It's an original engine with a few mods- but I want to make sure I fully understand what I'm looking at.

First question is on this photo:



Is that the oil filler cap...which I thought originally was on the valve cover?

And if it is, than what is this, located on both valve covers:




Aside from that, the non-stock intake manifold, the Holley carb, the valve covers and the missing distributor shield, what else do you see that is not stock?

Anything suspicious, like a bubba fix or anything else to investigate further?

Thanks!

 

I don't see much that is original or correct for a '72. You sure the engine is?

 

I'm verifying right now...what else are you seeing?

 

In the first picture you've circled the oil fill tube normally found on a 283/327....both valve covers have breathers installed.

As Mike stated there isn't much there that looks correct for a 72 350 sb.

 

Just tracked down the mechanic who did most of the work on the car...score. Talking to him now.

 

What does the tub attach to, does it run right into the block?

 

I have an Ontario Orange 72 just like yours.. well, sort of.
Just went through NCRS judging -- so let me share with you what I see under your hood.

- I see a non-california sb 350
- Missing original base snorkel air cleaner, air filter element, chrome top and wing nut.
- Missing original sticker on the base snorkel
- Missing hose to valve cover to the origin snorkel (would have to be)
- Probably missing the Q-Jet Carb.. air cleaner looks a little low.
- Wrong color manifold - should be Chevy Orange
- Missing Ignition shielding brackets
- Missing Ignition shielding: Center, Left and Right plus likely lower pieces too.
- Missing Ignition shielding wing nuts
- Probably wrong distributor cap.. likely missing internal cover inside cap and probably wrong wires. Based on the picture, probably not AC Delco plugs either
- Wrong valve covers
- Missing Emissions sticker
- Replacement / aftermarket air conditioning compressor with wrong stickers
- I see a dirty engine compartment and misrouted houses.
- The bright spot is the exhaust manifolds appear to be replaced or painted.

Also -

This entire car was repainted.
How do I know?

No black strip across top of engine section. Not original. Check your forward door jambs near the top to see if they're black or orange. Should be black.

Other than that.. looks great :-)

But seriously, now show us some interior & exterior shots.

 

The tube is pressed into a hole in the front of the intake manifold.
The exit of the tube is above the lifter galley.

 

OK, so it sounds like if I replaced the intake and valve covers, and found an ignition shield, the car would look more correct...yes?

I'm not necessarily looking for an all-original car (aside from a matching # drive train), but a nice correct car.

Spoke with the guy who did a lot of work on it in 07 and he remembered the car, said the owner (previous to this one) came in and told him to R&R anything that needed it. The shop had the car for a few months and the guy spent thousands. It also had a top end rebuild at another shop to the tune of $5,000. Also was repainted (good call Philla!) the original Ontario Orange (matches the tag) - which was described by the shop as a "decent" paint job. The shop said he remembered it having a new "Jim Connor" (?) suspension, whatever that is.

Here's a partial list of what was done, I'm getting receipts for this and the rest of it:






Here are a few ext and int photos:







I can see the interior pieces that are not original, I'm OK with them. Everything works, and the entire vacuum system for wipers and headlights was replaced.

It also comes with the hard top.

And...no rust.

I'm looking at 19,500...thoughts?

And Philascott, thanks for all the great info.

 

RE: matching #s...the owner is trying to find the stamp, and here's what he's found:

At the front of the block is a stamp that reads "1972 350" - it's stamped onto the flat spot by the water pump where i thought the sequence number should be.

At the rear of the engine near the transmission housing are raised, not stamped, numbers that read "3970010" which doesn't match anything on the VIN.

Getting pics of both of those shortly. Is there another spot I'm missing where the number should be?

 

Its Gymkhana suspension. Just means it is the heavy duty suspension.

 

- So.. looks like either a) leather seats or b) Leather-like seat covers.
Neither of which match the trim tag on that car which should be vinyl. I'm a little confused on this interior. I can see that the door panels are not deluxe (no wood) which would have gone with the leather seat upgrade... but cant tell if you have loop or cut pile carpet. Loop would be original.. cut pile an upgrade.. usually with the deluxe door and leather seat. Judging by the lack of chrome around the brake pedal and gas pedal (usually deluxe upgrades), i believe this just has leather like seat covers .. rather than leather or vinyl.

