Help with 68 396/375 AUTO

[Michael4yah]

A few years ago I bought a 68 SSRS w/o engine, trans, driveshaft, or trans mount. It did have 396 markings, 6K redline tic toc tach that appears original, Big block motor mounts and 12 bolt rear end. The build sheet is gone along with everything in the engine compartment except the steering box and motor mounts. It has front disc brakes and a floor mounted shifter w/ console and guages. The floors look unmolested and so does the dash. I want to restore the car but dont know what engine to use. Some of the books say that 396/375s did not come with turbo 400's. Some leave that out stopping short of not saying they never existed. Is there anyone out there that can give me some advice on what else to look for. For instance is there a tale tell sign somewhere on the tic toc tach that would tell me its a reproduction and not original equiptment? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Michael SoCal

[firstgenaddict]

You say it has a floor mounted shifter. Is the shifter still there?
If it is and is a Automatic one, which type is it? ie Horse shoe console type or 67 type non console auto shifter. The 67 type (non console auto) used a hole punched in the floor much like a 4 spd. but then used a shifter plate which was about an 1" high and square with the shift indicator on the left side in a arch that ran front to rear. I have only seen 1 of these ever. They are in the 68 Assm Manual though.
Believe it or not they look like (dare I say) a Pinto or Mustang II auto floor shifter.

[Michael4yah]

In the Ron Sessions book called " How to work and modify the Turbo Hydromatic 400 transmission" on page 12 under Chevrolet it says that there was a 67-68 trans for the 396 Hi.Perf. It had the code CE. Does this mean that there were 396/375 w/ turbo 400's in 68'??
Its a 68 car with what looks to be like a true 68 shifter/console. Its the horseshoe one. Is there any tell take signs that could tell me what 396 engine came with it? I mean its got what looks like an original 6k redline tictoctach and this floor looks original.

[firstgenaddict]

If I am not mistaken the only cars with 6000 redlines were solid lifter cars. Which were either the Z28 or the L78.
But Yenko made quite a few 68 Automatic cars. Were they L78 cars with 4 spds to begin with then switched to autos at the dealership? Or were they L34's with autos and then had the L72 Long block put in them.

[Kim_Howie]

I think the only 68 396-375 autos were the 50 COPO Nova's Gibb sold. I have never seen any other cars with one. The CE trans I think was for the 350 hp 396. Kim http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[427TJ]

The Colvin book lists the application for the '68 Th-400 in Camaros as 396/325 or 350HP. For cross reference the book lists the Camaro 396/375HP as using either the M21 or M22 4-speeds or the Heavy Duty (2.41 first gear) M13 Borg-Warner 3-speed.

[NCGuy68]

I've never seen a TH-400 behind a 68 L78 (375 HP) Camaro althought its possible. GM was building them for full size cars and trucks long before the Camaro was introduced.

In any case, it would require full documentation to be authentic.

[Michael4yah]

Can anyone tell me if the trans hole is different for an muncie than a t-400? If they switched it out at the dealer then there must be some evidence left behind. It just doesnt seem plausible that someone would change that tictoctach just to keep abreast of the improvements he made to the car.( if he started out with a 396/325 or 350hp)Can anyone tell me where the build sheet was put? This was at the Van Nuys plant. Ive looked behind the rear seat already. Michael

[firstgenaddict]

Does it have a hole in the floor? I'm not talking about a 1-1/2" hole where the shifter cable would go through. I'm talking about a 3" x 5" hole where a man shifter would go through. As I stated before the 68 Auto cars that were floor shift with-out the console had a hole in the floor more like a 4spd. I do not know whether they were the exact same or not. The non console auto shifter was direct linkage activated not cable activated.

[Kurt S]

Zero 68 Camaros made with L78 and TH400.

[firstgenaddict]

I had asked earlier. Were all 68 Yenko's delivered with L78 4 spds and then changed to autos? or were they ordered with L34's or L35's and the automatic and then had the whole engine changed rather than the short block only? Also it has been stated before that the 68's were L78 cars with a L72 shortblock swaped into it but then was the documented 68 Yenko A/C car a non L78 car with a transplanted complete L72 or was it a L78 car with an added A/C (unlikely)

[Michael4yah]

No just the hole for the shifter cable. Has anyone out there found a build sheet in any other place than behind the rear seat? Does anyone know how to tell the difference from a repro tictoc tach and an original one?

[firstgenaddict]

I have found build sheets under the carpet sound deadener and between the gas tank and the trunk floor, I have heard about them in the rear window 1/4 wells and inside the trunk extensions.

[Michael4yah]

My 68 was built in Van Nuys, Any word on the habits of certain assembly lines putting build sheets in certain places? Thanks, Michael

[firstgenaddict]

Never taken apart anything other than Norwood cars.

[Belair62]

I think some folks have said they may put them on top of the tank...

[NCGuy68]

Or on top of the inside heater box for Van Nuys built cars.