday 1st August 2023
quotequote all
When it comes time to get the vintage air kit, I'd suggest going for the surefit kit for a 69 Camaro as it'll give you everything you need and is designed to fit. It's part # VTA-961191 for gen IV or go with the genV you linked above if you prefer. If your engine setup won't accommodate the compressor, then you can deal with that separately. Knowing you have the right lines, controls, evaporator, condenser etc would be the largest headache.

Edited by Chucklehead on Tuesday 1st August 21:02

Jhonno

5,793 posts

142 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
braddo said:
Jhonno said:
Electric
Have you seen the collecting cars photo up above? Unless i am mistaken it shows a big fan running off the fanbelt!

One big or smaller twin electric fans would be able to pull a lot more air through the radiator at low revs/speed than a mechanical fan (which is fixed to spin at engine speed) so for a big block i think it would be a wise upgrade. Saves a few HP too!
I didn't see the fan yesterday. It needs binning and running an electric one, they sap a lot of power.

illmonkey

18,224 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
In!

Fan looks clutched paired with a really old rad. Probably best to refresh the cooling system with some new shiny bits!

Having it being ‘overcooled’ in prep is better than under. The stat controls the temp anyway. Also might be worth a override, so you can turn the fan on manually if you think it needs it.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
Thanks! The rad is a heavy duty item, so whilst old, it has barely actually seen any service as the car has done minimal miles (less than 10,000) since nut and bolt restoration and build in 1993.

As others have kindly advised, cooling for modern traffic conditions is on the list!

illmonkey

18,224 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
1993 was 30 years ago! Look at the header on the rad, it’s got rust.

Also, that fan belt looks frayed. Could do with replacing too.

NomduJour

19,156 posts

260 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
You’re lucky in that there’s absolutely nothing you can’t but which isn’t already made to fit off-the-shelf. A big alloy radiator with big shrouded electric fans and a controller will be an awful lot cheaper than having to get one made/bodged to fit.

Harry Flashman

Original Poster:

19,394 posts

243 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
illmonkey said:
1993 was 30 years ago! Look at the header on the rad, it’s got rust.

Also, that fan belt looks frayed. Could do with replacing too.
Fan belt is squealing like a pig. Definitely needs to be replaced. I'll look at the rad when I do the fan too...aluminium multicore the way to go, as NDJ said above, I think. Going to take cooling this engine seriously.



Turn7

23,645 posts

222 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
I’d the belt is squealing, it may not be spinning the alternator fast enough and be the cause of the battery issues.

Check the charge rate at the battery, and when you have the belt off, check the alternator spins freely.

Stuff like that doesn’t like sitting idle.

TheJimi

25,021 posts

244 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2023
quotequote all
Two things.

A) Awesome car, looking forward to seeing the progress.

B) I had to google "slapper bar"

actually, there's a C) - I'm amazed this being a Flashman thread, that no-one has made the obvious joke hehe