Hey guys, I new here to these forums. My Dad, who is not internet savy to say the least, has a 1967 vette Conv. that has been a little neglected over the years. I am hoping to gather a lot more information from the site about his vette, and maybe be able to help some of you out by picking my Dads brain.

Here is a little background on the car before I ask my question. My Dad orignially purchased the vette back in the early 70's. He bought the car wrecked (I am not sure if it has a salvage title or not) and fixed it and dropped a new motor in it. The vette was wrecked on the front end, and I am not sure if the motor was ruined or not, but may Dad decided to drop a 327 in it, instead of what was originally in the car (L88 427 with 3 dueces). The car still has the same 327 that my dad installed in it at least 25yrs ago. It runs good just burns oil. Some interior parts have been replaced over the years and the car has been repainted (the paint is bad right now). So now for my question.

I am wanting to do an overhaul on the vette and I am not sure about which way to go with it; resto-mod vs. restoration. I wanted to do a resto-mod, but I am not sure if I would risk hurting and de-valueing a classic. Or has it already lost its value because or the wreck and the engine that is in it? If I do a resto-mod, a lot of things would be changed. I would go with an LS engine, suspension package from Vette Brakes, new brake system, and etc.

So what do you all think. Resto-mod or Restoration?


Blake

 

ok, so you are saying that this 1967 Corvette of your father's was originally an L88? Great first post!

Lots of folks will weigh in, but here is what I would do first, before deciding what to do next - drop the tank, and see if there is a tank sticker on there. If there is, don't disturb it until you have taken digital photos of it and gotten advice on how to best remove and rpeserve it, but immediately look to see what engine the car was ORIGINALLY equipped with - that will show ont he tank "sticker" - an order copy.

If in fact you do have an original L88 car, it would be wise to restore it as such, even if you would be putting a "restoration" engine in there.

Welcome to the Corvette Forum . . . .

 

Is there any other way to check to see if it originally had the L88 in it without dropping the gas tank, like decoding the VIN? If not, how hard is to drop the tank? If it is not difficult and does not take that long, I will do it this weekend and then post up the digital photos. Thanks for the input.

Blake

 

Welcome to the forum...I would agree with ctjackster, see if the tank sticker is available and if it did come originally equipped with the L88 engine, you would be wise to restore it back to factory.

If no tank sticker or other factual documentation that proves it's an L88, I would go with the resto-mod.

Good Luck and let us know...

 

Where is the original engine? Why do you think that it is a real L88? You can find out nothing from the vin, the only way is to drop the tank and find the tank sticker.
oWEN

 

Jack
and would you and Bob also recommend that he restamp it.................?

 

Well, I just called and spoke with my Dad. Evidently I got confused over the years talking about the vette with him. He just told me that he knows that the car had a 427 in it, but he is not sure which one. He has dropped the tank before and tried to read the sticker, but he couldn't. He said that if he remembers correctly part of the sticker/tag was missing.

What types/combos of 427s were available from the factory?

Blake

 

Check out this link....

http://www.idavette.net/facts/67.htm

 

For 67 there was 390 HP and 435 three duces.

 

there was also 400hp

 

Welcome The very FIRST thing you should do (I did this myself), is to get yourself a copy of the "Corvette Black Book", Noland Adams "Complete Corvette Volume II" and any other books or magazines that catch your fancy. Arm yourself with knowledge about your 67'.

I think reading these books should be the very first thing any new vette owener should do. Good luck, oh yea...let's see some PICTURES, PICTURES and more PICTURES

Tod

 

Hi Blake,
Here's the 67 427 engines that were available...

L-36 427 390 h.p. single four bbl.

L-36 & L-68 427 400 h.p. 3x2 tri power.

L-71 427 435 h.p. 3x2 tri power

L-88 427 h.p. n/a big single 4 bbl.

Hope this helps?

 

So is this how you decode, the tag that is on the gas tank?

Blake

 

Yes. In addition to the previous suggestions, I suggest you update your forum profile to include your location. One of these knowledgable folks here may help you figure out what you've got there, if they're in your area

 

Well I am not really the owner, its still my Dads car. I am hoping that now I am graduated from college, have a full time job, and making a decent living I can finally get him to go through with the overhaul by contributing half the moeny for it.

I will defiantly look into those books, and tell my Dad to also.

About the pictures, I will take some this weekend, but I have to worn you the paint is pretty bad. It is bubbling in quiet a few places.

Thanks everyone for your imput.

Blake

 

Did a quick search...check out the below link...and look at the post from PTighe...this is what the tank sticker should look like...in the Option No. column, there are 7 characters listed and the 3 in the middle are the option code...

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ker&forum_id=4

 

Just did. Thanks.

 

you are a very naughty boy Barry for even trying to take us there !

 

forgot L89, which is an L71 with aluminum heads - hey who knows?

ps to the original poster - the reason you are getting a little heightened interest, and the reason why we might rec. that, if an L88 (or L89) you restore it back to original, is that there were only 20 L88s and 16 L89s produced by GM in 1967.

 

I heard that Pro-Team have several on their lot for sale!!