Nice surprise today for me and my SWC!
10-27-2015, 07:23 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Nice surprise today for me and my SWC!
I posted over a month ago about the barn find SWC I picked up from the guy who's had it since 1969. At the time I purchased it, he said he thought the original 327/300 block (which had a crack in it) had been scrapped out. Just a week ago I talked to him, and he informed me that the original heads were on the 350 engine that's in the car, which I hadn't known. The dates and numbers did check out, so that was cool to find out. He also said he was pretty sure he still had the original air cleaner, which I could have whenever he stumbles across it. Well, he called me this morning and says "I found the original block- you can come and get it some afternoon when it's convenient". I think I might have come close to wetting myself at that point.
But it gets even better: after chatting a few minutes, and he had brought up looking for the air cleaner again, I jokingly said now that he was on a roll maybe he would eventually find the intake manifold and the original carb, too. He replies: "oh, they're both sitting on the engine block- they were there with it."
Needless to say, I have been in a pretty good mood today.
Rich
But it gets even better: after chatting a few minutes, and he had brought up looking for the air cleaner again, I jokingly said now that he was on a roll maybe he would eventually find the intake manifold and the original carb, too. He replies: "oh, they're both sitting on the engine block- they were there with it."Needless to say, I have been in a pretty good mood today.
Rich
10-27-2015, 08:00 PM
#3
Team Owner
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2018 C2 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15, '19
The original block to my car came with it as well. I didn't hold out much hope for it, but it has been with the car when it was taken out around 68. I didn't put much value on it being any good, and I bought the car to do a restomod project anyway. Took it to a machine shop, and the only things wrong with it was the #1 cylinder had a freeze crack and the rear main bearing cap was missing. Turns out it was repairable, and I got it all rebuilt, the cylinder sleeved, the original intake, heads and alternator swapped back this summer.
The restomod idea was deep sixed, and now the car is restored as original. Keeping fingers crossed that your block is salvageable too!
The restomod idea was deep sixed, and now the car is restored as original. Keeping fingers crossed that your block is salvageable too!
10-27-2015, 08:23 PM
#4
Team Owner
Pick up a lottery ticket on the way to pickup the engine.
10-27-2015, 08:34 PM
#5
Team Owner
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10-27-2015, 09:41 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I am picking up the engine on Friday. I am hauling it straight to the machine shop/engine builder to have it assessed. I am not as worried about the crack being repairable as I am about the overall condition of the block, seeing as it was sitting outside for some time. I will have him clean and blast it so we can see what we're up against. Hopefully the numbers on the front pad will be readable. Good idea about the lottery ticket!
10-27-2015, 09:47 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
The original block to my car came with it as well. I didn't hold out much hope for it, but it has been with the car when it was taken out around 68. I didn't put much value on it being any good, and I bought the car to do a restomod project anyway. Took it to a machine shop, and the only things wrong with it was the #1 cylinder had a freeze crack and the rear main bearing cap was missing. Turns out it was repairable, and I got it all rebuilt, the cylinder sleeved, the original intake, heads and alternator swapped back this summer.
The restomod idea was deep sixed, and now the car is restored as original. Keeping fingers crossed that your block is salvageable too!
The restomod idea was deep sixed, and now the car is restored as original. Keeping fingers crossed that your block is salvageable too!
10-28-2015, 06:00 AM
#8
Keep a good relationship with that fellow in case he finds any more parts for your car.
Make sure you tell the machine shop to NOT touch the front pad #'s or all your work will be in vane. Actually, tell them to put it in writing so everyone knows how important this is to the value of the car..
Having the correct heads, intake and carburetor is great, go slow and do a stock rebuild and ask questions before $$$, many parts can be reused doing a stock rebuild.
Make sure you tell the machine shop to NOT touch the front pad #'s or all your work will be in vane. Actually, tell them to put it in writing so everyone knows how important this is to the value of the car..
Having the correct heads, intake and carburetor is great, go slow and do a stock rebuild and ask questions before $$$, many parts can be reused doing a stock rebuild.
10-28-2015, 09:28 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
Good luck with the block! Post some pictures as you get going on the project.
10-28-2015, 10:21 AM
#10
Race Director
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That's unbelievable.....great fortune for you...you should indeed buy a lottery ticket! I have NEVER had that kind of luck with old cars. Thanks for sharing, and post pics of the stuff after you get it!
10-28-2015, 12:41 PM
#12
Race Director
10-28-2015, 01:01 PM
#13
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Location: About 1100 miles from where I call home. Blue lives matter.
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Crazy lucky.
Good for you.
Good for you.
10-28-2015, 06:50 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
Sometimes things just work out so well. Congrats on getting those important parts. Similar way I found my 65 FI coupe, it was a big mess, parts all over, wrong engine that looked good but a crusty old block that turned out to be the original and I nearly left it laying in the weeds. My buddy was helping me scrounge around for all the parts and convinced me to load that block up and take it home. Turns out it was VIN correct and had a bad crank and bent rod, but engine shop fixed it up and it's running great and been in the car 3+ years with no issues. Having that critical part helped in the direction I went with the car. Even if you don't use it, having it available when selling someday is always a big plus.
09-22-2016, 12:12 PM
#15
09-23-2016, 07:34 AM
#18
Le Mans Master
09-23-2016, 10:46 PM
#19
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I see I never updated this, but the '63 has been at a crawl while I try to get my '57 finished, and spending has been concentrated on it. The '63's block is repairable, but will need substantial work. The heads (the original heads are on the original block, not on the engine currently in the car as I thought) are rebuild-able as well. The crankshaft was too deeply pitted to re-use. The carb is cracked from water freezing in it, and the intake manifold was cracked and rusted out on the bottom. The original oi pan and distributor were used on the 350 engine that was put in the car way back when. I am getting close to giving him the go-ahead to start working on the block, and he is probably a few weeks out with scheduling anyway. Now that I'm about done spending on big money items on the '57, I will start turning my attention to the '63, and the first thing I would like to see is a freshly machined, nicely painted Chevy Orange short block.
Rich
Rich
