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I hope to be adding a C-3 soon. I had a '72 more than 25 years ago and as happens a lot I regret selling it. So, I'm going to look at a 71 this Saturday. From the pics I've seen its very clean. Not a numbers matching car but not important to me. The car now has a CE replacement small block in it. Is there a way to tell if it originally had a big block? I ask because the car sits high in the front. Are the u-joints different or are there other tells under the hood? It has the 454/LT-1 hood and a BB radiator (is there a difference?). Thanks for any tips. I'm excited!
The radiator and fan shroud are different (larger) on the BB cars (although I'm more familiar with the '69s). Also, I believe the sway bar is also thicker in diameter. The neck on the radiator, for the lower hose was pre-manufactured with a "dent" in it to accommodate the large diameter sway bar. I'm not sure of many more visual signs. BTW, the high performance 350 SB (like in an LT-1) had the same radiator and shroud set up. Good luck!
As I have proven I'm not a BBC vette expert but I think vettes with BBCs came with a rear sway bar. Another way to tell is by the tachometer red line, BBC is different than SBC. T
When you see the car, ask the seller if he/she has any original factory documentation for the car. A paper trail can help establish how the car was equipped when it left St. Louis. CE engines were usually warranty replacements and always the same displacement as the failed engine. That could indicate the car was originally a small block. You may want to confirm where the CE block came from.
Hi ob,
During the 71 model year the base motor cars used "u-bolts" at the half shaft to differential yoke connection, while LT-! and BB cars used a cast block with 2 bolts.
BB cars and cars with the optional F41 suspension were equipped with a rear sway bar.
You might look for a 5600 redline (454/365) or 6500 redline (350/330 and 454/425) tachometer in place of the base motor 5300 redline tachometer.
In addition to the radiator configuration, signs of the original overflow tank may be an indication of the original engine in the car.
The front sitting 'high' might be a sign of bb car springs but could also be a sign of replacement springs of a different specification than the originals, or, a sign of original springs not seated properly in the frame pocket and lower a-arm.
Thanks for the replies. Just what I was looking for. Tach redline will be unreliable because the owner went to an HEI distributor and replaced the whole tach with one that had been converted to electronic. He still has the original in his attic so hopefully he'll have it out for me to see. I think the half-shaft u-joints will tell the story. As far as documentation he has replaced the gas tank but found no build sheet on it. I'm leaning to it having been a smallblock that a previous owner has tried to make look like an LT-1. I'll try to post pics whether I get it or not.
Funny how a car can look great in the ad, then in person .. oh well. The asking price of 22,500 is what caught my attention. The car was originally Steel Cities Gray which I would have preferred but was painted in black lacquer over 20 years ago. Actually the paint looked great. Very straight body panels. It was also an L-46 when new. The front was high because it had big block springs in it. Well, on to the next possibility.
Looking at a '71
I'm leaning to it having been a smallblock that a previous owner has tried to make look like an LT-1. I'll try to post pics whether I get it or not.
