To 68 or not !!!

[64 kiwi boni]

Guys I need your thoughts 

I have a guy who wants to swap one of my Holden crewman utes for a 1968 Lemans 

I have only seen pictures and can see it’s missing interior door cards and trim 

seat are there but rough as 

body looks to be good except for lower back window panel , missing rear screen 

Plain Jane wheels , 350 engine not running but I was told it was a good runner . 
remebering I already have the 57 and 63 to build …. Are these a good car to have ?

Is it worth building into a gto clone ? 
which brings me to my next question …

What’s the difference between a lemans and gto , hood grill lights ???? 

 

[Fitzy]

I refuse to enter this discussion. I think your sanity may have been accidentally flushed down the crapper, but I already know you're going to go ahead with it.

Good luck!

[B52bombardier1]

Get it running and flip it for some quick cash.  It deserves to live and let somebody else complete it.

Rick

[64 kiwi boni]

1 hour ago, Fitzy said:

I refuse to enter this discussion. I think your sanity may have been accidentally flushed down the crapper, but I already know you're going to go ahead with it.

Good luck!

yip yip yip, your sounding more like my boss every day fitzy cheers 

52 minutes ago, B52bombardier1 said:

Get it running and flip it for some quick cash.  It deserves to live and let somebody else complete it.

Rick

awwwww !!! now your onto it Rick !!!! get it moving and it will be worth more than as it is at the moment dead !!!

and i certainly think it should be saved !!

[64 kiwi boni]

It could be a clone like this sexy little number !!!!!

[64 kiwi boni]

And !!! I still have my plates from my 2007 gto !!!!

[Frosty]

Essentially the right grille and interior parts separates a GTO from a Lemans. Anyone who knows Pontiacs knows a real GTO of that era starts with the VIN # 242 and not 237. The other give away is the 350.All GTOs came with 400s.

That said, nothing is preventing you from building a GTO clone or tribute car. The only other thing to remember in ‘68 is that there was no Judge or carousel red (orange) paint available that year. 

[Ringo64]

[JUSTA6]

Not your 1st time at the buffet, you already have plenty on your plate.  Can't eat it all bro.  Justa my   Spread yourself and $$ too thin and nothin gets done.  You know what you can handle.

[64 kiwi boni]

1 hour ago, JUSTA6 said:

Not your 1st time at the buffet, you already have plenty on your plate.  Can't eat it all bro.  Justa my   Spread yourself and $$ too thin and nothin gets done.  You know what you can handle.

This is very true ! and as much as this stuiff cost money, its time i fine hard to get !!!

[64 kiwi boni]

15 hours ago, Frosty said:

The only other thing to remember in ‘68 is that there was no Judge or carousel red (orange) paint available that year. 

dam !! i kinda like the idea of building a bright orange one with a butler level spunky engine !!! fitzys already offered to come over and build a engine for me, !! lets big cube it with some sexy edlebrock heads and do a trick 3 carb/ efi system !!! i am sure i saw a carb looking efi tri set up some where on the web ? 

 and dash gauges ..... dekota digital the whole thing !!!! i was so impressed with the kit i used in that cortina ! 

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/1968-pontiac-gto-proves-clones-can-be-cool-too/

[64 kiwi boni]

i could soooo do this !...

https://www.gaaclassiccars.com/vehicles/31427/1968-pontiac-gto-judge-tribute

 I do like blue !!!

https://www.reddit.com/r/classiccars/comments/2eo4l8/1968_pontiac_gto/?rdt=64180

[Wrongway]

I'm pretty sure you have like 47 and a 1/2 cars already bro, what's one more! All it takes is time and money 

[64 kiwi boni]

24 minutes ago, Wrongway said:

I'm pretty sure you have like 47 and a 1/2 cars already bro, what's one more! All it takes is time and money 

Yeah ! Egggggggactly 

To tell ya the truth mate 

i feel soooo much better after the weekend!!! We did our club shed raid where we go and check out club members sheds !!!

There was this guy with a shed full of cars  polished floors 

ever one was registered and had a current warrant , and he didn’t drive a single one of them  !!! 
he has no idea how to fix them. He justA collects …. 
thats sooo not me ! I want to make build and drive them !!! 

[64 kiwi boni]

I do like the idea of having a real muscle car !!!! Even my 72 isn’t a real muscle car ! By 72 there was alsorts of restrictions !!!

