The original question was how to tell if this fellows car was originally a big block. Many people responded in a helpful way listing parts which provide evidence whether or not is was built with a big block. The OP did not ask whether this car can be restored and sold as big block optioned Corvette which may be accepted by collectors.

There are two or three people on this board who often seem eager to jump in and attack anybody who asks this question, stating it will never be a ------ again. That wasn't the question nor does the 'never be again' statement make any sense so far as configuration goes. That statement is purely from a collectors point of view, essentially saying that without a matching number block there's a high degree of probability it's a fake. (This attitude is flawed anyway given the high number of numbers matching fakes out there. If originality is the goal, there now needs to be a lot more than just a block with the correct number on it to provide evidence it's original.) I find these sort of responses to be irritating and rather useless, tends to go against the spirit of this forum which is HELPING people with factual information. Whether proof it was originally built with any given option is important is up to the buyer. If the car is being offered for sale at a high price, an original, I'd say proof is very important. If an owner is asking what parts go with option X, whether or not it was built that way is irrelevant.

Even the NCRS, an organization some bash for being rigid with their rules, accepts situations as the OP describes where the original engine is MIA, probably blown up, and a 'correct' replacement is installed. The penalty for the stamp pad is minor. They do not declare it will never be ----- again. Those who do appear to have personal or business reasons for wanting to discredit any notion a car with a desireable power train option can be repaired or restored.

 

Yes, that is the tank I speak of. I have one in my car (1970 BB AC 4 spd), as well as the bag for washer fluid, the proper radiator and the "fingers fan". I also have a fuel return line. It was my understanding when I bought the car, that ALL of these things were correct for my car. '69 L-36 is very similar to LS5, and back in the day (I owned a '69 before I had children), I knew a lot about the vagaries of the different equipment with the different engines in the different years. Unfortunately, time and a focus on driving my car have degraded my knowledge in that area, but I know enough to bristle when people make blanket statements about big block cars, especially '69s.

The washer bag is a funny thing, and demonstrative of the normal classic Corvette owner's mental disfunction. I have never filled the bag with fluid, as I can't imagine spraying my car with washer fluid. But last year, when I had the wiper door and cowl grill off my car, I noticed the washer parts were not on the passenger side wiper arm. So, I did the only thing a C3 guy would do = I spent $70 ordering the parts to restore washer capability on the pasenger side, knowing full well I had no intention of ever using it.

 

Your car is an AC car, and I'm pretty sure the only BB cars to get an expansion tank, were the AC ones. The washer bag, instead of the black plastic washer bottle, is also only found on AC cars (big and small block though). If you mean the 7 blade fan when you say "fingers fan", this too would be correct for an AC car. Non AC cars all got a 5 blade.

The return line would be correct for your car also. All Q-Jet equipped 68's and up, used a return line. Only the 68-69 427/400, 427/435, 427 L-88, 70-72 350 LT-1 and 71 454 LS-6 (which all used Holley carbs), came without the return line.

Just as a warning, if you ever take your 70 for NCRS judging, they're going to want to see your washer spray fluid on the windshield, and the wipers clear it.

Does this mean you won't be coming down to Wildwood in May to join us for the New Jersey NCRS Regional?

 

Thought the 350hp small block was a Holley equipped engine?

 

When I bought the car, I wanted to leave my options open to possible judging, as I was undecided on whether I was interested in that or not at the time, which is why I spent a fair amount of time and effort trying to figure out what the "correct" parts were and finding a car with most of them. Now, I have struggled to find the time to deal with the problems that it came to me with, and the few that have popped up since I have owned it, so I would say I am not much closer to being ready for judging than I was the day I bought it. I restored the passenger side washer capability as mentioned above, and replaced the spare tire capability (with an incorrectly dated jack though), so I would say the car is minimally closer, but there are still significant changes that would have to be made (I have leather seats in a vinyl car, my carpet is not the correct type) plus I am sure dozens of smaller issues (some that I already know about, many I am sure an experienced judge would point out) to even have a hope of third flight, so no, I'm nowhere near ready for a regional meet.

Even if I never get around to getting my car judged, I have thought about joining NCRS many times to use the resources available to members. Someday, I'll probably get around to that.

 

Hi

Even more confused now. My car is not near me, but I had someone go check the tach:

Been told the red line starts at 5400

But before that the pink starts at 5100 and continues onto the red at 5400

 

Not when installed in a 69 Corvette. The 69 350/350 (and the 68 327/350) used a Q-Jet on a cast iron intake.

Only the 65-67 327/350 engines used the Holley.

 

My bad. So those truely were the forerunner of the L82

 

7 or 9 rear spring has nothing to do with engine size. It's F41 or not.