Odd 1968 Protecto Plate...

[Paul B.]

I bought an "original" '68 owners manual, protecto plate booklet(with protecto plate)and noticed an odd thing. First, my 1968 is VIN #18434, this protecto plate is from '68 #18494, exactly 60 cars after mine. Plate also says std(standard black vinyl), 976(LeMans Blue) AM 0415W(3.36:1 POSI 327/350HP), P 8 D 19(Muncie 4spd, April 19,'68)and the real kicker... The engine number. It shows on the "protecto plate" V0429(exact same assembly date of my 327/350hp),but the ODD Thing. It shows "HTR" for a suffix. My 327/350hp reads V0429HT. What's with this "HTR" suffix? A "misstamp" on the protecto plate??? Or did the "R" have a meaning??? Also came with a two page pamphlet saying "What you should know about" and inside continues and says "Air Pollution Control Systems....." showing PCV and AIR routing and systems GM part# 3937277. Was this part of a '68's "glove box info"??? Also the "protecto plate" booklet has the VIN punched in very fine holes vertically on the right edge "194678S418494".

[Brian M.]

R = Rochester? *NM*

[Daniel S.]

Re: Odd 1968 Protecto Plate...

Paul,
The 'R' is the carburator code..in your case this would be Rochester.
If you look to the right of the VIN on the protect-o-plate, you should also see the carburator code there as well.
My original protect-o-plate also has the VIN number punched out on the edge of the booklet opposite the stapled binding. The yellow "What you should know about air pollution control systems on your car" document was part of the documentation you received during new car delivery.
Dan

[John H.]

Re: Odd 1968 Protecto Plate...

The carburetor codes (H, C, or R) were always shown on the Protect-O-Plate as a third digit added to the two-digit engine suffix code, but that third digit was NEVER stamped on the engine pad; I've seen several re-stamps where the stamper obviously didn't know that, and stamped the pad from the Protect-O-Plate with a three-digit suffix.

[Robert C.]

Re: Wrong place.

I thought the carb. code was stamped to the right of the vin # on the same line as the vin, upper right hand corner ( not by the suffix)

[Dave S.]

Re: Wrong place.

All of the Protect-o-plates I have seen have a space between the end of the VIN and the carb. code(C, H, or R). The two(VIN and Carb. code) are always on the same line which is always the top line.

[Paul B.]

Re: Wrong place.

Yes, There is an "R" after a double space after the VIN on the top line. Directly below the "R" is a "5", then directly below that a small "Chevrolet Bowtie" tipped up and down vertically.