1968 Overheating

[Terry F.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Michael, I don't have a good answer for you. I am trying to figure this out as I go. I keep inquiring from 68 owners. I have pictures in the Vette Vues hand book that show them on 68 corvette bb/sb that appeare to be unrestored cars. I have part numbers off brackets but I don't have what year they were used on. There is a possibility more than one source was used for the parts too. I will ask Joe about the part numbers and see what he says. Terry

[Michael H.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

What are the part numbers? These will give me an idea of when they may have entered production.

I don't remember for sure but I don't think these brackets were ever listed in the parts book. I'll look.

[Terry F.]

Hang on, it will take me about 5 mins. T *NM*

[Gerard F.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Rolly,

You know a vacuum leak at the carb will give you the same problems you describe, if it isn't just your gage.

At low speeds or idle, it would lean out your mixture and go hot. At high speeds, it probably doesn't make any difference until you are just cruising along.

You might check the carb, and also your timing too.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[Terry F.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Two part numbers for the front bracket that was used on bb with single carb; 3989829 and 3994055. Some brackets have a "C" with an "M" stamped it them. Some have an up side down "U" stamped on them. Something like a Ohm symbol. Not certain but it might be an omaga symbol?? I don't know my Greek symbols. Terry

[Michael H.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Terry,

The numbers that you have are definitely not in a correct range for SOP of the 68 model year. In fact, I would strongly suspect that, by their numerical value, these are closer to the 1970 model year, or possibly late 69.

I would expect to see a number somewhere around the range of 3910xxx for anything released for the 1968 MY. If there were brackets on early 68 big blocks, or small blocks, the number would be in this 3910xxx to 3920xxx range.

Just a bit out of my territory on C3 but for the 69 MY, I would expect to see numbers somewhere in the 3960000 range.

[Terry F.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Very interesting. I will have to look for more numbers. Some brackets didn't have numbers??? They only had a symbol on them as I recall. But, you know how recall is! I might have to run the numbers by Joe and see what he says. Terry

[Michael H.]

Engine Lift Brackets

Yes, I think a little more research is needed on this. I'm pretty sure these brackets were never available from GM over the parts counter so that would mean there would not have been a listing in the parts book, but I haven't looked. If there are brackets without stamped part numbers, I suppose the only way we will ever know which is which, is to examine original unrestored cars for some marking or means of ID.

Again, I'm a little out of my territory on anything C3 so it would be best to request info from those that are more knowledgeable on the subject. I just know, for sure, that a part with a number in the range of 398xxxx or higher, was not part of any 68 or 69 initial parts list. I'll readjust my guess and say these numbers are closer to 70 or 71? Hope this helps.

[Terry F.]

Re: Engine Lift Brackets

I sent a letter to Joe. I asked him for his thoughts on the subject and gave the part numbers to him. I believe the brackets on during assembly of the engine. Terry

[Michael H.]

Re: Engine Lift Brackets

Yes, the brackets are definitely installed at the engine plamnt, not St. Louis.

[Rolly Carlson]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Not sure I can help. This car was a combination of work by 2 people after we found it. The other person ran out of money so I finished it. But he did all the engine work. I looked at the mounting brackets and didn't see anything there, so they may have been removed or never were there. I also checked the inventory of parts (we kept a log) and didn't see anything there. If they were replaced the serials wouldn't be right anyway. If you can give a little more detail I'll be glad to look for them. I'm a little older and bummed up so it's a little harder for me. This is a late serial 68 that appears to have been lic. for the first time in Jan '69. A young man purchased it new put 58000+ miles on it, dinged it up some and got into a lot of trouble with it. While he was in Jamaica working (1971), his dad sold it for $1000. The guy who bought it took it home to fix it up. We found it in 2003 and did a body off restore. So it sat for 32 years!!! Thanks for your input.

[Rolly Carlson]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Thanks for the ideas, I'll be working some of them soon. I'll let you know.

[John H.]

Re: Engine Lift Brackets

The engine lift brackets went into production for the 1968 model year on passenger cars and trucks, not sure about the Corvette. The photo below shows the difference between the engine dress line hooks required in a typical assembly plant in 1967 when engines were carried by the exhaust manifolds and how simple it became for 1968 when lift hooks were introduced. I took this photo in early 1967, during the 1968 "B"-body Pilot Program.

[John H.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Rolly -

Aftermarket junk like "flex-fans" will NOT cure the problem (if you really have one); returning the cooling system to the original factory configuration will, including connecting the vacuum advance to full manifold vacuum (which was one of the many factory TSB cures for 1968 big-block overheating in both Corvettes and passenger cars).

Flex-fans don't move anywhere NEAR as much air as the factory fan/clutch/shroud combination, and have a nasty habit of throwing blades through the hood.

[Terry F.]

Re: 1968 Overheating

Send me your email address and I will send you pictures of brackets. Terry tfringo@aol.com