 

[64 kiwi boni]

here is the motor number on the 68 ... i will need a hand finding what it is ?

[Frosty]

Kiwi - I need the casting date near the distributor to know more. for sure. Possible YU block codes are listed below. Also if the displacement is cast into the side of the block, that will help too. Yes it is possible that a '67 engine could have been installed in a '68 car, depending on the casting date of the engine.

 

[64 kiwi boni]

Thanks frosty 

the guy I am doing the deal with sent me that picture 

so I will need to ask him to look for the casting number 👍

[Frosty]

Yeah - so there are a few things to look for.

1. Near the distributor hole is the casting date of the block. This tells us when the block was cast. It gives us a rough idea when this engine was assembled (after the casting date).

2. The cast number - this is a six digit number. This will tell us what the displacement and the model year(s) this engine was made for.

3. In the latter part of the 60s and in the 70s, Pontiac put the engine displacement on the block in bold numbers, you can't miss it.

[64 kiwi boni]

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

3. In the latter part of the 60s and in the 70s, Pontiac put the engine displacement on the block in bold numbers, you can't miss it.

roughly where on the block mate ? 

[Frosty]

As for displacement (assuming it is stamped on the block in the first place),.On 1968–69 428 blocks you will find “428” stamped between the freeze plugs. On blocks produced in 1970 and after, you will find 350, 400, or 455 stamped towards the left side of the front of the block. There is no displacement stamp for 421, 389 or 326 blocks, hence the need to know the casting number.

[Fitzy]

What was it with GM? Let's put the distributor at the back of the block where it's almost impossible to work on. Hey - whilst we're there let's stamp some critical information in the same place. That'll teach people to peer into the engine bay.

They'll be the same people who figured that the fuse box should be buried so far into the footwell that getting to it will always be a Cecil B DeMille production to change a fuse.

[TWO LANE BLACK TOP]

On 11/9/2024 at 6:42 PM, 64 kiwi boni said:

Guys I need your thoughts 

I have a guy who wants to swap one of my Holden crewman utes for a 1968 Lemans 

I have only seen pictures and can see it’s missing interior door cards and trim 

seat are there but rough as 

body looks to be good except for lower back window panel , missing rear screen 

Plain Jane wheels , 350 engine not running but I was told it was a good runner . 
remebering I already have the 57 and 63 to build …. Are these a good car to have ?

Is it worth building into a gto clone ? 
which brings me to my next question …

What’s the difference between a lemans and gto , hood grill lights ???? 

 

Kiwi...

The 1968 GTO...Was also offered with the Chrome front Bumper...As a Credit Delete Option...(it is very rare with 2108 GTOs so equipped in 1968)...Instead of the Endura Front bumper/Hidden Headlights...That We all know and Love...So instead of Forking out major $$$ for the Endura piece and related parts...The 1968 Lemans front bumper Would actually be Factory Correct On a 1968 GTO...If you decided to go the GTO Clone Route.. 

[Frosty]

41 minutes ago, Fitzy said:

What was it with GM? Let's put the distributor at the back of the block where it's almost impossible to work on. Hey - whilst we're there let's stamp some critical information in the same place. That'll teach people to peer into the engine bay.

They'll be the same people who figured that the fuse box should be buried so far into the footwell that getting to it will always be a Cecil B DeMille production to change a fuse.

….and your point is?

Fitzy - you and i both know that automotive design is not based on common sense, logic, or serviceability! What in the actual Hell were you thinking? 

[64 kiwi boni]

1 hour ago, TWO LANE BLACK TOP said:

Kiwi...

The 1968 GTO...Was also offered with the Chrome front Bumper...As a Credit Delete Option...(it is very rare with 2108 GTOs so equipped in 1968)...Instead of the Endura Front bumper/Hidden Headlights...That We all know and Love...So instead of Forking out major $$$ for the Endura piece and related parts...The 1968 Lemans front bumper Would actually be Factory Correct On a 1968 GTO...If you decided to go the GTO Clone Route.. 

Geees two lane !!!! I recon that would be cool to do 👍👍👍👍👍

I haven’t had a reply from the guy 

but I will try and get up in the next couple of weeks and get it 

the deal is a swap for this Holden crewman cross 6 I have