Did 68s Have Stove Pipes???

[Graham57a]

I have seen conflicting info on this so I was curious what the experts think. Two photos below are both survivor 68s with small blocks. One has a stove pipe and the vacuum air cleaner, the other neither. Which one is correct? Or is it possible the stove pipe was a later production truck as they were transitioning to 69??

[Joesjunk]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe 68's had a stove pipe

[Joesjunk]

Here's the 16k mile truck I had, it was a 69 and no pipe. I believe they started in 70

[1968 baby blue C10]

My uncle and I were talking about this the other day. I know at least the 307 in 68 didn't have a heatshield to even attach one to, there is no place on my ram horns for the full heatshield that I can see. I sure would like to have a factory air cleaner though.

[hewittca]

I don't know anything about what trucks had the stove pipe, but for what it's worth my '68 had the full stove pipe setup on it. As far as I could tell from talking with the PO and looking up casting numbers, my 307 was all original.

[aggiegrad]

I also have an original 68 GMC with 307 with the stove pipe.

[Graham57a]

Originally Posted by hewittca

I don't know anything about what trucks had the stove pipe, but for what it's worth my '68 had the full stove pipe setup on it. As far as I could tell from talking with the PO and looking up casting numbers, my 307 was all original.

Corey which plant did your truck come out of?

[CaptRMW]

The second survivor picture may be a California truck with the smog pump and may have made a difference in the other emission related systems. Chevyland or other Cali members would know better than I.

[toms68cst]

That second engine picture posted in the original post is my truck. It's a 68 with a manual four speed. From what I've seen, automatic transmission trucks were more likely to have stove pipes and manuals were more likely to have smog pumps. I think 3/4 ton's and higher were exempt from more strict smog controls at the time.

Other rules would apply for other years and of course California rules of the time would apply too.

I see someone else has an orange alternator bracket on their '68. That's a whole other mystery for the '68's!

[1968 baby blue C10]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

That second engine picture posted in the original post is my truck. It's a 68 with a manual four speed. From what I've seen, automatic transmission trucks were more likely to have stove pipes and manuals were more likely to have smog pumps. I think 3/4 ton's and higher were exempt from more strict smog controls at the time.

Other rules would apply for other years and of course California rules of the time would apply too.

I see someone else has an orange alternator bracket on their '68. That's a whole other mystery for the '68's!

That is really interesting. Mine is a factory 4 speed also. But mine had neither the stove pipe or the smog pump. Mine was an Arkansas truck though.
What’s the deal with the orange bracket?

[toms68cst]

Originally Posted by 1968 baby blue C10

That is really interesting. Mine is a factory 4 speed also. But mine had neither the stove pipe or the smog pump. Mine was an Arkansas truck though.
What’s the deal with the orange bracket?

99.99 percent of chevy small blocks have come with flat black alternator brackets over the years. I've seen a few '68 327s over the years here with orange brackets. Most Chevy experts see an orange alternator bracket and insist it's incorrect.

I am pretty sure mine was orange originally.

[1968 baby blue C10]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

99.99 percent of chevy small blocks have come with flat black alternator brackets over the years. I've seen a few '68 327s over the years here with orange brackets. Most Chevy experts see an orange alternator bracket and insist it's incorrect.

I am pretty sure mine was orange originally.

That’s pretty cool, must be super rare, I’ve never even heard about it till now. So is it supposedly only 327s that have it?

[Joesjunk]

My old '68 K/20 Panel truck, 307, original oil bath air cleaner, had orange alternator brackets, no stove pipe

[toms68cst]

Originally Posted by 1968 baby blue C10

That’s pretty cool, must be super rare, I’ve never even heard about it till now. So is it supposedly only 327s that have it?

I don't think orange alternator bracket is a 327 only thing. According to Joesjunk post, looks like 307's were affected too.

All the smog brackets on my 327 were orange. It's odd that the oil fillers are all black though in '68.

[toms68cst]

Looking again at the 68 picture with a heat riser, it looks like there is a dip-stick for the tranny. CORRECTION, its the throttle linkage. I can't tell if its an automatic or not.