66 "former" big block clues

[Mark Nolan]

Hello,

Still going over this "barn find" '66 coupe I bought a few weeks ago (check profile). I had a hunch it was a former big block car and I'm now about 90% sure. I'm a new member and still learning the "tricks" so, let me go over what I know as far as clues go... Thanks to all who've helped so far.

-Heavy duty rear end with threaded caps not u-bolts (check)
-Rear sway bar which looks to be original as it has the same "rust-crust"
as the rest of the frame. (check)
-80 # oil pressure gauge (check)
-oil pressure line steel not copper? (check)
-5300 rpm redline tach. Kind of a stretch (L-36?) (check)

What about front springs? It sits a little high in the front with the small block in it. Any way to tell? Thicker coils? More coils?

Anything I'm missing?

Yes, I will be looking for a "correct" 427 if I do make the leap. More mid-year dreamin' ;-)

Thanks again.

Mark Nolan
Burton, Ohio (near Cleveland)

[Donald T.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Your tach and oil pressure gauges don't match up. 80 lb would indicate a solid lifter motor and the only one that was available in '66 was the 427/425. However, that motor would have had a tach with a 6500 redline.

[Donald T.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Your tach and oil pressure gauges don't match up. 80 lb would indicate a solid lifter motor and the only one that was available in '66 was the 427/425. However, that motor would have had a tach with a 6500 redline.

[Mark Nolan]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Uh-Oh!

OK. I'll try to figure that one out. Thanks for your help, Don.

Mark

[Mark Nolan]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Uh-Oh!

OK. I'll try to figure that one out. Thanks for your help, Don.

Mark

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Mark,

One thing I always look for is the gas line to the fuel pump. The BB takes a 90 degree bend at the fuel pump and the small block snakes it way up the frame and does not bend so radically.

Something most people cannot or will not change.

Check it out and let us know.

Regards,

JR

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Mark,

One thing I always look for is the gas line to the fuel pump. The BB takes a 90 degree bend at the fuel pump and the small block snakes it way up the frame and does not bend so radically.

Something most people cannot or will not change.

Check it out and let us know.

Regards,

JR

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Mark,

I believe the 80 Lb oil pressure ga. and 5300 tack would be correct for a 390 HP 427 car. A 60 Lb ga. was used only for 327.

Also, I agree with Joe, the fuel line would be a good indication of an original big block. The line with the 90 degree bend is unique to big block.

The front sway bar diameter would also be unique to a 427 car.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Mark,

I believe the 80 Lb oil pressure ga. and 5300 tack would be correct for a 390 HP 427 car. A 60 Lb ga. was used only for 327.

Also, I agree with Joe, the fuel line would be a good indication of an original big block. The line with the 90 degree bend is unique to big block.

The front sway bar diameter would also be unique to a 427 car.

[Mark Nolan]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the sway bar info... I'll check it out...

Mark

[Mark Nolan]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the sway bar info... I'll check it out...

Mark

[Donald T.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Thanks for the correction. I was mistaken on the oil gauge.

[Donald T.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Thanks for the correction. I was mistaken on the oil gauge.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Don,

I was confused for a minute too when I read the list of items but then I remembered the way the 66 (only) was. It was a very confusing combination of tach and oil pressure ga. for just that one year. I often wondered why a 350 HP 327 would have had a higher redline tack and a 60 Lb oil ga. while the 390 HP 427 had the 80 Lb ga. and the 5300 tach. Glad they got it all straightened out in 67. Sounds like Mark has a real one.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 "former" big block clues

Don,

I was confused for a minute too when I read the list of items but then I remembered the way the 66 (only) was. It was a very confusing combination of tach and oil pressure ga. for just that one year. I often wondered why a 350 HP 327 would have had a higher redline tack and a 60 Lb oil ga. while the 390 HP 427 had the 80 Lb ga. and the 5300 tach. Glad they got it all straightened out in 67. Sounds like Mark has a real one.