Question about old cars (70's Vettes in particular)

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Most of the Vettes I see in the 70's in my area for CL have 5.7L 350 V8s? How do those only produce around 200hp?

I can't find any decent priced old Camaros like you can 🙂

Yep, my old Grand Marquis had a bloody 460 V8, something like a tad over 200HP, but gobs and gobs of torque.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Don't worry so much about how much power they make stock. Who the hell leaves them that way anyway? If you like mid 70s vettes get a mid 70s vette.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Don't worry so much about how much power they make stock. Who the hell leaves them that way anyway? If you like mid 70s vettes get a mid 70s vette.

Yeah, I've always loved the way they look.

 

[lurk3r]

Go with your dream, get the vette, 69-81 models can be found in decent shape for as low as $4-6k, expect to drop any old crate GM motor in it, $3k, and paint it, ~$1500, seats, interior parts etc are all readily available aftermarket. The stock engines were very restricted, remember there was an oil crisis, but props to chevy for building a real V8, not a Mustang II !! If you pull all the polution crap off, its pretty ez to get solid horsepower out of the engine as is, replace the heads and carb, followed by sidepipes, all fairly ez to accomplish even for a beginner, and you'll have a screamer.

You will be constantly working on the car, but there are lots of clubs and books to help you.

The car will be amazing in a straight line, not so good to race on a track with, its very easy to slide out of control with all that power to the rear wheels in such a light car.

A 63-67 is a much nicer car, the 'midyears' but good luck finding a project car for under 20K. 63-64's are cheaper since they usually have drum brakes, a kit is available for $1200 to convert the front to discs. The club guys will give you the evil eye, but I'm in the process of installing the kit now, I'm much more concerned about having a dual master cylinder than having a stock 63.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Don't worry so much about how much power they make stock. Who the hell leaves them that way anyway? If you like mid 70s vettes get a mid 70s vette.

Trouble is you still have the stock chassis and brakes...

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Don't worry so much about how much power they make stock. Who the hell leaves them that way anyway? If you like mid 70s vettes get a mid 70s vette.

Trouble is you still have the stock chassis and brakes...

Yeah, and their handling is less than ideal for power upgrades.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
Don't worry so much about how much power they make stock. Who the hell leaves them that way anyway? If you like mid 70s vettes get a mid 70s vette.

Trouble is you still have the stock chassis and brakes...

Yeah, and their handling is less than ideal for power upgrades.

that generation of vette had a dangerous flaw in the rear suspension geometry. when cornering, as the suspension compresses the wheel toes out. it's almost like 4-wheel steering, but by accident.

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: Quintox
I love the good American muscle sound, which is why I like looking for these old Vettes and Camaros. I like the newer Mustangs but they only sound good in the GT500s, which end up costing around $43k and for that price you can get close to a C6 Vette.

ANY V8 will sound like old American muscle with the right exhaust and muffler setup. One of the sweetest I ever heard was a Lexus GS400 (4.0l V8) with a Borla cat-back exhaust system on it tuned for sound.

 

[Arkaign]

^^^ Truth. Though there is a big difference in sound between a carbed V8, and the modern F/I stuff.

Anyhow, any classic V8, combined with nice headers, glasspacks, and a good carb (Edelbrock or Holley, 4-barrel) will sound absolutely awesome.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: Quintox
I love the good American muscle sound, which is why I like looking for these old Vettes and Camaros. I like the newer Mustangs but they only sound good in the GT500s, which end up costing around $43k and for that price you can get close to a C6 Vette.

ANY V8 will sound like old American muscle with the right exhaust and muffler setup. One of the sweetest I ever heard was a Lexus GS400 (4.0l V8) with a Borla cat-back exhaust system on it tuned for sound.

No, any cross plane V8 will sound like old American Muscle. It's simply not possible to make a flat plane V8 sound that way though.

ZV

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Most of the Vettes I see in the 70's in my area for CL have 5.7L 350 V8s? How do those only produce around 200hp?

I can't find any decent priced old Camaros like you can 🙂

You SERIOUSLY need to learn more on cars especially if looking at buying older ones.

Displacement is only a minor part of the horsepower picture.

In the 70's the EPA crippled cars, it wasn't until the late 80's that automakers found ways to meet their guidelines and still make power.

The 70's corvette though can be 'fixed' as it's now not under EPA compliance in most areas.

I'd still run a high flow cat at the very least and you may need to convert to unleaded type valve seats.

The 5.7L / 350 was in everything from grandma's kitty mobile to Butch's sub 10 sec Camaro.