ZachH

Hello I am new to this forum as I just picked up a 68 Corvette. I have a few questions. Where would I go to narrow down my car being 1 of ? built with these exact option. My car has an L88 hood but is a 327 car. Was it possible to get the hood without the 427? Here is what I know. 28,566 Vettes built in 68, mine is 1 of 9,936 coups (34.78%), Cordovan Maroon 1 of 1,115 (4.04%), C60 A/C 1 of 5,664 (19.83%), G81 Posi 1 of 27,008 (94.55%), U69 AM-FM 1 of 24,609 (86.15%). The motor is a 68 2 bolt 327 with the casting #3970010 and a 3 speed Auto. I may have more options but those are the ones I have found without the build sheet. Also where would the build sheet be? I have heard under the carpet, under the seats, and above the fuel tank.

Alan 71

Hi Zach,
68 Coupe... NICE!!!!
The figures you have narrow down the uniqueness of your car about as well as it can be done. The factory didn't list 'combination' option totals.
I believe the chances of your small block car leaving the factory with a L-88 hood are zero. But, there's certainly nothing wrong with having it on your car if you like the look. It's a popular aftermarket item.
The most likely place to find the build sheet is on the top of the gas tank, although you might find an additinal copy in the places you mention.
Any chance of some pictures?
Regards,
Alan

jaxlt1

Welcome to the world of the 68. The 3970010 is a casting # for a 1969 Corvette 350.

Budman68

1 of 1 with that motor.

Mike Ward

Regarding the '1 of X' number, GM did not keep records. Multiplying one option % by the others will certainly give a number but it's usually wildly inaccurate.

As Alan mentioned, the L88 hood was not installed by the factory.

I don't think the 3970010 casting was used in '68 327s. Are you sure this is the original engine?

71 Green 454

What are the numbers on the block in front of the pass. side head?

What is your VIN number?

Mashman

Just for example, lets say the book said 50% with power steering, and 50% with power brakes. I will postulate that the majority of people who purchased power steering ALSO would be very representative of those who purchased power brakes.

So, It would be very wrong to make an assumption that since the number of cars sold with power steering was 50%, half would have power brakes, and half wouldn't.

So calculating based solely on the raw per option numbers is not going to be very Representative of how the cars were actually produced.

I also agree about the engine - I don't believe the '10' blocks were used in corvettes until 1970.

ZachH

The info I found may be wrong im new to the vette thing. But the 10 block it said was used in 68 327s and 69 to 79 350s. My next step is looking for the numbers by the pass head. Will these be below, front, or behind the head?

Budman68

WAG on percentages. Back then people had different feelings about options than today, so you have to be that mine set. I remember not having a/c in the 70's because it was a luxury.

The block should be a 678. Not sure if they used an 010 block for CE Replacements. Front pad will tell the story.

Budman68

Between the block and the head there is a pad that has a bunch of number/letters on it. It's under your smog pump.

Mashman

Below the head, front of the block. There should be 2 sets of numbers, the last 5 digits of the one should match the last 5 digits of your VIN. This would be the serial number of your car. The other number should end in HE, HO, HP or HT for a 1968 327 - this is your engine suffix.

HE = 327/300hp MT
HO = 327/300hp AT
HP = 327/350hp MT,AC,PS
HT = 327/350hp MT

427SIXPACK

n o p e !!!

Budman68

Looks like he didn't like the news. Maybe he can take the Vette back, since it might have been misrepresented.

Mike Ward

The 0010 block was used by GM for 327s in the 68 MY but apparently not in Corvettes, for whatever reasons. The block should be 4678.

The casting date and stamp pad info will clarify things.

Easy Mike

The NCRS Technical Information Guide and The Corvette Black Book list production numbers and codes, but you will not find what you're looking for. Options combination records do not exist for individual cars.

Not from the factory. If your hood is genuine GM, it could have been purchased over the counter at any Chevrolet dealership. It can also be an aftermarket hood.

The 010 block is a 350. Your engine has been replaced. If your transmission is a TH400, it could be original. Check for the VIN derivitive stamp on the tranny.

All of the above, plus tucked in the wiring behind the speedo/tach; tucked in the wiring behind the center cluster; behind either kick panel.

Congrats on the coupe; they are somewhat rare for '68 and first year for the T-tops.

avalonjohn

The 010 block is defintely not correct for the 68 Corvette. It entered service around July of 1969 for the 350 engine.

7T1vette

Using your calculation methodology, there were somewhere between 50 and 100 cars made exactly like yours. But, that's true for about everyone who has a C3, so who cares? If that number means something to you, fine...it means nothing to me. But, you have a '68 Maroon C3 coupe with 327 and air? What else do you need?

Easy Mike

A matching convertible to go with it.

Mike Ward

I made a big mistake when calculating the rarity of my own car. I started going all the way down the very end of the option list, multiplying the % each times. Even before I got to the bottom, the numbers indicated that the car was going to be far less than 1 of 1, so therefore never could have existed. I ran out to the garage and there it was- gone.

Luckily, I found that simply clicking the undo on my calculations until it said 1 of 1 made the car reappear. Whew, that was close.

ZachH

I am asking to find truth no matter what it is good or bad. So in that Budman68 F**K YOU. The heads are 3917291 which came back as 68 327 heads, intake 3919803 which came back as 68 327. I might not have decoded it right but the block was stamped E238 which should be E=April 23=23rd and 8=68 or 78. Where the vin should be on the block its smooth. If you google 3970010 68 327, their were some built but never in Vettes according to others. www.nastyz28.com shows a 68 010 327 two bolt. What are the odds of the block being factory replaced? If so shouldnt it still be a 678 block?