There are so many choices for blue interiors for the first generation Camaros. It can be confusing (especially the carpet). However, it is not impossible to get the correct color if you are doing a Diamond class car.
Here at Midnight Oil we have matched original colors from original cars over the years to what is available today. While we were tearing down a car, we would take the time to match an original carpet sample (usually from under the console or the rear seat) so we could get the correct color.
The picture below shows all of the available blue carpet from 1967-69. The picture is taken on an early, sunny morning on the concrete walkway in front of the shop. Images may appear different due to monitor or phone settings. But, you can definitely get the idea of the color differences.
1967 Light Blue
1967 Bright Blue
1967-68 Aqua/Turquoise
1968 Medium Blue
1969 Dark Blue
First Generation Camaro Interior Blue Carpet Swatch Choices
The most commonly confused colors have to be 1968 Medium Blue and 1967-68 Bright Blue. The second has to be 1967 Light Blue and 1967-68 Aqua/Turquoise. You can definitely see the green tint to the aqua swatch. 1969 Dark Blue is in a class all by itself.
That is pretty much it in a nutshell for blue interior carpets. If you have any questions about interior colors or anything else. Just give Midnight Oil Musclecar Parts a call at 706-705-5005 or drop us an email. We will be happy to help with your restoration parts needs.
This is one of the problems we hear of over the phone and online almost weekly. So, we decided to address this issue with a blog post.
Too Many Choices
There are 3-4 different manufacturers of 1969 Camaro dash pads. It doesn’t matter if you have an RS, SS, Z28, Pace car or something exotic like a Yenko… the dash pad is the same. It might be a different color or have a grab handle right below it; but, it’s still the same pad. The only exception is for a Camaro with Air Conditioning. The first problem is the molds on some of the older reproduction dash pads are getting pretty old by now and it shows! The manufacturers also have different processes and materials to make their pads (like fiberglass, vinyl, urethane, etc.) which adds to the fitment issue. Looking for an NOS GM dash pad? Newsflash… it probably won’t fit right either being the last of the run and they are ridiculously expensive.
What Are The Problems?
The most common fitment issues with a 1969 Camaro Dash Pad starts at the front. There is a reproduction out there that looks like it was cut out of the mold with a recip saw leaving messed up edges and small tears. There is another reproduction dash pad that is too short on the windshield side which does not cover the indentation behind the VIN number. Both of these pads have bent “ears” around the dash cluster due to improper handling at the factory. There is another which looks pretty good at first glance. However, the Madrid grain and the simulated stitching have flat spots in certain areas and the two-piece fiberglass insert allows it to warp over a short period of time in the sun.
What Can Be Done?
We have heard of customers taking heat guns and “fixing” the problem with the ears around the instrument carrier. But, there is no really good way to “fix” the other problems associated with a dash pad aside from purchasing a new one.
Over the years, we have used these dash pads and have come to one conclusion… The BEST 1969 Camaro Dash Pad can be found right here. Need one with Air Conditioning? It is right here.
Why are these the best dash pads for a 1969 Camaro? Check out the pictures and descriptions below…
This is an image of the leading edge of the dash pad you see through the windshield. It is nice and crisp with the Madrid grain on the front edge like it is supposed to be.This is an image of the corner of the dash you see from inside the door. Notice how crisp the lines are at the pillar post and the beveled screw hole?This is an image of the 1969 Camaro dash pad from the underside showing the ears at the instrument cluster. The Madrid grain continues on these surfaces like they should. Also, the manufacturer has a special box made with special packaging to protect the ears and support the steel inner spine while it is being shipped.
Midnight Oil Has You Covered
The pictures above show why our dash pads are the best. Now, if you are expecting the dash pad just to fall on the car, it isn’t going to happen that way. Dash pads need to be installed by a competent trim shop. Your buddy down the street who once did an interior in a dune buggy probably does not fit into that category. These dash pads come in black and you must paint it to match your interior color. So, if you need questions answered do not hesitate to contact us before you buy!
Folks who are new to the hobby or never worked on a Camaro before make the false assumption that the 69 Camaro dash pad is supposed to be exactly 54″ long and meet flush with the pillar post moldings. THIS IS NOT TRUE! There should be a gap between the dash pad and the pillar post moldings. See the image below of a Midnight Oil customer’s original survivor 69 Camaro with just 26,000 miles on the clock:
You can fit your finger between the original pad and the pillar post. The original GM dash pad is starting to curl. But, you can clearly see the dust line where the pad has sat for 50+ years. The 1969 Camaro dash pad gap can be wider if you are using ABS plastic, reproduction urethane or custom wrapped pillar post moldings.
