Hi this is my first time here. I'm not sure if I'm posting in the right forum or not. I'm going to look at a 1966 corvette hard top tomorrow and I know nothing about them. I was told it is a factory 396/425hp 4 speed. The original motor is gone and a replacement 396 is installed. How can I tell if this car came from the factory with a 396?
Dave
Yep. '66s got the 427. My advice would be to go back to the seller and see if he/she has any original documentation for the car (build sheet, order copy, dealer invoice, etc.). That's the only way to know for sure how the car was produced.
I talked to the guy again yesterday and I was wrong it's a 1965, so would a '65 need paper work to show it's a original 396? Dave
Yes. The VIN will not contain any codes for the engine. The pad on the front of the right head will have two stamps: the engine code and the vehicle code. Vehicle code will contain part of the VIN of the vehicle the engine was originally installed in. Engine code will list date the engine was assembled and application it was intended for.
You will need documentation from the seller to confirm whether this is an original big block car (tank sticker, order copy, dealer invoice, etc.).
Faking '65 L-78's has become a cottage industry. First thing to check is the VIN - if it's below 13,000, it's a fake. If he's asking real L-78 money for it, suggest you take someone VERY knowledgeable with you.
Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware. There are countless more of these cars than the General ever made. With the big bucks come counterfeits, the bigger the dollars the more likely and the better the forgery. I have almost come to the conclusion that it is not worthwhile to purchase these valuable cars as the risk of getting screwed is way too high.
It is sad that this hobby has come to this but it has.
Location: half way between Uniontown and Hartville in rusty old Ohio
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnZ
Faking '65 L-78's has become a cottage industry. First thing to check is the VIN - if it's below 13,000, it's a fake. If he's asking real L-78 money for it, suggest you take someone VERY knowledgeable with you.
Location: half way between Uniontown and Hartville in rusty old Ohio
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red70vette
Caveat Emptor. Buyer beware. There are countless more of these cars than the General ever made. With the big bucks come counterfeits, the bigger the dollars the more likely and the better the forgery. I have almost come to the conclusion that it is not worthwhile to purchase these valuable cars as the risk of getting screwed is way too high.
It is sad that this hobby has come to this but it has.
Thanks for the "Heads Up" on '65 BB Corvettes. A friend told me that a big block vette will have a different tranmission extention housing than a small block vette. Shorter or longer, I'm not sure. Also a vette with the factory side pipes will tend to have rusted out frame behind the side pipes , on the side rails of the frame. And big blocks came with a different dist. with an electric hook up for the tach, due to the mechanical tach drive cable hitting the firewall. Is this true? Dave
Thanks for the "Heads Up" on '65 BB Corvettes. A friend told me that a big block vette will have a different tranmission extention housing than a small block vette. Shorter or longer, I'm not sure. Also a vette with the factory side pipes will tend to have rusted out frame behind the side pipes , on the side rails of the frame. And big blocks came with a different dist. with an electric hook up for the tach, due to the mechanical tach drive cable hitting the firewall. Is this true? Dave
Nope, none of that is true - your friend is misinformed. All extension housings are the same length (there was no difference between SB and BB transmissions), the frame rust is common to all Corvettes regardless of exhaust configuration, and big-blocks used the same mechanical tach-drive distributors as small-blocks - Corvettes didn't have electronic tachs until 1975.
Hi there
I would seriously consider joining NCRS and
ordering a Judging Manual for 1965 this will
help you learn. There is way to many thing that can be incorrect that can affect the value dramatically.
Learn what your buying, or you will easly get hurt.
You do not want to pay for something that is not wright as it is Very expensive to fix.
Michael
Corvette Store
How do I tell If this is a real '66 396/425hp
