For owners or fans of the Corvette big block V8s and other V8s

That's really cool! Thanks.

Let me see what else they have...

 

I had the '66 version - twice. Great car ...back in the early 80's ...and for about an hour of driving it. After that your feet were cooked medium to well-done, your head was pounding, and you yearned for a nice quiet room. And that was when I was 21.

Got another one about four years ago and sold it a year after that. You can never go back home again. Much prefer my Porsche and Ferrari when I get the time for a drive.

 

for about 8 summers I basically DD a 66 SB convert. Yeah there is nothing subtle, comfy or refined about those mid year corvettes but that is in fact the reason you drive one. It's a very raw experience. It takes you back in time to when the driver was actually involved in driving a car. They are simple and fun. If you want comfort and ease of use, look somewhere else.

 

I'm a long time owner of a mid-year solid lifter big block. I agree with much of what's been said here already, but a few of my own comments:

1. Having one today is about taking yourself back in time, cars were much more finicky then and today require more hands on care and feeding to manage the quirks associated with 1960's technology ( additives for gas, valve lash adjustments, sticky carb floats) compared to modern car. Plus it is a 50 year old car.
2. That said, relative to the period the handling and braking (with 4 wheel discs) is acceptable and fun, corrected for diminished (greatly) capability compared to today's sports cars.
3. Having a lot of low end torque makes for relaxed driving when you want it: my car has exhaust out the back and is quiet except when under load. Induction noise is greater than exhaust noise under heavy acceleration. From a torque delivery standpoint, it is a bit the opposite of the Ferrari.
4. Tire technology has come a long way - I retain period correct bias ply tires with flex. squirm,and tram lining. I could clean this up with radials, but for me the car is more about the way it was.
5. You really don't stay cool in the car, especially when the weather is warmer. No A/C with mechanical lifter engines, plus the engine sits well behind the front axle line putting a big lump of hot metal up close and personal. Engine cooling is marginal at best in traffic, but since it a point A to point A car, I stay out of traffic.

All in all a lot fun (with some frustration mixed in) on balance and why I've kept the car so many years.

 

I drove a '66 L79 with sidepipes as my DD this summer. Never failed to put a smile on my face, and the face of those driving around me. Well mannered when it wants to be, and never over 165 on the temp gauge. I love the rawness of the car for short distances, but I drove it on an 1600 mile trip when I first bought it, and that was a bit much. Ive had Big Blocks before, and prefer the high output 327 for driving and lack of maintenance. Such an icon for a small amount of money.
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'67's were always my favorite too... and for a lot of others as well. This is why they are generally the most expensive of the mid-years. Arguably mid-year Corvettes are one of the most stunning cars ever built.

The ignitions can be upgraded to an electronic Pertronix for about $120. It all sits under the cap and the only difference from stock is an extra switched 12V wire. The disc brakes on the '65 and up cars are really good and both easy and inexpensive to repair. The parking brake is actually a little more sophisticated and troublesome with its miniature drum brake system within the rear rotor.

The rest of the car is typical Chevy and as such is very friendly on your pocket. If you have the itch for it go ahead and scratch it. You could be a fan for life... or not.

Along with the reasons I stated earlier, and at the risk of being sappy, what really got me out of that game is that as my own family got bigger my desire to watch them all grow up brings way more joy than driving around in a 450HP eggshell. There's just too many distracted drivers where I live and I prefer the warm fuzzy of airbags and reinforced metal bodies to big blocks and sidepipes. I almost shock myself at stating that - but maybe I'm maturing? Nah, probably just an anomaly.

 

Andrew,
I'll be out of the order asked, but my experience has been:
1. If the car is driven reasonably regularly things like carb floats sticking are reduced. Once a week is probably enough.
2. Valve lash for mechanical lifters is a little more frequent for best performance, 500-600 miles (I'm obsessive).
3. My car is transistor ignition (TI in GM speak). There are replacements for every component, no problem, up to and including TI pulse amplifiers (originals based on germanium semiconductors) with new circuit boards in original cases. So you can upgrade the original K-66 TI option (mandatory on the solid lifter cars originally) so the system works with modern internals but looks original. I have replaced the TI pulse amplifier once with a modern circuit board in original case and nothing else there.
4. Most disc brake cars have or should have a stainless steel brake conversion, which eliminates the weak point around the caliper piston bore seals that leak, allow some moisture in, rust, and cause the system to fail. I've had stainless steel sleeved calipers and master cylinder for 25+ years without problems. I also changed all the brake lines to stainless steel and installed new flex lines at the front.
5. I use a tetraethyl lead additive that is mixed in a solvent to care for octane need and valve lubrication. Inside the corvette hobby are a number of vendors who sell such additives. Not a big deal, just have to have some around when you fill up.

They are fun cars - pretty different to today and good in their own right.

 

I've owned a '67 L71 427/435 Tripower roadster for about 10 years and thoroughly enjoy it. There's nothing like just tooling around on a nice sunny day with the top down, my left arm resting on the top of the door and the side pipes burbling. It's surprisingly fast and would spin the skinny bias plys in 4th. I put some Coker red line radials on for driving which improved the ride, handling and traction quite a bit and retain the bias plys and rally-sport wheels for shows (which I did once). I use Brad Penn oil and ZDDP+ to keep the flat tappet solid lifters happy. It tended to get hot sitting in traffic in high ambient temperatures, but sealing up all the gaps in the radiator shroud helped a lot. Other than that, it's been fairly trouble free. I've put about 6,000 miles on it so far.
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Wow. I've owned about 15 Vettes and seen thousands more but yours may be the nicest I've ever seen. Nice!

 

I have 245/45-17 on mine with no rubbing issues. You can go wider with offset trailing arms. There are companies that make both the turbine and rally wheels in larger sizes.

 

I purchased a set of the reproduction Kelsey Hayes wheels and put Coker red line radials on them for driving duty. I don't recall the size and the car is away in winter storage at the moment, but next time I stop by I'll check and let you know. I've taken the car to our local Cars & Coffee in Shrewsbury a couple times.

 

Hi John, great car! Would love to know more about your car. Original engine? Documented? I have complied data on these cars for many years. They are great cars, enjoy yours.

 

these are great cars I have had many of the big block corvettes I own a 67 427/435 conv. with 4:11 rear end and side pipes (have had it about 20 years) the car is white with blue top and interior .. I run racing fuel only in it and when I drive it I run it to 6500 rpm (redline) virtually every time it is the best of all the 30 or so corvettes I have owned....she runs like a scalded dog love it..
The fastest corvette I had was the L88 I owned it had 4:56 and was an unrestored Bloomington gold and Duntov car and I would drive that occasionally same way .. but I ended up selling that a couple of years ago when prices got so high I felt I should sell....but I still like my 67 better then any ,,,,It is the one car I own that I will never sell...these cars take you to a different time..

 

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