Stan's Customs

P.S. There's lotsa comments on changing out the LS-6 to a small block. I'm wondering why?

Hasn't anyone ever driven a strong 70's 454?...especially with a stick. The big block and the flares is what makes that car imho. It was a tastefully done street car back in the day....hell, we'd kill for a nice LS-6 then, at least in my neck in of the woods. Cubes were king...small blocks were a dime a dozen. Still are to me...

Flares...very desirable back then too...provided they weren't some Godzilla thing. These are just right. The hood was good for that era...and still is, to replicate the era now.

I would make this a "like new" street car just like it sits....and add a/c if it didn't have it.

But... I'm one of those guys that "never" and I mean "never" left any muscle era cars show room stock....nor did I know anyone who did. Not even brand new, or near new ones were left stock.

I wouldn't change one back to near stock if it had tasteful street mods from back in the day either.

First off the "restoration cost" back to stock without a paper trail would bury you in it...and secondly there's a good market for "really nice nostalgia street cars"...especially big blocks!

Stan...

R. Seghi

Sorry to burst everybody's bubble but it turns out that the LS6 WAS rebuilt and unverifiable. Someone decked the block and now the numbers are gone from front right pad. And two of the numbers on the back right pad are illegible because of a casting defect.
I'm still going to buy it but not at that price. Rats ate the wiring harness inside, it smells like rat ****, STRONGLY I might add. And the body is in really bad shape. It sat in the sun in primer for way too long. The fiberglass is flaking away in some areas. I'll make him an offer he can't refuse.

R. Seghi

Any thoughts? Is anybody interested in the so-called LS6 still? I can't verify if it is or isn't but it has the correct manifold and carb.

Stan's Customs

Kinda hard to put a value on an engine till you "really know" what it is....other than for a parts engine.

It would likely need to be rebuilt ..and whether or not it has any issues would be unknown until it was torn down....or the potential buyer could hear it while it was running .

As far as it having value as a LS 6...that's a moot point after the numbers were milled off the deck I would think.

That's unfortunate..

R. Seghi

Yeah that's my thought Stan, now it's just your average run-o-the-mill 454.

R. Seghi

Hasn't anyone ever driven a strong 70's 454?...especially with a stick. The big block and the flares is what makes that car imho. It was a tastefully done street car back in the day....hell, we'd kill for a nice LS-6 then, at least in my neck in of the woods. Cubes were king...small blocks were a dime a dozen. Still are to me...

Yeah Stan I had a '69 427 coupe that was just an unruly beast when you got on it. INSANE fun, which is why most of them were wrecked.

Stan's Customs

You are the one that could get the most benefit from that engine...it could be a inexpensive brute motor to build for your car. No fabrication to do, everything is already there. Considerable less labor.

454's can make the hair stand up on your neck if you aren't used to the power....! Easy motors to build...Chevy big block heads are good out of the box...and are one of the few engines that there aren't "big" hp. gains to be had by buying aftermarket heads.

Compression, cam and balancing...is all it took to make them a force to be reckoned with.

R. Seghi

Yes I could make this an absolute monster but have a '66 427 coupe. I'm thinking a nice 350 4spd just for a daily driver.

Stan's Customs

Well..I can see your point if you already have big block car.

If you decide to sell the engine as a parts engine...I might be interested in it. I don't have a need for it...but I bet I could create one. I have three 454's in vehicles...but put my last "extra" 454 in a 20 ft Searay with a Bravo Mercruiser outdrive.

I wish I had used another motor on that project...but I had it a long time and decided it was a good idea at the time. It had never been cracked open when I tore it down for a rebuild, and was in great shape.

jrs 427

There is lots of interest in Chevrolet big blocks. Most would not pay the price of what they should bring. I have a 68 L-88 block / crank, 67 L-88 heads from my 66 coupe. I was offered $350 for the heads ... and he was serious. As long as they hold up the work bench they serve a better purpose.
I should take a poster to Brainerd NHRA meet. Maybe an old school gear head would fall head over heels for this combination.

R. Seghi

I have about 4 454 truck cores that I would sell.

Stan's Customs

Sounds like were all in about the same business...lol.

jrs 427

396s and 427s, 454s are a different breed. Had one , didn't exactly thrill me. Going back to what I know works.

Stan's Customs

That's true of most folks these days...the badass big block motors of days gone by are rare anymore, but unforgettable.

I have looked at several for sale in the last few years that wouldn't impress anyone...weak to say the least. You are ahead of the curve though. At least you have driven one, weak or not. Most of the younger guys (under 50) have never sat sown behind a good one... if at all.

It took a very radical small block to out run the stock high performance big blocks back in the day.

R. Seghi

with the right engine builder a 454 can be a badass too.

MrTrim

Sooooo, did you ever get the car? Verify what's in the motor? Just curious.

R. Seghi

No, the car is safe in his backyard still. I'm still trying to raise the cash but as you know I'm a Disabled American Veteran with a mortgage and other various bills. So I need to make some deals with what I have. It will happen, I'm confident.
As for the LS6 it's not verifiable because the block was decked.

R. Seghi

Hey,
Talked to the owner last night as I do about twice a week when he is on his evening walk. It's safe and still waiting for me. The VA says that my case should close about January 27th 2016.
But I've been thinking. Not sure that this is worth $25,000? The body has been in the sun too long and lots of places are bare fiberglass where you can just fake away at the fiberglass. Plus the fact that the LS6 is not identifiable anymore as the numbers are gone. Block was decked. And the interior WREAKS !!! of rat **** so the wires may be chewed inside too. Can that smell be eliminated? 25K? It's a '64 Coupe. Isn't that the Bastard year? Least valued? I don't want to HOSE myself too hard.

Please inform.

Easy Rhino

From here I'm not seeing $25K for that car. It is very needy.

jrm5657

I think you will deeply regret putting $25k into a ragged out 64 coupe. You will start out upside down and it will only get worse.