How rare is a 68 c10 w/396/TH400?
 

I recently aquired a 1968 C10 short bed fleetside with 396 and TH400. Truck is all original with matching numbers and 73,000 miles. My dad bought it during the oil crunch of the 70's and we used it for our service station work truck. The owner was scared of the gas mileage at the time. He always said it was pretty rare, but I would like to know how rare. I can't find production numbers like you can for cars. If its rare, I don't want to customize it. If not, I want a blower sticking out the hood! Any help would be appreciated.

Not sure on the pro #'s, but I bet you have a very rare truck there!!! :)

:welcome2: WELCOME 2 THE BOARD FROM WEST 10-UH-C :welcome2:

OH YEA, WE NEED PIC'S :wop:

I'll get some pics, but she's unrestored right now. No major rust, my brother drove it for a few years and primered it. Body is stright except for the grill is bent from deer damage. Not bad though. Been sitting at my house for about 5 years doing nothing, but that's about to change. Finally talked my old man into letting me have it before it ruined. Ran perfect when it was parked, but I have to get it going again. Thanks for everyone's help. I missed not having a project. My first truck was a '72 SB/SS and I miss it!

Here are some pics. She ain't much now...but she will be!!!

Looks good, looks pretty solid. how is it for rust? Gotta luv the look of these
trucks a a short fleet

Only surface rust. Not even rocker panels have deep rust. Cab corners also clean. Wood bed is rotten, but its been that way since we got it 30 years ago.

Sweet project you got there! Keep us posted on progress, oh yea we love pics!

It's got a tach dash too :cool:

:metal: WICKED PIC'S :metal:

That looks like a sweet project you got there! She will be badAZZZ when you get her fixed up!!!

Yeah, lots of people go crazy when they see it has the original in-dash tach. Never understood why it was such a big deal, but it must be fairly rare. My old '72 just had gas gauge and speedo.

It's got the good looking choke delete too...nice score of a truck.

You got a good one to fix up! :D

For Sale?

is that a CST? because i see a badge on the door or am i just :dum:

i agree that is one sweet truck to start with

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET truck you have there!!!!!! It had a lot of options for that year. That would be a nice one to restore to stock!!!!!!!!! :)

Igot a 68 short fleet 396/400 truck also. of coarse mine started out as a sbc 3spd truck. Looks like a cool truck to start with.

big block
 

There was a local truck, almost the same. 396,t-400 ps,pb ac fleetside, chrome. Same color and original as that one. Kid ragged it out. Wrecked it, put 72 clip, 454 and traded a perfect fleetside for a ragged stepside. Made me sick.
Take care of it.

Yeah, it is a CST. It has the "Custom" badge on the doors. I think it came with every option you could get that year. Its got power steering and power brakes. Even the step bumper shows up on the options plate on the glove box door. I think I will go back all original with it, so I'll probably be bugging you guys for parts before long. I even like the original color. The medium blue with white top and hand painted white pinstripe.

here's the motor
 

Pretty darn stock, I'd say. Not sure where the air cleaner got off to.

ohhhhhh man id love to have that

-nice

i could stop by and take that truck off your hands if you don't want it messing up your grass anymore

Whoa............
 

Take care of those pics, if you haven't moved it yet consider getting professional pics taken or get ahold of one of the magazines. Those "found in the weeds" pictures are outstanding in my opinion. What a story that would be. This truck is an awesome find and save. Keep good documentation.

Not to be pessimist though check out and watch the firewall and inside cowl for rust. With that many pine needles falling there is sure to be lots of crud down inside side vents. Open up fresh air vents inside cab and check for debris and vacuum them out and get idea if/where damage exists. This truck should be ground up restored in my opinion. I migh take off rear bumper and replace with chrome one if it were mine. What are holes in bumper, looks like old mod. for exhaust to look like old GT mustangs.

That was the first thing I noticed too Randy.

Ron

Definitely a nice starting point. That thing looks like it's sank a few inches in the ground. It's trying to go back to dust, don't let it!

