70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Joe: The car does not have power steering, looks like a 6 qt. (the sump area is 14" long) pan. No rear stabilizer bar and original shocks are long gone. The car does have HD front springs or they look like they are ( 7 coil, 11/16 thickness, 12" total spring length ). Again, I never thought it was a real ZR-1 but I did think I ought to check out all the suspension differences. Now after you know all this, would you still leave all this equipment on the car for judging? Thanks for your help!!! Kim

Kim----


Personally, I would leave it the way it is. I just have a strong "hunch" the car was built with F-41 and J-56. Have you looked for a build sheet on the tank or, possibly, elsewhere in the car (e.g. under dash above the steering column)? You might also want to try to track down the original owner. Either the build sheet or information from the original owner could answer a lot of questions.

[Wayne B.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Kim----


Personally, I would leave it the way it is. I just have a strong "hunch" the car was built with F-41 and J-56. Have you looked for a build sheet on the tank or, possibly, elsewhere in the car (e.g. under dash above the steering column)? You might also want to try to track down the original owner. Either the build sheet or information from the original owner could answer a lot of questions.

Wouldn't you just love watching this car get judged? Don't tell them a thing ahead of time just sit back and watch the head scratching.

[Kim B.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Hey gang; could this car be a prototype ZO-7?-remember, heavy duty brakes and suspension-on 73-75 cars as an option, made about 45-145 per year, $400 option-this car sounds like its got all the main pieces, the heavy duty brakes and the stiffer suspension, m-21 required on the Z0-7s,this car got that too, could order up to 4:11 s on the Z0-7s, whats the rear axle ratio on this 70 car?

Richard: rear end ratio on the car is 3:55. Thanks, Kim

[Terry M.]

[Wayne B.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

He He He... a new day a dawning?

Kim - you have a very sweet mystery there. Don't change a thing till you get that car to a regional or national and let a bunch of maniacs like on this thread pour over it and a bunch more pour their knowledge out after a good look.

This is why I take a lot of the overall numbers published with a tiny grain of salt. You're pitting an era of sloppy record keeping, with many of even bad records lost all against the power of consumer demand, cunning dealers and pure capitalism...none of which would dared to be put on record. The NCRS (in my humble opinion) stands as the gate keepers to sifting through these mysteries. Make a great TV show wouldn't it? We could call it "NCIS NCRS" because, actually that is what the NCRS does.

Joe Lucia and John Hinkley are two of a group of walking Corvette encyclopedias. Richard Kenney picks up on an obscure ZO7 relation. Dan Pepper knows the details of what happened on the assembly line on those early months of production (anywhere else it would be called anal, here it's a treasure as it should be) Tim Gilmore pops up with an experience that confirms my "theory" on dealers. There's nowhere else in the world you can come up wth that amount of detail in such a short time but right here on this forum. Oh, and let's don't leave out Terry McManmon...he he he, terry, if Kim shows up anywhere to show the car just elbow your way into the judges circle on that day, I don't think anyone would complain. And the list goes on.

Kim - there's just a lot on that car that wouldn't make sense to "fake" in those combinations and that just makes your car that much more worth a look at. Drag it on down to Kissimmee, it's not so far from Texas (well, not for me as I wouldn't have to deal with the details ).

So far it looks like a great story for Driveline if not other car magazines. Get some more numbers and some pictures and take advantage of the feedback from the "experts" here then, if the mystery deepens, drag it on down Florida way!

[Zachary K.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

I'd leave the car as-is Kim. Since there is no clear answer as to whether the car was built this way by the factory or by the dealer, you may inadvertently undo a part of history. The car has been in this configuration for almost 40 years- what's the rush to change it?

Ditto. Leave it and enjoy what history might unravel. I'd love to have such a mystery in my collection and garage. A very interesting thread!!!

[Kim B.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

He He He... a new day a dawning?

Kim - you have a very sweet mystery there. Don't change a thing till you get that car to a regional or national and let a bunch of maniacs like on this thread pour over it and a bunch more pour their knowledge out after a good look.

This is why I take a lot of the overall numbers published with a tiny grain of salt. You're pitting an era of sloppy record keeping, with many of even bad records lost all against the power of consumer demand, cunning dealers and pure capitalism...none of which would dared to be put on record. The NCRS (in my humble opinion) stands as the gate keepers to sifting through these mysteries. Make a great TV show wouldn't it? We could call it "NCIS NCRS" because, actually that is what the NCRS does.

Joe Lucia and John Hinkley are two of a group of walking Corvette encyclopedias. Richard Kenney picks up on an obscure ZO7 relation. Dan Pepper knows the details of what happened on the assembly line on those early months of production (anywhere else it would be called anal, here it's a treasure as it should be) Tim Gilmore pops up with an experience that confirms my "theory" on dealers. There's nowhere else in the world you can come up wth that amount of detail in such a short time but right here on this forum. Oh, and let's don't leave out Terry McManmon...he he he, terry, if Kim shows up anywhere to show the car just elbow your way into the judges circle on that day, I don't think anyone would complain. And the list goes on.

Kim - there's just a lot on that car that wouldn't make sense to "fake" in those combinations and that just makes your car that much more worth a look at. Drag it on down to Kissimmee, it's not so far from Texas (well, not for me as I wouldn't have to deal with the details ).

So far it looks like a great story for Driveline if not other car magazines. Get some more numbers and some pictures and take advantage of the feedback from the "experts" here then, if the mystery deepens, drag it on down Florida way!

Wayne: Thanks for good words! I've got the car all taken apart now so it will take some time, but when I get it done I may just haul it down to Florida to let you guys take a look. I realize now I need to make contact with original owner to get the whole story. Thanks for all the help! You guys are great!!!!!! Kim

[Kenneth H.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Kim,

I've been following this thread for a while and decided it was time to chime in. I'm the current custodian of a '70 LT1 vert in Laguna Gray, with black vinyl interior and white convertible top, with a vin of 194670S402856 which was built on February 5, 1970, either the same day or the day after yours was built. Mine is a mostly original and completely standard LT1. It has the CTU suffix code engine, M21 tranny, 411 rear and an "M" code engine block, which is pretty rare. If you want maybe we could compare notes. Let me know.

Thanks.

[Mike G.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Joe: The car does not have power steering, looks like a 6 qt. (the sump area is 14" long) pan. No rear stabilizer bar and original shocks are long gone. The car does have HD front springs or they look like they are ( 7 coil, 11/16 thickness, 12" total spring length ). Again, I never thought it was a real ZR-1 but I did think I ought to check out all the suspension differences. Now after you know all this, would you still leave all this equipment on the car for judging? Thanks for your help!!! Kim

could not get power steering with a CTU block. no room with the big pan. only the later cars with the CTK blocks could get power steering. my car is a very early power steering car.

[Mike G.]

Re: 70 LT1 suspension resto dilemma

Wayne: Thanks for good words! I've got the car all taken apart now so it will take some time, but when I get it done I may just haul it down to Florida to let you guys take a look. I realize now I need to make contact with original owner to get the whole story. Thanks for all the help! You guys are great!!!!!! Kim

ask him if you can record the call so you dont forget any details. i too have enjoyed reading this story. i have 2 lt-1's. a 70 vert and a 72 vert. i drive the 72. i love these cars.