Did all '68 327's have the aluminum expansion/overflow tanks mounted on the passenger side fender? Or did some come with plastic overflow tanks?

I'm looking at a '68 SB Roadster that is VERY original, but has a plastic tank.

Steve

I have information that is somewhat conflicting on this subject. One source says 300 horsepower small blocks used no expansion tanks, and the 350 hp versions did. Another source says small blocks without air conditioning used aluminum expansion tanks. Either way, an aluminum tanks marked "Harrison" with date codes was used.

It sounds like the plastic tank on the car you're looking at is either a non-original add-on, or a replacement for an aluminum tank.

Thanks. So what sources say that the 327/300's didn't have the aluminum expansion tank?

Steve

That came from "The Fact Book of the 1968-72 Stingray". One thing we should do is never say never. There was a time during the run of C2's that there was a shortage of small block hoods (I don't remember the reason), and for a small period of time, all small block C2's were factory equipped with big block hoods. That would be a collector's car if it could be documented the car was built during that time period.

You can't always say with certainty something wasn't a particular way from the factory, just something may not be correct without supporting history to the contrary.

The NCRS judging manual says the following:

Expansion tanks may be aluminum or brass. Aluminum tanks are welded and about 5 inches in diameter and 6 inches long. They differ in configuration from those used in previous years in that they have two connections on the bottom. The part number for both 68 & 69 cars is 3016340. The 67 number was 3155416 and may be found on very early 68's. The brass tank is soft soldered contruction approx. 3 inches around, 20 inches long and painted radiator gloss black. The part number is 3019249.

The following is a list of what came on each car.

A= aluminum, B= brass, N = no tank on car

Engine- 1968- 1969
300HP, 350HP- A- A
300HP w/air- N- N
350HP w/air- N- N

So, the only small blocks that had expansion tanks were the engines without air conditioning. None of the 1968 big blocks had expansion tanks except the 430HP L88 engine. The 69 big blocks did have tanks.

As this is from the NCRS judging manual, you can be pretty sure it is accurate information. I've studied this manual upside down and this is the first time I realized that some of the tanks were brass. Hope this helps.

Mark

|UPDATED|11/1/2003 7:46:45 PM|/UPDATED|