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itsadryheat79 · 12-28-2011, 01:14 PM

I have two 79 Z28s so I have lots of experience with fixing them and knowing what to look for.

Rust -
I have seen rust in the places David79Z28 listed. Even in AZ you can get rust to accumulate near the bottom of the front and rear qtr panels next to the door if debris gets stuck in the weep holes over time. Look in the trunk header and under the hood cowl too.
The doors will sag. You can pick up on the door when it’s open from the handle and wiggle it. Look at the hinges and see if they have shims or look like the pins were replaced. Replacing pins and shims is relatively easy but broken hinges are no fun.
Look at the rear tail light plastic - finding a good set is getting hard to find. Last I looked OEM parts group has not re-poped this part yet but it is in the catalog at GroundUp.com so I hope to see them soon.

The forward facing non functional hood scoop for the 79 has just been re-poped so it's not as hard to get anymore. The wavy flexible Urethane rubber nose can be replaced @F-Body Warehouse and maybe others with a more solid Fiberglass or Felx-Glass for a more forgiving unit.

The Camaro had a 13digit VIN up until the 1981 model year it changed to a 17digit number. Using title or VIN search services to track down history will not work because these services use the 17digit # we call the standard today.

* The 79z28 VIN is one of the easiest to spot should have a vin like 1Q87L9Nxxxxxx or 1Q87L9Lxxxxxx.
Seventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys

Pay attention to the VIN and badging - 1979 was the biggest production year for the Camaro and there are still a lot of cars out there. If the motor is original you can find the vin stamped on it - look at the passenger side front of the engine block near the alternator.
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...oding-help.asp
It's easy to try and clone a LT, RS or Berlinetta to a Z28 by putting a rear spoiler on the back and the front louvered quarter panels of a z28.
If the interior is original you may be able to find a copy of the original build sheet behind the rear seat. Be careful when removing it. No matter what you do to the car it’s neat to see what was on the car originally.
Join NastyZ28.com and Chevy-camaro.com – Really good info there!
For a VIN decoder go here:
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...second-gen.asp
For Trim tag code decoder go here:
http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...ecode-1979.asp

* Vehicle Identification Number Example: 1Q87L2L100000
First Digit Division: 1=General Motors
Second Digit Series: Q=Camaro (1972-9), P=Camaro (1980), S=Type LT (73-78) or Berlinetta (79-80)
Third & Fourth Digits Body Style: 87=Sport Coupe/Camaro
Fifth Digit Engine: See Engine Codes Below
Sixth Digit Year: 3=73,4=74,5=75,6=76,7=77,8=78,9=79,A=80
Seventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys
Last Six Digits increase by one with each car built at each plant

12-28-2011, 01:14 PM	#7
itsadryheat79 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE (2)79Z28 72RS 67SS 69Z Join Date: May 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 420 View My Garage	I have two 79 Z28s so I have lots of experience with fixing them and knowing what to look for. Rust - I have seen rust in the places David79Z28 listed. Even in AZ you can get rust to accumulate near the bottom of the front and rear qtr panels next to the door if debris gets stuck in the weep holes over time. Look in the trunk header and under the hood cowl too. The doors will sag. You can pick up on the door when it’s open from the handle and wiggle it. Look at the hinges and see if they have shims or look like the pins were replaced. Replacing pins and shims is relatively easy but broken hinges are no fun. Look at the rear tail light plastic - finding a good set is getting hard to find. Last I looked OEM parts group has not re-poped this part yet but it is in the catalog at GroundUp.com so I hope to see them soon. The forward facing non functional hood scoop for the 79 has just been re-poped so it's not as hard to get anymore. The wavy flexible Urethane rubber nose can be replaced @F-Body Warehouse and maybe others with a more solid Fiberglass or Felx-Glass for a more forgiving unit. The Camaro had a 13digit VIN up until the 1981 model year it changed to a 17digit number. Using title or VIN search services to track down history will not work because these services use the 17digit # we call the standard today. * The 79z28 VIN is one of the easiest to spot should have a vin like 1Q87L9Nxxxxxx or 1Q87L9Lxxxxxx. Seventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys Pay attention to the VIN and badging - 1979 was the biggest production year for the Camaro and there are still a lot of cars out there. If the motor is original you can find the vin stamped on it - look at the passenger side front of the engine block near the alternator. http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...oding-help.asp It's easy to try and clone a LT, RS or Berlinetta to a Z28 by putting a rear spoiler on the back and the front louvered quarter panels of a z28. If the interior is original you may be able to find a copy of the original build sheet behind the rear seat. Be careful when removing it. No matter what you do to the car it’s neat to see what was on the car originally. Join NastyZ28.com and Chevy-camaro.com – Really good info there! For a VIN decoder go here: http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...second-gen.asp For Trim tag code decoder go here: http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...ecode-1979.asp * Vehicle Identification Number Example: 1Q87L2L100000 First Digit Division: 1=General Motors Second Digit Series: Q=Camaro (1972-9), P=Camaro (1980), S=Type LT (73-78) or Berlinetta (79-80) Third & Fourth Digits Body Style: 87=Sport Coupe/Camaro Fifth Digit Engine: See Engine Codes Below Sixth Digit Year: 3=73,4=74,5=75,6=76,7=77,8=78,9=79,A=80 Seventh Digit Production Plant: N=Norwood,Ohio, L=Van Nuys Last Six Digits increase by one with each car built at each plant __________________ - Buttons and Skulls - miss my annimated signature.