Help and advice prior to purchase?

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Congratulations on the purchase and it must be exciting to finally have it all be done after months of research.

Thanks Sonny you are absolutly right about that. I am even more excited to go through it part by part and drive it.

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Congratulations on seeing this in your own garage. You made a smart, informative purchase. I look forward to hopefully hearing and seeing more about your car. It truly is a rare car in having original drive train, the engine option, and being a higher optioned RS-SS. My car built about the same time as yours has me additionally interested. Here is a list of my dated components and I would be really interested hearing on how they compare to your car. Enjoy & have fun with it. Sorry for hogging your space.
George.

Engine cast date H ?? 8 (Aug) 1968
Engine casting number 3955272
Engine stamp TI104JG-19N539454
        T=Tonawanda
        I104= (November 4th )
        JG=396-325 Auto 400
        1=Chevrolet
        9=1969
        539454= Partial VIN.
Heads casting date J10 8=(Oct 8th ) & J15 8= (Oct 15th )
Head casting number 3931063

Water Pump 39310065T   G 18 8=(July 18 1968)

Intake casting 3931067
Intake cast date J158 (Oct 15 1968)

LH Exhaust 3909879 /  H318= (Aug 31 1968)
RH Exhaust 3916178 /  J318= (Oct 31 1968)

Carb # 7029200EE
Carb date  3118  (Nov 6th  1968)
Carb plate date  30C ( 30th Week)

Distributor # 1111497
Distributor date  8H13 (Aug 13 1968)

Trans Tag       Yellow Tag      Upper 366    Lower CC-69-6026

Rear axle stamp   BL1111G2  / 3.07 – (Nov 11th ) – Detroit – 2nd  Shift
Rear axle cast date     K88 / (Nov 8th – 1968)
Brake inspection date “316” Julian date (Nov. 11th)
Brake caliper casting 5463633
Brake caliper cast date RT“240” (Sept 27th)   & L“296” ( Oct 27th)
Brake caliper machine date RT“281” (Oct 7th) & L“315” (Nov 10th

George,
Below is what I have found so far with the exception of some of the cast dats. I will come back and edit this when I find them.

I have been spending some time under the hood latley. I did find the trans hidden VIN but could not get a clear sight on it. I could see the numbers though on the top of the bellhousing not down by the pan. Plus there was 40+ years of oil and dirt I could not make it out along with the block casting #. However, I did get the block casting date down below by the motor mounts G15 8 August 15th 1968. Below is a listing of the rest of what I have found so far:

Carb: Rochester Quadrajet 4MV 7029204 FF (correct for L34) could not find the date code though maybe a hint at where I can find it? I found a lot of little numbers everywhere with the RP prefix so I think those are individual Rochester part numbers.

Intake: Intersetingly had Q-JET cast into the passenger side front and the firing order on the drivers front forward of the carb.

The intake casting number: 3931067 cast date H 5 8 or August 5th 1968 time 11:00

Cylinder heads: both 3931063
passenger side head cast F24 8 June 24th 1968 6:00
drivers side head cast F26 8 June 26th 1968 9:00

Exhaust Manifolds:
RH2 3916178 have not found the cast date yet maybe someone can hint where to look.
LH2 3909879

Master Cylinder:
Cast number 5468309 Front tab US = 1969 Power disks 1-1/8" bore
Power booster: Delco Moraine mounted upside down at the 7:00 position
tab side 1 9204 = 1969 disks
tab side 2 285 = Julian date = Oct. 11th 1968

Distributor: 1111497 396/325HP hmmm maybe a mixup on the assembly line perhaps? Seems to be because the date code is correct H13 8 August 13th, 1968

Alternator: Seems to be a replacement (If anyone knows what this part number is please let me know.)
cast numbers: 1103175 42A
1F 4 12VNEG

Radiator seem to be a replacement also but I noticed that right away. The 396/350HP non A/C (RPO C60) should have been a 3 core radiator striaght neck. The A/C cars had a 4 core radiator with a curved neck for the upper radiator hose to clear the compressor. However, this car has a four core straight neck radiator. So even though the radiator does not have the tag it is a later model upgrade. It is expceted though as I don't want to overheat the engine running A/C on a three core original radiator. It does have the original 4 blade fan. I think I need to add a 7 blade clutch fan and keep the old 4 blade fan as part of the orginal equipment to this car.

