1968 C10 v8 3spd question

[Drummerboy]

So in decoding my VIN, I now know that my truck was a V8/3spd truck, not a six cylinder three speed truck, like I was told. Anyway, I know it's a V8 by its VIN, and I know that it's a 3spd by the old column shifter collar, that's still on the truck. It now has, what I was told to be a 454. Now I'm pretty sure it was a 327 but, how do I decode that? Could it have been a 396/3spd truck? And, if it was a 327, which I'm sure it was, what would the rear end have been?

[CSTGURU]

In 1968 the base V8 engine was a 307. That engine would not be lised on the glovebox door, beacause it was not an "option" . 307 was the standard base engine
If it was upgraded to the optional 327 or 396, then that option code would apear

Same goes for a 6 cyl. If it was a base 250, the code would not appear, but if it was upgraded to the optional 292, then an option code would apear

Your truck was born with a 307

[CSTGURU]

I believe the standard rear end was a 3:73. The option was a 3:07 or 4:11 and maybe others

[Drummerboy]

Ok, awesome. So I have an old 307 truck. Man, you never hear of anyone running those. We're they just not a great V8?

[35boulder]

I'm running a 307 in my truck w 3OTT now as that is how it came. Though perhaps not the best of engines they will run. I would not spend the money to have one rebuilt though, so when this one goes it GM crate for me. Enjoy your truck.

[mike16]

I had one for years and just sold it. it was great but a bit of a gas hog. rust in the tank signed its fate

[Drummerboy]

I have a 454 now with zero complaints.

[Alex V.]

Originally Posted by Drummerboy

Ok, awesome. So I have an old 307 truck. Man, you never hear of anyone running those. We're they just not a great V8?

They're built from mostly the same stuff as all the other SBC's, just the first of the engines designed to weather the storm of smog that was coming in the late 60's. Not terribly powerful or heavy duty, just the same (smaller) bore as a 283 with more stroke to make torque for moving the large cars and trucks of the time down the road in an efficient manner - 2 barrel carb., 2 bolt mains, low compression smog heads, etc. Short of the owners that really want to keep their truck original, the best category the 307 can be put into is kinda, "Run it until it's done then swap in something different". Any money put into performance upgrades is much better spent on a 327 or 350, which were both 4" bore with a 3.25 or 3.48" stroke, respectively.