Back after a decade and have some questions

[Richard M.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Hi Richard, since I posted this, I have been in touch with vettefinderjim, and he told me that all the big block cars, have a 3/8ths fuel line that runs on top of the frame all the way back, after looking at your photo, it seems like the fuel line, drops to the outside of the frame rail just before the battery compartment, also when you say 90 degree bend, are you referring to the , roughly 3" diameter bend in the line, or is there something I can't see just after that?
i am going to have the owner have a look at all this stuff for me and take some pictures, tonight, I am thinking that if that clip for the TI ignition is there, that it was probably a 435 horse car.

thanks,

dave

Dave,

The bend is a 90* bend very close to the right front control arm for all BB engines. On the SB equipped engines it's further rearward from the control arm and it's apx a 45* bend. It sits on top of the frame rail, not along side. The picture is a little blurry or optical illusion near the battery I think.

That TI clip is just another piece of the many many pieces of the L71 puzzle. Many had TI K66 installed as options, and as Jim said it was required for the L71. If a car is purported to be a L71, and it's missing TI, and/or if it has TI and that extra clip and special hex head screw is missing...... alarm alarm.

Have the owner shine a flashlight behind the instrument cluster and take a picture of the label on the back. Don't tell him what's it's supposed to be, just have him take a picture.

Now all this is just a little bit to help. After taking more pics and getting more info then you can decide the next step.......to hire an inspector or not.

Good Luck,
Rich

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thanks Richard, I am waiting for him to have a look at these things for me , it would sure be nice to see that label on the back of the instrument cluster, I will let you know how I make out.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Hi guys , the fellow that owns the car, checked a bunch of stuff for me and took pictures, which I will post when I get them, but I do know that the label on the back of the instrument cluster has LA on it not LB, just wondering if anyone knows what that signifies ?

thanks,

dave

[Richard A.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave

I am no expert, but from posts on other older threads, I believe the LA code signifies that the cluster was originally mated to a car with a 300 HP small block. The back of the cluster also contains an ink printed date, although that may be hard to find or read with the cluster in the car. Reading the date might be another clue, since it might help determine if that cluster was the original one that came with the car. If in fact that cluster is original to the car, i believe the LA code points to the car being originally a small block. Hopefully other more expert folks can chime in.

Best of luck....

[Richard M.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Richard is correct.....LA is a small block instrument cluster code.

Here's a list from an old thread.....Here (note the LG was a typo in the post and is actually a "LE")

"From an early licorvette catalog.

RED LA 5300 60 300 #6457982
RED LC 6000 60 350 #6457985
RED LC 6000 60 390 #6457985
RED LC 6000 60 400 #6457985
RED LB 6500 80 430 #6455364
RED LB 6500 80 435 #6455364
GREEN LE 5500 60 300 SPEED WARNING #6458840
GREEN ?? 6000 60 350 SPEED WARNING #6459496
GREEN ?? 6000 60 390 SPEED WARNING #6459496
GREEN ?? 6000 60 400 SPEED WARNING #6459496
GREEN ?? 6500 80 430 SPEED WARNING #6459495
GREEN ?? 6500 80 435 SPEED WARNING #6459495"

Dave, So this add to our info that the car may not be a original L71 optioned car, along with the fact that the asking price is not commensurate with the market prices of validated L71's. It's possible the cluster was "exchanged" for repair, but IMO, not. I think they just swapped the tach and oil gauge.

It may be a very nice car, and it may be something that you always wanted. It's price may be within your budget to make the move, and you could be very happy owning it. At least now you have an idea of the cars "bones".

Unless the car has NCRS validated documentation that it was originally a L71, I think with the information at hand it was a made up L71 from a 327 equipped car.

Your next step is up to you. Good luck with your decision.

Rich

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thanks for that info guys, not what I wanted to hear, still haven't got all the pictures, but as you say it's pretty obvious that is was not an original L-71, now I have to decide if a nice fake L-71 is worth $74,000.00 which is actually about $83,000.00 canadian . Hmmm.

[Tim G.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

There are lots of nice 350 horse 1967 Corvettes out there with the original engine and paperwork for less than that. I'd go that route. I'm talking about real cars that have sold recently. A yellow/black 1967 350 horse roadster with a great tank sticker sold here in Austin recently for under $60,000. Another friend has a blue/blue original engine 1967 roadster for sale locally for $65,000. Both are very nice cars that are not quite Top Flight ready cars, but with lots of potential.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

I know what you are saying Tim, I just really have my heart set on a big block, after owning that 66 L-72, it's hard to go any other way for me. I'll just keep looking I guess. There is a yellow 67 390 horse roadster on ebay right now, that they said I could have for 75,000, all original drive train, tons of docs, really love that triangular air cleaner though.

[Richard M.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave,

There are still some very nice cars out there that are tri-power. The 400HP would be a nice one. The 435HP is in another category that has that premium price.

What you have accomplished here is the right thing to do. You've done your homework, asked the right questions, and found your answers. Good job. I've seen many not do what you have done, and had disappointing discoveries after purchase.

It's the fun of the hunt! Good luck with the search.

Rich

[Timothy B.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Dave,

FWIW, I think the 390 hp engine is the most overlooked if you have your heart set on a BB car. I think it's torque and street manners are much better.

Nothing wrong with that 350hp engine either..

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Thanks for you help guys, I,m glad I didn't jump the gun, and find out all this stuff when I got it home, I would still buy this car for the right price , but I think it is a tad high right now.

[Tim G.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Even if you settle on a non original motor '67 big block, try to get one with paperwork that can be verified.

[Dave C.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Unbelievable, I was just checking ebays completed listings, to see how much a yellow 390 horse roadster sold for , and on March 30th a silver roadster with numbers matching JE block, sold for $59,000.00 , tri-power was missing and it need some work , but who cares for that money, I guess checking ebay and all the other sites, two or three times a day, isn't good enough, cause I never even saw that one.

[Tim G.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

I wouldn't put too much stock in those "sales" figures. Probably didn't sell and a friend bid on it.

[Jim S.]

Re: Back after a decade and have some questions

Unbelievable, I was just checking ebays completed listings, to see how much a yellow 390 horse roadster sold for , and on March 30th a silver roadster with numbers matching JE block, sold for $59,000.00 , tri-power was missing and it need some work , but who cares for that money, I guess checking ebay and all the other sites, two or three times a day, isn't good enough, cause I never even saw that one.

390 hp didn't tri-power 