68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

[Alan Wilson]

I had a older, previous post with this info but have only had one response. I am trying to get some expert or otherwise confirmation that my numbers below are correct for my car. I appreciate any responses.

68 327/350 Vert, M21 close ratio
The vin number of the car is 194678S401273
Est. birth date 10/4/67

Block Stamp V0927HT 18S401273
Block cast date I147
Block cast part# 3914678

Heads Cast date H257 and I57
Head cast part# 3917291

Intake Manifold cast date I117
Intake manifold cast part# 3919803

Water pump cast date I197
Water pump cast part# 3782608

Distributor band 1111438 some Orange paint still there.

[Anthony S.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Alan,

All the numbers look correct to me in terms of numbes and dates ithin the right range of your cars build date.

V0927HT = 327/350 L-79 Engine w/ 4-speed assembled September 27, 1967

Block cast date September 14, 1967 I=September 14 = 14th Day 7=1967
The correct Vin derivative is stamped on the pad
Block casting # is correct

Heads are cast August 25, 1967 & September 5, 1967. Casting # is correct for 327/350 HP Engine

Intake casting # is correct & cast date = September 11, 1967

Water pump casting # is correct & cast date = September 19, 1967

Distributor band # is correct too.

Essentially, all the numbers you have provided are correct. All of the parts are cast a few weeks pior to the engine assembly date and the engine was assembled about a month before the car.

My '68 was built in late January 1968, the engine part were cast in late November to mid December 1967 and the engine was assembled December 27, 1967 and your car follows the same pattern.

All this info if from the NCRS pocket specs guide & the below web ste.

Good luck,

Anthony

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/specs/c3/1968/68id.html

[Gene M.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Al,
You have a very early car. What is the body color and interior? Coupe or drop top? You should have all the oddities of an early car. Mine is hard top drop top international blue with dark blue and is Nov build and has almost every build oddity.
Gene

[Alan Wilson]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Thanks alot!
Body is Lemans Blue and interior is black matching the tag. If I remember right the tag says 902 which means standard trim. It has a white drop top. But the tank sticker says International Blue. People tell me that my tank sticker is correct. Hmm maybe I will post that here also to confirm. One really strange oddity is there is no date on the trim tag and it is original. How do I know that? Well I know the guy that has the car on the assembly line right in front of mine and his car is missing the date also. So it is important that him and I know this to prove originality. He is collecting and cataloging information on our early cars. He would love to get any and all info on yours. He is "International Blue" on corvette forum. He also is a great source of "good" information as he is C3 crazy.
Can I give him you contact info?

So your telling me that not only is it "68 only" but the early 68's are even more unique.
What other oddities do you know of the early cars?

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

My original owner 68 was built in FEB 68 and just recently found out from posts on this board that the location of the turn signal flasher was different during the 68 model year. Mine is located on the console side of the interior light under the passenger side dash panel. My 68 has the door pull molded into the door panel and later 68's from what I have read have door pulls which are like the the 69's. Does your seat belt, the belt on your left sitting in the car retract?

[Alan Wilson]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

My belts dont work. But it seems to be a retracting one. The retractor is under the seat where the belt terminates.

[Gene M.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

from what I've seen retracting seat belts on a 68 that work is out of the ordinary. They are under the seat and carpet using a gater spring that does not stand up to the test of time.

Some early 68 oddities:
outside mirror position
67 antenna
blank space on console bezel
radio knobs
below grill openings
lack of spoiler in front
door pull pockets
pilot build door panels stamped on back side
hand vinyl wraped panels behind seats
blue script wiper knob
plain black plastic fiber optic bezel
over ride handle positions

I'm sure there is more but brain fade is setting in.

[Anthony S.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Jim,

The seat belts on my January '68 have no retractors.

They were original, tags & all.

Anthony

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Anthony more than one 68 owner have thought that their 68 did not have retractors. The retractors are located under the seats and enclosed in the plastic housing and cannot be seen as mounted. Due to their floor pan location many have suffered from the effects of rusting from water. Their may be 68's that did not have them, my FEB 68 built does have them.

[Jim B.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

As the original owner of a very late 68 (July 68) corvette convert. 327/350 which I still have I can tell you that it did not come with seat belt retractors. It has the pockets in the console to hold the buckles and the non-buckle side is very short and lies on the side of the seat. The buckle has a drawdown adjuster for length. It was this way in the showroom as I took it for a test drive before I bought it.

As I understand it, the coupes (and maybe the convertibles) had retractors available with an option that had a head rest on top of the stock seats. With this option the seatbelt came thru a slot at the upper part of the seat.

My car does not have this option as it was set up for racing.

Jim Boudreaux
#38390

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Jim from what I understand 68 coupes came with shoulder belts as standard equipment. 68 convertibles could have shoulder belts as an option. Informantion listed in the "Black Book" (option A85 Custom Shoulder Belts on 350 convertibles). I have the buckle like yours that is adjustable for length and the other belt now lays by my drivers side seat, and did go through a rubber slot sewn on the original factory installed carpeting. From there it goes into a black plastic type container, this is under the carpeting and under the seat. In the container is the retracter. Page 32 of my owners manual mentions the retactor and how to positon the belt.

[Jim B.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

My short non-buckle side (Both passenger and driver sides) goes to a swivel bolt that is secured to a plate riveted to the floorboard and visible from underneath the car after the insulation bats are removed (as mine are now during restoration.) There is no black plastic container on my car.

In my manual, page 32 refers to shoulder belts which were standard on all "except convertibles" which again was an option on convertibles at least and mine does not have that option and I have only a lap belt, as I assume is true for many others as well.

Again, this car was my daily driver from the day it was purchased for over five years before I put it in storage. The belt never retracted. The belt was always a pain because it flopped around. You had to put it on like the ones on airplanes which have a slip buckle that clips onto a fixed length piece and is adjusted by pulling on the strap coming fronm the buckle.

But that was back in the time when we rarely used them anyway.

[Bryan K. Montford]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

My early build 04888 has the retractors. Although they are froze up and of no use right now.
Bryan

[Jim T.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

Jim your seat belt connector is evidently another change during the model year of the 68 Corvette. Wonder is there was anything written on the change and what 68 was the last one with the retractors and first one with connectors like yours. Are you insulation bats original? My 68 only has some of the original under body insulation.

[Jim B.]

Re: 68 327/350hp dates and numbers advice?

My insulation Bats were original but they were in very bad shape. My car went through several New England winters (I bought the car in Rhode Island from a now closed Scuncio Chevrolet) and the foil covering was shredded. I have removed the old stuff and purchased new bats from Paragon. They look just like the old ones. I may have to replace those riveted spike clamps that hold them on as they are badly rusted. The bats held the salty melted snow very well. I have not put them on yet as I am still working the Motor and drive train.

I keep getting interrupted as I like to drive my new Z06.

Jim Boudreaux