I usually hang on the C 1 C 2 page but I'm considering buying a fairly original 68 coupe. It's has original engine, trans, and rear end with 62,000 original miles. 427/ 390 4 speed. Un damaged body, fresh interior and original paint that shows it's age. A couple of things I've noticed are the lack of smog pump and plumbing and it has 69 wheels. I don't want to install the smog gear but would like to have it as well as the 68 wheels. My question is to the 68 experts here, what other 68 only parts should I be looking for before I pull the trigger on this car? Especially interested in the hard to find, pricey and unobtainable things.
Thanks in advance for your help. Rich

 

I know the gauge bezel and console shift plate are smooth. Later year cars are textures. The brake console has recesses on each side to hold seatbelt buckles.

Back up lights on filler panel below bumpers. Radiator support for big blocks is one year only (I think).

Obviously dash and doors are different due to pop locks and ignition on dash.

There's more I'm leaving out I think. Then there's all the little changes through 68 build year with fasteners and some casting numbers and what not.

 

Rich, Everything's been pretty well covered. Mine is a pretty original 68. A picture is worth a thousand words. Headrest seats were optional in 68, standard in 69. My interior is original. They are great cars. Love the ignition on the dash and no column lock. Early cars, like mine had recessed door pulls. Later cars had regular door pulls. I had a 69 but preferred the 68. My radio was changed. If you throw up some pics, maybe we can assess the car for you. Good luck.

 

Worth the cost of a copy:


All 68s had AIR and the 68 set up is one year only. Finding correct forty-eight year old parts is likely to be pricey. The 68 rally wheel is 15x7 coded AG.

 

Here's a pretty good list I found about the 68's :

Interior

Left side dash panel with ignition switch
Right side dash panel with no map pockets
Two different 68 only style interior door panels – door pulls added for later 68’s as the original hidden ones would crack
No pull loops on rear compartment doors
The coupe interior had 2 sail panel courtesy dome lights (one on each side) that was reduced to just one for 69, (drivers side) and later dropped completly.
2 different types of spring loaded rear compartment hinges
Coupe middle storage compartment lamp assembly/lens is possibly unique. Some people have said they have a simple bare lightbulb, not the more normal lamp assembly and cream colored lens
Early seats & seat backs are unique to 68 – release lever is on the lower part of the seat back (and is really annoying to get to when the seat is all the way back in the tracks!)
Second design seat shared with 69 – release lever on the upper part of the seat back
3 different headliner types for coupes
Removable rear window latches – different shape to later models
Steering column – under dash mounts differ from later years – cast rather than the later pressed metal design
Steering column itself is similar to (but not the same as) the 67 in design and assembly
Shifter ball is a plain chrome ball (not the black chrome as found on 69’s and up)
Shifter console plate has no engine ID plate
Park brake console – the parking brake console had pockets for the seat belts
Seat belts were possibly one year only items
Comfort weave seat covers were a 1 year only option
Tobacco was a one year interior color option
The shift boot on early cars was part year only, later ones were the same as found on 69’s
The center gauge bezel has a smooth finish, not the wrinkly finish as on 69 and up
Some variations in door ajar lights in the center gauge bezel across the production run
Wiper overide warning indicator can be found on the center gauge bezel of some models
Radio ***** had 2 different 68 only styles
Kick panels were one year only style
The panels that attach to the side of the forward console were a part year release – early car ones just had a clip while later ones had a screw fastener
Steering wheel was 16″ simulated wood (may possibly be shared with 67 so some say)
Early 68 interior door handles were smooth on the back – later casting had ribbing on the back for added strength
Dash mounted ignition switch
Windshield pillar interior moldings on inside of car were unique
The original external seal between the door windows and the door was unique. It was a strip of rubber about 1/2 inch wide that ran the length of the window – it made a seal between the window and the top of the door. It was completely external as compared to the 1969 window seal that is partially internal. No repro items seem to be available.
T-top weatherstrips
T-top moldings
The center wiper/dash vent bezel on a/c cars was unique. Reproductions are not available so if you have one spare let me know as I’d love to replace my broken one!
Brakelight switch is a square one year only item – the original 68 switch has a toggle type switch (later models used a plunger type) that when you press the pedal the switch closes the circuit and the tail lights come on. When it goes bad what you see is people using the 69 and later switch as a replacement using a different mounting bracket.
Early year plastic front fiber optic plate is different
Vent ***** carried over into early 69’s but changed thereafter
Early 68’s had the vacuum/wiper overide controls more to the right near the console. They were moved to center later in the production run
The 68 tach cable was screw on as opposed to the later clip style
Tach cable length is different in 69-later cars
Headlight switch bezel was unique to 68
The turn signal switch in the steering column is shared between 67 and 68 models
Only telescoping steering option – no tilt option until 69
Real halo panels (on coupes) were configured differently.
No gromments were used under the interior dash screws.
Shoulder belts did not retract, had a “hanger” and did not have the guides on top of the seats as found on some 69 models
Flasher location was changed from center console to pass side dash panel during the production run
Brake handle is 68 only
Steering column covers
Top dash cover has no speaker holes
Bracket for drivers side odometer-reset/speed warning/courtesy light is different between early and late 68, Early has no provision for courtesy light (is possibly separate piece that screws on). Late bracket is all in one with hole for courtesy light included.
Sunvisors/pins were unique to the 68 model and also differed between the coupe and convertible versions. Also according to the “Corvette Parts Interchange Manual 1968-1982” the part numbers changed in approx Feb 1968.

