68 Door Alignment Wedges

[Jeff Grice]

The door alignment wedges on my 68 convt are missing.

Can someone with a 68 convt pls describe what they look like and how they are mounted? There are two screw holes on the door and on the jamb.

Also, I just had my car judged at the GMC Corvette Set show in Warren Michigan. I was knocked down because I didn't have a radiator overflow tank. My readings tell me that 68 BBs do not have a tank. What is the reality?

THANKS!

Jeff ncrs 30292

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Jeff----

The 68 convertible door alignment wedge were a "sintered bronze" appearing "wedge" that was about 3" long and about 3/4" wide. There was a moderate taper along the 3" length. As far as I know, no one currently reproduces these wedges. Pacific Corvette in Puyallup, WA, Paragon Vintage in Sawyer Creek, MI, or JT Pipers in Vermillion, IL could probably fix you up with a used set.

As far as the radiator supply tank goes, 68 Corvettes used GM radaiators 3008566 (auto trans) and GM #3008567(manual trans). These radiators were the exact same ones used in 1966 and 1967 big block applications. These radiators have no provisions for connection to an external supply tank and have their own, integral radiator fill on the right side, top. They used no external supply tank. The GM #3008566 radiator was still available the last I checked to service all 66-68 big block applications(manual and auto).

For 1969, big block Corvettes changed to radiator GM #3019190. This radiator has no provisions for filling and has a tube on the top, right side for connection to external supply tank, GM #3016340. This radiator was used for most big block applications from 1969 thru 1972.

I should also point out for the sake of complete accuracy that there was one big block radiator for 1968 that DID use an external supply tank. This was GM# 3007436, the heavy duty, aluminum radiator. However, for 1968, this radiator was used ONLY on L-88 Corvettes. So, if your car is an original L-88, one of the 80 produced that year, you need an external supply tank to be correct. The 3007436 radiator was also used for 1965 L-78, 1967 L-88, 1969 L-88, and 1970-72 ZR-1 and ZR-2.

[Joe L.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Jeff----

The 68 convertible door alignment wedge were a "sintered bronze" appearing "wedge" that was about 3" long and about 3/4" wide. There was a moderate taper along the 3" length. As far as I know, no one currently reproduces these wedges. Pacific Corvette in Puyallup, WA, Paragon Vintage in Sawyer Creek, MI, or JT Pipers in Vermillion, IL could probably fix you up with a used set.

As far as the radiator supply tank goes, 68 Corvettes used GM radaiators 3008566 (auto trans) and GM #3008567(manual trans). These radiators were the exact same ones used in 1966 and 1967 big block applications. These radiators have no provisions for connection to an external supply tank and have their own, integral radiator fill on the right side, top. They used no external supply tank. The GM #3008566 radiator was still available the last I checked to service all 66-68 big block applications(manual and auto).

For 1969, big block Corvettes changed to radiator GM #3019190. This radiator has no provisions for filling and has a tube on the top, right side for connection to external supply tank, GM #3016340. This radiator was used for most big block applications from 1969 thru 1972.

I should also point out for the sake of complete accuracy that there was one big block radiator for 1968 that DID use an external supply tank. This was GM# 3007436, the heavy duty, aluminum radiator. However, for 1968, this radiator was used ONLY on L-88 Corvettes. So, if your car is an original L-88, one of the 80 produced that year, you need an external supply tank to be correct. The 3007436 radiator was also used for 1965 L-78, 1967 L-88, 1969 L-88, and 1970-72 ZR-1 and ZR-2.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

I'm no expert here, but I've been told that there is a difference between 68 and 69 bronze wedges. They are as Joe described....bronze, tapered, one pointed end, one flat end. These mount on the door jamb with chrome phillips screws. The 68 wedges supposedly have a re-inforcing rib about the perimeter of the wedge. The 69 wedges are perfectly flat on the top with no rib. I needed these for my 69 roadster. I bought a pair from a fellow in Cypress Gardens. He had both "styles" of wedges. He told me that the 68 wedges have the rib, 69's do not. I bought what I was told was correct for 69. Food for thought ? Others with more knowledge might elaborate. The body jamb "wedges" are a gray plastic, also mounted with chrome phillips screws. I had a tough time locating these too. They are similar to the midyear deck lid alignment wedges, but are much thinner. Hope this helps. Chuck Gongloff

