How to restore 73 454 Stock/or modified

[Calvin C.]

I have a 1973 rag top 454 car. It has a 69 427 short block with the
original 454 heads and intake. The car was originally silver. It
needs to be taken off the frame and restored. I have lots of body
work to do. The delema I have is do I restore it to original, (have
to find a 454 block with corect date) or should I rebuild with some
slight mods. Will an original be worth more than a slightly modified.

I was considering putting a fuel injected big block and adding some
modern touches while still having it look stock. What do you think
about a new color. How about side pipes.

I have a couple other vetts so I am looking for ideas on this one.
Please give me your ideas. I am open to them.
cal camara

[Jack H.]

Re: How to restore 73 454 Stock/or modified

The resale market is n-modal.... For the true Corvette restorer, any deviation(s) for factory bone stock wind up being price detraction(s) because they see them as 'throw away' items that need to be changed out.

Another segment of the market simply wants a clean looking, high performance vehicle and they would appreciate modifications like custom exhaust, wheels, Etc. This market segment probably won't care about your block being 'wrong' numbers/dates.

Who will pay more? That's a good question and it winds up being answered by the specific buyer/seller match you wind up with at the time of sale.... This site is run by NCRS and the club's focus is on restoration/preservation to factory original condition. So, expect a biased answer here!

[Dick W.]

Re: How to restore 73 454 Stock/or modified

I think the answer is what you want. Fully restored cars have a tendancy to become "trailer queens", driven only at shows. Not all of them but most. Simple cosmetic modifications as long as you do not cut the car up doing them has appeal to another group. Performance mods such as wheels, tires, suspensions are probably the most popular. Correctly done, you can take a good car and make a superior street machine out of it. Engine, exhaust, etc are also popular mods. Make the car what YOU want it to be.

I can speak about most of the above because I have done them, '61 with 6 tail lights, front bumpers removed and recess glassed in, epoxy metal flake paint, 350 with Mondello heads, Crane roller cam, Kustom headers, tunnel ram w/2 660 holley's, Vertex mag.etc, I have obtained a Duntov and Bloomington Gold. I have restored cars for a living. Each car has a bit of the owner and restorer in it.

[Mark #28455]

Re: How to restore 73 454 Stock/or modified

You can pick up an original Corvette 454 1973 block for about $200 - $400 on e-bay if you look, I think there's even one for sale now. Most buyers are looking for the 1970 and older blocks. If you get the correct dates (6 mos window) and just the VIN number is "wrong" then the points loss will be minimal.

You could EASILY sell the 1969 427 short block and have enough money to buy the 1973 block - and even throw in a 4.25" stroker cast crank -about $250 (for 489 cubes with the Keith Black hypereutectic pistons) and it'll look stock.

The stock 1973 head castings are GREAT for street performance (if using headers you may consider the larger valves), consider 9:1 pistons (.090 dome) and a reasonable street hydraulic cam. It'll be a lot of fun!

Good luck,
Mark