Help What did I buy
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Help What did I buy
Recently purchased a 1975 which was in storage for many years due to owner dying in 1978. It is a BBC Block ID 3999289 / Aluminum Intake manifold 3933198 (no date code) / Holley Dbl.Pumper no choke horn only ID is 12R10552B (at least 750CFM or 800 CFM) / Rock crusher Muncie Close ratio / If this may help no ID on Heads, but they are aluminum / Spark plug is Autolite 66 / Hooker chrome sidepipe headers / Strange thing is it has all the bells and whistles AC etc and everything works even the clock! Mother of deceased has had it in storage for over 30 years and she lives outside of Canonsburg Pa. She said he had it rebuilt by Yenko in 1976 or 1977 she wasn't sure. Does anyone have any idea on what this is? All my searches on the internet tells me this has an outside chance of being an LS6 BBC. There are no date codes on anything and only casting numbers I gave above. The engine block had a "125 73" in the casting also. If anyone can be of assistance I would greatly appreciate it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,948
Likes: 72
From: Oxford MA-----You just lost the game!!!!
Maybe you could get in touch with Yenko, it was a long time ago, but ya never know, they might be able to help you out. Are they even still in business?
BTW, are you aware of how many people on this forum hate your guts right now?
I'm just kidding, we are all jealous, though. Sounds like you made a really nice score. If I were you, I would embellish the story a little bit, and say the little old lady only used it to drive back and forth to church every Sunday!
Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
BTW, are you aware of how many people on this forum hate your guts right now?
I'm just kidding, we are all jealous, though. Sounds like you made a really nice score. If I were you, I would embellish the story a little bit, and say the little old lady only used it to drive back and forth to church every Sunday!Keep the shiny side up!
Scott
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I am going to also post this inquiry on the Yenko Site and see if they can come up with something. The mother never drove it, she kept it as a memorial to her son in a heated garage and had it serviced once in awhile, but finally gave it up to his close friend from college. He never knew she had the car and was in town visiting her, after not seeing her in a very long time. I bought it from him for $30K.....I know I am nuts (at least according to my wife).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
i am going to also post this inquiry on the yenko site and see if they can come up with something. The mother never drove it, she kept it as a memorial to her son in a heated garage and had it serviced once in awhile, but finally gave it up to his close friend from college. He never knew she had the car and was in town visiting her, after not seeing her in a very long time. I bought it from him for $30k.....i know i am nuts (at least according to my wife).
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
First off, 1975 didn't come out with big blocks. 74 was the last year of the BBC and it was LS4 280HP 454. Last year of the LS6 454 was 1971.
You need to find out if possibly your car was a left over 74 and sold as a 75....which would make it LS4.
The next thing is that 74's never had aluminum heads. Not even LS6's did. L89 427's were the only aluminum head big blocks I believe....not sure about L72 (I think).
If it eneded up in Yenko hands after it was bought from the factory, anything could have been done to the car.
You may have come across a nicely upgraded car by Yenko, only they will know.
I wonder one thing....if this car has been sitting in a heated garage for x amount of years, it means it was meticulously cared for. In my mind that old lady should have a box of paperwork on this car in the attick somewhere....worth an ask over a cup of tea and a jam scone
You need to find out if possibly your car was a left over 74 and sold as a 75....which would make it LS4.
The next thing is that 74's never had aluminum heads. Not even LS6's did. L89 427's were the only aluminum head big blocks I believe....not sure about L72 (I think).
If it eneded up in Yenko hands after it was bought from the factory, anything could have been done to the car.
You may have come across a nicely upgraded car by Yenko, only they will know.
I wonder one thing....if this car has been sitting in a heated garage for x amount of years, it means it was meticulously cared for. In my mind that old lady should have a box of paperwork on this car in the attick somewhere....worth an ask over a cup of tea and a jam scone
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
First off, 1975 didn't come out with big blocks. 74 was the last year of the BBC and it was LS4 280HP 454. Last year of the LS6 454 was 1971.
You need to find out if possibly your car was a left over 74 and sold as a 75....which would make it LS4.
The next thing is that 74's never had aluminum heads. Not even LS6's did. L89 427's were the only aluminum head big blocks I believe....not sure about L72 (I think).
If it eneded up in Yenko hands after it was bought from the factory, anything could have been done to the car.
You may have come across a nicely upgraded car by Yenko, only they will know.
I wonder one thing....if this car has been sitting in a heated garage for x amount of years, it means it was meticulously cared for. In my mind that old lady should have a box of paperwork on this car in the attick somewhere....worth an ask over a cup of tea and a jam scone
You need to find out if possibly your car was a left over 74 and sold as a 75....which would make it LS4.
