68 Vin and POP

[vtfb68]

Allan,
 There are two types of lower moldings for 1968. R/S molding are three piece and would be attached to the door, the other molding is a one piece that mounts under the door and extends onto the rear quarters and front fender. So removing a door panel would revel the FILLED in holes on a original R/S car. But the very front hole will show Under the front door hinge, on the outer panel. Buy a 1968 Camaro AIM  (assembly instruction Manual AKA Factory Assembly Manual) and a 1968 "BODY BY FISHER" service manual if you are just starting.

Tom,
 1968 AIM page 423

  Victor

[vtfb68]

Allen,
 No, All real 1968 R/S cars would have been built with the THREE PIECE R/S ONLY lower body molding. Tom must be thinking of the roof drip rail moldings (3 pieces) or the door revel molding (2 piece).
  Victor

[vtfb68]

 Kurt, Tom,
 Please respond to your comments regarding the 1968 R/S lower body three piece trim. Tom states flatly that I am wrong, Kurt seems to agree based on his # 9 reply "ALL THE PHYSICAL ITEMS" comment. If I am FOS please point out where I am wrong. I have been waiting  a week for some kind of reply to the "drive by" opinions, that is the reason for this post.
  Victor

[bertfam]

Victor, I'm not sure what you're questioning. Tom stated that all RS cars came with the three piece lower body moldings, which is what you also said.

Ed

[vtfb68]

ED,
 I read that # 13 comment as stating that that trim is part of the "Z21 style trim". Z-21 did not come with the thee piece R/S lower door molding.
  Victor

[bertfam]

Ah, now I see. You are correct. Z21 (which was included with Z22) included the belt (wide window) moldings, the wheel opening moldings, and the roof moldings (for Coupes). It didn't include the three piece lower body moldings. Cars with the Z21 option came with the standard one piece lower body molding.

Ed

[vtfb68]

Ed,
 Picture is worth a thousand words, Thanks. That was my original point- these facts are missing from the R/S ID link.
As a side note The Z21 also consisted of the hightlighted side marker bezels (black painted valleys) that i have never seen listed in print, Same part numbers. The original rear bezels were taller/deeper to compensate for the gasket to keep your trunk dry.
  VT

[bertfam]

As a side note The Z21 also consisted of the hightlighted side marker bezels (black painted valleys) that i have never seen listed in print, Same part numbers.

I've never heard that one before and there's nothing in any of the parts books, Illustration guides or the AIM about this. As a matter of fact, the same rear quarter panal lamp assy was used on almost all models in 1968 (P/N 916632). And Chevrolet wouldn't have used the same part number on two different items. Where did you get this information from?

Ed

[vtfb68]

Ed,
  The part number on the bezels are the same for standard or painted (different for front and back).
 The only slight mention I have seen refers to "and other bright accents" I think was the term used , I will find it and be precise... it may be in old sales brocures. But look closely at original cars and you will find some I'm sure. There is a thread on this site from a few years ago about this subject, by Me. I do have some but never have been able to post pictures on this site.  The Part numbers are 3925429 for the front and 3927459 for the rear.
   Victor

[lakeholme]

Here is the thread:
http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=5580.0

I remember when Victor posted it.
The repos don't know this.

[vtfb68]

Phillip,
 You are the man! with a picture too. My rears were faded away but upon further inspection I found paint in the corners. I could not find the thread, Thank you for posting it. I now believe is is part of the Z21 option. LA cars only?
  Victor

[bertfam]

Victor, as far as I know, all 68 side marker bezels were painted black inside the grooves. I've never seen any with white or had no paint in them*, but this isn't something I've done a lot of research on.

However, if you go by the AIM, under Z22 there's no note for this on the non illustrated parts page (Z22 page A2), and nothing in the rest of that UPC section showing anything different, so I would say with the evidence of the AIM and the P&A, there was only one set of bezels used, 3925429 for the fronts and 3927459 for the rears.

* I would imagine that after 40 some odd years of cleanings, especially using tooth picks and tooth brushes, some of the black in the grooves would be scrubbed off, but there should be some reminents of black in the corners. Mine are almost clean (no paint), but I DO show bits of black in several areas.

Ed
 

[vtfb68]

Ed,
 Interesting, I only noticed the black paint on cars with the Z21 parts. I sold a virgin  basic 210 hp 327, PG car to some Swedes a while back that i went over with a fine tooth comb and never saw any black (car was virgin but neglected and covered in a carport for years, cousins in-laws). Now I will be on a quest to find out one way or another. Members with original 68 cars please chime in (Z21/RS or not, painted or not). Your killin' me Ed, but I love this type of sh!#.

 Victor

[KurtS]

That was my original point- these facts are missing from the R/S ID link.

Get me a good pic that shows the holes in the body and I'll add it.

[KurtS]

That was my original point- these facts are missing from the R/S ID link.

Get me a good pic that shows the holes in the body and I'll add it.

BTW, the text has always been there. It's under the last row of pics and gets lost, IMO.
"67's will have holes in the doors for mounting the RS lower trim. 68's will have have the holes in the doors and also mounting holes in the fenders and quarters for the RS trim."
Some pics will help it standout more.