What I do is lay a thick blanket over the grille & rad support area, and kinda lay on top of the carbs.
(One advantage to being skinny )
There's some debate over when they started stamping the partial VIN there, might be 1/1/68, don't know for certain.
Not uncommon for Hemis to have been replaced back in the day, or for people to stamp them after the fact (been a problem with Vettes for decades).
Reinforcement at front spring mount you posted is correct for Hemi car.
Original fuel line on them was 3/8, with a small vapor separator can near the alternator, commonly discarded/missing.
Original exhaust if still present would have resonators and chrome tips.
Wiper motor should be plated 3-speed, not black 2-speed, to clear air cleaner (Also check dash switch).