Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

[Terry F.]

My May built 68 corvette 390hp distributor hold down clamp is the stamped steel version but I see several people describe 68 as using the wire style hold down clamp. Any opinion on this would be appreciated.

Terry

[Dale C.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

Terry On 67's the stamped clamp would be on the 427 engines. The wire clamp is for the 327's. I believe the same is true for your 68. Dale

[Terry F.]

Mooch-o thanks! Terry *NM*

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

Terry and Dale-----

I believe that all 1968's used the stamped steel distributor clamp, whether small block or big block. I would not rule out, though, that very early 68's might have used the earlier "wire" type clamp.

Also, there were 3 versions of the stamped steel clamp used from 1968 to the present. These are pictured below. The one on the left side of the photo is the GM #3704912 used for 68-E79. Actually, this same clamp was also used for most C1 era small blocks, too.

[Jim T.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

My original owner 68 327/350 has the heavy wire type hold down distributor clamp. My 70 original owner 350/300 has the steel clamp style on the left in Joe's posted picture.

[Jim T.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

Reference previous post, 68 is a February built Corvette.

[Terry F.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

I didn't think anyone had tampered with my clamp in the past. Thanks for the information. Terry

[Jim B.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

My very late 68 327/350 which I bought new and still have has the stamped holdown just like Joe has shown. I can't tell for sure if it has the markings that Joe is showing but it is the same configuration.

Jim Boudreaux
38390

[Anthony S.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

I can't say for certain that my clamp is original, but I believe that mine is. I have a wire style clamp, My '68 is a 327/300 built 1-24-68.

My engine had most of the original parts (including the distributor) when I bought the car.

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor hold down clamp in 68.

Jim------

Looks like the wire type clamp was used longer into 1968 than I would have expected.