1968 RS Forensics

[SMS]

I have a 68 Norwood 05B with RR Matador Red paint and 725 Red Deluxe Interior.  That's the easy part from the trim tag.

The car is pretty butchered and forgotten, but I suspect it's worth bringing back from the dead.  Painted white long ago and in the late 80s (we suspect based on dated junk in the car) it started a back half drag car job with trunk cut out and 2X3 frame rails.  Then abandoned.  There is no sheet metal forward of the firewall, and no drivetrain.  That's the bad part.

Here is why I think it's maybe something more special.

Clearly RS door trim top of doors and along the rocker line.  Old black paint below the trim on the sides.    Correct hole right of brake booster for vacuum lines, in fact a few inches of vacuum lines hanging out of the hole.

Looking down beside brake booster (booster cannibalized and missing) at sections of vacuum lines.



Rear fascia.  Low back up lights. Possible black paint tail light panel, but hard to tell from past paint work.  There does not appear to be any red there as there is below and under the bumper.



Then we add disc brakes and supporting pedal in interior.



Has power steering, and I'm looking for a similar pic of a short pitman arm to compare with this.  Looks like the longer version but I didn't get it measured and I'm not where I can do so for awhile.



Then we go to the firewall.  No heater core.



But looks like the proper speedometer cable hole above the throttle pivot with original clips for a Muncie.  As well as the rubber grommeted hole for an oil pressure line for console gauges.



Speedo clip.



Close up of upper clip and hole.



So by now I'm pretty sure I might have an SS/RS.... 

Although easy to change, especially based on the probable past life she had, she has small block engine frame mounts and what looks like a small block cross member.  The underside of the bolt access hole is torched for more clearance, and the top view of the cm look like a hard right offset, but I think the remnants of the hole are indicating SB.  Thoughts? 




Ok, so maybe an SS/RS 350 from the things present and accounted for?

So then I'm thrown off by the N30 wheel.....  Camaro emblem, not SS.  I know that's easy to change as well.  The wheel I mean.  Doubt anyone would go thru the trouble of de-badging an SS with a base emblem.  Steal the emblem yes, change...?



So possibilities:

RS with indications of Muncie transmission and console with gauges added.

RS/SS with steering wheel changed.  Probable 350.  Possibly 396.

RS Z/28

What opinions and hypothesis do you guys have about this one?  Where would you go from here?  Figuring when the snow stops I will check for a brake proportioning valve or evidence of one/lack of one.  Reading the tire pressure sticker will take a crime lab, but it's there.



Better yet, does anyone have my engine?!?!? 
124378N431616

[z28z11]

You didn't mention fuel line, any evidence of dual exhaust ? Console car ? Muncie indicator is a strong indicator, trans crossmember could be a replacement. I'd do a little judicious sanding on the rear cove, or look closely at the corner of the trunk lid/gasket area - that's where my SS shows a good clue.

I see the deluxe door panel. I have a junkyard fairly close that this reminds me of - I'm used to seeing things that should be taken care of going to ruin, particularly Camaros. If you do buy it, or already have, I applaud your thinking.

Good luck, and send more pics ! We all appreciate detective work -

Regards,
Steve

[z28z11]

By the way, welcome to the CRG -

Steve

[rare396bronze]

Check in the glove box for tire decal. Also check on the lower half trunk gutter where the weather strip is see if it  red  or black below the weather strip.

[SMS]

Thanks guys. Yes it is a console car. 

The tire pressure sticker is there but I called a guy today to go out back and look at it for me but he said can’t be read. I need to inspect closer.

Will check under weatherstripping and pull out the tail lights. Looks like that white paint job just masked the back up lights so maybe original paint in the tail light openings.

What are the fuel line issues I need to be looking for?  I didn’t know that was any kind of indicator in 68. In 69 there was size and return line models in Chevelles, thought Camaros were the same.

[rare396bronze]

Where the  front fuel comes up the  sub frame if it held down by a bolt and clamp it is small block. If it has a double sided clamp that is riveted into the frame it is a big block! The big block fuel line will just snap into the clamp. Hope this helps.

[Jon Mello]

Is there a gas cap on it?

[SMS]

No gas cap.

[royal67rs]

z/28's had rear bumper guards. You should check the tail light panel for bumper guard holes. Interesting car!

[z28z11]

I doubt Z car from the shot of the tail panel below the tail light lenses - just about where the hole is for the bumper guard mount through into the trunk interior.

However, the black paint below the tail light bezels is tantalizing. If, like rarebronze suggests, there is black paint crossing under the weatherstrip channel (which likely would not get removed or masked on a quick-and-dirty paint job), it's a great omen for a BB-SS. Check the gas line mount out as he suggests -

Regards,
Steve

[Jon Mello]

You can check for remnants of an SS stripe in the middle of the leading edge of the door. If a crummy repaint, you might be able to see some of that stripe wrapped around and visible, or it may be evident even if painted over. If you don't see evidence of SS striping, you can maybe do some gentle sanding on the body panel below the rear window to see if any evidence of Z stripes appears.

[68L30]

My money is on a RS L-30/M20....

Steve

[SMS]

Good points everyone and I appreciate the comments.
Steve I was thinking L30/M20 for a while as well but didn’t all of those still include Saginaw transmissions?  This looks factory prepped for a Muncie.

[68L30]

I missed the speedo cable... weird. Not a item likely moved. I bet the rear and the frame rails disappeard when they botched the back half..?? Any hood hinges or trunk torsion rods? D80 would be interesting....

Steve

[DAVEN1256]

Off the main topic but the part of the N30 deluxe steering wheel that is showing looks like there isn't any cracks in it. That's unusual for a car that's had a rough life.