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I’m looking at a Corvette, and I’m told it has a 68 Corvette 427. I understand that I need to look at the casting number tomorrow when I get there… But can anybody tell based on the assembly date and vin sequence if this is a Corvette motor.
Thank you in advance
...if that pad is original, kinda tough by the quality of the pic, IL suffix was used for a '68 Corvette, 390hp 4spd manual. The second digit after the #1 in the smaller, VIN sequence number is an "8", so that does mean 1968. That motor was out of a very early '68 Corvette, #03543 out of a total of 28,566 Corvettes built for 1968.
It sounds from the wording of your post that your looking at a Corvette that has what's claimed to be a 68 Corvette engine in it, but the car itself is not a 68? If so, the casting number isn't really all that important, the info on the pad you posted fully identifies the engine. Good luck with your potential purchase!
The engine's stamp pad decodes as follows:
T1010IL
"T" - The Tonawanda NY engine plant.
"10" - October
"10" - Tenth day of the month.
"IL" - Engine suffix code that identifies the engine as a 1968 427/390 4bbl carb and 4 speed for a Corvette.
The VIN decodes as:
18S403543
"!" - Chevrolet Division.
"8" - Model year 1968
"4" - A GM sequence number, a "4" appears in that position on all 1968 Corvette VIN's.
"03543" - The 3,543rd 1968 Corvette built.
Thank you for confirming what I believed to be accurate. It’s always amazing to get the support from everybody on this forum. Heck, I’ve been counting on it for over 20 years now and it’s hardly ever let me down.
Indeed, it is a 66 Corvette Convertible which was supposed to be an original 427/390 horse car which I do believe is correct. Replacement motor is a 68… And this is it. No plans to deck the Block, just proud to have a real Corvette 427/390 4spd. The car is a little bit of a project… But I like fixer uppers. Car appears to have good bones. I’ll find out tomorrow, and if I buy it, I’ll post a picture here.
Thank you for confirming what I believed to be accurate. It’s always amazing to get the support from everybody on this forum. Heck, I’ve been counting on it for over 20 years now and it’s hardly ever let me down.
Indeed, it is a 66 Corvette Convertible which was supposed to be an original 427/390 horse car which I do believe is correct. Replacement motor is a 68… And this is it. No plans to deck the Block, just proud to have a real Corvette 427/390 4spd. The car is a little bit of a project… But I like fixer uppers. Car appears to have good bones. I’ll find out tomorrow, and if I buy it, I’ll post a picture here.
thanks again, Jake a.k.a. LIVIN
Keep in mind you could always post that picture in the C3 ORPHAN VIN stamped parts Sticky and see if the owner of that ‘68 happens to read it. You could make for an amazing reunion.
I didn’t buy the 66 with the 68 motor. It was mis-advertised and so much more of a project than advertised. There wasn’t one piece of the car that didn’t need to be restored. I spent 12 hours and 45 minutes traveling plus about $200 in fuel to walk away after an hour long thorough inspection.
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68 Corvette #’s ???
