1972 Engine Question

[Glen C.]

Getting back to the Corvette finally. I had a question regarding engine work the previous owner did. I have a base engine coupe and he hot rodded the engine when he had it rebuilt. It's the original engine and I was interested in getting it back to stock as close as possible. Are there any considerations or pitfalls I should consider before looking into to this?

Glen

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Do you have any clue what was done to it, or its current configuration?

[Mark F.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Glen,

Did you get a box (or boxes) of parts from the PO?
Those parts might help identify what he did.

[Glen C.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Apologize if I've doubled up on my reply. I did get boxes of parts. Engine related were the original camshaft, pistons and connecting rods. It has been years since I bought the car but I remember him saying he had installed roller rockers.

Hope these might be a clue. Thanks for looking,

Glen

[David H.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Glen

Biggest opportunity to get "sideways" is covered in Standard Deduction Guideline #7 - Altered Cars.

Small block into big block - Carburetor into fuel injection, etc - change of engine horsepower.

Are heads part numbers correct for your car?

SDG #7 directs judges to SDG #1 Engine Block Cylinder Cases. As you have the original block - block is not an issue.

Changed heads, intake, carburetor will be covered under those judging lines.

If your engine looks externally stock, then who's to tell - no disassembly allowed!

Under Operations there is "Engine Noise". Might lose points if it sounds too radical.


IN ANY CASE, WOULD NOT CONSIDER PUTTING A FLAT TAPPET CAM BACK IN. Be happy rebuild was with a roller.

Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Glen

Biggest opportunity to get "sideways" is covered in Standard Deduction Guideline #7 - Altered Cars.

Small block into big block - Carburetor into fuel injection, etc - change of engine horsepower.

Are heads part numbers correct for your car?

SDG #7 directs judges to SDG #1 Engine Block Cylinder Cases. As you have the original block - block is not an issue.

Changed heads, intake, carburetor will be covered under those judging lines.

If your engine looks externally stock, then who's to tell - no disassembly allowed!

Under Operations there is "Engine Noise". Might lose points if it sounds too radical.


IN ANY CASE, WOULD NOT CONSIDER PUTTING A FLAT TAPPET CAM BACK IN. Be happy rebuild was with a roller.

Dave

Dave-------

I hope it has a roller cam but all he mentioned was that it has roller rockers. If they are good roller rockers (i.e. roller trunnion) and they fit under stock valve covers, he can continue to use those.

If it doesn't have an hydraulic roller cam then I would highly recommend he install one. He doesn't need some wild grind----something similar to stock equivalent will be fine.

[Glen C.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Thanks everyone. Visually the engine and other items are correct. I guess I'll just let it be and focus on the next project. Thanks for the help.

Glen

[Owen L.]

Re: 1972 Engine Question

Do you like the way it idles and performs? If so, leave it alone. If not then you can always table for a later date if other pressing things are calling.