'New' '66 joins fleet...

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

My friend thinks its original too, so we’ll go with that.

It’s got a quite ways to go to be NCRS-ready, its pretty much in 55-years-of-patina, but not neglected, condition. The engine compartment needs work and the chassis has never been restored, so I may just drive it as is and work on getting all that stuff back to unrestored “correct’ parts - before I worry about the paint (I like red too).

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Ok, so my first official 427 question is about the grounding sleeves on the plug wires: Are they for radio noise suppression?

[Paul D.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

That is correct.

[Roger W.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Beautiful car Mike. It is always nice to purchase a car that you are familiar with.

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

That is correct.

[Ronald L.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Mike,
Red is always a winner on a Corvette.
On the fuel line rubber, many got changed, what I see is that you have a very typical Holley dual feed. For the 390 you will need a 3370 carb that the fuel line feeds in the drivers side.
Another item is the air cleaner lid, looks too new, they were not that good back in 1966... age patina will only add on to the less than show room. I'd look at the air cleaner base at same time.
Question - what is the red bracket showing under the passenger side fender in the last picture you posted?

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Mike,
Red is always a winner on a Corvette.
On the fuel line rubber, many got changed, what I see is that you have a very typical Holley dual feed. For the 390 you will need a 3370 carb that the fuel line feeds in the drivers side.
Another item is the air cleaner lid, looks too new, they were not that good back in 1966... age patina will only add on to the less than show room. I'd look at the air cleaner base at same time.
Question - what is the red bracket showing under the passenger side fender in the last picture you posted?

Ron, yeah, the carb will get replaced soon. The air cleaner lid is newer, I got the old one in a box of take-offs. The red box is an MSD unit, looks very old.

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Ron, here are the original cover and base. Also have the original distributor and coil.

cover.jpgbase.jpg

[Ronald L.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Mike
nice originals

Hopefully the pcv hose wasn’t cut to route behind the carburetor

Looks like they did go to the trouble to take off the hose routing clip that was under an intake bolt

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Changed the plugs and plug wires. Oh jeeez. It sounds so good now, and is this thing fast!! Those crumbling wires must’ve been flowing no current….

[Michael G.]

[Ronald L.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Mike
short story when I bought my first Corvette a good long time ago…
the guys at work told me you’ve not had a Vette until you got a big block

Lesd than a year later my first 66 BB would sit next to the 70 LT1

since the the addiction for 427s continues

[Michael G.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

[Chris H.]

Re: 'New' '66 joins fleet...

Mike. like I said, my old LS5 is just a stroked version of the L36. That thing pulled like a locomotive from idle to redline. Great induction roar. Zero maintenance too. Oil changes and air filters, that was about it. Not all finicky like the SHP motors.

[Michael G.]