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stantheman
10-03-2011, 12:29 PM
This is a weird one. Bought a 68 Chevelle yesterday. Been sitting in old man's garage for many years. Drove it home. Wow! It has a big block and the fender says 396. However, I'm not sure what the enine is. The block tage at the front of the passenger head is stamped: TI 208 IV. I can't seem to figure it out. I know the engine was built in NY on Feb 8th (I think), but what is it??? The engine at one time was painted yellow! Any ideas?

Rank
10-03-2011, 02:33 PM
Stan the "IV" says its a '68 396/325 hp with a TH behind it ... prolly the original engine.

http://www.nastyz28.com/gm-chevy-codes/chevy-engine-codes-suffix-14.php

stantheman
10-03-2011, 10:08 PM
Outstanding! Break my heart...Do you know where I might find the partial vin number on the motor other than the plate at the front?

Rank
10-03-2011, 10:15 PM
The link I posted list 'em all .... and casting numbers, etc. Give it a shot!

Ms Grumpy
10-04-2011, 08:29 PM
Maybe this will help too.

http://chevelleforum.org/showthread.php?t=1988

stantheman
10-04-2011, 08:55 PM
Your posting really helped. I think my problem is my car was made in Canada. The body and paint codes are:

ST68 J3637 0521372B

TR 756 J-6-3 900

I'm baffled by it. Can anyone break this down? The only thing I know about the paint is I think originally it was some form of green and the old guy I bought the car from said the car was painted in 1974 Corvette Green. I can't even find the interior code and color name though I believe it's some form of a light green maybe???

rmvela626
10-24-2011, 12:16 AM
If you can post a photo of the cowl tag it would be much easier, cause it looks like there are some discrepancies with what you posted. And also, what's the engine casting # on the driver side rear pad, should be raised #s, starting with a 3 ? This would really help in identifying the engine properly. On to the cowl tag, so the '68' is the year, the 'J3637' is confusing, did you mean '13637? Because it should be the division series, and the J should be a 1, so 13637(8) tells you it's a Malibu, 2 dr. sport coupe, but NOT the Malibu SS 396. All genuine Super Sports from 1966-1968 have an "8" as the third digit of the VIN. Since it's not a super sport, I am suspecting the 396 is probably not the original "numbers matching" engine. It's not for certain, but generally non 'SS' chevelles did not come with a 396. Also, the only available engine in the 68 SS was the 396. It came as either the 325 HP "L35", the 350 HP "L34", or the 375 HP "L78". Again, if you can post a clear close-up photo of the cowl tag, it would help in decoding the interior, paint, assembly plant, etc.

stantheman
10-24-2011, 10:22 PM
I will get one posted. Thank you

RBeckman
10-25-2011, 02:22 PM
If its made in Canada you might be in luck as the cowl tag may have the engine and trans info as my 69 does.

stantheman
10-25-2011, 08:12 PM
Here is the cowl tag. I do know the vin # does not have a letter in it as US made chevelles do.

RBeckman
10-26-2011, 01:20 PM
A little different than my 69, but this what I see.

M35 ~ RPO code for Powerglide automatic transmission
D55 Front Compartment Floor Console

Not sure if you could get a Powerglide in a SS.

stantheman
10-26-2011, 08:23 PM
I'm not even sure it's an SS! Some of my research shows some really weird combos came out of Canada.

RBeckman
10-27-2011, 06:51 PM
Well with it being built in Canada you can get the built information including the dealer is was delivered for it still, here is the link to get the information...it just cost you a few bucks but it will make your car worth more if you can prove it is a SS.

http://www.chevelles.com/vvs/

Good luck,
Ric

MAX HEADWORK
12-17-2011, 02:51 PM
Here is the cowl tag. I do know the vin # does not have a letter in it as US made chevelles do.

A51 Strato Bucket seats.
D55 Front compartment console
m35 powerglide transmission

TR 756 Medium gold imitation leather

13637 malibu 2 door sport coupe
13836 SS 396...

OS Canada Remaining numbers are the sequence number. Basically the serial number. It's this number that would be on the engine, rearend, and trans.

Another place to look for the serial number on the engine is over the oilfilter. Stamped in either the rough casting or a milled section.

Sorry to break the bad news, but in 68 the SS 396 had a 13837 code. Not 13637 which denotes a standard v-8 Malibu sport coupe.

The code IV on your engine is from a 325hp 396. But not for that car as per the 13637 code.