In my '69 Camaro I get vapor lock problems when driving on hot days. Here in Sweden we don't get the temperatures that southern USA can reach. Anyway I suspect that todays poor gasoline is much to blame for this. I mean these cars can't have had problems like this from the begining. Anybody remember how the cars handle in high temperatures back in the good old days.

One guy told me that a return line to the tank could solve vapor lock problems. Since my '69 is a Z-28 but have a 396" it hasn't the return line that bigblock Camaros have.

I have hard to believe that this can cure vapor lock problems.

I more suspect my 3 inch aircleaner since it s bottom goes down over the carb. This creates a airpocket around the carb and since warm air goes up it collects in this pocket and it ventilates poorly, there fore it must be very hot under the aircleaner and around the carb. If I remove the air cleaner and runs without it it runs better. I have the ZL2 hood so it ventilates a little betteer than the stock hood.

I guess many have similar problems but what can be done about it?


Jan



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Jan Suhr
Stockholm, Sweden
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1969 Camaro Z-28 Cortez Silver with 396 BigBlock

My homepage

 

I insulated the fuel line where it goes past the headers and from the pump up to the carb. I used insulated wrap I bought from Summit. I used copper wire every few inches as a tie. Really helped.

A return line and a heat isolator under the carb would help too. I don't use them on mine.

 

Huh? The 396 is a big block, the 427s were extremely rare to find in a Camaro, so yes you have a big block, other than the ZL1 that is the only BB to come from the factory in a Camaro.

 

I think what Jannes is saying is that even though the car currently has a 396 motor, it is a Z-28 and was not equipped with a return line as some of the SS396 cars were.

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'69 Camaro SS396 with '81 305:
stock except for Performer intake, 600 Holley vacuum (modded), Perf. Dist. HEI, 1-5/8" headers & 2-1/2" exhaust/turbo mufflers,
beefed TH 400 tranny with 11" street convertor & B&M Quicksilver
3.08 posi 12-bolt
P235/45/17 and P275/40/17 Kuhmos on 8x17 Wheel Vintiques rallys
H.O. Racing front coils, Flex-a-Form fiberglass leafs, Herb Adams VSE body bushings and frt. sway bar, '79 T/A P/S box, power disc front brakes w/metallic pads

 

A 69 Z28? Peice of history there!

 

Yes it is the only REAL Z-28 in my humble opnion :-)

I am proud to have it!

I also think that the one I have should have been produced by Chevrolet as an option. I mean a Z-28 with bigblock is REALY aqsome.


Jan




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Jan Suhr
Stockholm, Sweden
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1969 Camaro Z-28 Cortez Silver with 396 BigBlock

My homepage

 

The Z-28 was limited to 305 cubes/5.0 liters due to them reacing in the Trans Am series

 

even without the 5L limit, the Z28 was designed as a roadracer - the extra weight of a big block would throw the handling balance even FURTHER off. I'll bet there would have been a Z28 with a 400ci motor, though...
Now, the SS camaros could be had with bigblocks - the SS package was intended as a 'strip car, so the more cubes the better!

 

Well, I will have to correct you there. The SS 396's and the Z-28 had the same front springs OK the Big block is a little heavier. But the supension is stronger.

And another thing Z-28s only came with 302 Cu in smallblocks, nothing else.

It was a strong highreving engine, but they broke often.


Jan


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Jan Suhr
Stockholm, Sweden
-----------------
1969 Camaro Z-28 Cortez Silver with 396 BigBlock

My homepage

 

And that's probably why there are so many early Z-28 cars that don't have the original motor.

Now, a 1st Gen with an all aluminum big-block might handle more like the Z cars with a little more grunt to go with it.

Bill B.

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'69 Camaro SS396 with '81 305:
stock except for Performer intake, 600 Holley vacuum (modded), Perf. Dist. HEI, 1-5/8" headers & 2-1/2" exhaust/turbo mufflers,
beefed TH 400 tranny with 11" street convertor & B&M Quicksilver
3.08 posi 12-bolt
P235/45/17 and P275/40/17 Kuhmos on 8x17 Wheel Vintiques rallys
H.O. Racing front coils, Flex-a-Form fiberglass leafs, Herb Adams VSE body bushings and frt. sway bar, '79 T/A P/S box, power disc front brakes w/metallic pads

 

Strong suspension or not, with the lame grip they had in the 60s the front end would still PUSH.