Numbers Matching Details

[mcduck]

Greetings all!

Have recently started a full restoration on a '68 Charger R/T 440 Magnum that I bought from my uncle several years ago.  Based on the VIN and build sheet I found under the rear bench, it is definitely a 440 R/T.

At this point, I'm trying to decide to go full resto or mildly modified resto.  A lot of this will depend on whether my car is numbers matching or if I'll have to seek out numbers matching parts.

I did a search on this site and found lots of valuable info (thanks to everyone who posted before!).  Now I'd just like to recap and make sure I'm not missing any details.  if there is something else I need to check to ensure it is all numbers matching, please let me know.  Quick replies are much appreciated at this point as I will have a great opportunity to pick up parts at the Charlotte AutoFair at the end of next week

Thing I know I should check for at this point...
Engine Block - casting # and VIN
Heads - casting #s
Intake - casting #s
Tranny - VIN
Fender Tag - VIN (I know this one matches as I've already decoded it)
Radiator Support - VIN
Driver side 1/4 panel - VIN

Are there any other 'numbers matching' points I need to check?

Sadly, I know I am going to lose the 1/4 panel match (if it is original now).  It is rotted pretty bad.  Not sure if it is possible to have the VIN area cut out and spliced into a new panel or not.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help.  Looking forward to becoming more active here as I get cranking on this project.  My goal is to have my car completed in 6-12 months.

-Andy

[ScottW]

This link will help you determine if your car is numbers matching or not:

http://www.andy440.com/other.htm

General parts like heads & manifolds are referred to as "date coded" not "numbers matching".

Welcome to the site. 

[mikepmcs]

I also believe the vin is stamped in the trunk on the left side under the weatherstrip.  Is that the part you say you are going to lose?
Just wanted to make sure.   Welcome!

v/r
Mike

[gtx6970]

On a 1968 The vin isn't stamped on the body, The sequence number is

[Chryco Psycho]

the engine & trans May have the sequnce # stamped on them but it will be stamped on the top rear of the engine & belhousing beside each other if it is there at all , it wil not be on the oil pan rail as it was in later years

[mcduck]

Thanks for the info, everyone!  Got home kind of late last night, but was able to check a few items.  Block is a match for my body and has a casting date of 1-16-68.  So, original motor at least.  Still need to verify the tranny.  Sadly, the 1/4 panel number does not match the last 6 digits of the VIN.    If it is supposed to be the same digits as the VIN, then it appears the car was damaged and the 1/4 was replaced at the very least.  Have the heads out where I can check the casting numbers... all I need to figure out is exactly what I should expect to see there.  At this point, I pretty much expect the car is numbers matching except for the body work on the quarter/rear of the car and the fact that I do not have the original intake.  I can probably overcome the intake situation, but I guess I'm stuck with the mismatched number on the 1/4 panel...

[mcduck]

On a 1968 The vin isn't stamped on the body, The sequence number is

Wow... that does make a big difference.  As I understand it (based on the information shown on the link provided by ScottW above.  Thanks, Scott!), the body number stamp (which appears on the 1/4 panel and the radiator brace) does NOT equal the last six digits of the VIN.  Correct?  Andy440's page describes the number as the "shipping order number", so what I really need to compare is the body stamp number to the shipping order number on the fender tag, right?  Guess I'll be double checking tonight... car may be completely numbers matching afterall!!!  Thanks again for the information!!!

[mcduck]

UPDATE!

Was able to decode my car tonight... I have the Broadcast sheet and Fender Tag.  My car is all numbers matching!   Well, except for the distributor which was apparently replaced in late 1968 and I'm not sure where the original intake is.  The rest is there and correct for my RT which was constructed in Jan of 1968.  White car/red interior/stripe delete. 

Not many options and some I'm trying to figure out.  Did all RT's come with HD/Police grade parts?  My broadcast sheet indicates I have HD 11" brakes (code 478).  No big deal there, but then it also has a code 363 which appears to mean 4spd man tranny for '65 model car.  Well my car is a '68 and is a factory 727 auto... so what does 363 mean for 1968? Oh yeah, this appears under a broadcast sheet heading of Pol. Orn. Pkg. Form's.  It also has code 648 which decodes as HEMI suspension police HD pkg.  Again, police/HD parts... I assumed this just to be standard on an RT model... is this true?

And the weirdest one... right nest to the Hemi suspension code, I have a code 647 which is also under Fleet Items, but has no heading to indicate what it is and I can find no reference to this code on broadcast sheet decoding websites.  Can anyone tell me what code 647 is???

Figuring at the very least I have a numbers matching '68 R/T 440HP car, which is a pleasant surprise.  Just wondering what the other codes mean if anything.  Any help?

Some of the codes for my car (btw, aside from those I mentioned above, I was able to determine what each of these is)
319 - Stripe Delete
395 - Torqueflight 727
404 - 3:23 gear
408 - suregrip
415 -
418 - rear window defogger
421 - am radio trans. audio
456 - power steering
478 - 11" HD brakes
626 - battery 70 amps
363 - (under spl pkgs - Pol Orn Pkg Form's)
647 - (under Fleet Items - no description)
648 - HEMI suspension police HD pkg.

There were several others, but they were pretty standard stuff like console, moldings, etc.

[mcduck]

hmm... no replies... does anyone know what option codes 363 and 647 are for a '68 Charger?

[69CoronetRT]

hmm... no replies... does anyone know what option codes 363 and 647 are for a '68 Charger?

363= Special body style- R/T. This code is found on Charger and Coronet R/T packages
415=heater with defrost
647= HD 14" wheels