I am planning on buying a 68 Camaro tomorrow,the 14th.This will be my first Camaro and I am not sure as to whether the car is a real SS or not.The owner says it is,but how can I be sure?I would appreciate any and all clues that may be sure give aways so I don't get taken on this one.Thanks alot Jim.

Jim,

Look on the drivers side for a factory dual exhaust mounting bracket near the wheel. Get the entire cowl tag informaton and look in the decoding. There are lots of sources to decode the cowl tag and vin. Be careful what you buy.

Kent

Aloha And welcome to the best Camaro Board around. As for buying a 68 sad to say but unless you have the paperwork (Build sheet/Invoice/and or POP ) you will have a hard time determining if its a true SS. The 68 Cowl tag only will give you the body style (Coupe/CONVT) Year, Interior and exterior colors, build month and where it was built. Go to the trim tag section of Team Camaro and put all the info there (COWL and VIN info) They are other posts that have given some pretty good pointers on what to look for on a 68 to find out what it really is. Good luck and Hope it is a true SS. By the way did the seller say he /she had any of the org paperwork for the car.
Jeff 67/68 & 69 RS's
65 442

Post some particulars on it if you can
It would be better to wait until you verify
if this is a high dollar car.
I am not real knowledgible on 68's but I think it should have a 12 bolt w/multi leafs
power disk brakes exhaust hanger bracket in L.R. wheelhouse for starters. As I understand 68's are harder to document than 67's and some 69's and even if it has these things that still does'nt prove its a true SS
If the vin starts w/123 rather than 124 it is Not a SS because it was a 6 cylinder car.
Hope this helps.....Mike
Ps I'm from springfield

Jim,
Welcome. I hope your search pays off tomorrow. Hawaii is right this is the greatest group of guys around. Everybody is very helpful and there are no questions you should be afraid to ask.

There is no way by the trim tag on a 68 to verify what you have other than if the car came with a V8. A few quick things to look for. 12 bolt rear end, multi-leaf rear springs, the cars had dual exhaust so there must be a welded on ddoubler on both rear frame rails just behind the rear tires. Look for a 3/8 fuel line. If it was a big block SS it would have originally had a black painted tail panel between the tail lights. Pull back the weathertriping in the trunk to check for any old black paint at the very back edge of the trunk opening. Take the gas cap off, it should be chrome and black and say SS on it. Look to see that it has the cable that retains the cap to the tail panel of the car and look closely at how it is attached to the filler neck where the calbe attachs. You should be able to tell if someone has added this gas cap or if it looks correct. The grille should be black and not painted black, but molded black. Look closely at the back side and scrape at it a bit to see if the black finish scratches off or not. Look at the heater bos under the hood. If it was a big block car the hoses will enter in the middle of the box, this is a sure sign of being at least an SS big block car. the small block SS cars look like all other heater boxes. Beyond these things just about everything else that is quick to check was optional.
Good Luck,
Dave

There is a book written by Jerry McNeish that is very informative. Maybe you have time to pick up a copy.

67's and 68's did not require front disk brakes on an SS, only 69's had to have them so don't overlook a car just because it has drum brakes.


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Mark Canning
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11
My 69 L48 - 350/300HP Engine (http://www.townisp.com/~markcanning/camaro/transparent%20air%20cleaner3.jpg)

hello i own a big block rsss.it has drum brakes no ac or radio.not all 68 big blocks had disk brakes.

Last Saturday, I bought my 68 Camaro. I do know that there have a idle problem. It does run al little rough. I have found things like the old tag that was sold back in 68. How do I trace the plate back to the first owner? Then this week, I was cleaning out the trunk, found old seat beats with codes on them. I am going to check the rear end to see what codes is given on the axle. Is it true that the engine number can be seen if you remove the valve cover(s)?

Jon you stumbled into a 2006 thread. Jump up to TAG section and you will find your help there. :)