Hi to all my fellow Corvette enthusiasts!

I'd like to be able to access information & contact other members who have knowledge & info on LT1's. I recently purchased a amazing fully documented frame off nut & bolt restored red '70 LT1 coupe! This is my 3rd Corvette after having previously owned an '04 Commemorative Convertible & a yellow '05 convertible. This is my first classic and I've always wanted a '70 LT1 although I had hoped it would have also been a roadster. But this one was too good of a deal to pass up. I have boxes of original documentation plus files & files of docs/photos of the restoration & original parts that came w the car. I joined NCRS with the intention of getting the car certified tho after reading the judging manual it doesn't seem like the car will need much other than putting the smog pump back on and switching out some of the chromed engine parts back to the originals, (alt, harmonic balancer, hi po ignition + a few other chromed pieces) all of which I have. So for any of you LT1 experts out there, I welcome any insight or tips you may have for me to help realize this goal. I've checked the #'s & they all match and are correct & backed up by documentation, so I know the car is not a fake. Thanks for any input! Just hope for some tips on what not to overlook on the road to NCRS! Just got all the books and wading through them now in between watching Mecum KC! Thanks again & are we not a passionate bunch? My best friend has 6 vettes but considers his situation a mild "sickness"...but he is a Dr.!
Charlie

 

Charlie,

I also have a LT1 from 1970. It's still in the process of being restored. It was put together on June 19, 1970. Its number is 12885. Have you looked at the 70 corvette registry? What are you trying to find out?

Ron

 

Awesome cars.
Congratulations.

 

I'll move this from Cars For Sale to General.

 

Congrats on the purchase Charlie! Let's see some pictures!


Very lucky you to have all the original parts. The alternator and TI system can be very expensive to acquire if you do not already have them.

Goodluck with the NCRS judging. Remember, there is no "certified" car, just judged as typical factory production.

 

Hi Charlie,
WELCOME!
First post!
!970 LT-! cars are pretty terrific. It certainly sounds like you found a nice one.
Since you say you're interested in having your car Flight Judged you should consider having it judged a Chapter event.
This will give you an opportunity to meet some hopefully local Corvette people and see the judging process. You'll also end up with 10 pages, (the judging sheets), on which you'll be able to see what the judges were looking at AND their comments.
That'll be a very good way of assessing just what your car is now and what you might need or want to do to improve it's score. It's pretty well painless and a great way to get started.
How about a few pictures of your car.... it's always interesting to see an LT-!. I hope to see you on the forum often,
Regards,
Alan

 

I have 2 early 1970 LT-1'S. There were differences between early & late 70 LT-1'S. Need to know the SN# & hope you have the latest 1970 NCRS judging manual. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CORVETTE.

 

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CORVETTE.

It appears you did your homework......Its one of the keepers to have and the 70 is the best of the three .
with all the good hardware in the engine that was unnecessary in the other two, {71 and 72} It`s the one I would have ordered......

 

post pics of your car

 

Congrats! Oh forget the roadster. I had that same feeling myself at one time but when I discovered on the coupe that the tops come off and the rear window pops out that was WAY too cool. It is essentially a hardtop convertible. It's awesome! Enjoy it.

 

As mentioned above, NCRS doesn't certify anything. If you joined just to get a ribbon and then disappear, you'll miss out on a tremendous opportunity.

 

I am in a similar situation with my 1971 car. As it stands now with the exception of the past few days I have driven this car like no tomorrow since a got it a couple of weeks ago. It is an absolute blast to drive.

I do not know enough about the NCRS or judging to come up with a decision on if I wish to ever get this car judged. I do however, have a plan.

My plan is to continue to enjoy the car. Enter Sportsman event at the NCRS event coming up next month. I also signed up to be an Observer Judge to see how the process works. I want to see everything for myself. I also like other NCRS members to take a look at my car and simply give me some advice on what they think and MAYBE one day after I really enjoyed the car decide if I want to try to get it flighted. Perhaps, I will do nothing with the car, or correct the OBVIOUS and take it to a chapter event and get it judged as is to experience the process. Who knows maybe a second or third flight. Maybe a no flight? Doesn't matter. All I know is I got a huge score of a corvette on my hands and I love every minute of it.

 

Please school us as to the differences.

 

Ignition shielding variations, and possibly the oil pan size/power steering availability.

In generic terms,
an early car would have a three piece ignition shielding box over the distributor/coil. Front half/rear half and lid.
There would also be four chrome ignition shields over each set of spark plugs (1/3, 5/7, 2/4, 6/8).

a mid year car would have a two piece ignition shielding box over the distributor/coil. Single piece box with lid.
There could either be four chrome ignition shields over each set of spark plugs 1/3, 5/7, 2/4, 6/8 or two chrome ignition shields over spark plugs 5/7 & 6/8.

a late build car would have a single piece ignition shielding box over the distributor/coil. Basically just a lid.
There would be two chrome ignition shields over spark plugs 5/7 & 6/8.

IIRC when LT-1's were initially offered Power Steering was not an option so they used a 6qt oil pan. When PS became available they used a 5qt oil pan.

There may be other differences???

 

Almost every year of Corvette has a series of changes during the production year that have annoyingly been dubbed early and late.

Not unique to '70 or LT-!'s.

 

I learned that some late model 1971 corvettes (specifically July 1971) did NOT have fiber optics.

Fortunately, my July 1971 corvette has fiber optics in it and are all working.

 

Thanks for the information.
This fits with the 70 LT-1 that I used to own. It was a January car and had the one piece ignition shield and lid over the distributor and 4 piece plug shielding.

I never really paid attention but now makes sense.

 

A January 1970 build car should have had the three piece unit. IIRC up to about VIN 5000. (It's explained in the 1970-72 TIMJG)

"an early car would have a three piece ignition shielding box over the distributor/coil. Front half/rear half and lid.
There would also be four chrome ignition shields over each set of spark plugs (1/3, 5/7, 2/4, 6/8)."

 

Great advise. Congrats on the purchase.
I recently purchased a 72 LT-1 Coupe. Loving every minute of it.

 

Was January also early production for Corvettes in the 71 model year?
Mine must have been changed then.