rossi1959

Hi all from OZ, my 18 year old son has just purchased his dream car which is a left hand drive red C3 1969 coupe.
It was originally imported from South Africa to New Zealand and then from NZ to Australia the VIN is 194379S702377 I have yet to confirm that the chassis has the matching number because it has been covered in dodgy sound dead spray. I have found it has a 305ci engine from a 1978 vehicle going by the engine number. V1230CTH 70S401051.
Is there any way I can find what the original engine was?
I still have to see if the 4 speed manual is original and it seems to have pretty short rear gears.

Any help would be very much appreciated.
Cheers.
rossi.

DUB

Without having the build sheet...I do not think that there is a data base that would have the specific information of your car exclusively. Unless something new has been added to the internet.

DUB

Alan 71

Hi Rossi,
Dub's right, the build sheet that was originally on the top of the gas tank had the information you're looking for. Might it still be there?
There are other clues such as radiator and tach redline that can be hints, but the tank sheet holds the truth.
Regards,
Alan



This is the tank sheet for a base motor car.

rossi1959

Thanks DUB, Your right there, I have searched the net and no info other than what I've stated in my post.
Cheers.
rossi.

Thanks Alan, That is great info, I will drop the tank out and have a look,
just never know if it's still there.
I'm going to clean all the paint off the trim plate so I can read it and it looks like the interior was red but someone painted it black.
Cheers.
rossi.

sullyman56

What's the casting number on the block? According to my restoration book, from the numbers you have it appears that you have a 70 350. The partial VIN and the engine stamp ending in CTH indicates a 1970 350 with a 4 speed manual.

68/70Vette

Let's hope its not a 305 cubic inch engine..these were very low HP engines sold in the early 1980's for Corvettes. For a 1970 it should be a 350 cubic engine...keep in mind that in the early 1970's, these engines were known as "small blocks," aka mouse motors...in the 1970's the "big blocks" were known as rat motors. In today's world, it's unusual to refer to a 350 cubic inch engine as a "small" engine!!!!! Anyhow, the small block Chevy engine..in all of its dynastic variations, is one of the most phenomenal engines sold for passenger and racing car useage.

rossi1959

Thanks Sullyman that's good news, the casting number is 3970010.
I found on the trim tag that paint is either 974 or 976 hard to read and trim is 407.

Cheers.
rossi.

rossi1959

This is what I found in the casting number search.
Even though the engine number having CTH on the end, which is also a 305 and a big block

3970010 Engine Blocks Small Block V8 1969 302, 4 bolt, Camaro Z28
3970010 Engine Blocks Small Block V8 1969-1980 350, 2 bolt or 4 bolt

The engine number V1230 CTH means it was a Flint made December 30.
The preceding number is a bit confusing being that it starts with a 7. is 70S4010S1
The casting date code is 0917.

sullyman56

Chevrolet small blocks were stamped with the engine plant location as in the V stamp you mentioned. They also were stamped with the partial VIN as in the number starting with a 7.

Iceaxe

974 Mona Red
976 LeMans Blue
407 Red Vinyl

Sounds like the car was originally red on red as the red interior couldn't be ordered with the blue exterior.

rossi1959

Hi Iceaxe, It must be 974 and not 976 with the 407 vinyl and as you say red on red because I can see on the dash where they have painted over the red with black vinyl spray. don't know what to do about that, will be a bitch to try and get off, probably best to get recovered.

Cheers.
rossi.

vettebuyer6369

I assume you know this, but if the red car in the picture is actually a 1969 it has been heavily modified. The rear valance has been molded into a 1 piece and the exhaust re-routed under the car. It appears the entire nose (doors forward) is off a later year car and a chin front spolier molded in? Mirrors added, aftermarket wheels. Rocker panels are '70 and later. Can't see the hood well enough to guess the year; the wiper door assembly looks like it's removed. Spare tire tub is gone.

The interior appears to have a '77 - later shifter console with some sort of shift lever I dont recognize. Actually, the entire dash seems to be 77-82. The seats are 79-82. Not sure whats up with the steering wheel. The door panels look like '69.

There's very little 1969 left on the car.

None of this is a criticism, I'm just not sure how much of this you know as you are inquiring about the originality of the engine and transmission numbers.

rossi1959

Hi Vettebuyer, critical analysis is gladly accepted as I am learning the different models and your input verifies some of my investigations. I have yet to find the VIN on the chassis to see if it matches the body or at least the tubs VIN plate number. I removed the tire tub to get to the diff and fuel tank to do some work to them.

Cheers.
rossi.

vettebuyer6369

gbvette62

Having been used from 69-80, the 010 block is one of the most common Chevrolet blocks, but I don't believe it was ever used for 305's.

Based on the VIN number and suffix code, I'd say that the engine is a 1970 Corvette 350/350. Besides being used as a 78 305 suffix code, CTH is also believed to have been used to indicate a 350/350 on some 70 Corvettes.

70 Corvette VIN derivatives started with "70", to indicate the year. The "S" is the St. Louis Corvette assembly plant, the "4" was a GM control number used in 70, and the 010S1 is the car's production number, though I suspect the "S" is actually either a "5" or an "8".

As Vettebuyer said, many of the parts on that car, are not 69, or original to it.

The dash is from a 78-82 Corvette, as is the steering column, console and seats. It appears that the speedo might be an 85 mph unit, which would have come out of a late 79-82. The horn button emblem is the design used in 77 and 79, but the steering wheel is an aftermarket piece. The door panels are 69's though.

The nose on the car is from a 75-79 Corvette, with the fender and nose flags being those used from 77-79. The hood looks like an 80-82 and the rocker moldings are 70-77's. The molded in front spoiler, is not GM either, but instead was added by a previous owner. The painted sport mirrors are from a 77-82 also.

Unlike Vettebuyer though, I think the shifter may be original. Because of the design of the 77-82 console, the 77-81 Corvette used a taller shifter handle, then 68-76's. The shifters are identical, except for the height of the handle itself. When you use an early shifter, in the later console, the shifter ends up looking very short, because of the taller console.

I hope this info is helpful.

Easy Mike

True, provided we all understand the VIN derivative was stamped at the assembly plant and not the engine plant.

sullyman56

Correct should've mentioned that. Thanks Mike.

Easy Mike

You're good. I knew what you meant. Just wanted to make sure the OP knew it.

vettebuyer6369

Yeah, agreed. I stopped at "it looks wrong."

rossi1959

Hi gbvette62, Thats good info on the motor, I am wondering if it was a warranty motor? The motor is modified but I don't know to what extent as it is very lumpy in the idle with power coming in around 2500 and screams to 7000.
The old Holley is going to be retired and a 750 Quick Fuel will take it's place on the old Edelbrock Scorpion manifold.
All your info on the body confirms Vettebuyer's observations which indicate it has been modified with bits and pieces from later models.
My son paid $25,000AU which is about $18,000US for it and although I think it was a bit too much it's $10,000AU less than what the seller wanted 2 years ago.

Cheers.
rossi.