427/425 69 Biscayne

[Stitch]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6173&item=24411376 81

I was just browsing eBay and thought somebody here may have been interested.

[skierkaj]

This guy seems to be honest enough. He says right in the last 2 lines he cannot be positive on the cars genuineness, but he will help all he can. Car looks genuine enough to me, and I'm no expert! What's everyone elses' thoughts?

[67BelAir427]

I have spoken to the seller. The car is not the one featured in the magazine, the paint is not bad but the prep work apparently was not very well done. What I found strange was that the engine is coded for a 69 427/425 HP car with automatic transmission. A dealer would have replaced a blown engine with a CE block. The partial build sheet has a body sequence number that matches the cowl tag, so unless someone has switched cowl tags then it looks to be a real M22 Biscayne that is missing its original engine and transmission, with the condition of the body/rust repairs unknown.Marc

[TimG]

What if the engine was damage so badly that they ordered a complete long block or the dealer had a long block in stock?
I think that full long block engines had the correct engine build information stamped on and no CE code. A number of factory stamped L88 engines exist in correct long block form.

[67BelAir427]

Tim, by the engine build info I would guess you mean the assembly date and plant prefix? What about the 2 or 3 letter suffix that would be stamped beside the assembly info, for example on this engine its stamped "LS" which would only be used in full size passenger car with Turbo 400 transmission. . Would the dealer be able to order a long block with a code that would make it correct for that application as opposed to the other cars such as Copo Chevelles, Camaros or Corvettes. If they could,did they just get close enough by obtaining a Turbo 400 code instead of the one for an M22? If so, that would explain how this engine ended up in an M22 Biscayne. Marc

[Schonyenko2]

There were warranty blocks that were coded specifically for the correct application. One of my year one cataloges tells about them, and I have one in my Peck deuce, Its coded ctb without a sequential vin nbr. Very interesting article. Schonye

[TimG]

The assembly code would be stamped completly on a long block just as it would be on an engine to be used in a vehicle. There were a number of crate engines with the assembly code and date code that were sold that did not have CE stamped on them. The red/red 1967 L88 Corvette coupe that is a well known car has a correct L88 long block with an assembly code perfect for the car. This engine was found at a Chevrolet dealership with no CE, just the engine code and engine designation stamped on it. It could have just as easily gone into an L88 Corvette but it went to a dealer parts inventory. In this case, the owner chose to install the engine in the car that needed it and not stamp the VIN portion of the number. He wanted to leave the original L88 crate motor undisturbed.

[olredalert]

Tim,

------If you are referring to the 12 mile L88 its red/black.I worked on that car at one time or another and am very familiar with the interior.If its another L88 that Im not aware of then sorry for the comment.........Bill S

[TimG]

The L88 that I was talking about is the Red/Red coupe that was owned by Ray Norvel. The Red/Black low mile car may have a similar type long block in it with the assembly date.
Pretty cool that you worked on the 12 mile car. I thought I was in heaven when I looked at it.

[olredalert]

Tim,

-----I had forgotten about Rays L88.Theres just too many of them out there to keep straight anymore!LOL!The engine situation on the 12 mile car is very similar.The complete engine was aquired from Terry M in much the same state as Norvels.The difference is that the 2nd partner insisted on the serial numbers being on the block.I remember that Dave B didnt want to stamp it but was outvoted,so to speak.I have to call Roger J soon and find out if he finally adjusted the drivers door.Dave B wouldnt readjust it even though it was badly out of line when delivered from the factory.............Bill S

[JoeC]

Are they joking about that door story? That 12 mile L88 was sitting at a Corvette junk yard with the back end up on a fork lift. No engine, trans, or rear, underside painted white, decals on the fenders. The yard bought it from owner who bought it new to build a drag car but never finished it. There was an article in Corvette news when it was found.

[MotownMadman]

WOW! You serious Joe? Junk yard?
Motown /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[Verne_Frantz]

I guess that explains why the engine went bye-bye with only 12 miles on it.
(48 passes)!

