Help with 1968 Convertible engine Id
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Help with 1968 Convertible engine Id
I just picked up a 1968 Corvette convertible. It has no engine, and I am trying to determine which engine it might have had. I have not dropped the gas tank to look for the tank sticker yet, but my guess is that the sticker is not there, as the tank looks newer. It is a 4spd car, and the tach has a redline of 6500. There is a factory sway bar in the rear. I have not checked the rear end code yet. Any help would be apprciated.
Fred
Fred
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Thanks guys, those were my thoughts also. I was told by the previous owner that it had been a big block car, but the original big block was gone when he purchased it some years ago, and it had a 396 in it when he got it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
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From: MS
That is good news on the fuel line.
Does it have power brakes?
What about an aluminum expansion tank or mounting holes on inner fender?
Also look for the Transistor Ignition amplifier box or mounting holes on left front side of radiator.
Does it have power brakes?
What about an aluminum expansion tank or mounting holes on inner fender?
Also look for the Transistor Ignition amplifier box or mounting holes on left front side of radiator.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
No power brakes. Expansion tank is gone, I will look for the holes. I will also look for the ignition amplifier box holes. Good News!!!! I think I see a tank sticker!!! Hang on!
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
This is an early 1968 car. It is within the first 325 of that year. The numbers off of the rear end housing are FB 6 23 67. From what I have been able to find out, that would indicate that this rear is dated 6/23/67 and the FB code would make it the heavy duty 4.11 big block rear. Also, I have verified that the transmission is the matching number 4spd, as it has the VIN stamped on the side.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
I have not dropped the gas tank yet, but may do that tomorrow. I do see what appears to be a tank sticker on top of the tank, but it does not look like the ones I have seen before and it is in a different location then I am use to. The few Corvettes I have owned have all be 1970 models, and the tank sticker was always on the drivers side and looked like a regular piece of paper glued to the tank. This sticker is on the passenger side, and has a bit of a reddish brown color. Not what I expected. Once I drop the tank, I will report what I find.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
I dropped the tank today, no tank sticker. What I was seeing was some kind of plastic label on top of the tank. The tank is a replacement tank, although obviously replaced many years ago. So, no documentation, just the tach, sway bars, single fuel line, and caps on the half shafts to indicate it was possibly a big block car.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: MS
Evidence on the car still points to L71 or L89.
The FB coded rear end was used L71/L89/L88 only.
Good thing having the original tranny, it should be the close ratio M21.
Might not be able to go much further with the clues we have left.
Are you gonna restore it?
The FB coded rear end was used L71/L89/L88 only.
Good thing having the original tranny, it should be the close ratio M21.
Might not be able to go much further with the clues we have left.
Are you gonna restore it?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Yes, the 4spd appears to be an M21. It has the VIN stamped on the side, and has a single groove on the input shaft. I agree, not many clues left. While I had the gas tank out, I did notice the number 299 written on the baulkhead just in front of the tank. As I recall from my 70 I had years ago, the number there would match the handwritten number on the build sheet, if I had one. At this time, I have no plans for restoration. My plan at this time is to pass it on to someone else.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Was the front sway bar on the big block cars larger in diameter compared to small block cars? If so, what diameter front sway bar would I expect if this 68 was a big block car?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
The shifter console is gone, but I still have the chrome plate that goes on top of it that holds the heater controls, ash tray, etc. No indication what the engine or HP was. The emission label is long gone.
Drifting
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From: MS
Data plate 69-up only.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Thanks. I will measure the front bar tomorrow. In my mind's eye, I see it as the larger one. I thought that only 69 and up had the data listed on the console, but was not sure. The chrome top plate does not seem to have a place for it so to speak as I recall.
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