[Chuck G.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

I'm no expert here, but I've been told that there is a difference between 68 and 69 bronze wedges. They are as Joe described....bronze, tapered, one pointed end, one flat end. These mount on the door jamb with chrome phillips screws. The 68 wedges supposedly have a re-inforcing rib about the perimeter of the wedge. The 69 wedges are perfectly flat on the top with no rib. I needed these for my 69 roadster. I bought a pair from a fellow in Cypress Gardens. He had both "styles" of wedges. He told me that the 68 wedges have the rib, 69's do not. I bought what I was told was correct for 69. Food for thought ? Others with more knowledge might elaborate. The body jamb "wedges" are a gray plastic, also mounted with chrome phillips screws. I had a tough time locating these too. They are similar to the midyear deck lid alignment wedges, but are much thinner. Hope this helps. Chuck Gongloff

[Jack H.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

If my memory isn't flakey, you'll find the reproduction wedges are based on grey injection molded plastic vs. original metal content. Plus, many assume lots of things are Corvette only parts. I've seen wedges used on other GM convertibles (E.g. Corvair, Skylark) that can be picked up pretty much for free at self serve scrap yards. Can't say if/where you might find correct '68 Corvette wedge set, but I'd check out other small bodied GM convertibles of that time frame....

[Jack H.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

If my memory isn't flakey, you'll find the reproduction wedges are based on grey injection molded plastic vs. original metal content. Plus, many assume lots of things are Corvette only parts. I've seen wedges used on other GM convertibles (E.g. Corvair, Skylark) that can be picked up pretty much for free at self serve scrap yards. Can't say if/where you might find correct '68 Corvette wedge set, but I'd check out other small bodied GM convertibles of that time frame....

[chester]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Hey, If you find a place that produces the door wedges E-mail me or post it on the board, please. How about the price of reproduction deck lid wedges...$30.00..Eeeek Mine are gray. don't think I HAVE THE DOOR WEDGES. Keep us or me in touch, fellow 68'er. jc

[chester]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Hey, If you find a place that produces the door wedges E-mail me or post it on the board, please. How about the price of reproduction deck lid wedges...$30.00..Eeeek Mine are gray. don't think I HAVE THE DOOR WEDGES. Keep us or me in touch, fellow 68'er. jc

[Chuck G.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Hello Chester; Corvette Central reproduces the 68-69 brass wedges. They list for $47.45 each. Part # 283016. Page 45 in their recent catalog, "Doors" section. They do not list two separate "styles" as I was told, one for 68, the other for 69. Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Hello Chester; Corvette Central reproduces the 68-69 brass wedges. They list for $47.45 each. Part # 283016. Page 45 in their recent catalog, "Doors" section. They do not list two separate "styles" as I was told, one for 68, the other for 69. Chuck

[chester]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

DOUBLE EEEEKKK. As posted else ware are these the wedges found on page 44 bottom, 43 top/middle of The 68-72 fact book? (Dobbins) or page 42 top. which ones are we all referring to? OUCH. how much each ...

[chester]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

DOUBLE EEEEKKK. As posted else ware are these the wedges found on page 44 bottom, 43 top/middle of The 68-72 fact book? (Dobbins) or page 42 top. which ones are we all referring to? OUCH. how much each ...

[Jeff Grice]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Thanks for the response.

Corvette Products of Mi is selling the wrong parts for this.

They quoted $20 for the wedges. What they are selling are the wedges for the convt deck lid.

Corvette Central and Paragon, I just found, have them and you are right -- very expensive. Darn near $100 for both doors.

I'm going to check if Paragon has any used parts.

Thanks for the advise!

Jeff 68bbconvt ncrs 30292

[Jeff Grice]

Re: 68 Door Alignment Wedges

Thanks for the response.

Corvette Products of Mi is selling the wrong parts for this.

They quoted $20 for the wedges. What they are selling are the wedges for the convt deck lid.

Corvette Central and Paragon, I just found, have them and you are right -- very expensive. Darn near $100 for both doors.

I'm going to check if Paragon has any used parts.

Thanks for the advise!

Jeff 68bbconvt ncrs 30292