A friend just bought a 66 conv. basket case and it came with a replacement small block. It has a 6500 red line tack and an 80lb oil pressure gauge. What is the possibility this was a big block car. How do I tell the difference?
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
core support, radiator, fan shroud, hood support, rear swaybar, alternator, tank to pump fuel line ends in a different position
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
agree with jerry's post. also the mark iv cars had caps and bolts attaching the half shaft u-joints to the 3rd member whereas the mouse motors utilized a u bolt to attach to 3rd member.Comment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
Knew I had forgotten something Mike
Have a good holiday
jerComment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
Jerry On the fuel line.I recentley was having a discution with a so called corvette exspert and he told me that some of the high performance small blocks had the same fuel line as the big block any truth to that?
Also could some one please re exspain how you quailify a big block fuel line.Comment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
Larry -
Both fuel lines are the same size (3/8") and are identical up to about a foot from the fuel pump end, where the end configuration is different (length, bends); someone with a BB can explain the difference.Comment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
no midyear small block equiped corvettes had the big block main fuel line. on the fuel pump end of the fuel line, the small blocks are an inch or two longer than the big block lines and the big block line comes up the frame rail and has a 90 degree bend whereas the small blocks are bent at about 45 degrees. mikeComment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
that about covers it LarryComment
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BB Fuel lines are longer, as...
the block itself is longer (bigger dia. pistons), and the fuel pump sits further forward of the bellhousing-to-block surface, the last "common" dimension [other than motor mount location] between BB's and SB's. The BB line measures 9 3/4" from the center of the bolt of the fuel line clip on the top of the frame (opposite the idler arm) to the bead at the forward tip of the line (feel it under the rubber). The same dimension on the SB is 5 1/4".Comment
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Re: BB Fuel lines are longer, as...
you're correct Wayne. i got it bass akwards. mikeComment
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Re: BB Fuel lines are longer, as...
Thank you wayne and others.I was just under the hood of my car and the 5 1/4 dimention seems as if it would put it in line with the motor mount cross member.I am going to a cruise on wensday night hopefully I will run in to a couple of small blocks I can take some pictures of the fuel pump lines.
lastly what is this about a 45 insead of a 90Comment
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Re: C2 Big Block or Small Block
Jerry.
I just went through this myself. I bought a '66 ("big block") 427/390 with an automatic (powerglide) console that looked original (Chevy says only 20 L-36's were produced (See Vette magazine price guide). I bought the car knowing that it was not original and suspecting someone had taken a base horsepower 66 and "big blocked it" hood, emblems etc. After looking at the rear sway bar, oil pressure guage and tach for the L-36, u-joints and front spring diameter I determined that it probably was a 427 car...probably a very collectible model that was bastardized with a 454 and TH 400. Don't get me wrong, the car was a killer and served me well. It was red and beautiful and would give me all the handling problems I wanted when I hung a leg in it.
There is some confusion about the '66 BB cars. Take a look at the The Corvette Restorer magazine NCRS (spring 2003.) There is discussion about expansion tanks on BB Vettes and which side the hood prop is located depending on where the car was on the assembly line (date of assembly). Although this article focuses on L-72's there may have been some slop over in other models. Evidently, there was a shift in specs as the '66 production line proceeded.
I've sold my '66 always thinking .... what if. What if the car was one of the few L-36 PGlides and what if the guy that "resored" it had known what he had and not screwed it up.
Thanks to all the members that offered good advice on this issue. Man it's great to be associated with this much expertise.
Good luck and save the wave.
Dean Sorenson
Hellgate Corvettes
Missoula, MontanaComment
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