L. A. built 1968 z/28

[x66 714]

I'm doing some research on L.A. built 68 z/28s built 02E. I have strong indications that L.A. changed from 302 fender emblems to z/28 emblems during the 5th week of February. I've spoke to Paul with the Rally green (302 emblems) car in Canada & his is approx 800 cars earlier than 2 others that I know of. Those 2 left the LA assm plant with z/28 emblems. I would like to hear from other 02E LA car owners to hear what their cars had when they left LA. Thanks, Joe

[dutch]

I wonder if it was an all plants directive done by date since I've seen old '68 pictures taken of my 02D Norwood car showing it came with 302 emblems on the fenders (later redrilled for the much more visible and popular Z/28 emblems before I ended up with the car - and which also makes a switch back much more difficult) - but it possibly displays a change invoked at both the LOS and NOR facilities simultaneously...
Have you found any evidence in your LOS quest, to make an educated guess where in the Vin sequence any Norwood cars may have been affected as well?

Sorry to hijack your post here somewhat, but I had always heard the vague 'last week of Feb or first week in March' scenarios and since my car is a forth week model in obviously a very short month, I always wondered just how close my own car might have been to the NOR changeover date as well (and if I could plead a decent case for the Z/28 versions to be at least period correct) ...

Thanks - Randy         

[x66 714]

hi Randy
The evidence I have is partly my own car that I've owned for 34 years now. I have all original sheet metal on the car & the fenders have never been redrilled or filled. I've restored it twice since I've owned it. It had original paint when I purchased it in 1976. It's 332262. The car that was built 15 cars prior to mine has z/28 emblems. Same thing, no redrill. Car still has original paint. Pauls rally green cars has 302 emblems approx 800 cars prior. In the assm manual those emblems were changed Feb 13th or 14th. I can't remember for sure. Both plants would've recieved these orders. Norwood may have sat on them for an extra week or so, or that guy was on vacation or they had extra emblems. The guess work could go on forever. Jerry McNeish has narrowed Norwood down to approx 03a or 03B I believe.  If I could find a couple more cars from that week I could probably make an educated guess about LA.
Joe

[dutch]

Thanks Joe for your response...
I guess like a lot of things associated with the manufacture of these cars so far back in time - there will probably never be definitive answers for a lot of the things that went on by either date or vin sequence, but in your case it sounds like you have it narrowed down pretty close.
I would very much like to replace my 'emblems' with the correct 302 numbers that belong but am told that the holes don't line up to make an easy swap so until a repaint is on the horizon I will have to endure being one of the thoudsands of these cars that sport the later signage...
Its a wonder considering the way the changes were made and the number of cars put out in a given day there weren't a couple produced with a 302 on one fender and Z/28 on the other when assembly line guys worked from bins on each side of the line.
Guess its something I'll never find out with any certantity, but stranger things have been found when running model changeovers such as this occurred!
Randy

[x66 714]

There's still quite a few of these cars around that we can come up with information about changes by asking questions & researching remaining cars. In most cases people want to give the correct information about their car even if it's been changed from original. I see your zed is Canadian. Older cars like a Canadian 1934 Chevrolet sedan delivery I have are next to impossible to find anybody to talk to you about. I like the research the site has performed & with continued support we'll know even more than the GM people who built the cars......Probably do now......Joe

[KurtS]

Its a wonder considering the way the changes were made and the number of cars put out in a given day there weren't a couple produced with a 302 on one fender and Z/28 on the other when assembly line guys worked from bins on each side of the line.

Normally, when a change like this was implemented, all the old stock would be removed and the new stock put in place. Just to avoid that problem.

[bowties]

I have a los built 68 with a build date of 2E also #332229 has yet to verified by Jerry, it has the z28 emblems on the fenders. It has been painted approx. 10 years ago, I'll take a peek and see if there are holes not being used.

[bowties]

 My car is Lemans blue w/black standard interior. It has the tach/gages, walnut wheel and the 3:73 rear. It didn't come with the spoilers but there on it now. You can see  where the old camaro emblem was on the deck lid before it was taken off for the spoiler. The inner fender where the z28 studs come thru look untouched, I have three studs and no extra holes or holes that have bondo coming thru them or anything else that should'nt be there trying to cover something up.