maxhunter

I am new here, I do not own a corvette yet but..... YET
I am looking to pick up a C-3. Considering 68 - 72. I like the chrome bumpers.
I have a ton of questions but, lets start out with these.

I have seen the 68 called a 1 year car. What makes it a one year car?
Displacement? Exhaust? Interior? Nothing jumps out to me, like 69 camaro styling....a one year car
The 68-72's appear to the untrained to be very similar. Educate me.

Where are all the 396's? Weren't the 69 and up available with the 396?
I wonder how many are advertised with NOM 427's are the real deal.
I owned a 69 Nova SS 396/375...WOW I can only imagine how that motor would have moved a Corvette down the road...
I have yet to see any for sale with the 396. Do they exsist or are they the white buffalo?

I am seeing a huge number of cars for sale that have no hoses attached to the windshield wpier motor/ washer.
Is this a problem area with the Vettes?

Well that will do it for now.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Arcticshark

Welcome to the forum. You'll find a lot of good info here.

The easy way to tell a 68 from a 69 is the 68 has a thumb push button on side of the door for entry. the 69 and up doesn't have the thumb button as the door opening mechanizism is incorperated in the upper door grap on top of the door. There are many other differences, but this is the one visual one you can see from out side the car. There will be others that will point out the other differences since I am not that up on 68/69s.
I don't think Corvettes ever came with 396s. I could be wrong though.

Welcome aboard.

Faster Rat

Welcome aboard.
Suggest you start off by finding a copy of the Corvette Black Book by Motorbooks. You can also find many good publications on the NCRS website, especially how to buy one. Take your time, educate yourself, decide what you really want or can afford, and have someone knowledgeable about these cars look at it BEFORE you put any money down.

The 396 was only offered in 1965. The 427 was offered from 1966 thru 1969. The 454 was offered from 1970 thru 1974.

Faster Rat

Deleted

C3 4ME

68's are also easy to ID as the only C3 with dash mounted ignition switch. 69 and 69 look similar on the outside but 69 has Stingray script on the fenders that 68 doesn't. 70-72 all have minor differences, and I'm not up on them to point them out, but those 3 years have square exhaust ports where 68 and 69 have round. Also, 70-72 have triangular front turn signals , where 68 and 9 have round.

RedAirRdstr

I think 68 are referred to as a one year car mainly because there are several small parts that were used only on the 68 and then changed on the 69. A few more differences in the 68/69: no tilt wheel in 68, it was the last and only year for the 327 in this body style because the 350 replaced it in 69, the back up lights were moved from the lower rear valance to be incorporated in the tail lights and I'm sure many other things others will point out.

The 70-72 are easily identified from 68/69 by their small wheel well opening flairs and the "Eggcrate" treatment versus the 4 "gill" slits on the front fenders

Good luck in your search
Jeremy

Easy Mike

Purchase a copy.

The 396 was optional during the 1965 model year. That makes the Corvette 396 one-year-only. Beginning with the '66 models, the 427 was available.

GD70

The 68 was the first "Shark body" style production car.
Here's some differences:
Outside door handle-pushbutton.
Ignition mounted on the dash.
Larger 16 inch steering wheel.
Hand brake console had slots for the seat belt buckles.
Small block was 327, 350 introduced in 69.
Early Door panels had inverted pull handles, later were long external horizontal.
No Stingray script on the fenders.
15X7 rally rims.
No trim inserts available for the fender gills.
Backup lights mounted in the exhaust filler panel.
No data plate on the shifter console.
I'm sure there's a bunch of other things other's will mention.

69 had many refinements.
Ignition switch moved to locking steering col.
Rims now 15 X 8
Side piped available (0nly year from the factory)
350 standard engine
Door panel design revised
Stingray script added to side of fenders
Back up lights in the round tail lights.
Smaller 15 inch steering wheel

70 was a low production year due to a strike at GM.
Last year for high compression engines.
Had new "egg crate" grill and 70 only fender grill design. Fenders grills had horizontal chrome edges only. Vertical edges were painted body color.
Seats revised for more head room.
Door panel design revised.
Big block now 454.
LT-1 Hi Performance engine available.
Square exhaust tips.
Larger parking lamps and side marker lenses.
Fender flares added to rear of wheel wells to help stop stone chips.
This is just a small list.

There's many subtle differences between 70-72's.
Get some books as suggested above, and good luck on your search.