The next thing is that 74's never had aluminum heads. Not even LS6's did. L89 427's were the only aluminum head big blocks I believe....not sure about L72 (I think).
If it eneded up in Yenko hands after it was bought from the factory, anything could have been done to the car.
You may have come across a nicely upgraded car by Yenko, only they will know.
I wonder one thing....if this car has been sitting in a heated garage for x amount of years, it means it was meticulously cared for. In my mind that old lady should have a box of paperwork on this car in the attick somewhere....worth an ask over a cup of tea and a jam scone
Good advice and info..............
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
1971 Corvette LS-6 came with aluminum open-chamber cylinder heads and aluminum intake. At least according to M. F. Dobbins' Vette Vues Fact Book of 1968-1972 Stingrays.
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Heads were cast iron on the LS6 454, intake was aluminum....actually I think I'm wrong...you're right
Last edited by Summerfun; Jun 10, 2012 at 10:26 AM. Reason: Mistake
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I am going to also post this inquiry on the Yenko Site and see if they can come up with something. The mother never drove it, she kept it as a memorial to her son in a heated garage and had it serviced once in awhile, but finally gave it up to his close friend from college. He never knew she had the car and was in town visiting her, after not seeing her in a very long time. I bought it from him for $30K.....I know I am nuts (at least according to my wife).
money. I have to agree with your wife. The only way it is worth anywhere near that is if it has ultra low miles, all documentation, one owner and all the paperwork from Yenko detailing what was done and when. Lots of cars and stories get embellished over 40+ years especially when it gets you double what the car is actually worth. All you have at this point is a story. Documentation is everything.
Last edited by 63mako; Jun 10, 2012 at 11:04 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
documentation is the key to value. i beleive period correct modified cars are the next collector phase. there were hundreds of local build cars to every yenko or motion built car. and most didn't survive or were returned to stock by restorers.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Heads are GM 3946074
Well I took off the valve cover and found the casting number... when I said there was no number on it I was looking external, as I was unaware of where it would be! I guess I will just have to enjoy an overpriced undocumented BBC, as the car has no other info or way of obtaining whether it is a Yenko or not. Everything points to a mod from him, but like someone said no papers no money!!! Feel like an undocumented worker....LOL If any one else has any ideas of what else I may be able to do to get some documentation please forward. It has a little over 50K miles on it but from what I understand most of that was prior to Mod and interior is original and a 8-9 out of a 10 Thanks for your help.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The thing is if you like it, it is in good condition and it is what you want who cares if you have the paperwork, It is your car, drive it and enjoy it. I am in a similar situation. I was told my 63 was modified by Motion Performance in 1972. All indications is it was. I had a PM from a guy in New Jersey that said he remembered the car from the early 70's at the local dragstrips. The flaired quarters and rear pan are press molded and I found a signature and a 1972 date under the diamond pleated door panel but have no solid documentation other than word of mouth so I enjoy it for what it is, a modified, undocumented car that I like.
I am in a similar situation. I was told my 63 was modified by Motion Performance in 1972. All indications is it was. I had a PM from a guy in New Jersey that said he remembered the car from the early 70's at the local dragstrips. The flaired quarters and rear pan are press molded and I found a signature and a 1972 date under the diamond pleated door panel but have no solid documentation other than word of mouth so I enjoy it for what it is, a modified, undocumented car that I like.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Any way, a guy goes in with a piece of art, that has many signs of being the work of El Greco. Everyone agrees that if it was an El Greco, it would be worth as much a $500k - BUT only if it was able to be authenticated.
The picture had no provenance, so therefore, even if it is an El Greco, it didn't matter, the highest offer was $10k, the same as if the work was by a completely unknown painter.
Collector cars are no different. The only way a car has provenance, is if the car is stock, or documented by someone like Motion, or Yenko.
Without 'documentation'/'provenance' the collector value of a car is limited to a certain extent.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
Well I took off the valve cover and found the casting number... when I said there was no number on it I was looking external, as I was unaware of where it would be! I guess I will just have to enjoy an overpriced undocumented BBC, as the car has no other info or way of obtaining whether it is a Yenko or not. Everything points to a mod from him, but like someone said no papers no money!!! Feel like an undocumented worker....LOL If any one else has any ideas of what else I may be able to do to get some documentation please forward. It has a little over 50K miles on it but from what I understand most of that was prior to Mod and interior is original and a 8-9 out of a 10 Thanks for your help.
Join the club. I bought my 80 off of E Bay, I was told it was almost perfect, with new paint and interior. I paid 12,000 for it and just dumped another $10,000 into it.
But it will be exactly what I want and look great.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