Otherwise, wrong steering wheel; wrong radio; wrong tires; rocker molding screws should be black.. looks like you got some blue something or other on the dash pocket. Wrong screw above map pocket (looks stainless)

Wonder if the shoulder belts are there behind the seat?

Probably pull that garage door opener off the visor if they're original!


Overall - based on what I see and what you listed, this car has had ALOT of good work done to it.. perhaps not to "original" specs .. but smart replacements.

Certainly $19.5 for this convertible is not out of the line of reason. Don't know the mileage or condition of the underside but it would stand to reason the guy who replaced the grilles at $800 per side probably replaced other stuff under the car... including the gas tank I saw on the list.

Let's just say at $17,500, this would be a home run -- however, as I read the new post about the engine being stamped 72-350 I'm inclined to retract the bid price until I hear more about that stamping. If it's really stamped 72-350 on the block.. that's not good at all for any kind of resale down the road.

 

As long as your don't have some .gov agency or other looking down your throat on that car, leave well enough alone.....it's a nice looking lightly modified hotrod vette......

trade you paint jobs.....

 

Price is ok for a convertible, but don't pay a premium price for "numbers matching". As far as original engine, doesn't sound like it. It's a nice car with a lot of work done to it. I say drive it, enjoy it and replace the parts for originals, or original appearing as you go along.
Here's a few pics of a mint 72 engine bay with some mild mods. This one was also repainted.
Glenn



Glenn

 

This confirms that you assertion that "It's an original engine" was premature and way off the mark. Don't take this the wrong way but you're obviously new to the game of original engine cars and are therefore ripe for the picking by scammers, shysters and other people that don't know the difference.

The engine could be just about anything but most likely a junkyard rescue. 19.5K for this car? Run Forrest, run. Please eliminate the words 'numbers matching' from your vocabulary, that makes you vulnerable to scammers too.

What's the VIN in the windshield frame?

 

Good looking car

 

The more I look at it...

a) The water pump is not orange either.. replaced.
b) The exhaust manifolds look new.
c) Intake manifold is clearly wrong..

I'm thinking this engine was put in to replace the original. With a stamp that potential has no VIN on it.. that negates the value of the engine at any level. (you need to update us on the actual situation/stamp here).
Forget numbers matching... a number would be good.

With respect to the casting code on the engine 3970010, here's all the engines that it matches -

3970010 350 69 Corvette late 69,4 bolt main
3970010 302 69 Camaro Z/28,Late 69, 4 bolt main
3970010 350 69-79 Truck 2&4 bolt main
3970010 350 69-79 Pass,Chevelle,Camaro,Nova,Monte Carlo
2&4 bolt main
3970010 350 70 Corvette 300,350,370 HP 4 bolt main
3970010 350 71 Corvette 270,330 HP 4 bolt main
3970010 350 72 Corvette 200,255 HP 4 bolt main
350 69 Corvette late 69,4 bolt main
3970010 302 69 Camaro Z/28,Late 69, 4 bolt main
3970010 350 69-79 Truck 2&4 bolt main
3970010 350 69-79 Pass,Chevelle,Camaro,Nova,Monte Carlo
2&4 bolt main
3970010 350 70 Corvette 300,350,370 HP 4 bolt main
3970010 350 71 Corvette 270,330 HP 4 bolt main
3970010 350 72 Corvette 200,255 HP 4 bolt main

I would guess your engine is the last one ... 350 72 vette, 200 HP SB

 

That's not even a small portion of the engines types the 0010 block was used for. GM used them in every car and truck line for over 10 years so the total is in the multiple of millions. The chances that the engine presently in the car came from a Corvette (any Corvette) is slim.

 

OK, here are some updates...

First, pics of the stamps:






I have no idea what that first one is. Isn't that the spot where the number should be?


And here's the receipt from the place that did the engine work. Hard to read his writing, but see if you can find any indication that this might be a replacement, I can't tell:





My guess is that this is a NOM, but very nice driver car. According to the other mechanic (not the one on this receipt, the one who did the other work above, after the engine work was done) it ran very nice and smooth. At least there's that.

Oh- the VIN is 1Z67K2S509021.

Phila- the deluxe seat covers were added. Originally a standard interior.

I do know the owner just turned down an 18,200 offer. Not sure if I even want an NOM car though...but the under-25k range (really under 23k) is tough.

THanks for all the comments guys, keep them coming...

 

K means that the car originally had a base L48 engine.