65/66 Vette 454 street/race?

[ted]

Looking for a fun V8 car....
Are these Vintage race Vettes as much fun as our dialed in Porsches?
Very Basic, 2800lb 475 hp dry sump 454, 4 speed, big discs and full cage.
I know it would be ear plugs and no heater/AC on the street.

[masraum]

I don't have any direct experience, but I bet it would be fun to drive.

[notfarnow]

Everything I've ever read says that unless you're going in a straight line, the small block 63-67's are FAR more fun to drive than the big blocks. Just too much weight.

I spent a day in a '67 corvette roadster (w/ 327 + 4spd) a few years ago, what a sublime car. Everything about that car was *perfect*... styling, interior, handling... one of those instances where GM got it just right. What a great car.

[tchanson]

My father raced a BP Corvette in SCCA for years.

In a nutshell, big fun in a straight line, but handling and braking will be a relative disappointment if you judge by 911 standards.

Horses for courses, and it will depend on your expectations.

Back in the day:




The car today:









Tim

[Zeke]

For the money, I'd get a Factory Five Cobra. Much better suspension layout. Or go newer on the Vette. C4 or newer. No 454's though. But, that's OK 'cause you can get all the HP you need out of a small block these days.

Or, are you wanting to stay in class?

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Everything I've ever read says that unless you're going in a straight line, the small block 63-67's are FAR more fun to drive than the big blocks. Just too much weight.

I spent a day in a '67 corvette roadster (w/ 327 + 4spd) a few years ago, what a sublime car. Everything about that car was *perfect*... styling, interior, handling... one of those instances where GM got it just right. What a great car.

I did a ride along with an instructor at Willow Springs in a Z06. The driver was good, but a bit unsmooth. The car stuck well, got a little warble from left front to right rear in a high speed left hander and was somewhat a handful. But, he laid down some lap times, so I guess all was good.

[Chas911]

I'll chime in here having owned a few of these cars but its been a few years. I could always get the cars to stop and go around corners fairly well, but I could never get the steering to feel as precise as I would like it no matter what I did. With the Porsche it is easy to put the car exactly where you want it in the corner, with the Vette you put it roughly where you want it.
The 65-67 Vettes had disc brakes all the way around so I'll bet now its even better to buy stuff to make them stop.
There may be more stuff available now too to make them handle.
As far as big blocks, I always thought they worked well in the Corvette because of the close to 50/50 weight distribution, unlike the big blocks in the Camaro which made the front end too heavy and really negatively effected the handling
My .02 for what its worth.

[TechnoViking]

I've raced against these cars with the local vintage club. A track-prepped vette is a much faster car than most Porsches you'll see at the track.

I'm no expert on the 454 vs small block engines, but I will say the one race I was in with a "7 liter" vette, that thing was by far the fastest car in the race.

IMO, the stingrays are making a comeback as far as being 70s vintage cool now. If it were me, I'd get one of those.

[m21sniper]

My old man's 327/375hp 63 Split Window coupe was a very fast car, and a good handler as well.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

My old man's 327/375hp 63 Split Window coupe was a very fast car, and a good handler as well.

Well then, I had a very, very fast car as I used to beat them. It was a lowly 283 with a single Holley in a light weight '61 Corvette body. It was a bit built, though.

I built the car to race 289 Cobras, but by the time I finished it, the Cobra 427 was out.

I did buy some cool suspension stuff from Dick Guldstrand and Harry Mann Chevrolet, which was the Corvette center of SoCal in the 60's. The car sat on Konis, Halibrands and Firestone racing tires with factory option racing coils in front. AL radiator and no glass in the doors were but a few of the mods.

[pavulon]

All-aluminum big blocks weight roughly the same as cast iron small blocks. Conversely, big- inch all-aluminum small blocks can be the best of most worlds. Lastly, there are some massive (500-600 cu. in.) all-aluminum big-block possibilities...

[Jim Bremner]

Chevy crate 502 w/6speed, reliable?

thread deja' vu?

[Jandrews]

C'mon Ted...what a silly question! That's sort of like submitting a thread saying:

"Hey guys, I'm thinking about rolling around on one of these....do you guys think it would be any fun"?



Those cars are absolutely beautiful, and to have one setup with reasonably modern performance parts and driven in anger would indeed be a "sublime" experience.

JA

[ted]

All use guyz need to post your Vette photos if you have them.
Milt you must have photos?
imho the photos above, STUNNING.
More photos and links welcomed.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Chevy crate 502 w/6speed, reliable?

thread deja' vu?

True I'm going raw now.
I'm not a big enough hitter to play with al 427 motors.
So no dog in that fight.
PS like the motor set back (4 inches?) in a Vette over the Camaro.

someday for a less racey Vette...no photo sorry.
Shark nose L88 flares 502 mufflers 6 gear ac/heat/radio full cage removable roof.

#78 top of thread red white and blue will have 4 filthy whores and a 4 speed.
Not optimized but true to history.
It's a race car with a horn for the street is all.

Greenwood style 2 inch roll cage.
on the learning curve, thanks for the discussion.

[ted]

Originally Posted by Jandrews

C'mon Ted...what a silly question! That's sort of like submitting a thread saying:

"Hey guys, I'm thinking about rolling around on one of these....do you guys think it would be any fun"?
JA

That would be flaunting.
If it's that good no holding me back.
This is an 8 month project, the courtship is just beginning.
no sizzle till next year.

