Hey y’all. I’m new here but I just got a 1975 C3 Stingray. I’ve familiarized myself with the basics, carb tuning, manifolds and vacuum pumps but that’s about the extent of it. I want to put a lot more horses under the hood and my thought was to put in a 427 C.I small block. I’m 16 years old and don’t have 10G’s to dump on a new engine at the moment but it’s something I want to do. What should I learn about the engine and do to prep the car for that new engine? I’m willing to spend about 6k to get it ready for that new engine. Any and all advice is welcome!

 

an ls or reg 75 period small block?
either way, drive train will need beefing up

welcome

 

A Gen 1 427SBC will fit just like the engine you have in there right now. Toss it in and rebuild your trans and diff just to freshen them up and take the extra power. Solid u-joints will also help (1350's)
https://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p46...1350_seri.html

 

Awesome. I planned to put in a 6 speed manual anyway, since it’s a 3 speed automatic right now. I also assume switching out the drivetrain would be a good move?

 

Just a regular 75. Saving money where I can 😂

 

ok then,
intake mani height
tall valve cover

 

The Corvette was made to be a pretty nice car and the 1975 might not be the fastest ever made but it has a style of it's own. I would drive it for a while and write down everything that is wrong with the Corvette and then fix it up and enjoy it the way it was designed. This is the best way to get a Corvette made reliable and more importantly SAFE for use on the roads. You will likely spend $6k just fixing all the little details like brake lines and such.

I have a car that would be more like what you want. It is a 1968 Convertible Corvette with a 4 speed and it's 427. I pulled the engine out to rebuild and drove it with a 350 temporarily in it to get used to the car and then I put my heavily "worked over" 427 back in. It is fun to drive, it is fast and it can get you in a lot of trouble in a big hurry. With well over 550 hp I have learned one thing, there is something known as "Too Much". I can do a low 11 or even into the 10's the software predicts. Today the car is very hard (almost impossible) to drive on wet roads and it has a thirst for high octane fuel. Then with the suspension upgrades you can almost tell the difference between a nickel and a dime as you run them over..... It is tight as I spent years rebuilding all the systems and suspension parts.

If you want a Newer Corvette with a LS3 or whatever engine it would be cheaper to sell the 1975 and buy a newer Corvette. There have been ZO6 Corvettes for sale at below $15k with some mileage. I also have a box stock 1988 C4 with it's 255 Hp, it is a coupe with A.C. and a good sound system. I love driving that Car as well. It is still a Corvette and with the engine sitting out in the open it is awesome to work on. It gets close to 30 mpg going 60 mph. I understand that many Asian cars might be faster but they are not "Corvettes".

 

how about you use that $6K you have and buy a small block high horsepower motor...theres one on the for sale section for a bit more. Its a small block 408 that is a 500hp motor that will kill you just as fast as the 427 you are talking about. It will be a very fun motor and you will be buying plenty of tires to keep it fed..

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...08-engine.html

I think its in Pennsylvania

THe oil issue can be solved with a catch can and baffles on the valve covers so its a non issue really. I had to deal with that on my 396 and my 427, its a performance engine issue that is common. I think the owner has just had too many bad memories with finally getting the engine right and wants to start over...it would be a great motor for you or anyone that bought it

Just bolt it up to that automatic and have fun, especially at the dragway. Then when you save up some more money go for the 5 speed or 6 speed. That will cost about the same because of the 3 pedal conversion, the hydraulic clutch system, the strong clutch and the tranny cost...but you will have a blast now with the auto...its an addiction working on cars so you have to pace yourself...then you may also want to run it on a closed corse or at an autocross...5 speeds are cool but the auto will win the race...

have fun, you will be the coolest kid at school for sure

 

A 427 small block Corvette is not a good choice for a 16 year old driver. I feel qualified to say that because I have a 427 small block Corvette, and I was 16 years old once. As for the drivetrain, mine is essentially stock except for the TKO 600 transmission and it stands up fine mainly because I drive like the old white guy I am. If I had owned this car when I was 16 probably not so much. Spend your money making the car safe and reliable. I know, those things are not high on our priority list when we are 16, but take it from me, your friends will be impressed more by the fact that you are driving a 40 year old classic that starts and runs every time you turn the key than by you telling them it has some exotic engine they know nothing about.

 

So you said you bought a 75 to save money what year is your fav and what got you into cars at such a young age , for me it was the neighbor 3 houses down he had a 65 396 425 hp and I was hooked I was only 12 years old . I have a 434 650 hp t56 6 speed

 

Omg, I want that. Anyway, my grandpa has a 1984 911 Carrera that he used to race. It’s like 600+ hp and he took me for a ride when I was 14. Ever since then I’ve been fascinated with cars, I thought they were really cool. Especially when they’ve got a ton of torque and throw you back in your seat. Now that I’m behind the wheel I have found I have a need for speed. Fell in love with old retro body styles and one of my neighbors had a 75 corvette he was selling for 9k and I grabbed her faster than you can say cheese and crackers.

 

For $6099, you can buy a Blueprint Engines 383 small block that will drop in place of the 350. It has 436 hp/443 ft.lbs of torque that will fry the stock-size radials. Brand new 4-bolt main block and heads. The aluminum heads and manifold will take 60+ lbs off the front of the vehicle. Check with BP to see if the intake manifold will create any hood clearance issues - you could always use your stock manifold.
As mentioned, freshen up the transmission/driveline/brakes to handle the power. Don't skimp on the motor, worry about the 6 speed later.

 

I knew you had gotten the bug from somewhere I think your heading in the right direction I would can the auto trans and do the t56 6 speed you will love it and then just do headers and a cam with a intake and enjoy a little at a time but make sure what ever you do be careful and learn as you go , this forum has a wealth of knowledge on here and most are willing to help and here'

s my other toy .

 

could you in detail explain to all of us how and what you have to get 650 hp out of a 434 small block? Like heads, roller cam specs, max rpm, header type....

 

Dart shp block scat crank and rods AFR 220 heads 10.7 to 1 compression cam is a roller comp cams 253/261 duration at 50 598/583 lift 110 lobe center team G intake it's the short one they have to fit under my hood and a Holley xp 950 and dougs header side pipes with a msd ignition 652 hp at I think it was 6500 rpm I would have to pull my dyno sheet but if you go on skip whites web site its their number 1 cam and the they added flat top piston the I went to chassis dyno and at 5000 rpm made a little over 500 at the wheels . and I have vintage ac to boot works great and no oil leaks zero nada and my crank case evac is through the exhaust .

 

Sounds good to me!

 

Not really much you have to do. If the car is an auto you already have HD driveline and its a Th400 so your ser. The sbc or even the bbc will bolt right in without really needed to change anything. I would recommend the spoiler extension though that was found on the 73/74 bb A/C cars, it will help keep the car cool.

 

I am 100% agree with that. I like the fact at 16 you are tackling projects but that type of HP I promise you will do bad stuff. I had a 75 when I was 16, still have it and I will be 52 this year, still the same 75. I know what I did with it in the day and I did end up installing a heavily modified 70 LT1 engine that made a little north of 470Hp. I am so happy that I never actually got the car street legal again after that at that age. All I did was burnouts and seeing how long and how fast I could spin the tires over in it. Had I gotten that car on the street I probably would not be here. Keep it simple and enjoyable, HP costs money and save that for later. It is awesome that a 16 year old is interested in the old Corvettes and I hope that you will post some of the stuff that you are doing here to it. I will help if you have any questions.
Justin