Unusual 68 SS350 - What have I got here?

[bcmiller]

They are late cars. June or July. Your car body started to be assembled the last week of May so there are probably some other late May cars that we do not know about.

[69Z28-RS]

My understanding for the last few years is that Chevrolet (or Norwood assembly?) stamped 05E on Way More Cars than would be built in a week during May 1968.  I don't recall ever hearing the reasoning for that, but the VIN for this 05E car would seem to support that...

Comments?

[bcmiller]

It’s not a big deal Gary. Doesn’t really matter in the big picture, does it?

[69Z28-RS]

I like to understand as much as I can, and maybe I can help dlshady when I stop by there if I can explain it to him.

As far as my car..  it matters not a whit...?

[KurtS]

The TH350 test fleet had engine codes for several engines, including the base V8 (LF7), the L30, and the L48 (SS). The White Book even lists one for the 302, though I've never seen it in any GM documentation.
It was unclear for a long time if they actually produced all these variants. The L30 had been documented early on, but L48 and LF7 had little solid data.
So far we've seen 3 L30's, 2 L48's (now), and 1 LF7 (only the engine was original).
This car is the first with a Ypsi trans, all the others had Clevelands in them.
Site updated. Thanks!

Gary,
05E is a bit long, but not exceptionally.

[dlshady]

Thank you Kurt, I appreciate the information.  Have you ever seen any internal GM documentation that would indicate how large the test fleet might have been?  I would be interested to know if we're talking 15 to 20 cars or a few hundred. 

[KurtS]

No, nothing on the size of the fleet.

[x55cam]

Interesting - just throwing this out there that it may be possible the suffix was stamped wrong??? or  - check the casting
number , easy to view on the top rear of the block behind the drivers side head - a 68' would be 3914678  but
if it's a casting number 3892657 , according to my information, this block was also intended to be used for 350 applications
in 67 as it was designed for. 68 327's  also used  3914660 - (327/300 Corvettes).