Exterior/Mechanical/Body

Doors had wider door panels – 69 were scalloped to give more room inside the car
Exterior door handles
Push buttons to open doors
Door internal latch mechanism unique to match push buttons
Door window wipes inner and outer were of awhisker style, not the felt used later
2 or 3 different windshield header moldings used across production run – early cars were 1 piece design
2 different top alignment pin receivers
Outer windshield moldings
Removable hardtop rear mounting hardware was different, pin size was smaller, no 3rd center bolt, convertible top rear pin latches different
Wheels were 7″ wide rims
Back up/reverse lamps on rear valance/exhaust panel, whcih makes the panel itself different to 69+
Gas door emblem riveted on gas tank fill lid
Gas door bezel used an interference fit rather than a spring clip to hold it open.
Side marker lights were white lenses instead of yellow as in later years.
Rear deck vents
Antenna mast and nut shared with 67 – but exterior bezel is a 1 year only and not repro’d.
Front grilles had several production changes over the years run – chrome/silver paint only on the leading edges of the center 4 ribs across the whole grill, including the center. Some later 68’s may not have had the silver paint. Also ribs protruded from surround edge, as opposed to 69/repro where the ribs front is flush with the plastic of the surround. See this thread for good pics and descriptions – http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...cs-needed.html
Small front spoiler
Front grill brackets made up of multiple pieces – 69’s and later were one piece
Real early front bumper is one year only design- though a 69 will interchange with it
Angle on end of front bumper reinforcement extensions was different
Hole spacing on front bumper outer brackets are different from 69 (holes on 68 frame are spaced differently)
PO-1 Wheel covers were 68 only
Door sill plates may have been unique – rumor is they were wider on early 68’s on the innermost side
Side rear view mirror placed a lot further forward on early 68s than later 68’s
True quad red tail lights
Side “gills” were plain body colur with no moundings
No stainless “tips” on the rear tip of the optional hard top
No bumper stops on rear convertible deck lid
Reverse light switch is unique to ’68
The paint formula for Lemans Blue in ’68 is different than it is for ’69 (the 69 blend was shared with the 68 Camaro which was different form the 68 Corvette) according to anecdotal evidence from “a DuPont guy”
Early ’68’s lacked the kick-up reinforcements behind the rear wheels that were added later in the production run.
No holes in the lower front valance on early cars – Dealers were instructed to retro cut these for improved airflow to the radiator.
3 different sized headlight doors across the production run
3 different metal surround panels/bezels to go with the headlights
2 different wiper door grills – one with cutouts for washer nozzles, one without
Washer nozzles 2 different types depending on the wiper door
Didn’t have a wiper door close safety valve as found in 69 and later cars
Radiator core support has holes in it to allow the wiring harness to pass through. This means they also have flat inner fender walls next to the support whereas later models have a notch to allow the harness to pass
Small block valve covers (L-79) were unique (Chrome stamped?)
Rocker covers were a two piece design that carried over into 69
327 engine was unique to 68 C3s (one year only large journal)
Wiper motor is unique (wiring and opertation)
