Ok, kind of a newbie here. I’ve owned many C1 & C2 cars over the years but never a C3. I’ve found an original owner 68’ convertible, 327/automatic, that’s been sitting, ready for it, in a barn for 20 years, in pieces. He states all removed parts are on the shelf’s, like I’ve never heard that before, but the advice I need is what early 68’ items should I be looking for? I do have a source for most parts both new and used, but I don’t want to buy the car and find out something that’s missing is obtainable. I do realize this is kind of a broad question but any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

 

Ohhh....hmmmm... I'll tell ya a couple ,door panels differ early vs late and the ***** on the heater controls differ early vs late....oh not a early vs late situation but make sure it has the 68 grille.

Then there's headlight doors, there were some 5 different doors used, some experts can spot them a mile away....I can't!

 

Do you know when the car was built?

 

The early vs. late it probably not as bad as the 68 only parts difference.

 

...as another poster asked, how early is the car? Information from the trim tag too would be helpful. Post the last 5 digits of the VIN # and we can help more. Only 5063 '68s were built with an automatic to begin with, so it's not something you see everyday. I've had my '68 since 1988 and have probably looked at maybe a thousand '68s or more over the years. Probably have seen less than 50 automatic '68s in that time period.

 

keep in mind that some of the cosmetic type parts are unique to the 68 like the pattern (or lack of a pattern) on some of the interior parts. for instance while i can't remember exactly, the center console is a 1 yr only finish which is either smooth or "pebbled" to be correct. the outside door "handles" are just that, just handles while there is a push button opener below them. later C3 years used a spring loaded handle release without the push button, etc, etc, etc. details like that separate the 68 from most of the following years.

 

Thanks for some useful information so far. I haven’t seen the car in person as of yet. Also the owner and the car are 100 miles apart and getting more detailed information or pictures is problematic at this time. The car is locked up at a barn at his rental property and we are currently trying to get the logistics sorted so I can inspect the car. So until then I guess the unanswered mysteries will continue.
Thanks All,
Chris

 

Trust me, I understand the one year only differences. I’ve restored a couple of 63’s and talk about one year only parts and factory running changes….yikes. I don’t believe a 68’ can be any worse than that….but I’ve been wrong before. 😩

 

There is no early or late for 68, or any other year. GM made changes throughout the model run, but there was no one date or specific cutoff when they said "Okay from now on we're using this part instead of that one". When a new, better, or cheaper to make part came along, it was fazed into production. While those that specialize in 68's have an idea of when some changes took place, most are just a guess.

As has been said above, when it comes to 68's there are two categories of parts to deal with, those that changed throughout the year, and those that were 68 only, and not found on 69 or later cars.

Some 68 only parts and parts that changed throughout the year are:

Outside door handles and the push button/lock assembly.
Gas door emblem was riveted on, 69-73's had 2 threaded studs.
B-pillar dome lights on the coupe.
Smooth finish shift console.
Smooth finish center gauge bezel. There were 2 different versions, 1 with seat belt button & seat belt & wiper button (changed around VIN 13000).
Radio *****.
Right side dash board panel (cars built around the last week of 68 production may have a map pocket).
Three door rear compartment hinges. 68 hinges had attached springs to open the doors. I've seen 3 variations of them.
Door panels. The door panels originally only had a opening in the panel to pull it shut, but eventually a horizontal pull was added.
68's came with one year only 15x7 rally wheels (67's were 15x6 & 69-82 are 15x8). The offset was different than the 15x7's used on other Chevrolets.
The optional P01 full wheel covers are different than the P02's available on 69-73's.
Rear valance panel has 2 rectangular back up lights installed in it. 69 up moved the back up's to the inner tail lamps.
No "Stingray" emblem on the front fenders.
Two different seat backs. The first design has the release at the very bottom left rear of the seat back. The second design moved it about half way up the seat.
Two design console fresh air vents ***** for no AC cars. One said "Vent" on one side & "Open" on the other. I forget the wording of the other right now.
Grills had a chrome edge on them (also used at the beginning of 69).
The shape of the bottom of the door glass and window tracks were different on 68's (also used on some 69's).
As mentioned above there were a couple different size head light doors.
The front lower valance originally didn't have any openings in it. I think around March the holes were added and dealers were told to cut them in earlier cars.

The above is just a partial list I can come up with off the top of my head, and I'm far from an expert on 68's.

1968's are far worse than 63's!

 

63 vs 68 Night & day....................68 being much, much ,much more worse / difficult & annoying.............. did i say much ???

 

...early cars had the forward outside driver's door rearview mirror, later cars it was more rearward. Much later cars had the frame kick-up gussets.

...I used to own March 19th #14222 and it had the forward mirror. My May 6th car that I currently own, #18434 has the rearward mirror on the driver's door. It does not have the frame kick-up gussets, but has the later door panel door pulls.

