Need help I.D.ing car.. possible Z28?

[BBCAM]

I just picked up a couple of 79-80 camaros (3) and I have identified what two were originally ...an 80, 229 V/6 sport coupe and a 79, 305 sport coupe
they were all dissasembled when I got them but the third one has me thinking I may have something other than what I was led to believe it was ... when I got the car home I started emptying all the Junk out of it and noted it has been repainted from yellow to a different color and someone went to great lengths at one time to paint all of the car.. jambs and all parts that usually get missed when changing colors ..anyway the thing codes out as a 79 standard coupe or Z28 has power steering and brakes automatic trans, No air ,tach and gage package rear defrost (grid type) T-tops black cloth custom interior ... what has me baffled is it also has a rear sway bar and a tagged posi rear that look like they grew there ... but the engine when I decode it is a 305 ci (unknown if it is original or not) but the VIN also decodes as a 305 car with a "G" engine code not an "L"for the 350... but it's also a california built car and could have been delivered in cali with the 305 as a Z28... but it's also possible that the rear could have been swapped but who would have done the sway bar with it ??? anyone got any info on options for 79 cars with the Z28 option and a 305? i have checked all the usuall sources and no one has any info on availability of the 305 in a Z in 79..the car looks like it was a yellow T-top base Z to me but theres not enough of it there to be sure .. the front clip and doors were long gone but the car had a rear spoiler (the quarters were factory drilled) but the deck lid is gone also im going to pull the junk fenders off tomorrow to check for signs of vents when it was painted (it may have left signs on the cowl)... I really dont think it was a "Z" I can only find listings for a 2bbl 305 in a 79 camaro but I wonder if the car was a special order with an F-41 suspension that would even be kinda cool ... I'll let you know what i find .. and yes im going to build another second gen with the three cars I have now ...I miss my old one ...

[Eckertc]

Well If what you describe from the vin decode is correct, its not a Z28. I belive all 79 Z28's came with a 350ci regardless. Im not sure but I believe they all came with Air conditioning. Here is a link to my source.

http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro79.html

[BBCAM]

I think I have figured it out ...It looks like a 79 RS, once I got to see it in the light and got to peeling some of the layers of old paint off i found the roof and front pillars were black leading me to believe it was a rally sport with a 305 Th-350 and a f-41 suspension package and posi rear..
I'll have to pull the cover but the factory ratio for a car optioned like that is only a 2:41 but it still is a posi .. I found part of the mouse eaten build sheet but not enough to reveal anything interesting although i did find the cowl tag
under a mound of dirt and leaves im using nasty Z28 to decode it now ..
Thanks for the info eckertc.. although I did have a couple of 79 Zs without air, one 4 speed and one auto.. I got the car late last night so I hadent got a chance to look it over well in the light..
but you are correct the Zs were all 350s until 80 when the 305 was optional in some destined for california or in 4 speed applications in 81...

[Eckertc]

Wow kinda low numbered Gear for a posi rear. Sadly mine isnt posi. I plan on making it one after iv finished restoring the interior and put the new tranny in.

[BBCAM]

Yup, thats what i thought 2:41 gears suck for anything but Hwy use but thats the way they optioned them back then ..
the only decent gears were in the auto and 4 speed Zs 3:73s in the 4speed cars and 3:42s for the autos but the posi was optional in any Z28 and most weren't posi ..my 78 Z28 had the 3:42 with the auto and was non posi,
my 4 speed 79 was 3:73 and had the posi but my 79 auto car did not ... seems more trans ams were equipped with posi rears than the Zs in those years .. and I almost forgot you could order a rally sport with the F-41 suspension package I haven't even seen a running Rally sport in years ...
you have a nice car BTW... my 79 was white with gold & black stripes I sold it to a kid who caught it on fire and totaled it...

[Eckertc]

I was very lucky in getting this one for $900 in the condition its in. Just needs a dent hammered out from the metal under the front spoiler, one rust spot that is noticable on the pass rear wheel well, Easy fix, and it had a luggage rack on it i took off so it has screw holes on the trunk lid. The Decals will need replaced as well due to fade and scratches. Other than that its just slipping in first gear and needs interior work. It has the 3:42 with the auto and non posi. Only 107,500 miles on the car. not bad for age. But obviously it was dragged a few to many times making the first gear slip and make a slight grinding noise. New Tranny is on the way though.