Wiper arms
20 gal gas tank
Steering damper on the drag link was a part year option, later canceled
Body mounts were solid aluminum, later years were rubber (some early 69’s may have had the solid mounts)
Dash wiring harness
Front spindles are the same as 67`s and earlier. 69`s and after are different bearings.
Inner fender splash sheild were changed from stapled to push pin.
No hood insulation
Spare is also mounted on a ralley wheel. Was this also done on a 69?
Front bolt-on cross member doesn’t have holes in it, whereas later years do to allow for the radiator support to bolt to them.
External voltage regulator
Headlight / wiper door vacuum relays unique
Can wiper door actuator and connecter – ’68 Wiper cans had 1/4″ shafts. Early ’69 wiper cans had 5/16″ shafts. Sizes (rod diameter) are dif between early 68/late 68, and 69
Headlight vacuum canisters
Hood latches located differently to later years
Smog pump on small block had relief valve
Frame on early 68’s differed from late 68s – bolt holes on frame horns and their extensions were of a different configuration.
Oil fill cap – possibly same as on a 67
Intake manifold (has oil fill tube)
Door alignment shims
The 68 had a nose support bracket that was part year only, none for early models
Rear brake lines (top inlet on caliper)
Left side exhaust manifold (alternator mount)
Rear plenum vent tubes
Upper door hinge is possibly one year only part but is interchangeable with 69 and up. The difference is a shorter spring and the tongue configuration is shorter than 69 and up. (however some grinding may be required to prevent it taking a chunk out of door when fully opened as the door on my 68 can attest to.)

 

Thanks, John 65 - for the list.

 

With a 4spd L-36 presented as "mostly original" I would start with the carb. I would love to have a correctly numbered/dated Qjet, but it's not worth $1000 to me.

 

The dome light cover is a one year only. I got lost in the list, so it may be on there.

 

Great list and Much Thanks and I printed this out and saved it.

Couple of comments:
1. I think the 68 original hood surround was a little light on fiberglass reinforcement on the back side of the 2 front corners and so tended to crack with repeated hood operation. Subsequent 69+ had a larger reinforcement in this area to address this problem.

2. 68 LeMans blue is different from 69 LeMans blue. Different paint code. I discovered this when I bought some 68 touchup paint for my 68 with LeMans blue lacquer paint and it did not match completely. Ordered some 69 LeMans blue touchup paint and a perfect match. Hmm.......

Thanks again! 68's are Great!

 

Lots of great info on the unique characteristics of the 68. It would be interesting to hear from the original poster to see how he made out on the car he is considering.

 

Thanks but I cant take the credit, found it online.
Good idea to print it out, will do the same in case I ever come across another 68.

Curious also how the OP did.

 

The list was something I put together a few years back as I was going through my car figuring out what was what in it. Have another half a dozen things to add in or update that I've found in posts on this forum since then too, and the grand plan is to take pics of all the bits I can and either link them in or link to the posts here where otheres have identified the differences.

Original list is here if you need to bookmark it.
https://68ragtop.wordpress.com/2012/...t-c3-part-fit/

Cheers,
Aaron

 

Thanks for making that list. Very informative.