68 L88 long shot...

[Greg L.]

I just came across a 68 for sale that has a single fuel line, 6500 tach, F41, and rear sway bar that looks to be basicaly unmolested in those areas. Unfortunatly the engine is long gone and there is no readable tank sticker. Looks like it was an L71 and the only way I guess to "confirm" this would be to take the tack out and compare the date stamping against the body build date.

My question though, is there any way to tell if this was once an L88? I'm guessing that it wasn't but is there any clues to look for to tell if it once was?

Thanks.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Richard F.]

Re: 68 L88 long shot...

Core support. 68 L88 only. Hard to come by. Similar to an aluminum radiator small block support, but slightly different. If the car has the right one, my guess is that it's the real thing.

[Myron Sleeva]

What does the hood look like? NM *NM*

[Richard F.]

Re: What does the hood look like? NM

Good question, Myron. Remember, though, that L88 hoods are a lot more common than core supports.

[Stephen B.]

Radio delete - no ground straps *NM*

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: What does the hood look like? NM

Agree, Richard. "IF" the hood is correct for an L-88, it does not guarantee it being an L-88 but if the hood is a regular non cowl induction BB style, the likelihood of it being an L-88 is diminished, reasons being obvious. If no hood exists, moot point. BTW, speaking from personal curiosity, can you be more specific on what the proper core support looks like? That certainly COULD be the litmus test.

[Richard F.]

Re: What does the hood look like?

I guess I was assuming that it didn't have the obvious stuff present, like a hood. We obsessed about these core supports several months ago. The radiator opening is a little bit bigger, and the two saddles at the bottom are spaced differently, because the pegs at the bottom of the two radiators are in slightly different positions. Another thing to check on the car is the J56 front brake stiffeners. It's easy to create J56 front brakes, but the stiffeners are expensive/difficult to find.

[Duke W.]

Re: 68 L88 long shot...

M-22 was a mandatory option with L-88 in '67 and '68 (along with J-56 and F-41) - I believe the L-88/M40 combination was '69 only - so look for J-56 - dual pin front calipers and a proportionaing valve, and if it has the original transmission with the VIN derivative stamp, and it's a M-22, that's a good sign, but I think M-22 and J-56 were also available with L-71.

Duke

[Norris W.]

Re: 68 L88 long shot...

I don't know about '68's, but did a good bit of research on '69's when I bought my '69 L88 in 1985, which had been a local car and I knew for a fact what I was hunting even before I found it.

In the case of the '69's, the M22 was not available with anything other than the L88 or ZL1, at least not in Corvettes, and I'm almost certain it was the case in '68 also. (the old NCRS Spec Guide that I keep on my desk shows only 80 M22 cars in '68, the same as the number of L88's produced) Of course the early M22 would be easy to spot at a glance in this car if the serial number does prove to match the vin number of the car because in that time frame ONLY the M22 had a drain plug, where the M20/M21 did not.

There're actually more killers than absolute supporters because a lot of the mandatory L88 pieces were optional with other engines, but interestingly the same NCRS spec guide (mine is probably 20 yrs old) lists 81 J56 brakes for '68 (one more than the total number of L88's produced) and 115 for '69 (one less than the number of L88's and 3 less if you ad the '69 ZL1's into the equation). Maybe this has been updated or change in newer literature.

Have you considered dropping the tank and looking for a build sheet?

[Norris W.]

One more thought:

My L88 was new here, and I was knew the original owner back in those days. (he's still a local hotrodder, now well into his 70's with a built up Z06) Anyhow, when my car was new he took it to a local Corvette shop and had a radio installed along with a set of Kustom headers supplied by local Chevy dealer. I went to the Corvette shop and after all those years he still had the original radio blockoff plate in his stash. One thing that I noticed in all this process was the fact that the antenna hole was not as precisely done as the factory originals in some of my other 69's. If the '68 in question here has a radio installed now, and all this other stuff checks, I think I'd be looking at the hole for signs that the antenna was added.

[Greg L.]

Re: One more thought:

Thanks guys. I think I have enough info now to tell that it's not an L88. It does have the L88 hood but my guess is that it's a over the counter or repro. I don't see a proportioning valve in the pics and it does have a radio so that's two shots against it. That's fine though because it does look to be an original L71/89 car which is what I was looking for in the first place. The owner said he looked but couldn't see a tank sticker so it may or may not be there...

I'll inquire a bit more about it so be ready for more questions!

Thanks again

[Greg L.]

Re: One more thought:

Here are some pics...I thought the steel fan shroud was a small block thing only or am I wrong? Oh by the way, the 402 engine is a Chevelle or Camaro one of 71 vintage. Valve covers might be original though.


Not sure what this is, maybe TI harness. Was this not available on all 68's though regardless of engine?


Can anyone tell if this is a GM hood or aftermarket hood?


I can't tell for sure but it looks to me that there is no proportioning valve, just the brake differential pressure switch.


Thanks again guys.

[Mark #28455]

hood not likely original to car

The hood appears to be a later 1969 style (latch) so not likely original to car. It may be an original piece if the underside of the hood skin is press molded. The config of the air plenum appears ok except the air cleaner was cut out. This was not that uncommon as the original L88 air cleaner only seemed to keep out small birds! In addition, first backfire and the L88 unit liked to catch fire!

Your last photo of the driver's valve cover appears to lack the rear taper for the power brake booster, if so, then not original. In addition, the car lacks power brakes so not a J56 car - to swap power vs. std brakes, you must also swap the bracket that the pedals attach to (power booster has mounting bolts in a different location).

Hope this helps,
Mark