Verne.
What a freakin' shame a 12 mile car needed a complete restoration. But that's the way it was back then. Run hard and put away wet. It's a wonder any of them survived at all......
Yes, it would have been quite an honor and memorable experience to work on that car.

[JoeC]

It was never raced. The guy stopped working on it before he finshed it and it just sat in his garage for many years. I think they found most of its original parts.

[Verne_Frantz]

Something drastic must have happened to the owner?? I can't imagine junking the car just because of giving up on the race car project.
I thought I read it has a replacement block, so I figured the original was "broken". I haven't read (or heard) the full story on the car.
Verne.

[budnate]

I think I remember that car coming in to Lincoln, but Vette's didnít do anything for me early Camaros was where it was at for me,

I will have his name spelled wrong but Veurl or something close was able to pull some really cool cars out of the woodwork, he was the manager, he would curb some really cool stuff from his house also, plus they had been in the same location forever and people would call them and ask them to remove the Junker from there yard etc..., but once they had it, parts were very spendy to buy from the cars, I recall many a rare car parted out there, the inventory was mind boggling.

Bud.

[olredalert]

------JoeC is correct about the junkyard and the never been raced or even driven part.The 12 miles were on it from St.Louis.
------Theres a guy named Duke that posts pretty regularly on the NCRS board that helped the original owner take the 12 mile car apart after it was delivered to his garage on a roll-back.The original owner even gave Duke the distributor as he was going to run magneto ignition.Duke used it in his 63 fuelie for years,and then heard that Dave Burroughs was restoring the car and sent him the distributor so now its back with the car.Original engine supposedly disappeared from the race engine builders shop somewhere along the line.
------After Lincoln sold it and Friendly Bob Adams from Wisconsin ended up with it,I was very close to the car frequently and Im here to tell you that the old car has never had any spot-painting ever done to it that I could find.It has always been my understanding that Lincoln was very careful with the car as they obviously knew it only had twelve miles on it.
------Another close friend of mine in Janesville Wi. bought it from Adams and I used to see it all the time in among his huge collection.
------My friend then sold the car to a three person consortium that included Dave Burroughs,another good friend and the past and just rehired current head of Bloomington Gold.He brought the car back to original specs and did an unbelieveable job as no one in the past had been careful about alot of the parts.
------Then,this past year the car sold to Roger Judski out of Fla.He is also the owner of the other "known" ZL1 Corvette(the yellow one).
------So,there you go.History in a nutshell.A whole book could be written just about this car.
------Also have to apologize for getting away from the original thread......Bill S

[JoeC]

Bill, have you seen the Corvette News article on the car?

[TimG]

I have the July 1982 Hemmings with a full page add by the Janesville owner showing this and many, many rare cars for sale. He was selling Grand Sport #1 in the same add.
Would you possibily know the Janesville owner of my Benchmark 67 Corvette? His name is Charles Weber and he bought the car new.

[sixtiesmuscle]

Tim, can you post a scan of the ad?

[olredalert]

-----Nope!I dont think Ive seen the article.
-----That Janesville guy used to buy literally bunches of cars from us at a time.Then he would go off on a tangent and trade 12 cars back to us for one.Thats how he ended up with Grand Sport#1.He owned and still owns(I think)a number of truck stops in that general vicinity.I first met him in about 1975 when I sold him my 5000 mile 69 L88 Corvette.The day I delivered it he liked my car hauler so much he bought it too.Wasnt a bad day for me at all.I do remember him having a fathom green Yenko Chevelle back about 1977/78,but he only has a couple of cars left and I know that isnt one of them!
------Since I was from Hinsdale Ill at that time the name Charles Weber doesnt reside in my puny little memory.Sorry.If I remember to Ill mention the name to my friend and see if he knows him..........Bill S

[TimG]

I have it at home and will try to post it. He has about 30 amazing cars including Cobras, LS6 Chevelles, 427 Fords.
If not I would be happy to fax it to you if you provide your fax number, Mike.