68 Satellite convertible

I hauled this home Monday afternoon. The car had popped up on Craigslist and the ad said the seller was interested in a 55-7 Chevy trade. Very nice guy. I traded a 56 Chevy 2d HT I'd owned for years. There was just something about this Satellite; had to have it. He'd owned it for a number of years but just hadn't gotten to it. He commented that when he'd gone to look at the car about 8 yrs ago, it just grabbed him. It did the same thing to me.

VIN RH27H8G--------- You'll note a shifter handle sticking out of the floor. All appearances are it's an original 4 speed car. I've got to believe that's pretty unusual. It has a 69 driver's door on it from a hardtop, so the glass isn't right on that side.

I've often said I wish cars could talk. Man, would I like to know the story on this one. Currently has a 440 in it which appears to be 1968 vintage, Torker intake, Hooker Super Comp headers, 2 1/2" exhaust, scatter shield, pinion snubber, air shocks, small section of chain reinforcing the driver's side engine mount, Sun tach and sure grip rear end. Haven't had a chance to see what the gear ratio is.

Sorting some things out and hunting down a few parts it needs yet, but I keep finding myself standing there just looking at the car. We were both happy with the deal.

Happy to share this with you all.

I flipping like it a lot. I like the black with the blue interior- was it originally a black car??

nice score

Thank you! Light blue outside originally. The door jambs and underside of trunk lid have been resprayed in what appears to be the original color blue. The original color is visible on the tops of the front fenders where the trim is missing.

It has the early style ashtray where the door slides down. I was bummed when I saw the pad missing, but found it in the glove box! Always thought those were cool.

AWESOME score!!! My dad has a 68 383 4 speed Satellite hard top, RH23G8A (one of 165-175). He saved it from going to the junk yard in 1976 ( bought it for $100). Through the years we’ve only ever seen one other similar car, it was a RH23H8A (one of 74), this is the first rag top I’ve ever seen. Congrats on a great score!

Thanks for the feedback! One source I checked claimed it's a one of 16. I don't really care, it just a neat car with tons of personality.

I've had the car up on the hoist a couple times now and have not found any nasty surprises. I always cringe putting a convertible up in the air, but the door gaps didn't change near as much as I expected. So the good news is I got it up and down and it didn't break in half. I am really amazed at what those few additions to the floor pan/frame rails make in the strength of the unibody.

There is some evidence of stress on the floor from the pinion snubber, so it's obviously been driven hard. 3:55 sure grip. Nice gear ratio I think. The Hookers are very large tube headers and a work of art. One tube goes around the outside of the torsion bar on each side.

The seller had started the car for me when I first went to look at it, and again when I picked it up as he drove it on the trailer. I also ran it to unload it and drive it in the pole barn. It wasn't running the greatest with the huge Holley double pumper on it and having sat for quite some time. I replaced the plugs, added 5 gallons of fresh gas and put a smaller, known good Holley on for now. It had been converted to electronic ignition.

After a couple days of goofing around with it I went to move it from the hoist and it wouldn't start; no fuel. I figured the fuel pump probably gave up, so put a new fuel pump on it. Still wouldn't draw fuel. Checked the fuel line and the connection to the tank pickup; No holes or signs of leaks. I did find evidence of the car having an electric fuel pump mounted back over the rear end housing. Replaced what rubber hoses there were in the line and still no change.

Blew low pressure air back through the fuel line from the engine end and can definitely hear bubbling in the fuel tank. Plenty of gas in the tank. Tried with the gas cap off just in case it wasn't venting. Starting to think I'm missing something obvious. What are the odds of getting a new fuel pump that's no good? I finally just rigged up a gravity feed gas supply to run it for a while. Runs and sounds much better than it did before. Then the alternator started making noise and froze up shortly after. I've a Carter competition fuel pump on the shelf. Think I'll install it where the pump had been previously and see if it'll draw from the tank.

The spring loaded door wedges were gone, as were the door pieces they wedge against. I assume they were removed when the door jambs were painted. Picked up that stuff and a new piece of driver's door glass arrived today. Waiting for a vent window of the right dimensions and then will straighten out the driver's door glass situation. Would like to run it up and down the road before winter sets in. Fun project!

Nice find, I love convertibles, that will be a fun car to build. Glad to see it wasn't turned into a RR or GTX over the years. If the headers are nice and that unique I would use them on the finished car. Good luck and have fun with it.

Does it have its fender tag ?
Look for a 3 on the bottom row for 4-speed. 5 = auto.
Color in the rearend shot looks like Q1; of course that or U1 (light blue metallic) would be called out on the tag.

I wonder what ever happened to this one?

It was at Carlisle in 2010. The guy said he bought it for parts and couldn't cut it up.

Kevin

After a couple days of goofing around with it I went to move it from the hoist and it wouldn't start; no fuel. I figured the fuel pump probably gave up, so put a new fuel pump on it. Still wouldn't draw fuel. Checked the fuel line and the connection to the tank pickup; No holes or signs of leaks.


I have had a similar experience with a worn out pump rod.
Cool car !,
Mark