Back in the late 1980s a friend and co-worker, Brian, said I was taking my job too serious
by taking work home. He said I should get a hobby. He was right (thanks Brain). So
about 1990 Jan gave the OK and Andy and I went looking for a 4 speed Vette. Andy took
the above pictures just as we took possession of the car. It needed some work and I was
willing. However, I did not realize how much work was involved. Although for the money
and at the time, it was a good deal. Maybe I am a little too fussy about this car,
but not as quite bad as another friend,
Dan,
who has several cars (67 Chey II, 63 Vette
conv. and 32 deuce) he has been working on for several years ...
I have since rebuilt the 350 L48 (180hp) to something a little stronger and performed
some general upgrading/maintainence. Kept the original cast 8.5 pistons, cast crank,
and 2-bolt block. The machinist felt that the pistons were actually 9.0 compression and
not 8.5, but I think he was wrong. To me they look like 8.5 and the original L48 specs
called for 8.5. I used a local Manassaas machinist which was not the same machinist that
setup the green Nomad's engine. This machinist also said the 2 bolt block would be good
up to about 600 hp. This L48 engine is nowhere near that, but my L88 Nomad was
(see Nomad section).
The block did not have to be bored and the piston clearances came within LT-1
specs. This is with 125K miles on the car; it may have had a replacement engine or it
could have had regular oil changes with gentle highway miles. The 76 cc heads were redone
with stainless steel
2.02 valves (fuelie valves), heavy duty springs, screw-in-studs, larger steel exhaust
seats, bronze guides, magnafluxed, and hot tanked. Replaced all the other engine parts
in a typical rebuild, e.g., crank/rod/cam bearings, rings, oil pump, oil pump rod, fuel
pump, fuel pump rod, push rods, rockers, and rocker lockdown nuts. Rebuilt the Quad a
little hotter. Installed a new Chevrolet small block 327/350 - L79 Crane cam and lifters.
Went through the
drive train and suspension upgrading and replacing parts, e.g., rotors/hubs, rebuilt
calipers, brake pads, wheel bearing and seals, U-joints, rear tires and rims, Borg and
Warner clutch, and rear HD leaf spring. Other parts that need normal maintenance have also
been rebuilt/replaced, e.g., radiator, plugs, cap, rotor, coil, spark plug wires,
alternator, water pump, temperature sending units, air and oil filters, drive train
fluids, starter and solenoid, and an ignition switch.
There are other parts that I have replaced or intend to replace soon. 76 Vettes have a
terrible time with certain items rusting out; the radiator support is one of these items
and it has been replaced. In addition, new interior parts were purchased which included
door panels, carpet, seat covers, seat backs, hand brake console unit, and a dash pad cover.
I am debating on installing several eBay purchases including chrome headers, Hurst Shifter,
and timing gears (verses a timing chain). All polution parts are intact and
working properly as per specs(can pass emissions test).
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