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Hey everyone. With the amount of people on this forum and it's reach, I was hoping to get some help with information on my 1970 LT-1.
I became the owner about 2.5 years ago in OCT of 2018 when I was getting ready to retired from the Army and decided to buy my dream car and found it at a Corvette dealer in Colonial Beach, VA. It was described as a numbers matching, survivor, LT-1 Corvette. I called up the dealer and found out that it was a numbers matching Vette, however, there wasn't a lot of documentation that came with the car, such as the Protecto Plate, or build sheet. I took a chance and my wife and I went to see the Vette in person.
Upon arriving we met a beautiful, Donnybrooke Green, saddle interior, survivor Corvette with 58k miles. Original paint and interior. Only issues were, as stated before, no POP or Build sheet, and the engine was missing the original Holley 4555, 1111491 TI Distributor and coil. It had an older Holley 4779-9 and a points distributor.
I verified the other LT-1 components to ensure that I was actually buying a real LT-1 and not a clone.
-the VIN, 194370S412957, matched the engine block VIN derivative.
-the engine block #, V0615CTK, contained the LT-1 designation of CTK
-the transmission VIN derivative matched
-correct intake manifold casting #, 3972110, for LT-1
-61 amp alternator #1100884
-TI Amp attached to the driver's side interior wheel well
-6500 rpm redline tach
-correct horsepower plate with 350-370HP and 11:1 compression
Talking with the salesman, he stated that the prior owner had died and they found the Vette at an auction. No materials came from the auction...not even the original owners manual. I test dove it and it was amazing! I have never driven a Corvette before and I was ecstatic to have driven this one.
The dealer gave me about 5k off for being military and I bought my first Corvette! We named it Yuengling, as that is my favorite beer, and loaded it up onto a car transport and drove it back to GA.
A few things I did as soon as I got home was start documenting the Vette, become a lifetime member of this forum (as I intend to be buried in my Vette), and enrolled with the NCRS.
As for documentation, I requested Shipping Data Report from the NCRS and found out that it was initially delivered to Ewing Chevrolet in Canton, OH. Unfortunately, Ewing Chevrolet is no longer operating. I also found the auction that the dealer bought the Vette from, ABC Lancaster Automobile Auction in East Petersburg, PA on 09/27/2017. Lastly, on C3Registry.com, I found that a Mr. James Hileman from Brogue, PA owned the Vette at some point. I have attempted to email him via the site, however, it appeared that the email address is no longer valid.
I soon discovered that the gas tank had a small leak, so I bought an aftermarket tank (with the intent to have the original repaired and reinstalled). I also took this opportunity to see if the tank sticker was still attached to the top of the tank. Alas, the tank sticker has either been removed by a PO, or has disintegrated from time.
Other issues I remedied along the way:
-Vacuum lines for headlights and wiper door (that was a headache!)
-rebuilt the brake system from the proportioning valve down, calipers rebuilt, rubber and steel lines replaced (will rebuild the MC soon)
-new fuel pump and sender
-updated distributer with a points eliminator kit (until I can buy a correct TI Distributor)
-new tires (BFG Radial T/A 235/70R15...I know they're a size bigger, but I like how they fit. I'll buy a set of Firestone Wide Oval F70-15s when I get ready to show the Vette)
I am wanting to get any information on the prior owners of my Vette, and maybe, just maybe, find the POP and any other documentation that a PO may still have put away somewhere. If anyone has any leads, I would be greatly appreciated!
Oh, and sorry that this post is so long...here are pictures of Yuengling for stay to the end.
Welcome to the club. Make sure you contribute to the LT-1 Owners thread that is here in the Forum. Remember, "Solid Lifters Matter". Check within the dash between the tach and speedometer for a Corvette Order Copy. Found on in my 72.
If you happen to be working on something inside the dash one day make sure to check between the Speedo and Tach. A copy of your
build sheet could be folded up and tucked in there.
I found my build sheets for my 72' LT1 in that location when I had the center gauge bezel apart.
Joe
Great story about your car, I hope you find out the information you are looking for.
Thank you for your Service to our nation, I am also a Army veteran, and a owner of a green LT-1.
looking forward to your progress with your car.
Regards
Roy
Love the LT-1's! Yours looks pretty damn nice. I've been to Colonial Beach a drooled on some of the Corvettes there. it's a little over an hour from my house.
Thanks everyone for the kind words. The guys over at Colonial Beach were great and I would defiantly recommend them. I do intend to drive Yuengling plenty...I've never been one to just let something just sit around, collect dust, and not do it's intended purpose.
I intend to pull the dash to R&R the wiring harness in the near future. I will keep an eye out for the build sheet between the speedo and tach. I've also heard that it could also be under the carpet in the back area. I'm hoping to go to Corvette Expo next month with Yuengling and maybe buy and install new carpets...maybe I'll get lucky.
Noe the comments about how he liked to work on his Corvettes and membership in the York PA Corvette Club. Korean War and Viet Nam Veteran. Retired in 72. Gotta be your guy or at the least 2nd owner. Passed in 2008. Wife passed in 2015 (follow the links on the obit)
He had a brother and multiple children and grandchildren. I would bet the brother possibly got the car and had it till 2017 when it went to the East Petersburg auction which is right across the river from Brouge. Other best bets are two sons Gregory B. or Perry L. who lived in Red Lion just a few miles from Brouge. Google is your friend, utilize the information in the obit and try to contact relatives. You may have to pay a few bucks to join one of the services that actually give phone numbers but White Pages works pretty good. Good luck and PM me if you need some help. Pretty ironic you are ex Army as well. More irony, I'm ex Army and also own a green C3. lol. Oh, the York County Corvette Club has a Facebook page and looks very active, Join, throw a few pics up, mention your Army and see if anyone remembers. Let us know!
Noe the comments about how he liked to work on his Corvettes and membership in the York PA Corvette Club. Korean War and Viet Nam Veteran. Retired in 72. Gotta be your guy or at the least 2nd owner. Passed in 2008. Wife passed in 2015 (follow the links on the obit)
He had a brother and multiple children and grandchildren. I would bet the brother possibly got the car and had it till 2017 when it went to the East Petersburg auction which is right across the river from Brouge. Other best bets are two sons Gregory B. or Perry L. who lived in Red Lion just a few miles from Brouge. Google is your friend, utilize the information in the obit and try to contact relatives. You may have to pay a few bucks to join one of the services that actually give phone numbers but White Pages works pretty good. Good luck and PM me if you need some help. Pretty ironic you are ex Army as well. More irony, I'm ex Army and also own a green C3. lol. Oh, the York County Corvette Club has a Facebook page and looks very active, Join, throw a few pics up, mention your Army and see if anyone remembers. Let us know!
Ewing was a performance dealer who had a Sports Department - in 1969 they sold multiple COPO 9561 (427 Iron block) Camaros.
One of my customers had a Ewing RS COPO which also had liquid tire chain option.
Love your LT1...
I have a Green 71 LT1 so I am a little partial.
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Information on my LT-1
