[DaleM]

Here's what I've learned so far.

True SS with 138 VIN, which I verified before I bought it.

Block Casting #2955272T - 1969 396 L-34 350hp

Engine Date Code: D18 8 - Built April 18th, 1968

Engine ID: T0428J, no other letters or numbers after the J and no VIN stamp that I could see

Holley Carb #3310-5, date code 0378 - 750 cfm built early in 1968 I think

Paint Code C-2, Ermine White with vinyl top

Interior Code 755-A, teal bench seat I think

The car has black buckets with a console that sure looks original based on the wear, so I thought maybe the code was 766 for black buckets, but I looked again and it sure looks like 755. I think the A means bench seat.

Two questions:
1) The first line of the trim tag reads 04D 8255. I know that's the 4th week of April, but what does the 8255 refer to?
2) Right near the block casting number is "GM5 Pass" and also "Conv 1". Do these mean anything?

Thanks for any and all help!

Specifying what year and what plant would be a help but knowing the various years and what codes should be where, may I assume it's a 68 from KC?

Ibelieve the 8255 number is a Fisher Body job number used to track the body assembly on the Fisher Body side of the house.

I believe the two casings on the block are mold identifications and have nothing to do with the particular engine or its intended use.

The block casting number, 2955272, doesn't specify which hp rating it woudl be used for. This block was used for 325, 350 (2-bolt main), and 375 hp (4-bolt main) applications. Having only one letter in the suffix code makes it difficult as there were 6 J-something codes; JA, JC, JD, JE, JK and JV depending on hp rating and transmission type - see http://chevellestuff.net/1969/engine_id_codes.htm. Two plants in 1969 stamped the partial VIN on the rough cast area near the oil filter, Atlanta & KC. Try looking there although it's kind of a moot point for a 68 Chevelle since the engine is from a 69. Being a 272 block dated April of 1968 is a bit odd. My resources show the 272 block was used from Sept of 68 to June of 69 and this one was apparently cast and dated 5 months prior to that.

The Holley carb is an aftermarket unit based on the popular 3310 series. The -5 indicates a revision and the 0378 date is February (032-060), 1978. All 1973 and later Holley's used a 4-digit date code; 1972 and earlier used a 3-digit date code. See http://chevellestuff.net/qd/holley_carbs.htm

C-2 is Ermine White with black vinyl top and 755 is a Medium Teal Imitation Leather bench seat.

The -A and -B was used at some plants for several years (64-68) but I'm not 100% certain it literally means bench or bucket since a bench seat had a different trim code than a bucket seat for the same color. For example, 755 is a teal bench seat and 757 is a teal bucket seat in 68. The -A and -B were stopped in 1969 when Fisher Body came under the same roof as far as management goes and bench and bucket seats still used different code numbers up until 1972 when both seat types used the same trim code number and A51 and A52 were used to distinguish between bucket (A51) and bench (A52).

Also, many (if not all) black interiors during this timeframe (03E to about 05D) were using Buick, Olds, and Pontiac interiors for some reason.

 

[DaleM]

Casting numbers, or any numbers for that matter, can be hard to read bending over a fender with a flashlight.

If it's a factory automatic it would have been on the column with a bench seat. The standard 3-speed and optional 4-speeds would be floor shifted on an SS396 regardless of seat type.

Sounds like you have a car you can enjoy without worrying about the numbers matching scene. Congrats! :thumbsup:

 

[DaleM]

Yeah, I was laying on the fender with half my body under the hood flashlight in hand. I'm going to check the transmission and rear axle ID's tonight and see if they are what the seller told me (TH400 and 3.08 posi). I knew it wasn't numbers matching when I bought it and with my plans for it, I wouldn't want to tear into a numbers matching car anyway. Thanks, Dale!

Won't be a 3.08 as that was a 10-bolt gear; 3.07 was the 12-bolt unit and would have been standard for the TH400. People often get the 12-bolt 3.07 and the 10-bolt 3.08 mixed up - "three-oh-eight" just seems to roll off the tounge easier for some reason. Maybe old school when 3.08 was a gear in early Chevys.