1968 GMC Pickup & Suburban Fact Sheet

The Custom Appearance Group (RPO Z61) Bright metal grille, windshield and rear window moldings, vent window frame and custom emblems. Glove box door nameplate and instrument panel knob inserts, vinyl coated floor mat, parking brake lever cover, and bright metal front end molding. Cost – $35.00.

FenderSide bodies are con­tained between the rear fenders to provide a completely unobstructed load compartment. Floors were of durable select wood with recessed steel skid strips. Rubber­ covered support chains held tailgate in open position to handle long loads.

FenderSide pickups were offered with either conventional 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. All versions were available with 6½- or 8-ft. bodies and had the same chassis features as corresponding Wide-Side models. A 9-ft. body was offered on a 30 Series chassis with leaf-spring rear suspension and a maximum GVW rating of 7,800 lbs.

The Suburban sat on the 127.0″ wheelbase that was used by pickup trucks with 8-foot beds. A 3⁄4-ton Suburban was available. 4×4 models were also offered. Suburbans were configured with a single driver-side door and two passenger doors.

The rear-wheel-drive Suburban was also available as a panel truck for commercial purposes.The panel version could be had with either a closed rear section with no windows or with windows similar to the Suburban. The Panel had no side doors. All Panels, regardless of side windows, had windows fitted to the rear doors, unlike the Suburban, that had a station wagon-like rear hatch.

The Suburban/Panel shared a large amount of mechanical commonality with its pickup-truck counterpart, sharing the same powertrain offerings. A 250-CID I-6 was standard, with a 292 CID I-6 offered as an option, as well as Chevrolet V-8 engines of 307, 327 and 396 CID.

Cab and sheet metal are identical to that of the pickups. Frames however, are of heavier gauge steel to withstand the punishment of off-road use. Front and rear leaf­ spring suspensions were of the new weight-saving tapered leaf type which reduced inter-leaf friction and provided a smoother, more even ride.

3/4-TON COMMERCIAL – MODEL CS and CM – SIX and V-8: Trucks in the  CA and CM Series 3/4-ton line had the same styling and trim changes as 1/2-ton trucks. Suburbans and Panels were available. They had the same dimensions as comparable 1/2-ton models, but with heavier chassis components.

292 CID Six-cylinder. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Seven main bearings.
Displacement: 292 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.875 x 4.125 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.5:1.
Horsepower: 170 @ 4000 RPM.
Torque: 275 @1600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft Timing: (includes ramp) Intake (324°) 274°, Exhaust: (327°) 277°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.3407″, Exhaust 0.3350″.
Carburetor: Rochester one­-barrel: Standard Manual Transmission 7028027; Automatic Transmission 7028028.

305E Six-cylinder. V-6.  Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Four main bearings.
Displacement: 351 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.56 x 3.58 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.50:1.
Horsepower: 220 @ 4000 RPM.
Torque: 320 @1600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft Timing: Intake: 268°, Exhaust: 298°. Overlap: 63°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.397″, Exhaust 0.406″. NOTE: Some earlier versions: Intake: 252°, Exhaust: 276°. Overlap: 46°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.406″, Exhaust 0.397″.
Carburetor: Carburetor: Stromberg 2-bbl. model WW 23-211.

High Torque 307 V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 307 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.875 x 3.25 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.00:1.
Horsepower: 200 @ 4600 RPM.
Torque: 300 @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft Timing: (intake) 280°, (exhaust) 288°, Valve Lift: (intake) 0.3980″; (exhaust) 0.3980″.
Carburetor: Rochester 2GV two barrel: 3-spped and 4-speed manual transmission 7028101, (with air conditioning) 7028103;  Automatic Transmission 7028110 (with air conditioning) 7028112.

High Torque 327 V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 327 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.00 x 3.25 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.5:1.
Horsepower: 240 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 330 @ 3000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft Timing (intake: 280°, (exhaust) 280°, Lift: (intake) 0.3987″, (exhaust) 0.3987″. Overlap 90°.
Carburetor: Rochester 4-barrel  (manual transmission) 7028203; (automatic transmission) 7028202.

351E Six-cylinder. V-6.  Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Four main bearings.
Displacement: 305 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.25 x 3.58 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.75:1.
Horsepower: 170 @ 4000 RPM.
Torque: 277 @1600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft Timing: Intake: 268°, Exhaust: 298°. Overlap: 63°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.397″, Exhaust 0.406″.
NOTE: Some earlier versions: Intake: 252°, Exhaust: 276°. Overlap: 46°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.406″, Exhaust 0.397″.
Carburetor: Carburetor: Stromberg 2-bbl. model WW 23-204.

High Torque 396 V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 396 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.094 x 3.76 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.0:1.
Horsepower: 275 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 390 @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft Timing:  Intake: 286° Exhaust: 286°, Overlap 59°. Lift: Intake 0.3983″, Exhaust 0.3983″.
Carburetor: Holley 2-barrel (manual transmission): 2300; (automatic transmission): 2300.

High Torque 396 V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 396 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 4.094 x 3.76 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.0:1.
Horsepower: 310 @ 4800 RPM.
Torque: 400 @ 3200 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft Timing:  Intake: 286° Exhaust: 286°, Overlap 59°. Lift: Intake 0.3983″, Exhaust 0.3983″.
Carburetor: Rochester 4-barrel (manual transmission): 7028218; (automatic transmission): 7028210.