I bought a 68 Coupe with a small block 350 in it. The guy I bought it from said it was originally a big block car. Is There any way to tell if this is true? I looked for the tank sticker and it is missing. Car has ps pb pw muncie m21 411 rear end. vin # 194378S409924

Thanks
Chris

These are no guarantees as these items can be added, deleted but here goes.

First, if it has a rear stabilizer bar, that is a good sign it was a big block, as all big blocks had one.

Second, if it has an aluminum overflow tank for the radiator, only small block and L88 cars had them in 1968.

Third, look at the tach. Big block cars had specific tach red lines as follows:

427-390hp & 400hp had 5600 red line
427-435hp &430hp had 6500 red line
Any other red line would be a small block.

These are the three easiest things to check. If you have all three, then you can pretty much assume it was a big block car (unless someone went to alot of extra work)

You cannot tell from the vin what size engine was in a 68 Vette.

Hope this helps.

Mark
68 Coupe

Thanks Mark

This Car has rear Stabilizer
No overflow
6500 redline on tach

Thanks Again
Chris

OK I just have to ask - If it was a BIG BLOCK - why would someone change that??????

It may be a dumb question but I just have to say something!

Do not know why someone would change it, this is the the way i bought it. It now has a 355 cu. in. engine with 10.1 pistons, comp 292 cam, msd tach drive distributor with 6Al box, Edelbrock Tunnel Ram, Two Edelbrock 1405 carbs, ported and polished heads with 202 int. & 1.6 exg, Hooker header sidepipes, estimated Horse Power 475. With the M21 4 speed and the 4.11 rear end it is a blast to drive. My 71 is all original so this 68 fits the bill for hot rodding

|UPDATED|10/26/2003 4:44:10 PM|/UPDATED|

I don't know how much truth there is to it, but I've heard a number of times that a great many Vettes that originally came with big blocks replaced them with small blocks due to over revving the engines excessively and threw rods through the blocks. They (or whomever they sold the car to afterwards) would then install a small block since it's less expensive.

Like I said, I don't know how true it is, but it could explain how so many have small blocks now.

Cheaper to replace with a small block, and don't forget the "high prices" of fuel during the oil crisis in the 70's. Many big block cars of all makes and models recieved a transplant, or were sold dirt cheap as people were looking for better MPG in the 70's. There have always been people who tried to keep their ride original, and even though vettes usually have had a good resale value, remember that collecting, restoration, and high market values didn't really take off until the 80's. I have seen copies of newspaper classifieds from the 70's with unbelievable prices including a '69 427 Vette, owner was "asking $1,800.00"

Looks like you have what once was a 435hp big block vette. Now you need to find yourself a block, heads, tri-power set up. etc. This could be expensive and unless you want to show the car may not be worth it, as along with what I just mentioned, you need to secure the transister ignition system also. Your looking at $2,200 for the tri-carb in good shape, $3,000 minimum for the engine, another $750 for the ignition system. You also will need a special water pump, pullys and complete A.I.R. system which would run another $1,000 minimum.

Of course, then you need the big block exhaust system.

Wow! I'd stay with what you have if it runs good or if you have money to burn.

The 6500 red line tach is worth some bucks, as they are bringing a good price on ebay. New one is about $285.00.

Mark

You could spend the $ it takes to get a replacement big block, intake, carbs, exhaust, etc., and you would have a great performing ride, but regardless of how much you would spend, it would never be worth what it might since it would be no more numbers matching than it is now with the small block.

I'd say keep what you have.

This small block has as much HP as the original Big Block. I was shopping for a nice small block for my 71 when i found this 68. I was going to do and engine swap and put the numbers engine out of the 71 on a stand in the garage and the engine out of the 68 in the 71 and have some fun, put another engine in the 68 and sell the 68. The 68 just looks so good that I'am keeping both. Completly different rides the 71 is sleak and smooth (350/270hp 3.08 rear M20 wide ratio ) the 68 is like a rocket(355/475hp 4.11 rear M21 close ratio).
Life Is Good at the moment