1970 LS7 Corvette
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If that car had the 'factory' sidepipes on it, I would agree with your "expert". You may increase power a bit with a 'straight' exhaust system, but not much.
I'm not sure why you would want to change anything on a "historical treasure".
I'm not sure why you would want to change anything on a "historical treasure".
Pro
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 557
Likes: 15
From: Royal Oak Michigan
That was going to be my recommendation too.
My original owner put a mid-year fuel injection unit on mine in 1971. Part of me thinks I should have kept the side pipes and tried to find a FI unit and restored my car to its day two roots instead of heading back to stock.
C'est la vie
My original owner put a mid-year fuel injection unit on mine in 1971. Part of me thinks I should have kept the side pipes and tried to find a FI unit and restored my car to its day two roots instead of heading back to stock.
C'est la vie
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Well, I went right to the horse's mouth (or as close as you can get on L88s) - Tim Thorpe. He was nice enough to take the time and chat with me about it. He says any talk of those pipes playing a part in "limiting" power is absolute B.S. - leave them where they are. I might just ship the car to him and get it sorted - it's fast, just not where I know it should be.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Sorry to hear you will be selling this very interesting car.
The above picture caught my eye. The spreader bar is not supposed to be able to be installed on a big block with an engine-driven fan per the VB&P website. Can you tell if there is anything special about this arrangement that is specific to this car? Would you please take a few photos of the installation and post them? I would put one of these on in a minute if I knew it would work. Thanks.
The above picture caught my eye. The spreader bar is not supposed to be able to be installed on a big block with an engine-driven fan per the VB&P website. Can you tell if there is anything special about this arrangement that is specific to this car? Would you please take a few photos of the installation and post them? I would put one of these on in a minute if I knew it would work. Thanks.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Sorry to hear you will be selling this very interesting car.
The above picture caught my eye. The spreader bar is not supposed to be able to be installed on a big block with an engine-driven fan per the VB&P website. Can you tell if there is anything special about this arrangement that is specific to this car? Would you please take a few photos of the installation and post them? I would put one of these on in a minute if I knew it would work. Thanks.
The above picture caught my eye. The spreader bar is not supposed to be able to be installed on a big block with an engine-driven fan per the VB&P website. Can you tell if there is anything special about this arrangement that is specific to this car? Would you please take a few photos of the installation and post them? I would put one of these on in a minute if I knew it would work. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
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I will try and get some pics. The amount of modifications that are "specific to this car" are significant. No expense was spared 40 years ago to make it a road-going racer for Gymkhana events. But it was 40 years ago, and I have no clue how they did it as the people involved are long gone. I will see how many pics I can get for you. It is an original LS5 car.
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8th Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Remember seeing this on Ebay. I have a 71(ex-LS5) Corvette. Put a crate LS7 in the car . Replaced the iron heads with Aluminum heads. Replaced the M21 with an M22. Found a NOS rare dual Disc clutch set up and replace the 308 rear with a 410. Yes, it is a beast.