We get calls on this neutral safety switch problem on the tech line every so often. So, we thought we’d write a blog post about it to help those trying to get the right switch.
In 1967, the Camaro and Firebird with an automatic transmission could only be purchased with a Power Glide or Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission (TH-400). Nope, no matter what your buddy says after a few beers… you couldn’t get a TH-350 in 1967 Camaro or Firebird.
The Real Problem…
The problem is not the difference in the transmissions. The problem truly started when GM (in all their infinite wisdom) decided to make the automatic shifters different between the cars with a Power Glide and the cars with a TH-400. The shifters were made differently and GM just had to make the switches mount differently too.
The mounting points to attach the Power Glide neutral safety switch are both on the bottom of the switch. If your car originally had a Power Glide, your shifter will have the mounting tabs in this arrangement.
The mounting points to attach the TH-400 neutral safety switch are in different locations. One mounting tab is on the bottom and the other is on the top of the switch. If your car originally had a TH-400, your shifter will have the mounting tabs in this arrangement.
Get The Right Part!
That is the difference! Pretty simple right? What if you have a TH-350 that has been retrofitted into your 1967 Camaro or Firebird? You just have to compare your shifter with the images above and choose the neutral safety switch that matches your shifter. Remember, a lot of things happened during the course of the life of your car! Compare and be sure.
Midnight Oil has both of these switches available and ready to ship! Click on any of the above links to get yours today.
There are many different qualities of emblems out there. Watch this video to see the quality Midnight Oil offers in our emblems individually and in our house-made emblem kits. Kelley discusses the 1968-69 Camaro front fender emblem.
The Camaro in 1967-1969 came with the highly desirable option of the Console gauges. The one gauge which has always been a little weird to us here at Midnight Oil is the Camaro amp gauge. The amp gauge (sometimes referred to as the battery gauge) is super easy to wire up. But, you get it wrong and POOF! Now you need a new amp gauge. We thought we would write this post for those who are having trouble with their Camaro amp gauge. This info is not just about the 1967-69 Camaro. It will help you diagnose almost any early GM amp gauge because the wiring colors are the same.
Wire it up!
Rear View Of A 1968-69 Camaro Console Amp Gauge
The wiring on the back of the amp gauge goes like this:
With the gauge upright; there are two terminals one at 12 o’clock and one at 6 o’clock.
12 o’clock gets the black wire coming from the battery junction block (Just because the wire is black does not mean it is a ground!)
6 o’clock gets the black wire (with white stripe) coming from the horn relay.
BOTH of these wires MUST BE hot. The amp gauge’s job is to read the amperage traveling through this circuit. If you have hooked the amp gauge up with a hot and a ground and turned on the ignition, you will need to replace the amp gauge because you have just fried its insides.
Running your own wires in series i.e. battery to gauge to alternator is a bad thing. This will fry the gauge period. The amp gauge was designed to be run parallel to the alternator circuit.
If the needle won’t move at all…give the gauge the sniff test. You will probably smell that ozone burned wire smell and you will need to replace the gauge. That is pretty much it. Not much to the Amp gauge circuit.
I’m Fried…Now What?
Midnight Oil sells single, new reproduction console gauges just in case you have fried yours. We have the 1967 Camaro amp gauge and the 1968-69 Camaro amp gauge ready to ship today! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop us an email or call!
When taking your 1970-81 Camaro or Firebird apart, did you ever look at the rear corner hood adjusters and wonder why GM put such a massive bolt back there?
Driver’s side rear corner hood adjuster
The hoods on the 2nd Generation Camaro and Firebird are heavy. But geez… Not that heavy! Look at the image below and check out the size on the bolts. They are at least 2-3 times larger than the front corner hood adjusters.
Also, Why are the bolts that large? GM could have just put a bolt the size of the front ones and just pumped those Camaros and Firebirds out of Norwood and Van Nuys. The secret is found in the hood hinges themselves. Next, take a look at the image below of a hood hinge:
1970-81 Camaro or Firebird hood hinge
See the notch? Now, that notch looks like something goes there doesn’t it?
Here is the answer… Hopefully, you will never be involved in a head on collision in your Camaro or Firebird. But if you are, the hood hinges are designed to crush back. Secondly, lock into the rear corner hood adjusters. And finally, keep that long, heavy 2nd Generation hood from coming through the windshield into the passenger compartment and causing damage to you or your loved ones. Now you know!
