Keep all the original parts in a box in your garage on a shelf you don't use, out of the way.
It may not be worth anything to you , but like you said, if you sell it , it will incresase the value. I just tracked down my original motor, I'm paying $1500 to get the block back. Once its in hand , I'll write the story up.

 

Thanks for the info! That is a clean setup you have. I can only hope my engine looks that good when I am done.

 

 

I got the top off (thanks to theandies) and cleaned out the back...



More nests...



Clean enough to make it in the garage...





I can smell fiberglass work in my future.




Mostly surface rust. I am pretty sure this frame is not Swiss cheese. ALL the rubber is shot.




Motor Mystery

Here are a few questions that come to mind after playing with this car for a bit....

1. I was told it was a stock 350 with 1970 heads. Can I assume they came from an L46 or were L48 heads different in 1970 vs 1971?

2. If it does have heads from an L46, what does that make it? Will I need to run premium gas?

3. It looks like it has rams head (?) headers. (I don't know what the F I am talking about , please don't toast me yet).

4. The tires are P225/70R15 front and P275/60R15 rear. Is that a popular combination for this year? (I know it is not stock). Or is this more a 1971 "big fat tires and everything" look? I have to tell you it is kind of growing on me...

Paul

 

Ouch, that isn't going to buff out.

Clean the battery box out ASAP and make sure you didn't bring home any baby critters....That looks like mice have been nesting.

As for frame rust I am going to guess that is going to be the least of your worries....I am going to bet all the rubber bushing are also shot, sway bars will need to be replaced and the list goes on and on....I have been there and done that.

The rear end is also going to take some work and hopefully you can get it back straight. From the pic's it looks like it was hit on the rear left hard enough to mess up the rear bumper, separate the rear body panel and tweak the exhaust tip out of place.

As for the motor....The Rams Head Headers are nothing more than the stock cast iron exhaust back then.

Get some Short Tube Headers.





Long tube header will hang down way to far. Long tube 1st attempt on mine after the motor was in.



In one pic of the motor it looks like the intake is cracked and if the motor need to be gone through and Not A# Matching Block I would say go make it what you want.

ATK offers some great upgraded crate motors.

http://www.high-performance-engines....ines-s/109.htm

It looks like the seats have been changed from the look of the one head rest.

I would say you have a slate for a Resto Mod to do what you want.

Just my opinion and I am no expert but you have a long way to go to get it original

Karsten

 

There were many designs of 350 heads: 69-70 L-48 heads were 10.25:1 compression (Premium fuel); 69-70 L-46 & LT-1 heads were 11:1 compression (Premium fuel ++); 71-77 L-48 heads were 8.5:1 compression (regular fuel); 71-72 LT-1 heads were 9.0:1 compression (mid-grade fuel); and 73-80 L-82 heads were also 9.0:1 compression.

I don't have the casting or machining part numbers for those.

The term is "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds, as the shape resembles them. It is a 'common' terminology rather than a factory term.

I think those tires look too large for the car. Stock tires were the equivalent of 215R70-15 tires. Most folks put 235R60-15's on the front and sometimes wider tires on the back. The widest tires that will fit without rubbing in the front wheelwells are the 235R60's. If you want the best handling, it would be better to go to 17" or 18" wheels and some modern rubber.

 

Thanks! Your response was most helpful. I guess I won't solve the head mystery until I start disassembling the engine. My goal for this engine build is for reliability and the best performance with parts on hand. The wife is tired of my "finicky" collection so I want this one to be a good driver. No special fuel or anything like that.

 

Hi V,
Some interesting things to look at in the photos!
You asked previously about saving 'parts'.
There are some small parts, clips, hoses, straps, ts etc. in the photos that someone who's restoring a car might be interested in having.
Maybe you could get a plastic tub or two and gather the parts you're not interested in re-using in them and then offer them for sale for a little money.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

I'm assuming you've cancelled the mouse 'lease' ?!?

 

Welcome to the 71 family. Mine sat for 20 years in a dark pole barn, yours looks strikingly familiar, in all respects. Good luck, and have fun with it. Oh....and check the void between the fender and the firewall, mine was full of mouse nest from top to bottom, and mother rat was laying on top of it petrified.

 

Awesome find. Welcome to the forum and have fun. Tons of knowledge here. As mentioned, save every nut and bolt cause parts are not cheap.

 

More vette bonding....

This car is a treasure chest of projects.

Engine out. Detective work done. Picture of my buddy Tom helping with the pull.

Stock L48 with heads from a 1970 car. In theory it should make 300HP. I am considering a top end kit to easy 400HP?

3.08 rear end. Looking for a TH-200-R4 to replace TH-350. Based on reading forum posts I decided the lower first gear on the 700-R4 is not worth the hassle of the other mods.

Good info here on this forum. I am amazed at the projects already done.

Paul

 

I figured out the cost of new parts, machine shop and labor to put all together and opted to buy a Crate Motor from ATK. (Note mine was in no way ever going to be a parts Matching car)

I dropped a 375 hp 350 with the newer style block in, short tube headers, Quick Fuel 750 or 800 CFM Carb.



Also had the trans rebuilt, shift kit and higher stall Converter installed as well.

Karsten

 

Hi Paul,
Good to see that you're making progress.
Remember…. they tend to come apart a bit more easily and quickly than they go back together!
I'm enjoying your photos!
Regards,
Alan

Triumph (?) in the back ground?

 

I am sure that cassette can be saved. It might be original!! Look through the forums to see how to restore it!!!! Ike

 

The Compucruise is a cruise control unit from the early 80's, my buddy had one in his van it was a quirky but cool device for the time.

Dave

 

Hi Alan, yep it is an old 62 TR4. I bought it when I was 15 back in 1977. It shows you what kind of pack rat I am when I can't get rid of my first car.

I have found more info on my 71 so now I have more questions for you and the forum. A few weeks ago I went to the "Plastic Fantastic" corvette show in San Diego. I met a lot of cool folks and learned a bunch on what to expect when I get this project done. I was kind of hoping to build a good touring vette but most of the early C3 owners were either into "all original" or power and speed. Anyway, I am not giving up hope on a good long road trip car. Maybe I just didn't talk to the right guys. I would be interested in if others have successfully taken long trips in their early roadster C3.

The other question I have is related to what I have found out about my engine. I was told it was an original engine but it just had 1970 heads on it. When I started looking for the vin number on the block I found it was missing. Looking around on the forum I found this thread that said it was a kind of rare thing that happened on early 1970 350s. The vin is stamped on the back of the motor and it is not from my car.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ngine-pad.html


Is this engine rare and maybe worth something to somebody with a 1970 C3 or is it a good candidate for my resto-mod?

I don't want a crate motor because the engine rebuild is most of the fun. But I don't want to mess up something that may be worth more than just another SBC.

Thanks!
Paul

 

There is a date code on the rear of the engine. Should be something like C230 and would translate to March 23 1970. Stamp doesn't look right though.

Is the block casting number 397..010? That code shows to be a 1969 truck motor, but who knows

 

V - Flint
09 - Sept.
23 - 23rd day (1969)
XI - 1969 350/215hp/2bbl

 

Thanks for the info. It is disappointing though...I thought it was at least a corvette engine, not a truck engine. The casting number is 3932386. Not sure what that tells you.

The head numbers are 3927186 which I found to be L46 heads. I am not sure if I want to run the octane needed for these. Especially if I want to make a road trip car. I wonder if they are worth anything to anyone...