Tweet
Just purchased this car and the 427 is long gone. Now has 350 in it. Would appreciate advise on what some of you might do with it.Thank You.
-
-
Re: 69 L36
I think it depends on what you want to do with it. If you plan on having it judged and most of the car is original except the block you can pick up a 427 block with the correct date and casting number and still achieve top flight. -
Re: 69 L36
Pat basically hit it on the head.
You have to decide what YOU want to do with the car first.
Then decide if that is feasible with this car. For example, if you want to go through the judging and achieve a Flight award, then you have to evaluate the car as to how original it is, how much it will take to get it in original condition, and how much are you willing to spend to do this.
If you want a sharp driver, then evaulate for what it takes to make the car look good and drive well.
If you are looking for an investment, evaluate how much you have spent, how much you need to spend, and what the car will be worth. Odds are this is not the route to take.
Third, you then have to decide on a plan of action and a timeline. Do you want to achieve this in a year, two years, or the next decade? How much time and money do you have to spend on this?
Some people jump right in and begin taking a car apart, to do a full body-off restoration. Others do a bit at a time, keeping the car drivable as much as possible.
If this is your first Corvette, I recommend DRIVING it and doing little things that improve it for awhile. First time Corvette owners become very dissillusioned with Corvettes and restoration if they have not had time bonding with the whole Corvette mystic beforehand. Restoration is often very long and slow, and is always very expensive.
There are many examples in the archives of people who have sunk $50,000 or so in their car, are still $20,000 and years away from completion, and are broke in wallet and spirit such that they don't know what to do.
What I would do ---
If the car looks good and runs well, I would drive it at least a year before doing anything but usual maintanence and cleanup. Enjoy it. Join the local Corvette club.
Use that time to make other Corvette friends, evaluate the situation of your car, evaluate your desires for the car, and then make a decision.
During this year, if you decide restoration is what you want, then begin gathering parts as you find them and preparing your restoration space. You will need a lot of room, a lot of tools, and a lot of friends.
Or chuck all that, win the lottery and pay one of the many very good restoration shops $50,000 or so to do your car.
What I would NOT do ---
I would not immediately begin taking the car apart to restore. The end result 90% of the time will be someone getting a great deal on a '69 Corvette in parts.
Good luck with what you decide.Comment
-
Nov 68 LL block $660
Go figure, a 512 casting 11/68 Corvette LL block just sold for $660 on e-bay. 063 heads are dirt cheap. You could get all the core parts for a correct Corvette 390 HP engine for under $2000
Is it worth it? Only you can decide.
Good luck,
MarkComment
Comment