I just purchased a 1969 Corvette T Top 4 speed car as a restoration project. My car is a factory blue car , power steering , manual brakes no A/C car . I have reason to believe this car may be a factory big block car . When I purchased the car it was a rolling chassis without motor & transmission. The dash is gone as well as the console. I am a camaro & chevelle guy I what things to look for on those cars , but I do not know what to look for on a corvette .
Any help would be great , thanks

 

so, what leads you to believe that it was a big block car originally? do you have guages (tach) or anything to go on?

 

 

no BB, you are wishful thinking. It's your everyday normal pos rolling chassis SB Vette. If you wish to hold on to it and bring it back to life, be prepared for bouts of frustation and monetary losses.......................YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!!!!!! (typed in Sarcastica font)

 

VIN number will help indentify car.

Get them posted and we can help.

 

I've got a blue 69 427 manual trans. Pretty much stock when I bought it a long time ago. I don't claim to be an expert in that restoration nonsense, but if I can offer some help relating to what was/is on my car, and what would probably be on most BB cars, I'll try to help.
IIRC, most/(all?) BB cars had a rear sway bar, along with u-joint caps, versus straps on the diff stub axles.
Simple question: What hood is on it?

 

For a '69,,,,,,,,,,,,?
Peace,,,Moosie

 

the VIN # won't offer any clues about small block or big block.

 

You beat me to it-DITTO!!!!

 

I will asnswer all the above questions .

The car did have a big block hood with the car .

When I bought the car the dash & console were both missing .
So I have no gauges or tach .

The car has holes for the sway bar , but the sway bat is missing .

I bought this car as a basket case . The car is in a million pieces.

I done a people serach on this vehicle . I called the previous owner from the early 80`s. I spoke with his wife . He was not available she told me the car did have a big block in it at the time.

It really is no big deal if the car is a big block car or a small block car .
I would just like to know.
We own a late model F body salvage yard , vintage gm salvage yard ( 1972- back gm parts cars ) mostly A body stuff. Roughly 450 500 cars in stock. Along with that we also sell new reproduction parts for you older GM vehicles. Restroing the car back to its orgional formation will be no issue.

I have full intentions of putting a LS1 in the car as you can see powetrain will be no problem.
The car may or may not be a big block car I was just woundering if there were any little things a a 1969 corvette that would help indentify what the car is.

 

Look for original documentation with the car. That's your best reference. Everything big block was an option and everything big block could have been purchased over the counter and added to the car years ago.

Original documentation is the only way you are ever going to know for certain whether the car was a genuine big block.

 

Oops........ my mistake, I was assuming from my '72 ID info in the black book that it would work on the '69, guess not, after now I looked at it.
I'll stay away for a while, must be the "night-shift" syndrome gett'n to me

 

Power steering with no power brakes might be a clue that it may have been a BB car. Who knows ?? I've always said you should build a car the way YOU want vice the way someone else ordered it............,FORTY YEARS AGO !!!!

 

There are only going to be hints that it was a BB car, like stated before the sway bar and heavy duty rear end. 7 leaf spring vs 9 is a good indicator, along with the u joint caps vs. straps. a single 3/8 fuel line from the tank to the pump. wiring for a transistor ignition, front spring size, these are all "Hints" and not solid proof but something to look for.

 

Tune-up sticker on cowl near master cylinder is an often-overlooked clue. Two-letter code will tell you engine/transmission combination.

Steve

 

IIRC, for 1970, the front sway bar was heavier for BB cars than SB cars, I think it was the same for '68 and '69, but I am not sure.

427Basketcase: Why wiring for transistorized ignition? BBs could come with points, no?