Opinions

[Yenko#YS-100]

Ok.....say you have a '68 that you believe was originally an L-78 car. Doesn't really matter..........driveline is gone, know it's a 396 car as per original paint in trunk jambs, tailpanel. Trying to decide on what to do for an engine? Have these on hand : '68 L-89 block with a Camaro vin. #,(would love to find this car) correct date for my car, would never deck this block. Also have '69 Vette 427 block (2 bolt main) 400 hp. tri-power vette vin., or a '70 L-78 Camaro 402 block. ? Which would you use, and why?? I would love to find my original block.............but chances are about as good as winning the Powerball !!

Thanks for any advice!!!

[rich69rs]

I would use the '68 L-89 block from the Camaro.

Your situation is similar to mine in that I put a correctly date coded 327 engine from another '69 Camaro in my ride.  Why, because my car should have an engine from a Camaro and that engine at one time was in a Camaro.  As in your case, when I put the 327 into my car, I left the original engine code and VIN # intact.  As I've said before, since I don't have the original engine for my ride, I am very proud to have the engine from another '69 Camaro in my car - and very happy to advertise it.

[hotrod68]

From a man who has about as base a '68 Camaro as they came--327/4-speed/sparse options--if I had a confirmed L-78 car I'd use the L-89 block and re-create it as a true L-78 car--keeping the numbers '68 vintage. I've never even seen a real L-78 car, much less an L-89! These cars are in a way things of lore to me, and the real deal cars to me are incredible that they still survive, original driveline or not. The numbers dwindle more every day. Most people don't have the luxury of a rare VIN number car to play with, and to me it's a sacrilege to toy with a rare Camaro's lineage. L-78 cars were rare when NEW--at least keep it as '68 as you can. If it's a real L-78 car you have a piece of automotive history on your hands. Please don't treat it as just another body shell.

[Yenko#YS-100]

Thank you both for your ideas. I will use the L-89 block. 

[flat350]

I have almost the car you described , if I had the same choice of engines the camaro motor would go in it .