1968 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible Matching Numbers 427/390 (L36) Manual

1968 Chevrolet Corvette Description

Up for sale is an unrestored 1968 Corvette Convertible with numbers matching 427 engine and manual transmission. I purchased it from the owner of the last 30 years. I intended to do a restoration project on it, but just don't have the time. It appears to be all there and ready for a restoration. The 427 engine is out of the car and has been for some time. The prior owner removed it to restore it and put a 1970 corvette 350 in its place. It is currently in the vehicle and turns freely. It goes with the car. The 427 engine was taken apart and cleaned, with all parts there, but not put back together.

As you can see from the pictures of the engine, the engine is a 427 from a very early 1968 corvette.

This is what I found regarding the serial number:

3916321 427ci, 390 HP, 2 Bolt Main – This block only used until January 1968

3916321 427ci, 400, 430 & 435 HP 4 Bolt Main – This block only used until January 1968

I've also added pictures of the engine tag. As you can see, it is numbers matching.

It also shows the engine to be an IL- 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor

I am readily available to answer questions and show the vehicle. It is currently located in my garage in Morgantown, West Virginia.
"Corvette '68... all different all over". That's the quote from the sales brochure for the redesigned 1968 Corvette. The body was completely redesigned with the coupe losing it's fastback window but gaining a removable back window and removable t-tops for that almost convertible feel. The chassis itself did not change much from the 1967 model. The new hidden wipers and hidden headlights are vacuum operated instead of electrical. Door openers now use a push button to open and a push in handle to pull the door, this was only used on the 1968 model. The new auxilliary top for the convertible has a glass rear window. The new standard automatic was the 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic instead of the 2-speed PowerGlide used previously. A new fiber-optic monitoring system was added to the dash and "Astro-Ventilation" was added to improve the airflow in the cabin. The '68 Vette did not have the "Sting Ray" badging on it anywhere, it would return in '69 as "Stingray". 1968 was also the year that Zora Arkus-Duntov was named Chief Engineer of the Corvette.
Production Options and Build Statistics
Total 1968 Corvettes Built - 28,566Convertibles - 18,630
Coupes - 9,936
Convertible Serial Numbers: 194687S100001 to 194678S128566
Coupe Serial numbers: 194378S100001 to 194378S128566
The "Vehicle Identification Number" (also VIN or serial number) is stamped on a plate on the inner vertical surface of the left windshield pillar visible through the windshield.
PositionCharacterDescription

1	1	Chevrolet Division
2 & 3	94	Body Series: Corvette
4 & 5	67	Convertible
37	Coupe
6	8	1968
7	S	Assembled in St. Louis, MO
8 to 13	100001 to 128566	Production Sequence

Engine Serial Number
1968 Corvette engines have the last six digits of the VIN stamped on the block after the engine number
PositionCharacterDescription

1 to 7	0001001	Sequential Production Number
8	F or T	Flint, MI or Tonawanda, NY
9 to 10	Carburetion & Transmission	HE = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and four-barrel carburetor HO = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four barrel carburetor HP = 327-cid 300-hp V-8 with 10.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor HT = 327-cid 350-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, four-barrel carburetor IL = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual or automatic transmission, four-barrel carburetor IM = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors IO = 427-cid 400-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors IQ = 427-cid 390-hp V-8 with 10.25:1 compression ratio, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, and four-barrel carburetor IR = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetor IT = 427-cid 430-hp V-8 with 12.5:1 compression ratio, manual transmission and four-barrel carburetor IU = 427-cid 435-hp V-8 with 11.0:1 compression ratio, manual transmission, and three two-barrel carburetors

The body number plate is located on the engine side of the cowl. The Fisher Body Style Number identifies the model of Corvette.
68-19467 - Corvette Sting Ray convertible
68-19437 - Corvette Sting Ray coupe
The body number is the serial number of the body. The trim number represents the color of the interior, the paint color is the exterior "Magic Mirror" paint color.
Production Options
RPODescriptionPriceProduction

