Topics

16

Originality / 5000 vs 6000 redline tachs

« on: August 24, 2006, 01:12:08 AM »

Has anyone heard of 396 cars coming out of LA with 5000 redline?  I heard there was sometimes a shortage of the correct 6000 redline tachs so the factory put whatever was available in the car.  My 396/375 is clearly the original engine in the car but has the 5000 redline tic toc tach.  I am replacing it with the factory correct 6000 redline but it is things like this that drive a type A guy like me even more nuts than I already am

Thanks

17

Decoding/Numbers / Correct Gas Cap

« on: August 19, 2006, 10:18:02 AM »

This may be a little thing but what is the correct gas cap for a 68 RS SS?  The one on the car now says RS and runs vertically.  Is this corect or should it be the SS gas cap?

Thanks

18

Originality / 4 or 5 leaf spring?

« on: August 16, 2006, 12:39:30 AM »

Which 68 cars came with 4 leaf rear springs and which came with 5?  Was this an option or did just the Z28 come with 4 leaf springs?

19

Decoding/Numbers / Transmission, Rear End and Trim tag

« on: August 10, 2006, 11:23:27 AM »

I recently bought a 68 sold as an RS SS, L78 block, M22 numbers matching car.  The engine is indeed an L78 numbers matching with what certainly appears to be the original block stamping (correct broach marks and fonts).  I am not so sure about the tramsmission and rear end and I am also not sure I understand the trim tag.  The VIN is 124378L344764.  There is no build sheet or POP.

The transmission has a date code of B8R30 and has the correct VIN though this could have been restamped.  Haven't had it out of the car and had to use a mirror to see the VIN code.  Is this a correct date?  This transmission has three drain plugs, two on the side and one on the bottom.  Is this an M22?

The rear end stamping is BW1101G2 which I believe is the code for a 456 rear end.  Interesting that the date code is within a day of the transmission date code if I decoded correctly, but it seems that both are a little too early for what I think is the June build of the car.

The trim tag reads:  ST 68 12437 LOS 43226 BDY
                            TR 749         Z-Z PNT
                            ACC  (What does the ACC mean?)

I am just learning about all the codes and everything and am liking the car more and more as I look into it.  The underside is very clean with no rust as it lived in the high desert out in Nevada.  Can anyone provide input on the codes please?  Also, if this is a true RS SS with a numbers matching L78 block, M22 tranny and a 456 rear end wouldn't this be a fairly rare combination?

I have a lot of pictures but am not sure if they are to big for down loading here.

Thanks for the help.  You guys on this site are great.

20

General Discussion / To stripe or not to stripe? That is the question

« on: August 06, 2006, 03:04:40 AM »

Okay Camaro experts, I could really use some input here.  I just bought my first (well actually second) Camaro.  It is a 68 RS SS 396/375 and the previous owner had repainted it black from the original Z-Z British Green code, removed all the badging and wheel and rocker panel chrome trim, and blacked out the grille.  I am putting the SS badging and RS chrome back on along with a new grille with chrome leading edges where the factory correct is painted silver.  The grille should look like the one on the 68 RS SS on the front of Chevrolet By The Numbers 1965-69.  The paint is good and I will leave it like this for several years before I consider repainting.

Now the question; do I put the SS stripe back on?  The correct stripe would be the D90 that goes down the quarter panel and door.  With all the chrome back on the black and chrome look will be sharp and I am undecided about the stripe.  On the one hand the stripes all look great, on the other hand I wonder if the stripe will take away from black and chrome look.  Does anyone have a picture of a black RS SS with the prroper chrome and the stripe?  I have not been able to find one yet on google images.

It will be fun to hear what everyone's opinion is on this?

Thanks, Mark

21

Decoding/Numbers / Correct intake manifold code

« on: August 01, 2006, 10:32:50 AM »

What is the correct intake manifold code for a 1968 L78 built in June of 1968?  This engine has the snowflake high rise manifold and I am not sure it is the original, though the previous owner says it is.  Thanks