66 Big Block with Powerglide

[Michael S.]

I am considering purchase of a 1966 big block 427/390 hp with a powerglide. There are no historical docs for the car, so I am wondering how a person can tell if this car is an original powerglide car or a four speed converted to a powerglide. The car was judged in 2007 at a Chapter meet and received a NCRS Top Flight.

Not sure why anyone would convert it to a powerglide but I just wanted to know as there were only 20 big blocks with a powerglide in 1966 according to the NCRS spec guide.

Thanks for any info.

[Lynn H.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Michael,
Not being an expert in anything, much less 66 big blocks, my guess is there is probable many things to look at to help determine if this is an original powerglide car. Such as, if it has the original radiator (and the fittings for the trans lines). I am not sure there is any one single thing to look for, like in the C3 cars where the body is different. On those cars you can tell an original automatic body by the "cutout" in the transmission tunnel, that was done for clearance with the automatic. There are more likely a handful of telltale things to look for, and I am sure some of the guys more familiar with this will jump in.
Lynn

[Wayne M.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

I am considering purchase of a 1966 big block 427/390 hp with a powerglide. There are no historical docs for the car, so I am wondering how a person can tell if this car is an original powerglide car or a four speed converted to a powerglide. The car was judged in 2007 at a Chapter meet and received a NCRS Top Flight.

Not sure why anyone would convert it to a powerglide but I just wanted to know as there were only 20 big blocks with a powerglide in 1966 according to the NCRS spec guide. ....

Michael -- no expert here, either, but, on powerglide cards, I believe there was no speedo cable retention clip riveted to the passenger side of the trans tunnel underbody (as for a 4-speed cable), and therefore no evidence of a hole.

[Michael S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Thanks guys for the responses.

I forgot to mention that the engine pad has the correct "IQ" engine code on it.

I can not imagine that this was a four speed car originally, converted to a powerglide, and then the engine was restamped as well. But I am just wanting to make sure. I assume at the chapter meet judging, all was checked accordingly on the distinctions that the powerglide has versus the four speed. I have not had the opportunity to review the judging sheets yet as the car is in another city.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

I am considering purchase of a 1966 big block 427/390 hp with a powerglide. .

If I were looking at a 66 big block with Powerglide, I would probably be more interested in knowing if it was actually an original big block. That would be worth a lot more money for the seller at resale than a real big block changed from 4 speed to PG.

[Larry S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Is it the white one recently on eBay?

[Michael S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Yes it is.

I have been told it is the original engine and I am assuming the NCRS judges verified this when they judged the car at a chapter meet in 2007. I have not looked at the judging sheets yet. Can I assume the chapter judges use the digital cameras to verify original VIN tag, trim tag, engine pad stamping?

[Rick S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

I would strongly suggest you hire a highly qualified person (NCRS Judge) to examine this car prior to purchase. Save yourself from possible grief after the purchase.

Rick

[Joseph M.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Silly question, but I'm assuming you have been given clear photos of all of the stampings and VIN and Trim tags?

[William C.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Quality of Judging on engine stamps may vary widely at a chapter meet, Digital cameras are not always used, and they are only as good as the experience level of the VOLUNTEER looking at the picture. Quality varies some, depending on available talent on that day. Worth having someone you can trust take a close look or inspect it yourself.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

I would strongly suggest you hire a highly qualified person (NCRS Judge) to examine this car prior to purchase. Save yourself from possible grief after the purchase.

Rick

I looked at a silver 66 coupe for sale at a local car show a few months ago. The car was supposedly a 390 HP 427 with Powerglide and A/C.

Within a few minutes, I knew it was a fake. I immediately saw the patched area where the original right hand (small block) hood suppory USED to be. After seeing that, I looked a little closer and found a LOT of evidence that the car was born a small block. (without it's current side exhaust)

The owner insisted the car was a genuine big block with it's genuine (fake) window sticker, though.

Someone eventually bought the car for a LOT of money.

[Larry S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Yes it is.

I have been told it is the original engine and I am assuming the NCRS judges verified this when they judged the car at a chapter meet in 2007. I have not looked at the judging sheets yet. Can I assume the chapter judges use the digital cameras to verify original VIN tag, trim tag, engine pad stamping?

I think this is the same car I posted about maybe 2 years ago. Some experts here picked the car apart and left me with a lot of doubt. If authentic, it is a rare car, but I got scared off. On the other side of the coin, though, I recall no one doubted the authenticity of the 427/390 automatic, just the other things incorrect about the car. Please search the archives.

[Michael S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

I have clear photos of the VIN and trim tags, but not of the engine pad.

Based on the responses, I think I should consider getting an experienced NCRS judge to examine the trim and VIN tags, and the engine pad. If the judge determines the engine to be original and it has the IQ engine code, then it is an original powerglide car.

Is there a NCRS judge in or near Chicago that is considered an expert on the tags and engine pad?

[Michael S.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Thanks for the advice. I searched the archives and found the discussion. It is the same car. It looks like one issue for sure with the car would be the BC after the 407 on the trim tag. This ECL means the car did not come with a hardtop, power windows, and headrests originally. It does not have a hardtop and they told me that the headrests and power windows were added. So this would be picked up by the NCRS team leader when he or she authenticates the trim tag. Not sure what point deduction there would be as it could be an original trim tag but the two options on the car should not be there.

[Chris E.]

Re: 66 Big Block with Powerglide

Not sure what point deduction there would be as it could be an original trim tag but the two options on the car should not be there.

Michael,

Here is my stab at how the car would judge with having power windows and headrests when the trim tag says it should have neither.

On the seats section, a deduction would be taken because of the hole in the top of the seat to accommodate the support for the headrest. A similar line of thinking was shown for dealer installed luggage racks, where a deduction was taken on the exterior fiberglass for the holes that are now present. But, since the factory didn't do luggage racks, there was no deduct for the RACK, just the holes in the body.

On the power windows, I would think the owner would lose points for the absence of the window cranks, and the holes in the center console. Similar line of thinking to my above comment.

Other thoughts from other members???