I recently bought a 1966 427-450 coupe. It is an early numbers car for 1966 (built in Sep '65) and is supposed to be a 450 HP. engine. All numbers match but my question is when did they reduce the rating to 425 HP? Mine is ser#101508, which is an early number. Does anyone know the number of 450 HP cars built in 1966? Also, are there any differences to the two engines?
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
no difference just the sticker on the air cleaner lid. in 66 GM had trouble selling high HP cars because the insurance companies would not insure them. i could not sell my 66 427 450 HP corvette in the fall of 66 because anyone who wanted to buy the corvette the insurance payments would have been more a month than the car payment -
Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
no difference just the sticker on the air cleaner lid. in 66 GM had trouble selling high HP cars because the insurance companies would not insure them. i could not sell my 66 427 450 HP corvette in the fall of 66 because anyone who wanted to buy the corvette the insurance payments would have been more a month than the car paymentComment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
I do not remember the particulars of the change over but it is spelled out in the NCRS 1966 Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide available at the online store above.
As far as I know the internals of the engines were the sameDick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
I do not remember the particulars of the change over but it is spelled out in the NCRS 1966 Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide available at the online store above.
As far as I know the internals of the engines were the sameDick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
Larry,
NCRS member Everett Ogilvie did a great indepth article about this subject in a past issue of the Corvette Restorer Magazine. Well worth getting.Comment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
Larry,
NCRS member Everett Ogilvie did a great indepth article about this subject in a past issue of the Corvette Restorer Magazine. Well worth getting.Comment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
I believe that these cars were listed as 450 hp somewhere into the 2500 serial number range of production. After that, the lower 425 hp rating was used but it was based upon a lower rpm point than that which was used to rate the engine at 450 hp. Internally, the engines carry the same components as one another. My early November '65 L72 is rated at 425 hp and is in the mid 5000 serial number range.
Joe
#45420Comment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
I believe that these cars were listed as 450 hp somewhere into the 2500 serial number range of production. After that, the lower 425 hp rating was used but it was based upon a lower rpm point than that which was used to rate the engine at 450 hp. Internally, the engines carry the same components as one another. My early November '65 L72 is rated at 425 hp and is in the mid 5000 serial number range.
Joe
#45420Comment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
The 450/425/435HP was all GM sales hype. Sales wanted a higher HP for 66 over 65. Top brass wanted to keep racing image down so 66 ratings were changed back. Things went the other way in 67. Sales didn't think they could sell the same thing so it was changed to 435 HP. Early dealer order sheets for 67 list only 425 HP. Later sheets were changed to 435. HP ratings were not reliable dino ratings.In 1967,8,9 The L-88 was listed at 430 HP. Do you think the l-88 put out less than the 427/435.
KEN BARRY65 350 TI CONV 67 J56 435 CONV,67,390/AIR CONV,70 454/air CONV,
What A MAN WON'T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDEComment
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Re: 1966 C2 427 - 450 HP car
The 450/425/435HP was all GM sales hype. Sales wanted a higher HP for 66 over 65. Top brass wanted to keep racing image down so 66 ratings were changed back. Things went the other way in 67. Sales didn't think they could sell the same thing so it was changed to 435 HP. Early dealer order sheets for 67 list only 425 HP. Later sheets were changed to 435. HP ratings were not reliable dino ratings.In 1967,8,9 The L-88 was listed at 430 HP. Do you think the l-88 put out less than the 427/435.
KEN BARRY65 350 TI CONV 67 J56 435 CONV,67,390/AIR CONV,70 454/air CONV,
What A MAN WON'T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDEComment
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