19437	Base Coupe	$4,663	9,936
19467	Base Convertible	$4,320	18,630
N/A	Genuine Leather Seats	$79	2,429
A01	Soft Ray Tinted Glass, All Windows	$15.80	17,635
A02	Soft Ray Tinted Glass, Windshield	$10.55	5,509
A31	Power Windows	$57.95	7,065
A82	Headrests	$42.15	3,197
A85	Custom Shoulder Belts	$26.35	350
C07	Auxiliary Hardtop (Convert.)	$231.75	8,735
C08	Vinyl Covering for Aux. Hardtop	$52.70	3,050
C50	Rear Window Defroster	31.60	693
C60	Air Conditioning	$412.90	5,664
F41	Special Front/Rear Suspension	$36.90	1,758
G81	Positraction Rear Axle (all ratios)	$46.35	27,008
J50	Power Brakes	$42.15	9,559
J56	Special Heavy Duty Brakes	$384.45	81
K66	Transistor Ignition System	$73.75	5,457
L36	427ci, 390hp Engine	$200.15	7,717
L68	427ci, 400hp Engine	$305.50	1,932
L71	427ci, 435hp Engine	$437.10	2,898
L79	327ci, 350hp Engine	$105.35	9,440
L88	427ci, 430hp Engine	$947.90	80
L89	L71 Engine with Aluminum Cylinder Heads	$805.75	624
M20	4-speed Manual Transmission	$184.35	10,760
M21	4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio Transmission	$184.35	12,337
M22	4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission (Rock Crusher)	$263.30	80
M40	Turbo Hydra-Matic Automatic Transmission	$226.45	5,063
N11	Offroad Exhaust System	$36.90	4,695
N36	Telescopic Steering Column	$42.15	6,447
N40	Power Steering	$94.80	12,364
P01	Bright Metal Wheel Cover	$57.95	8,971
PT6	Red Line Tires F70 x 15	$31.30	11,686
PT7	White Line Tires F70 x 15	$31.30	9,692
UA6	Alarm System	$26.35	388
U15	Speed Warning Indicator	$10.55	3,453
U69	AM/FM Radio	$172.75	24,609
U79	AM/FM Radio Stereo	$278.10	3,311

Color Options for 1968
Interior colors are suggested by Chevrolet, any combination could be ordered.
RPOExteriorInteriorSoft TopProduction

900	Tuxedo Black	B-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO	B-BG-W	708
972	Polar White	B-DB-DO-GU-MB-R-TO	B-BG-W	1,868
974	Rally Red	B-R	B-BG-W	2,918
976	Lemans Blue	B-DB-MB	B-BG-W	4,722
978	International Blue	B-DB-MB	B-BG-W	2,473
983	British Green	B	B-BG-W	4,779
984	Safari Yellow	B	B-BG-W	3,133
986	Silverstone Silver	B-DB-GU	B-BG-W	3,435
988	Cordovan Maroon	B	B-BG-W	1,155
992	Corvette Bronze	B-DO-TO	B-BG-W	3,374

Color Codes: B=Black, BG=Beige, DB=Dark Blue, DO=Dark Orange, GU=Gunmetal, L=Leather, MB=Medium Blue, R=Red, TO=Tobacco, V=Vinyl, W=White
Interior Colors
ColorVinyl RPOLeather RPO

Black	Base	402
Red	407	408
Blue	411	412
Medium Blue	414	415
Orange	425	426
Tobacco	435	436
Gunmetal	442

1968 Corvette Specifications
Mechanical Dimensions
FeatureConvertibleCoupe

Wheelbase	98 inches (2.489 m)	98 inches (2.489 m)
Overall length	182.1 inches (4.625 m)	182.1 inches (4.625 m)
Overall width	69.2 inches (1.758 m)	69.2 inches (1.758 m)
Overall height	48.6 inches (1.234 m)
Front tread	58.3 inches (1.481 m)	58.3 inches (1.481 m)
Rear tread	59.0 inches (1.499 m)	59.0 inches (1.499 m)
Frame	Full-length ladder type with five cross members. Steel box sections, welded.
Front suspension	Independent, unequal-length A-arms, coil springs; tubular shocks and stabilizer bar
Rear suspension	Independent, trailing arms, toe links, transverse chromium-carbon steel leaf spring, tube shocks, and anti-roll bar
Steering	Saginaw recirculating ball, 17.6:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 39.9 turning circle
Rear axle type	Sprung differential, Hypoid gear
Brakes	Hydraulic, vented four wheel discs; 11.8-inch diameter, single calipers
Total swept area	259 sq. in. per ton, 461.2 sq. in. total
Wheels	6" wide slotted steel 15" 5-lug disc
Standard rear axle ratio	3.36:1
Optional rear axle ratio	3.08:1, 3.36:1, 3.55:1, 3.70:1, 4.11:1, 4.56:1

Engine Specifications
FeatureBase RPO L75RPO L79RPO L36RPO L71RPO L88

Type	V-8, Overhead valve
Block	Cast iron block
Displacement	327 cid	427 cid
Bore & Stroke	4.00 x 3.25"	4.251 x 3.76"
Compression ratio	10.25:1	11.0:1	10.25:1	11.0:1	12.5:1
Brake horsepower	300 @ 5000	350 @ 5800	390 @ 5400	435 @ 5800	560 @ 6400
Torque	360 lb-ft @ 3400	360 lb-ft @ 3600	460 lb-ft @ 3600	460 lb-ft @ 4000
Main bearing	Five
Valve lifters	Hydraulic	Mechanical valve lifters
Camshaft	High-performance camshaft	Special-performance camshaft	Special ultra-high-performance camshaft with .5365-inch intakes
Fuel supply	Rochester Type 4MV four-barrel Model 7028207	Holley four-barrel	Three Holley two-barrels	Single Holley 850CFM four-barrel