Thanks and that is it for now. I have pics, but my camera is not that good. I will see when I get a chance to download them. Next task on the list is to remove the alt. to get a better photo of the stamp pad, but that is for another day.

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Found the block casting number 3935440

[68camaroz28]

Ex casting date to inside or what one might say the backside of manifold. Other words, if you took the manifold off and layed it down upside down and looked at that backside you will see the casting date. Small mirror.......
congrats again......Love the car!

[NoYenko]

Thanks for sharing the info & dates. The carb date is normally stamped on the driver side of throttle plate. I believe one date is carb assembly date the other is the week the plate was machined.
The exhaust manifold date is on the backside facing the block. Probably can't read it with manifolds installed.
I think my trans stamp was right on the very edge of the bellhousing around the 10 o'clock postion.
On the distributor I looked up in my 1972 parts book and our part number(1111497) was no longer listed at that early date. The replacement number listed was described as (All 396 exc. SHP "375"). Maybe 325 & 350 HP were the same. Great work, keep hunting.  George.

[Everett#2390]

Nice Camaro. Congrats on the buy, Mickey.
Enjoy the dream.

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Ex casting date to inside or what one might say the backside of manifold. Other words, if you took the manifold off and layed it down upside down and looked at that backside you will see the casting date. Small mirror.......
congrats again......Love the car!

Thanks. I am going to need a small mirror because the manifolds are still on the car. I do not plan right now to take anything off unless I have to.

Thanks for sharing the info & dates. The carb date is normally stamped on the driver side of throttle plate. I believe one date is carb assembly date the other is the week the plate was machined.
The exhaust manifold date is on the backside facing the block. Probably can't read it with manifolds installed.
I think my trans stamp was right on the very edge of the bellhousing around the 10 o'clock postion.
On the distributor I looked up in my 1972 parts book and our part number(1111497) was no longer listed at that early date. The replacement number listed was described as (All 396 exc. SHP "375"). Maybe 325 & 350 HP were the same. Great work, keep hunting.  George.

I looked for the trans VIN for about 2 hrs when I first looked at it using the information here on CRG. The inspector that I used also did not see it. Mine is also at the top of the bellhousing at 10:00 position. Although in that location I cannot make out all of the numbers due to 40+ years of oil and road grime. I did however make out 9N5473xx I just could not see or make out the last two. I guess if I ever drop the trans I will get a good photo of it like you posted. That is interesting on the distributor number maybe some of the other experts here can provide more information.

Nice Camaro. Congrats on the buy, Mickey.
Enjoy the dream.

Thanks. Everett. I am loving it so far and I still have not taken it out yet. I am still waiting on the tags. I should have asked for a temp tag too.

[Petes L48]

Thanks. I am going to need a small mirror because the manifolds are still on the car. I do not plan right now to take anything off unless I have to.

If that doesn't work, one trick I sometimes use is to get a clean sheet of copier paper, place over the casting numbers, then rub with your fingers to leave an impression on the paper.  Not sure if it would work here, and I think you'd have to go up from underside of the car.

[x77-69z28]

congrats mickey! i have been following this thread, and am glad it worked out for you. enjoy it and keep us informed.
buddy

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

congrats mickey! i have been following this thread, and am glad it worked out for you. enjoy it and keep us informed.
buddy

Thanks buddy I did see you previous post about the trans VIN location. I did find it right where you said and also where George's is located.

[x77-69z28]

my 70 z28 turbo 400 has the vin stamped down on the drivers side by the pan. a friend has a 69 CX trans and the vin was up on the bellhousing. keep posting pics!

[KurtS]

Same as the PG and TH350.
Great info, I'll modify the drawing. Is the VIN below or above that mounting bolt? I'd guess below, but I can't tell for sure with George's picture and your sketch has it on top of it.

Thanks!

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

Kurt thanks. I will look at it again and see if I can see the mounting bolt, but with the trans still in the car, I am trying to peek between the cowl and distributior and just barely see the front edge of the bellhousing.

[NoYenko]

Mickey & Kurt, here is a better picture of where the partial Vin is on my trans. George

[mickeystoys69RSSS]

That is where mine is located too.