[LilHerm]

I'm a newbie and have a couple questions if someone could help.

I bought a 68 Camaro, well wife did for my 40th b-day, and was told it may be a rare L78? This is what the block numbers are saying:

Date Code C26 8 - March 26, 2008
Cast #: 3955272 - 396/375
Stamp: T0414JH 19W79942

I have been fighting a miss and found a broken valve spring. Can't seem to find what spring to replace it with! They're double springs.

Head Cast # 672292

From what I have found, these are from a 70's 402/454, Oval Port, Open Chamber, 2.06 intake, 1.72 exhaust and 110cc.

Are these good heads for this motor? Are they degrading the performance? If I need to replace the heads, I will still need to replace the spring until I can get better heads. Still want to cruise around. I was told that the reason I had some bent rods and broken spring is because the motor is too much for the heads?

Any suggestions?

[poncho62]

Dont know about the numbers, but the L78 had square port heads......4 bolt mains, forged crank and pistons.....

[OneMoreTime]

Most likely the engine has been replaced...Pull the heads have the valves done..new set of springs and pushrods and go have a good time..

Typically bent pushrods and broken springs come from overrevving the engine..

Sam

[Madmax305]

Originally Posted by poncho62

Dont know about the numbers, but the L78 had square port heads......4 bolt mains, forged crank and pistons.....

Yes, they were the rectangular port heads with a closed chamber design. The pistons were trw pop-ups with a 11-1 compression ratio...I remember my 70 Camaro SS L78 very well....

[FmrStrtracer]

This number(19W79942) is a partial VIN
1= Chevrolet
9= 1969
W= the assembly plant
79942 should match the end of your VIN, but it probably wont, because your car is a '68, and Camaro's werent assembled at Willow Run Assembly(W).

Somewhere along the line the motors been replaced.

You'll want to look at your Body tag on the firewall or cowl and decode that to help figure out how your car was originally built.

If the repairs make the car run good, drive it and enjoy it while you research its background.

Edit: AAnd that casting date would be 1968. Are you sure that last digit is 8, not a 9.
The JH code wasnt used for the 68 Camaro, but was for the 69 Camaros, Novas, for the 375/396.
Looks like youve got a 1969 375/396 block, that was installed in a Nova on 4/14/69.