[36j1967]

Just came home with the 68 RS/SS that I bought over the phone. Live and learn I guess.
VIN 124378N414372
TRIM
04C
68-12437 NOR114981
TR 749 C2 PAINT

Stamp inside grill 8N414372
BLOCK 18N414372 V0404MU

My concerns are one, the N on the block Vin is slightly out of line. Two, a horizontal weld line across the firewall. None of the stamps look tampered with. The block stamps have the correct font compared to my 67. No bondo, original interior except carpet (laid over old). Ran great the five hundred miles home but used oil. Wireing is a mess.
Pat
Pat

[HawaiianCamaro]

Heres how the VIN/Trim Tag decodes; Posts ome pics of the partial VINs your worried about and someone will be able to give you an idea on if they are correct or not.-

1 = Chevrolet
2 = Camaro
4 = 8-cylinder engine
37 = coupe body
8 = 1968 model year
N = Norwood, OH assembly plant
414372 = vehicle serial number sequence

Decode for body number: 114981

04C = Built the Third week of April.
68-12437 = Coupe.
NOR = Built in Norwood Ohio.
749 = Custom Black Houndstooth Bucket Seats.
C-2 = Lower Color is Ermine White and the Vinyl Top Color is Black.

[36j1967]

This is my first try.http://hobbystage.net/camaro/media.cgi?[IMG]site=6768c2&folder=*&group=1&page=*&id=1075251746-003257[IMG]

[36j1967]

[img]http://hobbystage.net/camaro/media.cgi?site=6768c2&folder=*&group=1&page=*&id=1 075251746-003257[/img]

[36j1967]

[img]http://hobbystage.net/camaro/media.cgi?site=6768c2&folder=*&group=1&page=*&id=1 075251746-003257[/img]

[36j1967]

[img]http://hobbystage.net/camaro/media.cgi?site=6768c2&folder=*&group=1&page=*&id=1 075251746-003257[/img]

[69-Z11Pacer]

36j1967 -

Here's your picture: (I don't think you can direct link to Hobbystage's pictures.)



The partial VIN that I see is 18N414372.

I am pretty certain the numbers were in a 'gang stamp' and could not be out of alignment....so I would be suspicious of the "N".... Mark C. (another member here) seems to be really up on stampings and numbers...maybe he will chime in.

[Kurt S]

The N on some 68 stamps move around. But it's real hard to tell with this pic.
Can you take it again? Back up about 6-8 inches and you should be in focus. Clearer is more important than a bigger pic.

Did you check the trans and axle codes?
http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#RearAxleNumbers

[36j1967]

Thank you bill and kurt I have added several photos to the http://hobbystage.net/camaro/6768c2 for review. If you could post the ones that are relevant I would appreciate all input! Dont hold back the negative comments I will consider them constructive critisism.
Pat

[Kurt S]

Yes, it's not a great stamp. Could it be original, yes.
It is the most out of alignment one I've seen. But it varies the same way as some others.

What's the VIN on the trans look like?

[36j1967]

The transmission is a TH400, obviously not original to the car. I have not been able to get the car to my shop to put on the lift yet we got hit with a snow storm here this week. I did get a Oct. 67 cast date from the 12bolt. Thanks for the help [img]graemlins/waving.gif[/img]

[36j1967]

Found the bock casting date D 3 8 could it make it to assembly the next day? (0404) How close am I coming to calling this a true SS? How bad will it hurt documentation/value without the original transmission assuming I still have a matching 12 bolt? Sorry for all the questions but I am excited about this car! I have been looking for one of the 12 thousand or so SS cars for a long while and have come across very few with credentials. Last question I promise. The steering wheel is GM but I'm told not an option for camaro any chance it was special order or dealer installed?

[Z10Joey]

I currently have a spare 69 396/325 engine with all original parts from pan to intake and the engine had never been pulled apart (until now). The assembly date was 2 days later than the block cast. Intake, heads, block cast were only a couple days apart. It probably is possible to be assembled the next day.

[Z10Joey]

36j:
Also, whenever I buy a dated part or check the numbers on an engine, I go to a web site (10,000 year calender) that has the day of the week for past and future dates to find out if the cast fell on a normal work day. To my knowledge I don't think many parts were cast 7 days a week, most were on week days. Maybe someone will chime-in on this that knows what days each plant operated on. Just my .02