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Post by real57vetteguy on Aug 2, 2011 20:17:33 GMT -5
really nice looking cars! I took mine for a ride tonight after replacing the rag joint. The carb needs work, I need to grab a correct radiator hose as the one now is rubbing the PS belt, after looking under the car quite well it looks like it has new shocks, but I really think it sits lower than a stock car. it rides and drives really good but, every once in a while when i hit a bump it sounds and feels like something is botteming out. and the headers sit way way to low, there is about 5-6 inches between the crossmember humps for the exhaust and the actual exhaust, i still think this is due to the 330 vs 400 but I'd like an educated opinion, remember the headers were bought for a 400
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Post by real57vetteguy on Aug 2, 2011 14:02:39 GMT -5
I am having a heck of a time finding a dipstick & tube, any suggestions? correct fit is all that I am worried about. I have noticed that there are "spacers" between the frame and engine that someone fabbed up to raise the engine up. I am assuming that this is because whomever thought the engine was a 400 and its a 330, and they were trying to raise the headers up somewhat, there has been two sets of headers on the car and both sat way to low underneath the car to be a correct fit, could in theory this be beacuse they were putting 400 headers on a 330?
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 29, 2011 7:56:59 GMT -5
Mongoose,
Nice looking build in your SIg area. It doesnt bother me, I think everyone is being helful and sharing their opinion which is what forums are for. I totally appreciate and respect the love for putting a car back to the correct original spec's. I just really had my fill of it with the Corvette. I live in western NC where there are a lot of parkways and winding mountain roads. Just my opinion but I think to really enjoy the car it needs Air cond, which wasnt on the car from the factory, I would like upgraded suspension, a 200R4 would really help the performance and fuel mileage. I want something that the family and I can jump in and take a comfortable road trip in but also has a little extra HP under the hood, as for the 18" wheels im not looking for the monte carlo on 24's with more ground clearance than my Chevy truck look, haha. To me the picture I posted above with the cutlass that had 18's has a great stance with a good clean muscle car look, thats my goal. I have already been helped by all the posts and info and I greatly appreciate it. Right now the car drives and runs fine, I will drive it while building a 455 and 200R4, start buying suspension etc, when I get my parts punch list knocked out im going to try to pull the body, blast the frame, paint it, do the parts swap and put the body back on, I really dont want the car to be down for more than 3-4 weeks.
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 21:33:49 GMT -5
what made them great is what they are, to improve on it is modern technology, to those that keep them original is awesome too
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 20:26:18 GMT -5
like this
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 20:22:42 GMT -5
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 20:20:37 GMT -5
hahahaha Bil, search the 1965 build cutlass done by car craft I think, you will see what I am talking about, modern muscle car wheels, good suspension. ill try to add a link. A good 18x8 up front 18x9 in the rear to throw some meat on the ground
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 19:42:17 GMT -5
Just to explain my thoughts, I went through a long drawn out restoration on the 57 vette, 6 years to be exact. Yes the car was perfect, it won top flight, bloomingdale, concours, etc etc, it was supposedly the best or 2nd best restoration next to Noland Adams Corvette, many argued that it was better than Noland Adams car which is the supposed best 57 in existance, i really didnt care, we got carried away, the car was to perfect to drive, and when it was done what did I have? not a car I had a picture to hang on the wall. It sat in a garage over insured, locked up on carpet covered up. I did not like the turn out I wanted a car to drive, enjoy and have fun with, so long story short SOLD to the highest bidder which was pretty HIGH he had to have it, but 80k in parts and labor plus my 6 years of seeking parts and traveling and all the worry, it wasnt that profitable, this time I have fun and make a driver I enjoy
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 19:31:32 GMT -5
love it
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 27, 2011 19:30:11 GMT -5
Guys, it is what it is, I dont have any hopes that its 100 percent original, im not going to keep it that way. the guy we bought it from swears its is, i could care less. i love the body, its solid, it will make a great restoration/mod I want a 455, 200R4 car converted to floor shift, with upgraded suspension, slightly mod interior, great stance with 18 inch wheels
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 22, 2011 16:56:59 GMT -5
Here is another, Your dads car is very nice!
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 22, 2011 10:40:01 GMT -5
I dont know if this is appropriate, but here is a pic of my last project, Not hard to tell what it was.
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 22, 2011 10:34:09 GMT -5
I am a bit disppointed in the 330 under the hood, but other than that I think it was a decent deal. the car really runs and drives great. Any ideas what a car like mine usually goes for? I am still heavily thinking about building a 455 with either a 4 speed or newer model AOD for it while putting around in it for the time being. I'd like to incorporate disc brakes, better suspension, lower the car slightly with modern set of possibly 18 inch wheels, adding air, and doing some slight modern touch's to the interior, such as steering wheel, guages, center console, etc
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 22, 2011 10:02:51 GMT -5
The chrome is very dull on the front bumper, should I take some pics at different angles? I am a bit confused at what looks odd although I'm very new to the 442's
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 17:57:00 GMT -5
The Car is about 2 miles from me in my shop, I will be happy to run up there and check, I saw where there was a question about the "D" in the vin code. Exactly what am I looking for? I'll run check, or if some one would like to give me a call while im up there to walk me through it i can look for whatever need be.
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 17:34:31 GMT -5
whats a car like that worth roughly?
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 17:33:45 GMT -5
I seen that, but it doesn't have a bench. It looks to have a set of original buckets for a 65 442. I know there is no way to tell but the interior looks like the factory interior. I guess the hunt for a 455 will start. Wonderful restoration by the way!
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 16:22:57 GMT -5
Vin Plate
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 15:53:18 GMT -5
No, I just went back and checked everything out, it has 330 heads assuming the 1 in the corner means that and the base of the intake is only about 8 inches wide so I assume thats a 330. I did check the frame where the control arms are and there are 4 bolt holes for the control arms so I again assume that means it is actually a 442
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Post by real57vetteguy on Jul 21, 2011 15:16:36 GMT -5
ok now i just found a chart that says 381917 could also be a 330 ? smae casting numbers for both???
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