Glad you guys are impressed. Thanks for the offer to save my grass, but I'll get it moved :cool: . Before I took these pics, I cleaned the cowl off. It was stacked w/ pine needles, but there didn't appear to be many down in the vents themselves. I hope I don't find any suprises. I'll know more when I pull the motor/tranny. Already talked to a local machine shop about rebuilding the motor.
:confused: What mag do you think would want "in the weeds" pics of this project? I'd love a little exposure! :aw:

Oh yeah, the holes in the bumper! Always wondered about that myself. This truck came with the camper package on the option plate. In fact, when my dad bought it, it came with a slide in/truck back camper. The camper may have had some braces or something that slid in those holes. My brother wanted to run the exhaust out those holes at one time. I personally would prefer those old chrome smooth bumpers that came standard, but the step does show up on the option plate. Thanks again for everyone's responses. Y'all have got me stoked about this project :metal: ! Still looking for production #'s if someone knoiws a source. I got a book called "Encyc. of American Cars" that tells you how many models with diff. eng/trans combinations were made in a certain year, but has no truck listings.

Here's some #'s for you from "Chevrolet Pickups 1946-1972" by John Gunnell:

Total 1968 production of pickups and vans C, K and G series is 485123 units. Of that # approx 4% were CST's. Also of that total, 46,483 were fleetside swb pickups.

So following that thru, 4% of 46483 is 1859 SWB Fleetside CST units. How many with BB? Anybodys guess, but a CST did not automatically come with it. If you figure 25% of those CST SWB Fleetsides had the BB installed your truck is indeed rare based upon percentage of total production. It is one of 465 units by my guestimates.

The 68 396 was rated at 325 hp @ 4800 rpm. It has a 10.25:1 compression ratio. Again this info is from same book. That color is Meduim blue poly.

If it were mine, I'd treat it as a stock resto given it's apparent rarity and desireability. Any other treatment would be a crime IMO.

Of course, this is from a guy would would do a stock rebuilt on any vehicle regardless, so take it for what its worth.

I'd like to see a pic of the option sticker. :c2:

Nice truck you have. Pretty much a perfect start IMHO.;)

Very cool, remonds me of the stuff I used to see in fields when I lived in Wyoming. You have got a keeper for sure!! Mine truck is similar, except for that #'s matching engine thing :lol: .... I also have a choke delete, but it is a plain round bezel screw with a plate behind it to block the "choke" word on the gauge cluster. The square GM type is the one I've seen the most. Anyone know more about that...?
Definitely check the cowl and the kick panel vents. It's amazing how much funk can accumulate in there.

Thanks for the numbers! I have to agree. It would be a crime to do anything but original resto. It was cool from the factory. DaVinci wouldn't like it if someone painted a big smile on the Mona Lisa!
I'm going to attach a pic of the option plate, but its pretty hard to read. You can clearly see where the 396, TH400, PS,PB are listed, but the plate is pretty rough. We used this as our work truck for 25 years.

Does anyone know if this truck would have come factory with the air cleaner that had the cool decals? The rally flags and the "396-325hp" like you see on Chevelles and Corvettes

Don't be a sissy ... Cut it! Besides, the Moaning Lisa is way overated. :cool:

Whatever you decide to do, nice project.

You definately have a piece of history there. Spare no expence on the resto, it will be worth it.

A 68 short fleet with a BB IS a rare find. My guess is it's a CST going by the trim on the pedals. Only CST's had that in 68 anyway. It also has a chrome front bumper which would be consistant with 68 CST. It should also have blue carpet but it looks like that's long gone. Is it listed as a CST on the glove box?

What does your bench seat look like under that cover? If it's a stock blue 68 CST bench I bet it's a dead ringer for my 68 CST bench seat.

KUDOS FOR KEEPING HER STOCK!

Nice looking truck!!! I too would go with original restore with out modifying it other than updating safety features etc. But that is your choice. Does the radio still work in it?

Try and get the VIN and engine numbers and rear end numbers stampings off it too.

According to the GM Mechanical Manual I have, it shows for '68 Light trucks the 396 as

4 bbl, 310 hp @ 4800 / 400 ft lbs @ 3200 with 9.0:
4.094 Bore x 3.76 Stroke

Engine Codes as:

w/Man = XF
w/Man w/AIR = XE
w/Auto = XH
w/ Auto w/AIR = XG

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you have "Custom" on the doors, that would mean your truck is a "Custom" and not a "CST". What does it say on the glovebox option list? Does it say Custom chrome equipment or Custom Sport?


You have a very nice truck, one that you would not be able to replace for cheap if you got rid of this truck.

In the "Standard catalog of American Light-Duty truck by Lenzke/Krause" it show that 3% of 1968 trucks got the 396 V8 with 4 barrel carb. Also, 3% of 1968 trucks got the Custom appearance package.

Look for an options sheet in the underneath part of the seat. some people have found them there. beautiful truck for a complete resto.:confused:

What part of SC are you in?