'69 L36 Suspension Options

[Jim T.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Thanx for the information everyone. I just got off the phone with the seller and I have an appointment this Saturday at 7:00PM. We have to do it in the evening due to flight availability and his schedule. I would love to have someone from the area accompany me but realize that getting someone on such short notice for a Saturday evening is a long shot. I'LL BUY DINNER FOR YOU AND A GUEST if that helps.

Like I said in an earlier post, I don't really care if the side exhaust is original or not as long as it's reversible back to original.

Any other tips and advice is always appreciated. Which me luck!

Floyd one place to look to see if the 69 had originally had under the car exhaust is at the frame crossmember for the transmission mount. If the exhaust pipe attachment brace is still installed on this 69 it is unlikely that it left the factory with side exhaust since this brace is not required except in under the car exhaust pipes.
The pictures do not show the rear lower license plate area. Panels years ago could be purchased to replace the rear lower panel to replace the panel installed at the factory that had the exhaust outlet provision for under the car exhaust systems.
Until about 23 years ago I had the 69 side exhaust system installed on my 1970. Changing back to under the car exhaust I did not go back to original factory installed type under the car exhaust pipes. I installed the larger 2 1/2 inch exhaust pipes that were available on 1968 Corvettes. I also changed the 2 inch exhaust pipe bracket on the transmission mount to the earlier 2 1/2 exhaust pipe bracket.
Windshield frame rust underneath the stainless trim has been a problem on C3's.

[Patrick H.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

The pictures do not show the rear lower license plate area. Panels years ago could be purchased to replace the rear lower panel to replace the panel installed at the factory that had the exhaust outlet provision for under the car exhaust systems.

Jim,

Actually, you can see the old rear exhaust location and aftermarket panel in the photo attached (bottom right corner of pic). As I mentioned above it came with rear exhaust from the factory.

Patrick

[Gary J.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

I would also be paying close attention to the windshield frame, looking inside underneath for evidence of rust, along with looking at the frame and other areas. This could be a real deal breaker.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

I would also be paying close attention to the windshield frame, looking inside underneath for evidence of rust, along with looking at the frame and other areas. This could be a real deal breaker.

Gary and Floyd-----


Most definitely! This is ALL-IMPORTANT. Serious birdcage rust renders the car a poor candidate for purchase. The problem is that it reduces the car's value to a point that's far below what the seller would accept. So, there's no point in even negotiating over it. The seller can probably find someone who's a neophyte to buy the car near his price so why would he want to sell it for what it's really worth?. Unfortunately, birdcage corrosion problems can be hard to detect.

The frame corrosion on this car APPEARS superficial. However, considering where the car currently lives, the car is AUTOMATICALLY SUSPECT. It should be checked carefully for frame damage. The frame should be probed with an ice-pick or similar tool for "thin spots".

Remember, birdcage corrosion, serious, perforating frame corrosion, or previous frame collision damage = BIG $$$$$$$ to correct. Assuming that one wants to get involved in such a repair process, the value of the car is diminished by the cost for repair whether the seller wants to accept that, or not.

When evaluating a Corvette for purchase, body damage, birdcage corrosion, and frame corrosion/damage are, BY FAR, the most important considerations. Everything else is pretty minor, by comparison. So, focus your inspection on what's important, not the "small stuff".

[Floyd B.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Does this picture reveal anything?

[Floyd B.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Jim,

Actually, you can see the old rear exhaust location and aftermarket panel in the photo attached (bottom right corner of pic). As I mentioned above it came with rear exhaust from the factory.

Patrick

Now the only question is; did they hack the body to install the side pipes. I would want to return it to original as long as the work is reversible. Guess I'll find out Saturday night.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Does this picture reveal anything?

Floyd------


Nothing significant that I can see.

[Joe L.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Now the only question is; did they hack the body to install the side pipes. I would want to return it to original as long as the work is reversible. Guess I'll find out Saturday night.

Floyd------


Other than the rear panel which is easily changed, I doubt that any significant body mods would have been made to install the side pipes unless the work was done by an utter klutz.

The sidepipes look to be of original GM type. So, you could probably sell them for a good price to some fool looking to buy a set. You'd be sure to get at least enough out of them to purchase an undercar, reproduction set-up.

[Michael H.]

Re: '69 L36 Suspension Options

Floyd------



As far as N-14 "cues" go, I have absolutely no idea. I've always tried to avoid any knowledge of or connection to the N-14 option and its components and installation nuances. The less I know about that option, the better I feel. I've tried to even erase the RPO code from my brain's memory banks but, so far, I've not been successful. However, I consider that might be the one good thing that would come out of a stroke.

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