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LT-1 frame Vs Others

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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 05:16 PM
  #1  
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Default LT-1 frame Vs Others

Hi,

I'm quite new on your forum.
I'have a technical question :
I'm actively searching a 70 or 71 LT-1 or 454. And somebody told me that the LT-1 models have like a bar or an additionnal portion liked to the frame, on rear if my memory is good.

Now I've been told that some LT1 were fakes one just because they use to screw that bar to make the confusion, while the original piece was welded to the frame.
Any clues about this ?
Also if you have tips helping me to identify a real LT1 from fake ones I will buy it too !


Thank you.
Michael
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 05:23 PM
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I believe that is a sway bar, not a piece welded to the frame.
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 05:24 PM
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Default Interesting.

Originally Posted by Micha
Hi,

I'm quite new on your forum.
I'have a technical question :
I'm actively searching a 70 or 71 LT-1 or 454. And somebody told me that the LT-1 models have like a bar or an additionnal portion liked to the frame, on rear if my memory is good.

Now I've been told that some LT1 were fakes one just because they use to screw that bar to make the confusion, while the original piece was welded to the frame.
Any clues about this ?
Also if you have tips helping me to identify a real LT1 from fake ones I will buy it too !


Thank you.
Michael
I have never heard of a bar, others on here more expert than me. Interesting to hear responses. I would think this bar would be in the AIM (assembly instruction manual for 72 Corvettes), but I have not seen that. I would guess aftermarket add.

Ah, Derek, and thanks, the "rear sway bar" and not welded for sure!

Here is a link to a LT-1 discussion, LT-1 attributes list at the bottom. (Wonder why I can not copy and paste anymore???)

Anyway, please go look in the General section here for a LT-1 discussion, should be still on the first page.

Good luck with the hunt!

Last edited by 20mercury; Jun 22, 2018 at 05:32 PM.
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 06:40 PM
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The frame itself is the same regardless of the engine.
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 07:33 PM
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Here is just a couple of ways to tell a real LT-1
1. Single fuel line with no return line
2. Half shafts mounted with caps instead of straps
3. 6500 redline tach
4. 4 speed only (no automatic)
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 08:10 PM
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I don't believe LT-1s came with a rear sway bar.
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 09:36 PM
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If your planning on getting into the Corvette hobby before purchasing a collectable car You should read as much as You can so when You go look at a car You know what to look for. "The Corvette Black book" is a good start and then " Corvette by the Numbers" will turn You into an expert once You have it memorized. And there are many more books to read as well.
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Old Jun 22, 2018 | 09:41 PM
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F4Gary is right LT-1 had no rear sway bar also front sway bar bigger than std 350
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 07:40 AM
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Originally Posted by bashcraft
...The frame itself is the same regardless of the engine...
Correct. LT-1s used the regular production 4 speed frame.

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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 11:42 AM
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I think the OP is referring to the two welded diagonal pieces at the rear kickups that were added starting in model year 1969.
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 11:45 AM
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Thank you very much for your comments and useful information.
I'll dig further in the LT-1 Section.
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 03:30 PM
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So an LT 1 is like a bb car with a sb engine
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 04:01 PM
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and ,I thought I read ,some LT1 car has auto trans and a/c at some point?
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
So an LT 1 is like a bb car with a sb engine
no, all SB including LT-1s had the small front sway bar, no rear sway bar, HD rear end caps, not HD diff though
basically all base motor cars and LT-1s suspension, frame, body, interior is all the same except for the rear diff caps, BB hood, motor option
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 05:01 PM
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Micha. read the 10 rules sticky above. THEN, start doing homework on ways of verifying what you are looking at or for.
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Old Jun 23, 2018 | 06:37 PM
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The 71 LT-1 did not have a rear sway bar, only the BB C3's came with the 9/16 inch rear bar. The front SBC sway bar was 3/4 inch and the front BB sway bar was 15/16 inch. The front spring rate for the SB C3 in 71 was 250 lbs and 284lbs/inc for the BB-either way VERY soft compared to the later C3 with the gymkhana sport suspensions.

This is the major difference ^^^^^^ between BB and SBC C3's..the frames are all the same...there is no difference in the frames.

Everything you need or want to know about C3's by year is here:

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf

The later SBC C3's like my 78 with gymkhana suspension had 550 front springs/292lbs rear spring, 1 1/8 front sway bar and 7/16 rear sway bar as a comparator...you can see how much stiffer the later C3 cars versus even the early C3 BB cars were........It is funny that the early C3 cars had the power but usffered with the handling versus the later C3 SBC that could easily out handle the early C3's but had much less power

Last edited by jb78L-82; Jun 23, 2018 at 07:19 PM.
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Old Jun 24, 2018 | 12:11 AM
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I believe what Michael is referring to and I may be wrong is the cross member is welded in and not removable on the lt-1 while others are removable. It seems like a lot of answers are describing suspension stuff but the question was about frame differences and that is the difference with the frame.
Michael please let us know what specifically you are trying to figure out.
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Old Jun 24, 2018 | 07:58 AM
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All 4 speed cars leaving the factory had a welded in transmission crossmember regardless of whether the car was an LT1, BB, or base model. All Automatic transmission cars had a bolt in transmission crossmember. No rear sway bar on LT1. No automatic LT1's.
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Old Jun 24, 2018 | 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Micha
Hi,

I'm quite new on your forum.
I'have a technical question :
I'm actively searching a 70 or 71 LT-1 or 454. And somebody told me that the LT-1 models have like a bar or an additionnal portion liked to the frame, on rear if my memory is good.

Now I've been told that some LT1 were fakes one just because they use to screw that bar to make the confusion, while the original piece was welded to the frame.
Any clues about this ?
Also if you have tips helping me to identify a real LT1 from fake ones I will buy it too !


Thank you.
Michael
Restored pictures are a '70 LT1. Survivor pictures are a '72 454 car.






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Old Jun 27, 2018 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by jb78L-82
The 71 LT-1 did not have a rear sway bar, only the BB C3's came with the 9/16 inch rear bar. The front SBC sway bar was 3/4 inch and the front BB sway bar was 15/16 inch. The front spring rate for the SB C3 in 71 was 250 lbs and 284lbs/inc for the BB-either way VERY soft compared to the later C3 with the gymkhana sport suspensions.

This is the major difference ^^^^^^ between BB and SBC C3's..the frames are all the same...there is no difference in the frames.

Everything you need or want to know about C3's by year is here:

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/doc...t-Corvette.pdf

The later SBC C3's like my 78 with gymkhana suspension had 550 front springs/292lbs rear spring, 1 1/8 front sway bar and 7/16 rear sway bar as a comparator...you can see how much stiffer the later C3 cars versus even the early C3 BB cars were........It is funny that the early C3 cars had the power but usffered with the handling versus the later C3 SBC that could easily out handle the early C3's but had much less power
Thank you ! That a great attachment link you sent there. Very useful, as your comments. Thanks for contributing.

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