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In 1969 I bought unbeknowenst to me a 1966 red Corvette roadester #23000 with all 1967 fiberglass panels includeing the L-88 hood and aluminum headed engine! Price: $3000. Inside the glovebox were yellow counter reciepts from Mc Connell Chevrolet, Wheeling, W VA and Don Yenko Chevrolet, Cannonsburg, PA (49 miles across the border) for a block, heads, camshaft and much more. I was 24 years old and threw the reciepts away; it didn't matter back then. The original car was a 427 425 hp with side pipes, knock-offs, M-22, 4-11 posi, transister ignition and much more and delivered at $5848.55. The window sticker was found under the pasenger seat. The original owner was a rich kid who who owned an auto salavge yard in South Wheeling, West Virginia. "Vinny" dealt in hot n' cold parts. Later, I asked "Vinny" for the missing spare wheel and tire; he obliged but didn't want to talk about the engine. In that part of Wheeling, "inquiring minds" really didn't want to know.
Anyway, my question that I never solved, then or now, was after high RPM's and beating to death some street Hemi or Ram Air IV GTO the engine wouldn't idle until the next day?? Did the aluminum heads contract tighting the valve lash? When cooled the lash would loosen (?) and the engine would run on it's own...Yeah, at about 1000rpm's! Could it have been a carb problem? Any idea's out there? Writing a new drag racing book and would like to know what the deal was back then. I finally installed a manual choke for cold weather starting. Broken valve springs were a monthly deal. My fault? Maybe. This car actually sacred the **** out of me. In November of 1970 I traded the "Heart of Darkness" for a new 1971 fender-skirted burnt Orange Monte Carlo and $1600. What a deal! I'm off to Florida for 6 months.
"Wild" Bill
Anyway, my question that I never solved, then or now, was after high RPM's and beating to death some street Hemi or Ram Air IV GTO the engine wouldn't idle until the next day?? Did the aluminum heads contract tighting the valve lash? When cooled the lash would loosen (?) and the engine would run on it's own...Yeah, at about 1000rpm's! Could it have been a carb problem? Any idea's out there? Writing a new drag racing book and would like to know what the deal was back then. I finally installed a manual choke for cold weather starting. Broken valve springs were a monthly deal. My fault? Maybe. This car actually sacred the **** out of me. In November of 1970 I traded the "Heart of Darkness" for a new 1971 fender-skirted burnt Orange Monte Carlo and $1600. What a deal! I'm off to Florida for 6 months.
"Wild" Bill
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