...supposedly there was also early/late sunvisor mounting hardware differences too.

...I think the "chrome edge" on the '68 grilles was more of a "satin silver" paint instead of chrome. Just my opinion though. Supposedly the first 14,000 '69 Corvettes also received this treatment. I've seen some super early '69s that had the smooth gauge bezels like '68 vs the pebble or crinkled bezels.

...the radio ***** are the same as the '68 Nova.
...the smallblock L-79 350hp used flash chromed stamped steel valve covers, also used on some 1968 Camaros.
...all 1968 Corvettes received an A.I.R. pump.

 

And a few more * * * 68 ONLY'S * * * fake wood wheel, cut outs in the arm rest for seat belts, satin steel seat belt buckles, key in dash, no head rests, ignition shielding cover nipples & side design, vacuum can vs pie pan design, front side & front turn signals have white lenses with yellow bulbs, in 69 it was reversed to yellow lenses & white bulbs, center console has crossed flags logo with no engine specs, Briggs & Stratton alarm & key hole, 68 antenna is a 1 year only design, and as time moves forward i'm sure a few more will pop into my head.

 

68 cars could be optioned with head rests my 68 l89 has them. Rare option, I think 11% had them....and the steering wheel is real imitation wood.

 

Don't forget the brake light switch. You for sure won't, if you ever change one.

 

Oh yeah, don't know how I forgot that one ...............my back still hurts from years ago !!

 

There's an easy fix for that. Less than $10.

 

That's about as bubba as I have ever seen !! I would NEVER ............Horrible ...................... !!!

 

Great list so far... mine is more of 68 only as I would have to really try to rembervearly versus late 68.
I want to have a mod make a sticky when a final list is made.Adding to what is already listed. Some parts are resurrected 67 parts with new numbers

1. The head light surrounds are smaller than late
2. They are pot metal versus plastic. Later years will crack if tightened to much, especially the passenger side.
3. The front directional lights are a clear white with a yellow bulb. 69 used a yellow lense.
4. Front spindles use the 67 design, smaller spindle bearings and rotor. Very rare. May have a 68 only steering arm
5. Steering box, rad joint and steering column are not keyed but do have a bolt relief. Not interchangable 68 only
6. Steering column has no key or lock. 68 only
7. No tilt available, telescope is a very rare option 68 only
8. Most interior parts already listed
9. Dash has bolts holding it to cross bracing not there in newer models 68 only
10. Quarter trim was a 68 only design, later years fit
11. Shoulder belts are an option 68 only as the bolt location is on the side versus top
12. Convertible top catches used a thin spear versus fatter spear on later models. Cannot use a through bolt to attach hardtop 68 only
13. Wiper motor is 68 only. It has to be parked and override disabled or it will drain the battery.
14. Wiper override light on later 68s because of this
15. 68 didn't have the engine data plate onvshift console
16. Early 68 big blocks didn't have an overflow tank, just a tube that dumped in front of the front tire
17. Early 68 trannys didn't have a vin or letter identification stamp on the drivers side of the case
18. Early 68 seats had a low release lever
19. 68 seat racks had different rear pads and a different bolt pattern
20. 68s and 69 had an all fiberglass tub. Not sure when the floors went to steel
21. 68 underside splash guards were plastic not steel
22. 68 had one headlight door relay inches center of the headlights
23. 68 wiper relay is in the passenger front quarter behind the wheel.
24. 68 convertible top latches used a steel ball versus a rubber tip
25. 68 top windshield pin receiver used a different style plastic receiver. Replacements slide in from the top.
26. I believe the stainless receiver is different from 69 on the top of the windshield as well
27. The astro ventilation flaps in the rear are just a rubber flap.68 only
28. The rear gas lid used a ball detent to hold it up. Later years used a spring bar 68 only
29. Flag was riveted on the door 68 only
30. Door was riveted to the hinge 68 only
31. The 68 small block radiator was av67 design with pins
32. The radiator support has a smaller openning and is well insides the frame 68 only
33. 67 big block radiators are used in 68, again smaller than later years.
34. Some big block radiator supports also had the small block pin supports along with the saddles. 68 only
35. 68 had a cross bar support welded to the radiator support across the openning forming an X
36. The radiator and hood seals were 68 only due to the smaller radiator support
37. There is a splash shield below the fan that enclosed the openning from the radiator to the front frame crossmember 68 only
38. Front frame and bumper supports are 68 only
39. Shifter *** was chrome 67-68, later it was black chrome
40. Shift boot upper was solid rubber early 68 .....partial rubber accordion after that then leather
41. Ignition switch has light mount for key and is wired different than Camaros that some sell as corvette. You have to read the label and Make sure it's labeled correctly

 

I keep adding to my list as things come to mind

 

Ive had a 68 for about 12 years. Im not very concerned about "originality", therefore have not had any difficulty getting the parts I needed. In addition, many of the Corvette venders have 68 only parts available.