Larry N. Johnson

Well, here we are 6 weeks after the car is bought.

After a thorough ID, we have:
RPO
C07 Auxiliary Hardtop (intact)
MM Milano Maroon exterior (intact)
N/A Maroon leather seats (intact but stained black)
L78 425 HP 396 Turbo Fire engine (lost)
F40 Special Front/Rear Suspension (all intact)
M20 4-speed (intact) w 3.70 rear (intact)
G81 Positraction Rear Axle (intact)
N14 Factory sidepipes (intact)
A31 Power windows (intact)
J50 Power brakes (intact)
U69 Am/FM Radio (intact)
Weight: 3507 lbs "curb weight" including hard top

DECISIONS:
1. The car is temporarily NOM and needs a "Heart Transplant". Decided that aluminum heads, although they save weight and have "the look" of a serious performance car, are not needed with the extra-ordinary results that VortecPro has achieved with ported iron heads. The engine will look bone stock with orange valve covers

and will fit the stock 1965 396 exhaust manifolds. Therefore decided to go with the VortecPro Performance 467 CI 500 HP 565 TQ at 5700 rpm on today's 91 Octane pump gasoline. Flat tappet hydraulic cam for a quite ride and a warranty w 9.1:1 compression ratio and 4-bolt mains.

2. For my driving needs, we want it to be a decent and pleasant car to drive, so a 5-speed was decided. The Tremec 600 can handle all the torque the engine can dish out. The Keisler "Perfect Fit" package fits (with some coaxing) the stock body without mods. The original 4-speed M20 goes on the shelf for posterity.

3. Appearance wise, I want two looks: the "stock look" and the "hot street machine" look.

These are my two inspiration cars:

"Stock Look"


"Hot Street Machine Look"


4. Paint/Interior/Exterior

Stock except "over-restore" the paint. Smooth, excellent fits that GM did not have time in production to do. "The way we wish" they did it; not "they way it was done" in 1965.

Detail the frame "frame-on" to retain the perfect fit for the doors, hood, etc. This was a hard decision, but if it is done with care, it will be really nice.

Based on finding the correct paint codes from BarryK, go with trim tag specs all the way. Milano Maroon exterior with Maroon interior, black soft top, maroon hard top.

Here is my paint inspiration, BarryK's coupe:



SUMMARY

Engine P/N Spec
Crate VortecPro Performance Engines 467 CI/440 HP/500 TQ
Carb 0-80770 Holly 770cfm, 4160, Elec Choke, Vac Sec
Fuel Pump Stock 65 396, mechanical
Bell Housing 3899621 For 11" Clutch, 168 Tooth
Flywheel 14096987 14", 168 T, Steel
Alternator 1100630 62 Amp w Regulator
Starter For 11" Clutch, 168 Tooth (have not specified yet)
Air Cleaner Stock 396
Distributor MSD 8572 a 5520 spark box
Clutch ?? (Not specified yet)

Transmission
Transmission Keisler "Perfect Fit", 5-speed Tremec, TKO-600, 0.64 OD
Misc Bolts, Shifter, etc.
Clutch 11" 1-1/8 X 26 Spline

Paint
Stock Color Milano Maroon 900MM
Materials Clearcoat/Base Coat PPG

Interior
Door Panels Maroon Deluxe
Seat Covers Maroon, Leather
Guages Stock
Carpet, Insulation
Radio Stock

Exterior
Badges 396 Stock
Sidepipes BB 2.5" Stock onto 65 ex manifolds
Covers For Sidepipes New Stock
Grill 1965 Repro

TOPS
Soft Top Replace Soft Black Material
Hard Top New window Repaint top

Wheels
Set 1 TT 2.1 Am Racing 17x7 4" BS
Set 1 225/55x17 Goodyear

Set 2 Front 15x7 Rally 4.25" BS Monte Carlo
Set 2 Rear 15x7 Rally 3.75" BS Code AG
Set 2 Caps 1967 Vette "Disk Brake" flat caps, new
Set 2 Rings Corvette 67 Fronts (2.75"); 68 Rears (3.00"), new

Setup 3 Stock 65 Hubcaps over the rally wheels


Tires:

Set 1 225/55x17 Goodyear
Set 2/3 225/65x15 Mickey Thompson S/T


Trim
Chrome: all redone
SS: all repolished

All those who answered my questions I really appreciate. Too many to name. You know who you are: THANK YOU!!

Wish me luck or make a suggestion.

claf

I haven't contributed to your exercise yet. I had a 427 '67 back in the day which was Milano maroon with side pipes and flat hub caps and trim rings, also had a black soft top and a maroon hardtop ! Only difference was my black interior . My experience was that it was a "low key" screamer that didn't call a lot of attention to itself, almost a sleeper, if any Corvette could be a sleeper. As long as I wasn't "stupid" with the pipes no one gave it a second look (which was good from my point of view). Have you forsaken the FFR ?? Bob

62Jeff

Considering how much work you are doing, I think leaving the body on the frame simply because of a concern about door gaps, is a missed opportunity to do the car right for little risk.