Here's a few things to look for:
Check for rust in the frame and kick-ups (in front of rear tire, part of frame that goes over the rear suspension) & bird cage. Surface rust is ok. When you lightly tap it with a hammer it should have a metallic ping. If bad rust it will sound more like a dull thud.
The kick-ups are the frame area in front of the rear tires where the frame goes up and over the rear suspension.
The bird cage is the steel frame around the passenger compartment. Look for rust along the windshield pillars, viewed from outside the car. Also pull the kick panels (down on the sides by your feet) inside the car to see what the body mounts look like and if there's just surface rust or serious rot, if the owner will permit you to.
If you can get it up on a lift and let the wheels hang so you can check the front & rear wheel bearings. Grab the 12 & 6 o'clock positions on the tires and pull back and forth to see if there's any movement. Front bearings are an easy replacement, but the rear is much more involved and costly to repair.
Check engine for visible oil leaks around the valve covers & oil pan.
Just a few things to look for when you check it out.
The radiator support is another rust prone area to check. Replacements run around 300-350 and are a PITA to remove & replace.
Check headlight operation (and wiper door up to 1972) and that they open fairly quickly. Vacuum system issues are common.
Ask to see all repair & maintenance receipts.
Remember, ALWAYS buy the best car you can afford

http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/juliet/rearsusp.htm

http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...home&pageID=11

Glenn

Ganey

Yes, probably 68 was meant.

On 396- see
How The Corvette Got The BB
http://ganeys.home.sprynet.com/77facts.htm

Allen_396

I respect your car preferences. I have a '70 Nova SS and a '69 Corvette.

Alan 71

Hi HM,
I think you see some of the washer hoses disconnected for a couple of reasons.
People don't use them.
They can be a bit of a problem to trouble-shoot since they're both electrical and mechanical.
People say they clutter up the firewall.
Good Luck with your search. GET EDUCATED!!!!
Regards,
Alan

Here's a 71 with the hoses hooked up.

Alan 71

Hi Glenn,
VERY nice piece of work!!!!
Regards,
Alan

GD70

Thanks Alan!

maxhunter

Thanks so much guys!
Glenn, that is exactley the kind of info I need. I am looking at a bunch of cars on the internet and lots say they are NOM cars, many say fresh restorations....one claims to be a 68 but has the ignition in the cloumn and registered as a 72. What is that!?! I'll keep looking.
I will probably spend in the 15-20K range to get a clean driver. Mainly because what I have seen that needs work, has been canibalized badly or the folks need to sell something they are in way over their head on, and I would probably be too.
I always try to research alot before buying. And I have found great folks on the forums that are willing to help out and I become more educated as I go.
Alan....that is one clean engine bay....yours?

Just to explain a little...when in high school, a friends Dad brought home a 1969 corvette (used car dealer) and I would have sworn that it had a 396 tri power in it....
Well if it was, it must have been a motor swap. Or many years have fogged the memory.
Well I did buy a 1971 Cutlass 442 convertible from him that is one of my top 3 kick myself cars....
You know, kick yourself for selling. #1 1969 Z-28 with the DZ 302 #2 1969 SS 396 Nova (bought from the original owner in 77) and #3 the 71 Cutlass 442.... There were alot of great cars available during the mid to late 70's.

Thanks again guys for all the info....I know I will have lots of other questions soon.

08vycpe

The '68 is referred to a one year car because the new C3 ('68) was late to market and was originally suppose to be a '67. It carries many things over from the C2 because it was rushed to market including the 327 engine. By '69 they had time to get it right and from '69 to '72 they were pretty much the same. That's why is more of a PITA to restore a '68 than a '69-72. The '68 has many one year only parts.

GD70

Glad I could help a bit. I'm still asking lots of questions 3 years after buying my 70. I wish I had known about this forum before I bought my Vette. I'm very happy with it, but as with many, the hand of bubba has touched it. I was lucky as it had been owned buy a series of mechanics and was maintained fairly well. The frame & bird cage are solid and except for a NOM the tranny and rear diff are the original. Just lots of original stuff was left off the engine bay over the years that I'm slowly getting back to how it should be.
So read a lot, look a lot, and drive many before you buy.
Glenn

sho-time

chrome peices for inside the fender wall

sho-time

chrome inside fender wall is there anyone who can tell me where I can purchase these chrome inserts

Easy Mike

Post a pic of what you want or where it goes. There is no chrome in the fender wells/walls. Are you possibly talking about the 70-72 fender grilles?

sho-time

I will post a picture for you. I have seen some of those chrome pieces for the enter fender wall. it fits over the GRAY area inside the fender wall that's under the hood.

I have a C-6 07 Moneray Red. the chrome peice makes under the hood look great.