If you don’t have them…get them! Midnight Oil sells this set or a complete set of front, rear and rear center adjusters. Don’t forget, Midnight Oil sells all the parts you need for your Camaro or Firebird at a great price and ships them quickly. Thanks for tuning in!
By January of 1969, production of the hot new 1969 Camaro was in full swing. Also, this was the time Chevrolet decided to add the legendary ZL2 Cowl Induction hood option. As with any new option, there is always a period on the assembly line where things either work or they need additional parts or changes. This fact is constantly shown in revisions to the factory assembly manuals. Case in point is the Cowl Induction switch located on the throttle arm.
On page 482 of the 1969 Camaro factory assembly manual, you will find a drawing dated 9/5/1968 with a release date of 9/12/1968. This drawing shows the cowl induction switch assembly in relation to the throttle arm. In an older copy of the assembly manual, you will find a 4 piece assembly…
1969 Camaro Cowl Induction Switch In An Early Factory Assembly Manual
Looking at the above image you can see one clip holding the switch to the throttle arm. Apparently, this was not enough to hold the switch properly. Later, Chevrolet changed this drawing and added notes. Now, consider the picture below with a 5 piece assembly…
1969 Camaro Cowl Induction Switch From A Later Printing Of The Factory Assembly Manual
Looking at this drawing you can clearly see an extra clip. This extra clip is shown as #5. The date on this revision is very hard to read. But, it appears to be around 5/20/1969 to keep clip #2 from sliding back on the switch shaft. This isn’t a bad idea since the throttle switch slams into the firewall when you put your foot to the floor of your Camaro. Incidentally, this switch, retainer and clip combo is also the same switch as the 1970-72 Pontiac Trans Am Shaker Hood Scoop. It mounts on the carburetor bracket.
The original console gauges found in the 1967-1969 Camaro are a really desirable option these days. Unfortunately, moving the fuel gauge down to the console made it hard to see. GM engineers decided to offer a low fuel warning light/module to the Camaro starting in 1967. UPC option U17, the Camaro received a light in the dash that would come on at 1/8 of a tank. This continued under the same U17 option code in 1968-69 with the Camaro low fuel warning module putting out a different signal.
Important Info
Important information to remember when dealing with Camaro low fuel warning modules: The 1967 Camaro low fuel warning module GM part # 1596341 sends a (+) positive signal to the bulb. Meanwhile, the 1968 and 1969 Camaro low fuel warning module GM part # 1596409 sends a (-) ground signal to the bulb. The bulb in the dash on a 1969 Camaro is in the instrument cluster and plugs right in. However, the 1967-68 Camaro requires changing the dash lens to “FUEL”. The 1967 Camaro is also different because the wiring pigtail is exclusive to the 1967 Camaro and tough to find.
Fix it
We shot this 5 minute video for Classic Headquarters a while back. It should clear up some misconceptions or problems created by trying to install a low fuel warning module to your existing gauges. This video should clear up any issues you may have with a new Camaro low fuel warning module installation as well. Since this video was made, we forgot to mention the 1967 Camaro ground wire does attach directly to the ground on the back of the gauge. If you have any questions email or call us! We’re here to help. The procedure detailed here will also work for 1968-72 Nova console gauges as well.
It can also make you the customer pull your hair out in frustration. But, The experts at Midnight Oil compiled information for an automotive publication which covered GM fuel gauges. It doesn’t matter which GM car or truck you have. The fuel gauges are basically the same. The fuel gauge may be turned sideways or have an extra ground. But, the same three prongs on the back are all the same for all GM cars and trucks. An ignition hot, a ground and a sender signal make up those connections on the back of the Camaro fuel gauge just like all other GM cars and trucks.
Since Midnight Oil specializes in restoration correct parts for the Camaro, it makes sense for us to focus on the Camaro fuel gauge. That is OK because the information on the Camaro fuel gauge can be used to diagnose and fix all other GM fuel gauges. After 1965, GM changed the gauge from 0-30 ohm to 0-90 ohm to improve accuracy. Think of going around a turn and watching the fuel gauge needle move.
Rather than writing this all out in a blog post… We shot this video for Classic Headquarters a few years back. The video is a little over 20 minutes long and covers all reproduction, AC Delco replacement and original fuel gauges. Shown in the video are several different GM fuel gauges and their configuration. It also covers those mysterious resistors found on the back of all GM fuel gauges. If you are having issues with your Camaro fuel gauge, the information contained here is extremely helpful. So, before you pony up big bucks to have have a restoration shop fix it, check out our video below. So, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty and fix your Camaro fuel gauge! Enjoy.
Camaro And Firebird Parts
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