1966 Corvette and K19

[Donald H.]

I interested in looking at a car I found for sale. I have not called the selling party yet and want to get educated some before I do. Part of the description says AN ORIGINAL CALIFORNIA CAR (CODE K19). I don't know anything about the AIR systems, thus my questions.

I have looked through my 1966 AIM and I see that the exhaust manifolds, carburetor and pulleys are different for the AIR system. Are there any other major part differences?

I have a few pictures of the engine compartment and there is no pump or plumbing for the AIR system, so I assume that it has been removed. Is there any issues with having the system removed?

Is there any other areas to look to verify that it was originally an AIR car?

I'm going to call the seller on Monday and want to be prepared to talk about the car before I decide if I want to travel to look at it.

Thanks,

Don

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Just found more to answer my own question. The engine pad stamp should be HD instead of HT for a AIR versus standard 350HP car in 66.

Don

[Larry M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

I interested in looking at a car I found for sale. I have not called the selling party yet and want to get educated some before I do. Part of the description says AN ORIGINAL CALIFORNIA CAR (CODE K19). I don't know anything about the AIR systems, thus my questions.

I have looked through my 1966 AIM and I see that the exhaust manifolds, carburetor and pulleys are different for the AIR system. Are there any other major part differences?

I have a few pictures of the engine compartment and there is no pump or plumbing for the AIR system, so I assume that it has been removed. Is there any issues with having the system removed?

Is there any other areas to look to verify that it was originally an AIR car?

I'm going to call the seller on Monday and want to be prepared to talk about the car before I decide if I want to travel to look at it.

Thanks,

Don

The engine pad will carry a different/unique suffix. Vacuum advance will probably be ported versus full vacuum. Carb is unique with its own codes due to emissions changes/requirements. Plus the air injection system as you already stated.

Is the car auto or manual?? I assume it is a small block, although BB AIR cars were built.

Larry

[Gary J.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

The carb # for a small block is 3605. If not present expect to spend big $$$$$. Also the breather base is unique as it will have a stud for the mixture control valve bracket to mount too. The latest 1966 judging manual has a lot of good information.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Yes, its a 4 speed 350hp small block.



Don

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

The carb # for a small block is 3605. If not present expect to spend big $$$$$. Also the breather base is unique as it will have a stud for the mixture control valve bracket to mount too. The latest 1966 judging manual has a lot of good information.

If I were to purchase the car, I would not plan to replace the missing AIR parts. I would got to a List 3367 carb and a reproduction air cleaner correct for a non AIR L79.

Thanks

Don

[Joe L.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

If I were to purchase the car, I would not plan to replace the missing AIR parts. I would got to a List 3367 carb and a reproduction air cleaner correct for a non AIR L79.

Thanks

Don

Don-----


If you were to have the car judged, you'd take a big hit for the absent AIR system since the car is identified as being an original K-19 by the engine suffix code.

However, if you're not going to have the car judged, you'd be spending a large amount of money for the AIR system. A complete C2 AIR system, including carburetor, is very expensive.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Joe,

Your comment bring up a question. If the car were judged, would it loose 25 points for the assembly stamp being an HD and the rest of the car being non AIR. Or would it get deduct for missing AIR components?

Looking at the C2 score sheets, I only found one line item that mentioned AIR, and that was in the exhaust manifold section.

Thanks,

Don

[Rob M.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Don,

I would argue that the car would not loose any points for the stamp pad, as that is factory correct for the car. You would loose points (100% deduct) for all the other AIR parts missing. Additionally, you would loose points for those that are present, but configured incorrectly for the K19 options. It would add up quickly.

FWIW

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Don,

I would argue that the car would not loose any points for the stamp pad, as that is factory correct for the car. You would loose points (100% deduct) for all the other AIR parts missing. Additionally, you would loose points for those that are present, but configured incorrectly for the K19 options. It would add up quickly.

FWIW

Rob,

Any idea where I would find the potential deducts? There is not much on the score sheets that give any indication, other than 20 points under the Exhaust system. It would loose 100% of what?

Thanks,

Don

[Gary J.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Under section 11 in the mechanical section. Go member services then to judging sheet, then the mechanical section11, 10 points on originality and 10 on condition.

[John H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Don -

On the other hand, if the entire A.I.R. system is missing, it's only a 20-point deduction (10/10 Originality/Condition), which is less than a lighter that doesn't "pop" or windshield washers that don't squirt.

[Donald H.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Under section 11 in the mechanical section. Go member services then to judging sheet, then the mechanical section11, 10 points on originality and 10 on condition.

Thanks, I do have the judging sheets and have been through them. What I discovered with the AIM is there are other differences which could impact judging.

The AIR car has a List 3605 versus List 3367 carb. So if the car has the correct carburetor I assume no deduct, but if it has a List 3367 then I expect a judge may give a deduct for incorrect carburetor. What I don't know is would it be a full deduct of 60 (40 originality and 20 condition)? that would be a big hit.

The AIR car has a different Air Cleaner assembly. Same as above, if that is incorrect, I don't know what the deduct would be? The Air Cleaner points is 40 (20 for originality and 20 for condition)

Then there would be the 20 points mention above from the Exhaust manifold section. I know the car does have the AIR manifolds but the pipes and tubing are all missing.

So, can anyone comment on whether the if the car has the non-AIR list 3367 carb what the deduct would be, i.e. the total 60 or something less?
What about the air cleaner, if the car has the non-AIR air cleaner would it get a full deduct of 40 or something less?

I am going to look at the car tomorrow and could hopefully use some of this information to negotiate on price.

Thanks,

Don

[Chris E.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

Don, if the car is presented with the motor bearing the stamp for the A.I.R. system, and the system is missing and the carb is the non-A.I.R. carb, as well as the manifolds, I would expect a full deduct for the carb (60 points), plus a partial deduct for having the non-typical manifolds (probably 3 -5 originality points), plus a deduct for the missing A.I.R. system (20 points), plus any other parts that were different for an A.I.R. equipped car. I read in an earlier post that the air cleaner might also be different. I would suspect another 5 points or so deduct on that.

So total, I'm estimating it would be between 85-90.

It depends on what your goal is with the car though. If you want to pursue a Top Flight, the car can afford to lose 270 points and still get it. But losing 85 points on the A.I.R. system, that means that the rest of the car has to be that much closer to the factory standard. The operations section on the car has to go VERY well if not perfect to preserve as many points as a cushion for the other 4 sections.

If you don't want to pursue Top Flight, then I would check the rest of the car for the normal issues (rust, damage, authenticity of trim and VIN tags, etc) and make a decision if you think the price being asked is worth it or not.

Does that help?

[Tim G.]

Re: 1966 Corvette and K19

I wouldn't think it would be a 100% deduction for the carb if only the date and part number are incorrect. If the carb is visually correct or close to correct, I would expect no more than a 50% deduction.