[Hugh R]

My X-BIL has a 67 ragtop with factory side pipes, I think its 327/375HP. It hasn't run in ten or more years. It may be visiting my garage soon for some fluid changes and rubber and we'll see what happens. It has points, so I'm pretty sure we can get it running. None of that pesky computer stuff.

[Jim Bremner]

650HP 1966 Chevelle 5 speed BBC


hell, bring the kids!It's time to part ways with my Chevelle for lack of time and space. She's a 136 car (Malibu) built with the best of everything and needs only a little work to be perfect. Engine has 500 miles on rebuild, all other components have 1500 miles.

509" Merlin III based big block, all forged internals, H beam rods, Mahle pistons, solid roller cam, Scorpion aluminum roller rockers, Holley 870.
Custom C&R double pass radiator.
Longtubes and 3" Magnaflow exhaust with X pipe.
Tremec TKO 600 5 speed trans with Lakewood competition scattershield. .64 overdrive gives low rpm freeway cruising.
4 wheel 4 piston Wilwood Dynalite disk brakes.
PST Polygraphite bushings everywhere, drop spindles, Hotchkiss springs and trailing arms, sway bar, new AGR quick ratio steering box (power). This car tracks and handles amazing for an iron big block Chevelle.
Front and rear Recaro seats out of an Evo 8 and custom dash with Autometer replica AC Smiths gauges.
Tons of spares - all original seats, dash (with original knee knocker tach), hood, trailing arms, body trim, interior components.

The car has a spartan interior now - and it shows on the scales. She weighs 3260 with a full tank of fuel. I planned on adding a cage but never did - you could do so or stick a carpet kit in and have a great sleeper. No headliner but does have the headliner bows should you want one.
She could use a clutch - the one she has is new (500 mi) but not capable of handing all the power. She's fully capable of making a long journey to her new home, just not capable of putting down all the power. This is your chance to get a great deal due to my other priorities - I have way more into her than my asking price in just parts. The engine alone was $13,000. Clean title, street legal.

Feel free to make an offer or make an offer contingent on me installing a twin disk clutch.

I'd be interested in a part trade for the following items:
A Bridgeport milling machine and tooling
A small high quality metal lathe
A heavy duty upright gun safe (no sheetmetal Chinese junk)
Possibly a quality firearm or two, depending on what you have. Legit transfers only.

NOTE: please have some substance in your reply so I don't think it's spam. No Nigerian checks or any other BS. Willing to work with shippers for US shipment only.


•Location: Goleta
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[tabs]

Had a 66 427/425 hp matching numbers Vette..Coupe, 4 spd Mossport Green (light green metallic). It was a THIRSTY lil devil. Thing would squat down and run like a scalded ape. Did a near ground up

Also had a 70 440 6 Pack Dodge Challenger...4 spd, 4: 11's the thing would either go 35 mph or would launch itself into hyperspace..not really very drivable. Thing rattled and was very Thirsty.

Kept the 69 Mustang Mach1 428SCJ Ram Air, did a Global West Competition suspension wt 4 wheel discs, even Blueprinted the Power Steering Box. Auto, AC (doesn't blow cold). It is built to the hilt with 60 hours of polishing and porting of the heads alone. Thing is less thirsty than the Vette, chirps the tires, but it to squats down and runs like a scalded ape. 3.55 differential. Did a Ground up mechanical resto on an original triple black car which was a special order according to the Marti Report. Originally sold in Covina, CA, Black Plate car. Ting handles like a small block, with no slop in the steering.and it will STOP. Built it to go FAST down the freeway. Kept it over the Vette as it was more comfortable. more drivable and I did more work on it. Would sell the car for about 70K.

I would drive the car for a couple of hours and get tired of it, and it is way too hot in LV in the summer to run. Now it sits..

Also have a Ford 427 Center Oiler. STANDARD BORE SOLID LIFTER, lemans Rods. Not a pieced together motor but just the way it came from the factory except it has a 67 Crank, originally in a 63 Galaxy. Has bin on an engine stand since 1985. How many original motors with standard bore are still left? Perfect for a GT 40 or Cobra . This motor is death wish fast, last car it was in was a 73 Mach and even though the car was heavy it was still squirrely..would sell it for 25K.

Have a 69 911S, that just sits...needs an engine OH. Good solid ORIGINAL car (every thing is there including MFI) only rust is in the bottom of the rt door seam...sold at Ogner Porsche in Canoga Park, CA on 4/24/69 Matching number car..

The Porsche is slow off the line, but fast down the freeway. handles and stops...like a Go Cart...

If I had it do over again I would just stick to the Porsches...shoulda bought that 65 356C Cab instead....With the American iron you just ain't gona git the same quality nor handling as a Porsche. Finesse over brawn.

[Jim Bremner]

Tabs,

If the '27 motor needs to be freshened up my 'ol man has built a few of them back in the '60 & 70's that have made plenty of laps at tracks like Riverside, Ontario Ascot, etc.


He built one for the Owner of Sacremento's dragstrip. It went into a 63 Galaxy. a couple of years ago.


One of the engines that he likes to talk about was a FE that was raced in a 400 ci clas. If you meassured the sweep of #1 and #5 the engine was 400ci it was a 390 bored a little and a 390's crank


The rest of the engine was a 427 bore's

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by ted

All use guyz need to post your Vette photos if you have them.
Milt you must have photos?

Here's one showing the car in progress.


Yes, that's a duck tail I made in 1965 well before the '73 Carrera RS


another:

[tc-sacto]

If you like v8's you might be better off looking at the factory five cobra's for street/track use.

Modern suspension, brakes etc. and Nasa has a race series as well.