schwantzman

I am getting ready to buy a 66 vette. Can any of you guys tell me how to figure out if the car is a factory 427 car. It has a 427 in it..not the right motor but the guy says its a factory 427 car. I have also been told that the motor in it now could be a motion 427 that came out of a camaro...if it indeed is.....how do you determine this and would this motor make the car a lot more valuable. I would appreciation ANY info you guys can give me..thanks bob

crw41

Smartest and most cost effective thing for you to do is:

1. learn the basics of identifying a BB car
2. learn how to read the stamp pad, casting date, and casting number
3. once you have found a car that seems good, pay a well experienced NCRS guy to inspect the car (@200-$300 is the going rate)

Be prepared to look at alot of cars, get frustarated, and spend alot of money to get a good car.

If you want to find a car quickley go to one of the major dealers such as ProTeam, Conti's, or Mershons. Do your homework, hire a knowledgable guy, and expect to pay premium $ (another 15K to 25K) for the luxury of getting a car quickley.

schwantzman

thanks for the quick reply...but what i am really trying to find out is there anything in the vin number or on the data plate that will tell me if the car is an original 427 car...thanks bob

repruet

The front stabilizer bar is 7/8 inch small black 3/4.
The fuel line will be at a 90 degree angle as it turns away from frame toward the pump, small block is 45 degrees.
Big Block has a rear stablizer small block doesn't.
Small block has about 13 coils in front springs and is thin and big block has about 8 or 9 and thick coils.
Differential has steel clamps that hold the half shaft U joint and small
block uses U clamps like on the driveshaft.
The 390 horse 427 has a 5500 redline as does the 300 hp 327
The 425 horse 427 has a 6500 redline, the 350 HP 327 has a 6000 redline. Oil pressuere gauge on 390 hp is either 60 or 80 lbs. Most were 60. The 425 hp is 80 lbs.
The small block has an Aluminium over tank the BB has none. These are a few that I can think of.

repruet

I don't think that there is anything in the VIN or body plate that will help you. If it was there wouldn't be as many that claim to be Original Big Blocks

magicv8

Nothing in the vin or trin tags will tell you that.

all 66big blocks used an 11" clutch with a 14" diameter 168 tooth flywheel, EXCEPT L-88 (which used a 10.4" clutch with a 12-1/2" , 153 tooth flywheel) The '444' bellhousing is designed for use with a 14" flywheel. It was used for 1966 and very early 1967 Corvette with 427 (except L-88). Other BB-SB differences:
front AND rear sway bar
Two holes in trailing arm drilled to mount the rear sway bar.
instruments (oil and possibly tach)
Steel line from high limit oil pressure gage to engine.
front springs (tagged)
LH battery holder and BB cables
Riveted battery cable clip near RH (pass.) side of tunnel opening
washer fluid bag (on A-C cars)
radiator, shroud, and no aluminum expansion tank
Tapped differential yokes with bolt on caps.
hood with intake port(s)
all engine accessories except PS pump
power steering hose and fitting
clutch cross shaft
probably the flywheel and clutch assembly
lower splash shields
2.5 inch exhausts
exhaust heat shields
.375 fuel line pointed forward for BB pump
different code stamped on differential
BB throttle lever curves back from pivot toward rear of car, SB is straight
L79 TI box bolted on LH wheel well and a clip for its wiring under the master cylinder
Registration weight shows BB added, "add" weights:
a31 Power windows___ +5
co7 Hard top________+49
c48 less Heater______-20
c60 a-c____________+93
j50 power Brake_____ +12
L89 aluminum Heads__-73
m20 4speed _________-5
m35 powerglide ______+1
n40 power Steering__ +21
u69 radio __________ +21
l79 327/35 0 ________ -8
l36 427/390 ________+215
l68 427/400 ________+151
l71 427/435 ________+149
The base car is a 327 with 3 speed.
Convertible curb weight 3160
Coupe curb weight 3140

nassau66427

For a quick check, look for "nubs" where the expansion tank mounting bracket would go. The factory filled these holes from the bottom creating the nubs. Non-originals usually leave the holes or fill them flush with the inner fender panel. Of course, if the inner fender panel has been changed, you'll have to look for other clues.

JohnZ

There's no way to identify a "Motion" engine, and it wouldn't make the car any more valuable; what's valuable is the original engine, or a "correct" engine.

The only non-A/C big block that had a left side battery was the '65 396/425; all other big-blocks have the same battery arrangement as small-blocks (RH side without A/C, LH side with A/C).

Birdball

no offense, but you should check the archives- this is probably the most asked question after "what wheels fit a midyear", and "what is this worth!" .....

Good luck and keep us posted on if you buy it or not!

arlsdaddy

I, too, am having difficulty trying to read the engine date code. Anyone want to take a shot at it? Pics can be fount at http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e8...427/?start=all

BTW it is for sale for the right price. Was quoted 12-14K but looking at offers.

Vipermike

The block date code appears to be F176.

Mark_Milner

This is a good move to check, since states rarely redefine items on the registration or title after the first one is issued.

If your have a car in a state with taxable horsepower on the title or registration, IIRC, 48 hp will be a 283, 51 hp is a 327, and 57.8 is a 427.

arlsdaddy

Thanx for your keen eye...so this would translate to June 17, 1966?

66BBCoupe

[QUOTE=magicv8] all engine accessories except PS pump
power steering hose and fitting

Magic - are you saying that 427/425's do not have Power Steering ?

I believe approx 352 examples were produced in 1966 per Nolad Adams research.

66BlkBB

[QUOTE=66BBCoupe]
++++++++++++++++++++++

I believe that the figures that Magic is giving are the weight additions to vehicle or weight savings. I don't think they represent the number produced with that option. As you can see the aluminum heads are a minus.

66BlkBB

[QUOTE=66BBCoupe]
++++++++++++++++++++++

I believe you are correct. I am not sure what magic is trying to say there. I do have a question though. At what point did they start to put 60# oil pressure gauges in the 66? Mine has an 80# unit and I thought that they changed that in the 67 not the 66.

provette67

80lb in 425hp 60lb in 390hp

knight37128

[QUOTE=66BlkBB]
Altough unusual, 80lb oil gauges may, on a rare occassion, be observed.

1966 NCRS Judging Guide

That is the 390hp (most are 60lb). All the 425hp use the 80lb gauge.

provette67

[QUOTE=knight37128]

hope2

no