Buddy just bought a 1968 Vette last week. It has a 1974 350 CID engine and a small block hood. When we went to pick it up I thought I would check the tach redline to see if it originally had the base 327 CID 300 HP engine or the 350 HP. Tach has yellow at 6300, red line at 6500!

Now we have done some further investigation. It has the F41 suspension (big front sway bar, rear sway bar), 3 holes for the K66 TI by the radiator, single fuel line from the tank to the pump, caps on the rear axle shafts. Everything pointing to this being an L71 car but it looks like the build sheet on the tank is gone. Anything else we should look for?

Previous owner gave him maintenance documents going back to 1979 so we are going to pursue that to maybe get some documentation or information.

Any other ideas to get this documented? Should we get a NCRS inspector out to document the condition as is? Trim tag says this was a 900 paint, Tuxedo Black and 414 trim, Medium Blue car which I would think would be desirable and rare (only 708 Tuxedo Black built in '68). Body build date is June 29, 1968. Serial number indicates the car was assembled on July 1. Neither one of us are really NCRS types so not sure what to do with this car. Any advice appreciated.

Here's a pic of the radiator. Can you tell anything from that?

 

If there is no original documentation with the car, your buddy probably won't find anything further.

That's up to him. With the original engine gone, an inspection probably won't tell you much more than what you've found.

 

Have a 68 435 car and your radiator and shroud look like mine. From your photo it looks like the fan is not even in the shroud with the small block. Which would make sense, the bb is longer. The 327's with a/c used that radiator also but the shroud was more tunnel like.

I took off my fan, clutch and shroud and went electric fan to run a spreader bar.

 

I've heard they put build sheets behind the left frt speaker and inbetween the tach and speedo,worth a check.

 

As Mike alluded to, your buddy has done most of the inspecting that would need to be done. You've pretty much established that it was a big block originally. Its still an NOM now though so there's not much upside to trying to further the documentation.

I think that black over blue trim tag is really interesting. That would be a great color combo to have backed up by the trim tag.

 

Rare combination. Definitely worth looking into returning to a correct appearing Corvette.

 

has anybody ever seen other build sheets?

 

It was an L71. That ship has sailed.

 

It was a BB car. Might have been an L71.

 

I never said it wasn't. I said it no longer is.

 

These are my notes when I was researching my '68 L71/L89. hope this helps (all info from this site in various threads)

L71 would have come with a stick only, so check the trans support crossmember. If it's welded to the side frame rails, it's originally a 4-speed. If it's bolted to the side rails, it was an auto and not L71.

Fuel lines
Must be only 1 line from tank to pump to be L71 or L88 (Holley carbs)
2 lines means small block or 427/390 (2nd line is smaller return line for Q-jets).

signs of a 435 hp car would be a 6500 red line on the tach and a aprx. 3"x4" finned TI module mounted on the left front inner fender (or 3 holes in this area)

Cooling
No coolant overflow tank for 68 BB
radiator support #3938995 (exc. H.D. 427 ), 68 #3938090 W/H.D. 427 These are the only two 68 radiator support numbers listed in the book

Drive shafts
metal caps and bolts instead of U-bolts on the rear halfshafts (U-joint straps)

Rear End
The FB coded rear end was used L71/L89/L88 only

SWAY BARS
small block was 3/4" front and nothing on the rear.
Big Block 15/16" front and 9/16" rear

 

Lots of build sheets have been posted here. What are you asking?

 

Thanks for all the comments. Sounds like the NCRS would neither have any interest in this car as it stands nor would they be any help in obtaining documentation. So that will save my friend $45 for a membership.

We now have previous owner contact information back to 1979 so maybe that will lead to some documentation and/or the original engine.

Looks like it may not be worth restoring anyway even with documentation. There is http://www.ebay.com/itm/281387705072?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT on ebay now for only $43,870 and it has 2 binders full of documentation/pictures!

Anyway, my buddy was looking for a nice driver, that's what he paid for and that's what he has so the L71 thing would only be a nice bonus. In the meantime, he might put one of these in, put a tripower on it and enjoy his L71.

 

I'm not sure why you say the NCRS wouldn't be interested or wouldn't help with documentation. If you're interested you could probably get a copy of the shipping report from NCRS, when it was shipped and to what dealer code.

If your friend is interested in restoring it to its former glory, they would be a great resource for information.

The only group who wouldn't be interested are the purists and collectors, once the original engine is lost, there's no pedigree. Even if you had documentation it wouldn't matter much to most buyers.

Do you know whether the rest of the L71 parts are still present? If they are, fewer parts to hunt down. You should be able to find an engine without great difficulty though the Corvette specific pulleys and brackets may add up some cost.

I say enjoy the car as a driver. Restore it to it's original configuration if you like or build a far better engine for it, have fun.

 

The radiator construction material will tell the difference what size engine was original all most 100% of the time........

I know, sounds strange though.........but true.....

whatever

 

I'm sure you are right about the NCRS and we have requested a copy of the shipping report.

We all know restamped engine blocks and "novelty" tank stickers are readily available. Yet Vettes like my buddy's are considered to have no "pedigree" by some. Just seems a little weird to me but to each his own.

Anyway, this is the story this particular Vette has to tell.

Trim Tag


Fuel Line


3 Holes for K66 TI




6500 Redline Tach


F41 Suspension


Caps on Halfshafts

 

Even if the motor is missing , it would be a fun project .....and pretty one at that .....black C3 is pretty car ....add a BB to it and drive the mud out of it. Terrorize the hood .

Or you could sink your 40 grand into a new Camry hybrid .........