> Dale,
>
>
> OK--got the garage open & looked closer at the motor #s (old
> eyballs ain't as good as they used to be).
Mine either…that's why I keep a magnifying glass and a flashlight with me at all times :*)
>
> VIN# 138378K119978
>
VIN: 1 (Chevrolet) 38 (SS396) 37 (2-dr Sport Coupe) 8 (Year) K (Kansas City) 119978 (sequence number starting with 100001 in 1968 for all Chevelles from this plant ~ 19,978th Chevelle [of all models] built at KC in this model year)
> Motor #s T 1003 EU 8K119978
T ~ Tonawanda
1003 ~ October 3rd
EU ~ 396/350 RPO L34 with TH400 trans
8 ~ 1968
K ~ Kansas
119978 ~ last six numbers of the VIN of the original car - IT'S A KEEPER! Original engine, congrats!
>
> Trim plate:
>
> 10C 0754
10C ~ October, 3rd week final assembly
0754 ~ internal plant tracking codes; nobody seems to know yet what they represent but "most likely" (my opinion) some paperwork to track the car and body during assembly.
>
> ST 68-13837 KAN 2318 BODY
>
ST ~ Style
68 ~ 1968
138xx ~ Super Sport 396 series
37 ~ 2-dr Sport Coupe
KAN ~ final assembly at Kansas City
2318 BODY ~ Fisher Body unit number (not associated with the VIN in any way)
> TR 765-A P-2 PAINT
TR ~ TRIM
765-A ~ Black Imitation Leather (front bench seat) Note: Some assembly plants used -A and -B to designate front bench (-A) or bucket (-B) seats and some plants did not. It's academic really as in this case, the 765 code is for a bench seat anyway, there is no 765 code for the same Black Imitation Leather. I'd say you're really kind of lucky to have a Chevelle interior in a 1968 Chevelle. Due to shortages, many came with Buick or Oldsmobile interiors and Chevelle interiors seem to be the odd ones found so far.
P-2 PAINT ~ lower body color of Seafrost Green (P) and upper body color (vinyl top in this case) Black (2)
>
> The build sheet was found under the rear seat, but had been
> eaten by mice &
> was unreadable. The car is Seafrost Green, black vinyl top,
> black bench
> seat interior, column shift, A/C, 350HP, 3.08 open diff.
Everything looks as it should. Is the paint very good? Reason I ask is I don't have a good (or any for that matter) photo example of Seafrost Green for the 1968 Chevelle. There are 4 colors I still need for 1968's and Seafrost Green is one of them. Any chance you'd have a sunny day picture that I could post here: http://www.chevellestuff.com/68velle/gallery.htm
Small point, but I'd bet the rear is a 3.07 and not a 3.08. The 12-bolt rear didn't come with a 3.08 (the 10-bolt did), but rather the 3.07. Probably has a code like CJ, CK, CX, CY or maybe KS. For reasons known but to hot rodders of old, "3.08" and "4.11" just seem to roll off the tongue. Chevrolet never had a 4.11 gear for Chevelles, 4.10 yes. But, 4.11's were a common rear end in older Chevrolet days (and others as well) and have become part of the vernacular. Sort of like a "3/4 cam" from flathead days. :*)
Dale
