Thanks.

Deer around here are very tame....... They love to eat my landscaping.

Most visitors think they are cute, for me, only the fauns are cute.......

DJ

DJ, thanks for the pics, love it.
As you say, seen it in a convertible, but not a coupe.
Thanks for sharing.
:thumbs:

That is a beautiful car! :thumbs:

Thank you Sir.

DJ

If they have different rear end ratios, the 396 just might beat the 427...:hide:


Being almost equal, if we're talking coupes, I'd lean toward the '65 for its functional power cabin vent in the B-pillar!

[QUOTE=sub006;1583065081]If they have different rear end ratios, the 396 just might beat the 427...:hide:QUOTE]

Anything is possible. A significant number of 65 396/425 cars seem to have been delivered with 4.56 rears from what I have seen reported and advertised over the years. That would make a tough match for a 427/425 car with 3.31 gears. Although the infamous 66 road test of the 427/425 covertible that turned a 12.8 quarter (supposedly) was reported to have a 3.31 rear. But I would rather have either one with something more around a 3.70:1 rear.

btw, looks like we have similar likes. The Ferrari in the rear; I like. Besides wanting a '65-'66 coupe BB (like yours), I've always wanted a 1977 Ferrari GTB fiberglass dry sump. One day... but obviously after the '65-'66 BB coupe.

I wonder if a vette mag has ever covered the '65 vs '66 comparison.

Over the years, I've owned two L78 powered Chevelles, one 4.10 geared. The COPO Chevelle that I bought new, would run away and hide on either of the L78 cars. The horsepower difference was more than obvious. I've ridden in a few L78 cars that wouldn't stay with our L78 cars I had. The two other COPO cars I rode in back in the day were obviously quicker than either of our L78 cars. On one Chevelle web site, people took exception to my observations but when I asked what their secrets were to making L78 cars quick, all I got was silence. I'd lay money that the L72 will put a LOT bigger smile on your face. Then again, sitting in a show field has never been my cup of tea. We drive our cars. We put close to 200K miles on the COPO car, 39K on the L78 car that we bought in 1997. On selling the Chevelles, we bought a 13K mile 2005 6 speed Corvette. These typically run 12.8s @ 111mph and put down 340-350 rwhp. It would give the COPO car a pretty good run even with the 3.42 gears.We loved our old 427 car though. 427 forever.
Something to burst the musclecar bubble. http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...car_dyno_wars/

Interesting point I hadn't heard before. Is this true, John Z?

65/396 and 67/L88 both came with 10.5 inch clutch I believe - contrary to other BBs. Not sure if the flywheel was actually lighter though. I don't think the 396/L88 flywheel (even if it is slightly lighter) or the barely smaller clutch would make enough difference in weight to be that noticeable.

One should consider that they made 2,157 '65 L78's and 5,258 '66 L72's. So the L78's are quite rare, only the '65 F.I. L84 (771 units) are more rare.

Okay so I'm a bit biased but I can say our L78 is brutally fast, and scares the wits out of most passengers.:D

Can't speak to the performance comparison, but the L-78 and L-88 (and ZL-1, ZR-1 and ZR-2) shared usage of the lightweight 12-3/4" 153-tooth flywheel. :thumbs:

Size matters, pick the 427!! TJS

i owned both new with 4:11 rear gears and the 396 was quicker because it had the 15# flywheel from the factory where the 427 had the 30# flywheel

They also shared the same oversized Harrison aluminum radiator bigger than the small block radiator. I think the 396 is a pretty trick motor and has many neat 1st year bits and pieces. It used to be considered an orphan car not carrying much premium, now, superstar status!

I can't believe the stones you guys have...honestly, my hat is off to any of you who drive either of these beasts the way they were meant to be driven !!! To chance missing a shift in a rare big block Vette with a numbers matching engine would scare the $hit out of me. If I owned either car the numbers matching engine and trans would be sitting in my garage and a later model 454, 496, 511, etc would be taking up residence along with an Autogear Muncie or a 904 nodular iron case Super T10. You guys got balls !

Speaking for myself, I had the balls to write the check, but balls are not necessary to drive it the way its progenitors intended. What is necessary is time, both the time to drive it and the lack of time left in ones life to enjoy it. At 52 going on 53 I'm done "saving" stuff for the ass%@le my wife sells it to when I'm at room temperature.

If you employ some skill and discretion (and keep your kid or brother-in-law well away from it) it is hard to break a 396.

We are only the (current) keepers of these cars, not the owners we think we are.

Besides, no one ever had any fun avoiding all risk.

Dan

Very well said!! Last time I had my '66 L72 out, I was behind a truck running a backroad at about 55...We hit a nice long straight and I downshifted to hammer it and pass him...As i went by with the sidepipes blasting his truck, he threw the biggest thumbs up possible with an outstretched arm out the window!! When I swung back into our lane and looked down I was climbing through 95mph and had the biggest grin on my face imaginable and gave him a thumbs up back (the top was down)...What a great day! :thumbs:

I have more fun driving this car hard, than anything I have ever owned!! Have fun, drive them hard, and keep em running!!:cheers: Everyone loves seeing these cars out on the highway!!

I live in Massachusetts, and whenever I see other Vettes on the road its always older guys and they drive them like they're museum pieces...I NEVER see anyone tearing it up. Even the newer cars...C4s, 5s, and 6s get driven easy...unless the guy is under 40 (I'm 44). I just bought a 73 LS4 that needs a ton of work, but when I'm done I'll drive it like I stole it, but it's not exactly rare like a mid year. If I had a factory original mid year big block, like I said, the numbers matching engine and trans would be in the garage and I'd build something I wouldn't be afraid to break...that I could replace.

I like the '73's...That was almost my first Corvette - I found a '72 that I bought, but I wish I had purchased the '73 instead, since it was a 454 4spd car! I'm 47 now and really take good care of my cars, but I run them really hard too (when the time seems right). My Mom hates to go fast in cars w/me, but one ime we were taking a trip in my C6 Z06, and I passed someone on the parkway and really romped on it...That car is so smooth she never realized we were doing 140 before slowing back to the cruise spped of 80 :D (she did know things were zipping along pretty good! :woohoo:)