69 L-71 Tri-power help !!!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 3
69 L-71 Tri-power help !!!
Hey all,
I just started a resto on a 69 L71 I found in a barn, the car has been parked since 1978 and is all original. The problem i have is that the original owner swapped the tri-power for a single double pumper in the 70's.
My question is the car was built in Feb of 69, what date codes do i need for the carbs? Also if anyone has a correct tri-power setup for this car available, i'm interested.
Thanks Everyone.
Scott
I just started a resto on a 69 L71 I found in a barn, the car has been parked since 1978 and is all original. The problem i have is that the original owner swapped the tri-power for a single double pumper in the 70's.
My question is the car was built in Feb of 69, what date codes do i need for the carbs? Also if anyone has a correct tri-power setup for this car available, i'm interested.
Thanks Everyone.
Scott
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I have a '69 L71 convertible with a body build date of Feb. 18 and assembly date of Feb 20.
I'm about to leave for a short time, but when I get back I'll check it for you and see what numbers I can see on mine.
I'm about to leave for a short time, but when I get back I'll check it for you and see what numbers I can see on mine.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Best guess is to check in the Judging Manual for your year car. I know that the motor must have a build date within 6 months of the cars birthday so I would think that carb set-up would be within the same timeframe. As for locating and pricing out a tri-power setup, that can run big money for a correctly dated manifold/carbs set up in not so great condition. I don't even want to think how much a "restored as new" setup would cost. Here's something to think about: I have a '68, 427-390 HP, with A/T. A correctly dated Q-jet "core" that's rebuldable will go for $300-$500. A restored carb can go up to $1500.00. Now you know why I don't have a date - correct Q-jet. 
Good luck with your search! 
Good luck with your search!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Hope your sitting down when you get the quote! I paid 2K in 1999 for an L-71 setup that was junk, with no linkage, fuel lines, stripped inlets and worn out throttle bodies. It did have the correct air cleaner. It's now on my car and working well, but I spent another $800.00 on it to get it functional. It's no show piece, just a good driving setup.
If the rest of the car is perfect, go ahead and spend time and gold on it, otherwise I'd leave it simple 'till the rest is mostly done. Just advice, and your lucky in one sense; they sold a bunch more L-71's than the smaller L-68's, thus they are more plentiful and a bit cheaper. Good find!
Hans
If the rest of the car is perfect, go ahead and spend time and gold on it, otherwise I'd leave it simple 'till the rest is mostly done. Just advice, and your lucky in one sense; they sold a bunch more L-71's than the smaller L-68's, thus they are more plentiful and a bit cheaper. Good find!
Hans
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Mine is Feb as well...and I have been looking for almost a year now...so good luck...and if you do happen to find one, be prepared to shell out $3500-5K and even then you may still have to get linkages, hoses, rebuilding, aircleaner, etc....so you may end up having at least $4-6k wrapped in one.
Also you may have to buy it piece by piece as you find them...nailing all 3 carbs in one shot is rare.
My original setup got stolen, i'm pretty happy about having to always look for one.
Also you may have to buy it piece by piece as you find them...nailing all 3 carbs in one shot is rare.
My original setup got stolen, i'm pretty happy about having to always look for one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I looked at the carbs on my car, and couldn't make out the coding. The proper numbers were ther but I wasn't able to make out the date coding. I have to do some research to see what the numbers and casting marks mean.
Depending on how much you want to come up with absolutely correct parts (a car is only original once...when it leave the factory), you can buy new carburetors from Holley...they still make the same model the L71's used.
Depending on how much you want to come up with absolutely correct parts (a car is only original once...when it leave the factory), you can buy new carburetors from Holley...they still make the same model the L71's used.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
The correct numbers would read
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Dane Wisconsin
The correct numbers would read
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
mine is a stick where are these numbers on the carbs?
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,634
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the World
The date code for the manifold is under the heat shield and is impossible to see unless the manifold is off and the heat shield removed.
Look for a manifold with any date and correctly dated carbs if you want to go NCRS but can't afford to wait for the correct manifold to come up.
Look for a manifold with any date and correctly dated carbs if you want to go NCRS but can't afford to wait for the correct manifold to come up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Sold a '69 L71 stick a couple of years back (
). The original carbs were still on the car when I bought it in '90, but were crap (can I say that?). After pricing their "correct" restoration, I settled on storing the originals and installing newer ones for driving the car. If you're not going for Bloomington Gold or Survivor, or some other status which requires the originals, you'll probably be happier to have saved the money for investment elsewhere in the car where you may not have alternatives other than throwing money at it.
I still have a one last "incorrect date" OEM tri-power intake somewhere that's in excellent shape, and maybe some of the hardware too, if you might have any interest in it after I dig it out later this season.
btw...the original air cleaner lid had info screened onto the underside, and I'm not sure if any re-pro pieces have it yet.
Anyway, best of luck!
PS: If anyone tells you it's very difficult to tune the 3x2, find someone else who knows the setup better to help guide you thru it.
). The original carbs were still on the car when I bought it in '90, but were crap (can I say that?). After pricing their "correct" restoration, I settled on storing the originals and installing newer ones for driving the car. If you're not going for Bloomington Gold or Survivor, or some other status which requires the originals, you'll probably be happier to have saved the money for investment elsewhere in the car where you may not have alternatives other than throwing money at it.I still have a one last "incorrect date" OEM tri-power intake somewhere that's in excellent shape, and maybe some of the hardware too, if you might have any interest in it after I dig it out later this season.
btw...the original air cleaner lid had info screened onto the underside, and I'm not sure if any re-pro pieces have it yet.
Anyway, best of luck!
PS: If anyone tells you it's very difficult to tune the 3x2, find someone else who knows the setup better to help guide you thru it.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Apr 30, 2007 at 08:02 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 207
From: Loveland, CO
I purchased a set of replacement carbs for my '69 last year. When I called Holley they told me they don't sell them any more and sold all stock to some other wholesaler somewhere in Alabama or Georgia. I called them and got a better deal than you can from any of the Vette catalogs that still have them.
I guess my point is, that if you want new carbs., you had better get them sooner rather than later. It is hard to say how long the supply will last.
Ralph.
I guess my point is, that if you want new carbs., you had better get them sooner rather than later. It is hard to say how long the supply will last.
Ralph.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Dane Wisconsin
The correct numbers would read
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
Front/Rear
3902353
LIST-3659
921 (Example: 9= 69, 2 = feb, 1= first week)
If it's a 4 digit number then it's a replacement.
Center
394029= manual, 3940930 = automatic
LIST-4055
921
The intake is 3937797.
If going NCRS, it has to be within 6 months prior to builddate of car.
Good luck on your hunt.
got the car home today took a look at the carbs here is what i found
front and rear are 3902353-eu list 3659 then the date is 782 the center is 3940929-ev list 4055-1 the date is 992. the intake is part number 3919852. what intake is that your numbers say it should be 3937797 i think mine was a L68 400hp not the L71 435hp is that part of the difference?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Likes: 1
From: Dane Wisconsin
thanks that must match the front and rear carbs then with the build date on the carbs of 782. i bought the car from a family friend, when he bought and built it the car was in baskets and had a 1970 front end parts 68 and 69 too.
