Engine options with M20 in 1968

[mikus]

Hi All,
First post written after many read and I'm hoping I can get some love. I have a 1968 SS coupe that I'm restoring to as original as I can. The big ticket item I am working on at the moment is the engine. I have the original gearbox with what appears to be the original diff but I want to know what engines came with the M20 Muncie option.

I've read through all the CRG information pages in great detail and the transmission page has this bit written on the 4-speed section - "The wide-ratio Muncie M20 was available with any of the high-performance engines, except the L78 and Z28 in 67 only came with the M21. The M20 was the only 4-speed available with the SS350 and the SS396/325 hp (L35) engines."

I want to read that as the M20 was available for all engine configurations available in 1968 including the L78 option. Is this correct or was it only the L35 and L34? I read the text as only being limited in 1967.

For your information, the gearbox vin is 18L331540.

If there is a standard process of posting that I haven't followed, I apologise. I will post up more pics and details of my baby when I get a few good ones together.

cheers, Mick

[mikus]

Looks like I've found an answer.
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=6149.msg40260#msg40260

Cheers for the views. I'll be back 

[69Z28-RS]

Hello Mikus,

Great looking '68 you have..

[bcmiller]

Nice car Mick.

I will send you a private message and we can go over a few things. 

[KurtS]

Also shown on this table. http://www.camaros.org/diffs68.shtml

[jdv69z]

M20 actually indicates a wide ratio 4 speed, correct? It does not necessarily indicate a Muncie. On lower HP engines it could/would be a Saginaw 4 speed. Is that accurate?

[bcmiller]

M20 actually indicates a wide ratio 4 speed, correct? It does not necessarily indicate a Muncie. On lower HP engines it could/would be a Saginaw 4 speed. Is that accurate?

Yes, that is correct.

[69Z28-RS]

Also shown on this table. http://www.camaros.org/diffs68.shtml

I may be missing something from just scanning the table, but doesn't THIS TABLE  list ONLY the M21 and M22 for the Z28??  (which is apparently true for '67, but for '68 and '69 the M20 was also available)...??

[bcmiller]

Gary, I believe the 1968 table is correct.  M21 for 68 required you to also have Z28, L34 or L78. 

No M22s in Camaros for the 67 model year.

For 69 you could get the M20, M21 or M22 with Z28.

[69Z28-RS]

You're right Byron.  I took that table as being for 68 AND 69...  I think I'm going more *blinder*... 
(some of the notes under that table referenced both '68 and 69, and I *assumed* (without going back to the top of the table/section) that it was for both years.

[ko-lek-tor]

You're right Byron.  I took that table as being for 68 AND 69...  I think I'm going more *blinder*... 
(some of the notes under that table referenced both '68 and 69, and I *assumed* (without going back to the top of the table/section) that it was for both years.

You senile old coot!(lol), that's BRYON!
Oh, and welcome aboard Mikus! ...and that 69Z28-RS guy, best to pay attention to him, he has forgot more than most of us will ever know.

[bcmiller]

Oh I have been called worse.

[mikus]

Cheers for the replies guys.

I am still a little confused as the table indicates in my situation that the only way to tell what engine choice I have is by the gearbox type. As I have the M20 Muncie (numbers matching to the VIN) then the engine choices I have are the L35 and the L34. As much as I would prefer to have the L78 to play with, I want original so I need to make sure I am clear on what I can look for.

What's confusing me (and giving me a little hope for the L78) is the information I quoted from the transmission page in my initial post. Is it just my Aussie accent or does that read like the M20 was available for all engine types except the 1967 only L78 and Z28?

I have not had any luck trying to track down the original build information to know for sure so I am going of what is correct for the package I can verify.

Honestly, I appreciate all the help.

[1968RSZ28]

More photos of the car here...

http://billsusclassics.com/sold_details.aspx?Id=104

Paul

[bcmiller]

Pics show the car dressed with an L34 decal on the air cleaner lid.

The most likely engine with the M20 and the axle code you mentioned would be an L35.

[bcmiller]

You're right Byron.  I took that table as being for 68 AND 69...  I think I'm going more *blinder*... 
(some of the notes under that table referenced both '68 and 69, and I *assumed* (without going back to the top of the table/section) that it was for both years.

Ah, I see.  69 is mentioned in footnote 7, but that was only in regards to leaf spring usage.

[mikus]

I wouldn't trust the air cleaner sticker as its running an L66 with a Holley 650 spreadbore

[KurtS]

With an original M20, it was probably either a L48 or a L35.

[mikus]

Cheers Kurt. I'm thinking it's the L35 as other items point to it being a big block

[bcmiller]

Rear axle is 3.31 so yes like I said earlier, with the other big block items on the car, highest probability is that it was an L35. But can't be 100 percent sure.