1971 Corvette Hot Rod Build

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by jerry455

Bold Plan!!
Going with a "Day Two" look underhood or stealthy stock look?

That is a really good question. My old LS6 had headers (which this will have) and it had M/T valve covers. On the outside, the old blue car had five spoke cast wheels (IIRC, they were Superiors, but today's cast five spoke ET's look almost identical). It will have ET's. I'm torn on the engine look...but Day 2 seems to be beckoning....L-O-L

I have a few not great Instamatic pix from back then. I'll dig them up.

W

[Arrowsmith]

Here are three not so great Instamatic pix I found in an old album. Things to note: You can't see it, but it had a Lakewood scattershield behind the big block. The clutch was a dual disc (stock) setup. You can see the M/T valve covers. And if you look closely it had a trailer hitch! That won't be going back on. It also had an aftermarket eight track tape player with headphones (you could hardly hear it through the speakers over the sound of the big block). That won't be going back on either...L-O-L. I had planned on switching it over to an L88 hood and an open plenum L88 intake manifold. I sold the car before that happened. But I think the new incarnation will have those induction parts.

Basically, this is the blueprint. And by the way, my heart still goes pitter-patter when I see these old photos (for more reasons than one).

[Arrowsmith]

Moving right along...

Hour and a half spent on the little red Corvette this afternoon. Everything is unhooked topside. Need to get the starter wires and exhaust manifolds unhooked and then drain the fluids. At that point I can get to work yarding out the Muncie. In case some are wondering… roughly 1/2 the fasteners were loose (even the tach drive cable...yikes). Somewhere along the line someone took the distributor apart and didn’t install any shims (don’t need them…right? ). Has about 1/4 inch of end play. When I started it before it idled pretty well but today when I winged the throttle it was breaking up right away. 😉....Hmmm..

Also, ordered a new crank and rods from Molnar today (Tom is a great guy and he's forgotten more about cranks and connecting rods than many in the business know). I already have a set of Mahle 4.500-inch bore pistons. Since I don't want to mix gas, this engine will be a little bigger than the LS6 converted to an LS7 I had in the blue Corvette. This one will be a pump gas friendly 509. It should amount to the same thing in terms of power.

Having fun...

[Xplantdad]

Way cool! Big block coming soon

[Arrowsmith]

Giddy Up, Giddy Up 509? L-O-L

W

[dykstra]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

Giddy Up, Giddy Up 509? L-O-L

W

That has a nice ring to it

[PeteLeathersac]

‘

Awesome everything, looking forward updates as you go through it.
Car itself has had quite the life so far but is lucky also looks happy to have landed in your hands.

~ Pete

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[olredalert]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

Giddy Up, Giddy Up 509? L-O-L

W

----Lots of nice really clean small block stuff to defray costs too! Bet someone here can use them....Bill S

[Arrowsmith]

Originally Posted by olredalert

----Lots of nice really clean small block stuff to defray costs too! Bet someone here can use them....Bill S

I hope so! Selling stuff usually finances a good size chunk of my builds.

W

[Too Many Projects]

Since you are already going non original engine and a 509 BB to boot, Day 2 under the hood should be mandatory...