A friend at work is doing a frame-off restoration of a 1968 Z-28. The engine was not in the car when he purchased it so he will be looking for an engine. He wants to be sure he finds a correct 1968 302ci for the car. The problem is that some sources say the '68 had a two bolt main engine and some say four bolt main. Which is right?

Four bolt mains, large journal crank.

I know a guy in the Pittsburgh area that has a 68 302 and a 68 Z28. He may separate them so if you want, I can give you his information. Just email me.

Johnny,

According to my sourse of info the 67/68 had 2 BOLT only. 69 a 4 BOLT in them. Dont quote me on this tho. here is the list.

blk# ci yr cap# appl.

3892657...302.....67....2...Z-28 Camaro
3892657...350.....67....2...Camaro
394678....302.....68....2...Z-28 Camaro
3914678...302.....68....2...Z-28 Camaro
3932386...302.....69....4...Z-28 camaro
3956618...302.....69....4...Z-28 Camaro
3970010...302.....69....4...Z-28 Camaro

Hope some of this info is of help.

71 Camairo

www.mortec.com (http://www.mortec.com) Says the same thing that 71 Camairo says. Check it out. Looks to me that only 69's came w/ 4 bolt blocks.

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Bryan Shook
Favorite Quote - Some people have shrinks. Some people have their garage.
www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/6673 (http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/6673)

67 & 68 302's were 2 bolt mains. For the 1969 season GM pulled out all the stops and built the 69 with a 4 bolt main, pink rods and a better oil pump (just had to beat them mush-tangs). The motor was rated a 290 hp, which was low-balled for insurance reasons and also sales, the little 302 put out closer to 380 hp (independent dyno tests) which would have put a crimp on big block sales. The 69 302 was the most hp per pound motor ever installed in a production car to that point. The federal goverment "suggested" that the motor be dropped from the line up due to the fact that too many kids were wraping them selves around telephone poles, and we all know how the goverment can make a "suggestion" stick !

hey jeff h, your freind has a 68 302 and a 68 z, they only put 302's in z's.

He knows it isn't the original engine for the 68 Z28 he has so he's willing to seperate them if he needs to.

I am in the middle of doing a frame off restoration for my ’68 Z/28 Camaro. It’s an all original numbers matching car. My research indicates that the 67’s through early 68’s utilized 2 bolt mains with small journals. Early ‘68’s through the end of the ’68 production run all used 2 bolt mains. My car has the original tuftrided crank, casting #3279 which is a large journal crank. Also, my block has a February ’68 date code with the correct MO designation, 22 February assembly date AND 2- bolt mains. 4 bolt mains were not available until ’69. I have very recent (last night!) pictures of the block with the crank installed, feel free to e-mail me for a picture request.

I was wrong about the 68 having the four bolt mains. 69 was it. But the 68 was the first year for the large journal crank.
69 got the four bolt mains and floating wrist pins.
30 years ago I knew this stuff.

Hey David, They say that the mind is the second thing to go, I don't remember what the first thing is.

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Leo Paugh
MCC #017
www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)
the bitterness of poor quality remains, long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten

I would say it is very posible that there were a few very late production 68s that sliped out of the factory with a 4 bolt block.Although the 4 bolt block was a 69 exclusive.you cant believe everything you read.There were late production 69 camaros built with black face guages from the nova.Not all were silver like the books say.There have been a few 396 SS cars found that were built with 427s in them.#s matching documented original,Not COPOs.All early production 69 camaros had the short style 68 spoiler.All early 69s also had the seperate hub and rotor for the front brakes.A book will tell you it is a one pice rotor. anyway dot believe everything you read.who knows what all GM did back then?

[This message has been edited by Jeremiah (edited 04-14-2000).]

Thanks a lot for everyone that answered on this topic. As you all saw, there was some dirrering opinions. But I think SEK Z28 got it right. All 68's were two bolt mains, and some of the early production had the small journal crank.

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Yeah, I know, I can't spell either. That's "differing" opinions. Thanks again!

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