If you document the number, thickness, and location of body shims as you remove the body, you should be OK when you put it all back together. You have described a large amount of work, it'd be a shame to leave the body on so that you can spend actually more work trying to restore the chassis on your back.

5thvet

Hey Larry,
For the stock look, had you considered Knock Offs or original 65 hubcaps? As you know, I also like the look of the Rallys but I think for the stock look I would have to go with the Knock offs or the caps. That's it Larry, a third look!!!!!
Don

Larry N. Johnson

Thanks for the comments; still have and drive the FFR, "Old 3550".

Larry N. Johnson

Well, you might be right. The book "Corvette Restoration - State of the Art"

and at the end, he recommended paint first then body off.
Sooo, the decision to "frame-off" the chassis is still possible.

62Jeff

That's exactly what we did on my 62, paint first, then remove the body and do the chassis as well as the underbody

Larry N. Johnson

I think you are right!
More "looks" are better!!

The "Knock Off Look"



"The Hubcap Look"


4 looks? Change weekly!!

5thvet

Sounds like a plan but why do we just buy one more each and switch every once in awhile........I'll buy the hubcaps ( whew, just saved myself some serious coin)

robert miller

Man the cars look great....

sub006

Actually, hubcaps can cost more than some alloy wheels, probably because the mags fit a lot of vehicles besides Corvettes.

Only differences I could see between your stock look and street machine look were:

1. bigger wheels and tires

2. small block hood

...on the street rod! Will the big block even fit under the plain wrapper?

5thvet

None of those pictures are of Larry's car. I think he is just using them as examples for the wheels only.

VetteRed1965

Larry , I think you right on. Burgandy/Burgandy is a great combo. Can you get 396 valve covers on the 454 ?

I would suggest Vette Packs that have the 2 1/2" inside and 3 1/2" outside. I took off my headers and put on 2 1/2" rams horn and went with the Vette packs. It quieted down the Vette and also they flow better then stock.Part number 2540-VETTE 2-1/2" 3-1/2" 40" 46" . A Gentleman did a after dyno and gained 33 RWHP.

Larry N. Johnson

1. Yes, 396 Valve covers do fit the 454. The 454 is a stroked 396 w a roller cam. Heads interchange, too. 396 Exhaust manifolds will fit. (there's a savings!)

2. On the sidepipes, I was very torn what to do. I prefere a "sleeper" i.e., quiet style but the sidepipe covers limit one's options. In the end I bought (they arrived today) a set of stock sodepipes, aluminized. The thought being to get the original sound. It it's too loud, then we'll have to look at Vette pack. Thanks for the suggestion.

3. On the carb, the choices are many, but the decision as of today is the Holley 770 cfm GM P/N 19170093. It has vacuum secondaries, electic choke and should be enough CFM for 5000 rom 454 CI.


A stock 396 carb 3868826-CS List 3124 is available, but a new one would probably be a safer bet on this project. So maybe the 3124 can find a new home.

4. Regarding the Distributor, many report good results with the MSD 8572 unit:

The tech guy that I spoke to says "the gear is melonized on all MSD distributors" so it will be compatable w the roller cam in the ZZ454 engine. I hope this is true. The only optional gears for MSD that I can find are iron or bronze.

I also wonder if this distributor can be adjusted to provide the needed advance both mechanical and vacuum. Or is the "Bushing and Spring Set" needed for adjustment?

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions!

Larry N. Johnson

Decided to fill the extra tail lights on the 6 tail lights we now have in favor of a stock 4-tail light look.

Good bye 6 tail lights!


Hello 4 tail lights (not my car) but we will have 4 red, no backup clears.

91DRM

100%

AZDoug

Just to pick nits:

the BB 396/427/454 motors were TurboJet motors, the SB 283, 327,350 were TurboFire.

And of course, the 6 bangers motors as used in passenger cars and trucks were TurboThrift motors, IIRC.

Not sure what the four cyl motors as used in early Chevy II's were called.

Doug

nfran

Larry, sounds like you got your work cut out for you but, heck, that's why we own these cars. Good luck and post pictures as often as you can, want to see the progress. This may give me inspiration to go into my 65 396 deeper!

firstgear

it really isnt that much more when you add up everything that you are doing and the results when someone pokes their head under the car or looks around will be worth it......

stickers

Quote:

Milano Maroon exterior with Maroon interior, black soft top, maroon hard top.

Might give some consideration to a beige soft top on this combo, unless you know black was original color on this car.

Great plan!!! Keep us up to date.

Bob