Oh, the Heartbreak...

[Marlin F.]

Of owning a C2. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Does a 66 L79 have the displacement/horsepower decal on the air filter lid?
2. Does the aluminum intake manifold on the same 66 L79 have to have the 'snowflake' on it to be original?
3. The engine suffix on this same car is 'HP'. The Adams book says that is an L79 with N40. The NCRS Guide says that is an L79 with N40 and C60. I can't find my Black Book. My C2 is the former and not the latter. Which is correct?

I just learned from an NCRS judge that the beautiful 66 L79 I recently purchased is probably just a dressed up L75 that has been re-stamped. Ughhh!! Are there any features on the block or heads that would give me a better idea one way or the other? Should I just unload this 'Frankenstein' and buy a nice Boss 302?

Thanks to all!

[Joe L.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

Of owning a C2. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Does a 66 L79 have the displacement/horsepower decal on the air filter lid?
2. Does the aluminum intake manifold on the same 66 L79 have to have the 'snowflake' on it to be original?
3. The engine suffix on this same car is 'HP'. The Adams book says that is an L79 with N40. The NCRS Guide says that is an L79 with N40 and C60. I can't find my Black Book. My C2 is the former and not the latter. Which is correct?

I just learned from an NCRS judge that the beautiful 66 L79 I recently purchased is probably just a dressed up L75 that has been re-stamped. Ughhh!! Are there any features on the block or heads that would give me a better idea one way or the other? Should I just unload this 'Frankenstein' and buy a nice Boss 302?

Thanks to all!

Marlin------


1) No air cleaner decals/labels on 1966 small blocks, base engine or L-79. Decals were on valve covers;

2) Well, they usually do have the Winters "snow-flake". However, I suppose it's possible that some did not. However, whether they have the snow-flake, or not, the L-79 aluminum manifold should have the GM casting number of 3890490. If the manifold has neither the snow-flake nor the casting number, I'd say it's not an original L-79 manifold.

3) "HP" is the code for L-79 with N-40.

The best way to check for base engine versus L-79 is to look at the balancer (assuming it's not been changed). The 300 hp has a 6" OD balancer; the L-79 has an 8" OD balancer.

Sell a nice car because it's a 300 hp rather than an L-79? Are you nuts? The 300 hp is a GREAT engine----probably the overall best and most streetable engine ever installed in a Corvette.

[Marlin F.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

I'm not nuts; just disappointed that I may have ended up with something different than what I thought.

Thanks for your expert opinion! There may be hope after all!

[Larry M.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

Marlin------


3) "HP" is the code for L-79 with N-40.

Joe:

The "HP" code is for the L-79 with both AC and Power Steering. If the car has AC and no Power Steering, or Power Steering and no AC, or neither one, the code is "HT".

This issue has been discussed/debated earlier, and there are a number of examples and published information to support this interpretation. My car is one. The latest 1966 Judging Manual is another.

Larry

[John D.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

marlin

If you post as picture of the stamp pad here you will get the opinions of some very knowledgable folks...

[Paul J.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

Marlin, there are countless examples (even on this board) of people who bought cars and found out that they were misrepresented. Everything from condition, to non-original engines, to BB conversions. All of these examples were either because of an uninformed buyer or an unscrupulous seller, or both.

However, anything wrong can be easily fixed. All it takes is more money. C2s have done well over the years with appreciation. Even if you paid too much for the car, and were to put more into it to fix some things, the value of the car would eventually catch up to your investment. It's not hard to go upside down with a C2, but it is very hard to stay there for a long time.

Don't get frustrated with this. It happens all the time. Remember that owning your car is fun...right?

If you're set on getting rid of the Vette, a Boss 302 would not appreciate as quickly. I would suggest a Cobra rather than the Mustang. But if you're paying a premium for a nice car, remember that the same thing could happen again unless either you're an expert or you hire one to assess the car.

Paul

[Marlin F.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

'Once burnt, twice learnt', as they say. The car is still a blast to drive and I presume there's no reason I couldn't make it an 'L79' with the proper disclosures. Thanks to all!

[Marlin F.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

Relating to the engine suffix, Nolan Adams's book says 'L79 with N40' and the Black Book says '327 (power steering)'. Three sources; three answers. Who knows!

[Jim T.]

Re: Oh, the Heartbreak...

Of owning a C2. Can anyone please tell me:

1. Does a 66 L79 have the displacement/horsepower decal on the air filter lid?
2. Does the aluminum intake manifold on the same 66 L79 have to have the 'snowflake' on it to be original?
3. The engine suffix on this same car is 'HP'. The Adams book says that is an L79 with N40. The NCRS Guide says that is an L79 with N40 and C60. I can't find my Black Book. My C2 is the former and not the latter. Which is correct?

I just learned from an NCRS judge that the beautiful 66 L79 I recently purchased is probably just a dressed up L75 that has been re-stamped. Ughhh!! Are there any features on the block or heads that would give me a better idea one way or the other? Should I just unload this 'Frankenstein' and buy a nice Boss 302?

Thanks to all!

The difference in a L79 and a L75 can be determined by one who has known and driven both. The L79 has a idle that is very easy to say, this is a 327/350 L79 and not a 327/300 L75.
If your car is not a L79, just a cam change will not make it a L79.
I recommend to just enjoy the purchase, drive it and have some fun shifting gears.