Hey everyone, new to the muscle car game and decided to dive in with a 1968 Camaro... It currently is in running condition with a 396/402 out of an Oldsmobile, a saginaw 4spd, and a 12 bolt posi rear end. The factory original color was British racing green with gold deluxe interior. I am planning on returning it to it's original color scheme, but I don't think I can live with gold interior, so I will be going with black. I'm very excited, nervous, and anxious to get started. I also look forward to learning from you guys and be a contributing member.
A quick question first, how can I figure out what my rear end is geared at? Also a few pics on how she looks now...
http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=e2b4f2e7.jpg

 

Sweet car,wonder what the motor was from originally,never heard of an Olds coming with a BBC in it so I'm sure someone must have put it in there.
The only sure way to get an accurate gear ratio is to count the teeth on the ring and pinion gears and divide the pinion gear teeth into the ring gear teeth.
You can come close by jacking the rear off the ground and counting how many times the drive shaft turns to one full revolution of the wheel.
For instance if the shaft spins about 3 1/2 times for one revolution you probably have 3.55 gears,a little over 4 times probably 4.10 or 4.11,about 2 3/4 times they're probably 2.73 and so on.

 

Man, thats a nice looking car. If your rear end is 4.11, I'd be curious as to how it handles on the highway with that 4 speed. My car has the 396 engine with a 4.11 rear and and I topped out pretty quickly on the interstate. I ended up replacing the 4 speed for a 5 speed.

 

Nice choice for a first time muscle car restoration you picked a good one! I once purchased a Canadian built Pontiac with a factory installed big block chevy perhaps the Oldsmobile your 396 was also a Canadian built car...just a thought. Enjoy!

 

For checking the gear ratio using the twirl method, one full revolution with both wheels off the ground works only if you have a posi. If you have an open diff, you have to keep one tire on the ground, and turn the free tire two full revolutions, and count how many times the driveshaft turns.

 

I had my technicians at the dealership that I work at take a look and got it idling about a 1,000 RPM lower with playing with the demon carb that came with the vehicle. When I was driving on the highway last night it seemed to be running around 2500-3000 RPM at 55-60 MPH in 4th gear. I just got parts dropped off at my door today for the RS grill kit, door handles, a new lock set, 2.5" cowl hood, hood hinges, a new latch assembly, and pin. The only concern I had was that I didnt see any hardware to install any of these items. Maybe I didnt look hard enough, but does anyone know what kind of hardware I need to install the grille, and headlamp bezels?

 

rear sound like 3:31 or 3:55 possibly

 

Are you sure about the British Green color. It's been several years, but when I was researching colors for my 68 the only green was Ivy Gold. That was the original color of mine, interior and exterior.

 

Here is a shot of the cowl tag: http://m998.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Justinradlick/544dc0e7.jpg.html?pbauth=1_uLEBonVPfaLdh1h3YMYz2f4 XyUYyo0lrnVhHAyuvaQwAg2t3BmLV%2BkNfElaccYDP5RLQi6y azQZO5dW0Zajgx6pIF7eNqwyytNQuumQqiELh6dIs2cCGWloTH b5J%2FZ1ImykOsuQxBDw2CQWFteX6l%2FGTugmX3%2Bf2ZVMEO %2BzDJ64%3D

if i decoded it correctly it was built 1st week of april, is a V8 coupe with gold deluxe interior, and british green top and bottom (ZZ)

if you can't see/read the picture this is what it says in order
04A
68-12437 NOR108469 BODY
721 ZZ PAINT

 

I think ours was built in the same plant

68-12467 NOR135198
722 G1

3rd week of May. Norwood Ohio
Ash Gold with white top (convertible)
Standard bucket seat Gold

I tried to find out how I came to that, but I can't find supporting documents. I don't remember a standard green other than the one above. ZZ sounds almost like a custom color code. I believe you, I'm just suprised. And I agree, it's the ugliest color ever! I'm going with a black interior myself.