Sounds good to me. Thanks for the input

 

and there is a guy in the want to buy section been looking for pretty much that car for years.

 

I'm in the same boat. I have a un restored original 4speed L48 72 that looks like and acts like a 1 yr old used car. Its got a calif smog motor and is just a turd when it comes to performance. I decided to go with a GM ZZ383 and put all the old stuff in a bag for the next owner. The car will look stock but run with the best. I think as long as you dont butcher up the car its yours to do as you please.

 

Anything I do to it won’t show. It’s too cherry to mess up. If I do go crate motor, I will keep the original so it can be put back to number match.
My immediate plan is keeping it as is while the excitement of lucking into such a find wears off, then will decide if performance matters

 

Drive it a while, I did and its a pig when it comes to performance. My plan is painting it Chev orange, I have some LT1 valve covers and use al the stock brackets etc.
It will look original but just run better. I've got some 2.5 Ram horn manifolds and using a Pypes 2.5 exhuast system, should sound and work good.
I'd really like to get a CAI but with this hood I dont think it will fit. I may have to get an LT1 hood.

 

Post some engine compartment photos

 

Will do. Its still on the stand getting dressed and should be in and running by mid Aug if all goes well.
I'm debating painting the alum heads orange, I'm torn but I think it would look more original.

 

There was no L-48 in 1969.....what you have is a 'Base' engine 300HP. Yup! that is what its ACTUAL definition was. BTW it's a VERY nice engine and BETTER than a L-48 of later years......why? All SBC engines in 1969 were four bolt main engines.....the L-48 of later years were two bolts.

The 'base' is a very nice engine to build up.

Good luck and welcome to the fold.

Unkahal

 

It would be fun to do some coated headers and put some smog rails on it keep it all hooked up.
Why cork up a 383 with manifolds?

 

Thanks for the information about the “base”.

 

the L-whatever nunber is RPO regular production option. if it wasn't an option it sometimes didn't get an RPO number. also known as the ZQ3. you hear "all engines start with L." all rpo numbers start with L.

 

Glad I found this forum, will make my lack of Corvette lore go away quickly. Back in the late 60’s and through the 70’s I was a Mopar addict, owned and/or drove on drag strips a super stock stage 3 426 wedge aluminum front end car, 68 383 Super Bee, 69 426 hemi Roadrunner, 340 Dart, and 68 GTX. Never got into Chevy until now so I have a lot of learning to do. Turned 16 and got my DL at 16 in 1967 so I was in the muscle car heyday.

I did drive a E/Gas car for a couple of years that had a 63 split window Corvette body, always thought it was a shame to destroy a rare split window car for the body shell

 

Lucky
Like you I lucked into a pristine 69. I wanted a car that was as close to buying one in 1969 within my price range. No rebuild of anything. i do think you will like LT1 valve covers.
I bet you will be pleased with the performance of the base. I drag raced my 66 GTO a lot in high school. The vette is faster and actually handles, unlike the GTO. (Still wish I had that car.)
I think you have 3.36 rear gear with an M20 tranny. Tranny pulls better in first than the M21.
Here is what I did to mine with Lars help.
Bump timing to 12 degrees.
Replace vacuum can with B26 and used Lars' limiting plate in the distributor. (You can get one from Lars for 15 bucks.) VC1765 at Napa
Curved distributor with one factory spring and one gold.
New points CS5786 and condenser RR175 Napa
Dwell 31 degrees
I dont go much over 4500 rpm above which is where the horsepower lives in an L46 as I understand it. Our engine has 10.25 compression which is really pretty good.
Make sure your carb accelerator linkage is in the bottom hole!!!
Use manifold vacuum connection, not ported. The one close to the choke.
Put a few drops of motor oil on the accelerator pump shaft to help it seal. Try to use nonethanol gas if carb is not rebuilt.
I love driving my base coupe.
If I want to really haul *** I drive my mildly modified C5 which will stomp anything we drove in high school!!!! ( Well , maybe not an R/T Charger.)
Bet you will love it.
Let us know.

VERYSOON

 

You are "lucky" to get a 69. Mine is a 72, which is the year everything started going to crap. My "base" engine is a 8.0cr 350 block and was supposed to be 200hp. Its got the smog pump and all. When I go down the freeway at 60mph every time the AC compressor kicks on I slow down 5mph. Its awful. You have a pretty good motor to start with, so some top end stuff should wake it up a bit. Thats about all I'd do to yours, and maybe some long tubes and a good exhaust.