Need mechanic recommendation

[Dave Rifkin]

I may have already asked this a while back and, if I did, I apologize for the duplicate post. I have a 1969 350/350 Corvette and since buying it nearly 5 years ago I have never been able to get it to run as I feel an L46 car should. I have taken it to two reputable Corvette "experts" nearby (Contes and Corvette Paramedics) but, I am still not happy with it's performance.

Does anyone in the South Jersey area know of someone who is good with these cars and knows how to get the most out of them? I am not expecting it to be a rocket ship but, I think it should be faster than it currently is. For all I know a previous owner may have reduced the compression ratio or changed camshafts; I don't know which is why I am looking for an expert on these older performance cars.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Lynn]

Dave:

Other than the cam, intake and carb, that engine is exactly the same as the 70 LT1, with 11:1 pistons. Well, the distributor might be curved a little differently. It is the highest horsepower small block (ratings) offered in 69. You can probably see enough of the piston with a lightn and mirror looking through the spark plug hole to determine if they have been changed. If you need a pic of the top of one of those pistons, shoot me a PM with your email address. I just disassembled one of these engines. Would be a little

While there might be some other tuning issues, have you checked total advance (with vac pod plugged) at 3000 rmp? Check a little higher and see if there is a difference. If so, then you need to have the dist. curved to put timing all in by 3000 rpm. That said, I honestly believe the L46 cam is the weak link. I plan to put mine back together with an LT1 cam, or something similar, a Z intake and a 4053 Holley. I just like the sound of the solid lifters, for one, but expect quite a boost in performance.

Some of the Duece guys will probably have ideas as well.

Don't know of any mechanics in Jersey. But really, this isn't rocket science. I bet you can get it figured out.

[Dave Rifkin]

Thanks for the response Lynn,

My car has the TI ignition if that matters and, from what I can tell, everything else looks stock. I owned a 1970 Z28 that has the LT-1 engine and that thing was very strong. I kind of expected the Corvette to run similarly.
I am not experienced in working on cars and would be afraid that I'd make matters worse by getting my hands in there. (Don't want to the the "Bubba" that I hear so much about)

I too would like to install a LT-1 dual plane intake, solid cam and Holley but, wonder if it would fit under the stock hood. Anyway, one thing at a time.

[njsteve]

My buddy Al Males, of Al's Auto Care is an "old timer" mechanic here in Flemington, NJ. He works on tons of old musclecars and his service station is usually where everybody in the neighborhood hangs out on weekends in kind of giant brain trust/think tank/spouse avoidance man cave. He was a dealership line mechanic in Newark, back in the 1970s. He has helped me out on a bunch of obscure musclecar issues over the past decade and a half. His # is 9087827442.

I just drove by his place a half hour ago and there was a 67 Charger, a 1970 Riviera, and a 70 340 Dart being worked on at various times. He does a lot of work on older Corvettes for locals and non-locals as well. He also works on new cars as well. A great mechanic and a fan of these old cars. Tell him Steve with the hemicharger sent you.

If you were at the MCACN last November you may have met him. I brought him with me to the show. I am trying to drag him away from his work again for this year's show.

[Dave Rifkin]

Thanks Steve,

I will give him a call and, with any luck, he can get the old girl running like she should.

[WILMASBOYL78]

What was the factory cam in those 350/350 motors..was it the old L79 cam??..just curious.


wilma

[Lynn]

3896962 part casting 964.
.447 lift intake and exahust same advertised duration as a 30 30 cam on the intake with slightly less duration on the exhaust side. Just not enough lift for the 2.02 intakes in my humble opinion. Actually a bit more advertized duration than the L79 cam, with the same advertised lift.

Dave, we need some good bubba stories (just kidding). Get it checked out for tuning issues. Even with the factory cam, the car ought to get after it pretty well. Lot of guys will tell the the Q-Jet is the problem, but you wouldn't even notice the difference between the Q and a Holley on a high rise until 5,000 plus.

I drove a couple back in the day, and they were impressive. Still, it will not act like the LT1 without the LT1 cam and fuel delivery.

I would be interested to know what your mechanic finds. Best of luck.

Personally, I think the 69 350 350 Corvette is one of the most undervalued cars out there. Jeez, sometimes I see them going for less than a rust bucket 69 Camaro. Don't get it myself.

While typing this, I just happened to compare date in Colvin's book with an old Chevroet Power manual. According to the chevy book, the lift is .450 I and .460 E. Looked at Colvin's again and it says .447 .447. Hmm. If the Chevy manual is correct, then it has more lift than the L79 cam.

[Salvatore]

yep, 350/350 is a real good motor and the Q-jet is fine. Check your carb for the secondaries opening correctly and also the distributor. Correct Lynn, an underated corvette and motor. What gear is in the rear Dave?

[WILMASBOYL78]

So..how would the L79 cam run in this setup??

With the cast iron intake and QJ it doesn't seem much different than the 67-68 L79 cars [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img] I know you need some decent compression with #151 cam..11 to 1 is still 11 to 1.

wilma

[Lynn]

Wilma:
I think this cam (assuming the Chevy Power book is correct) would outperform the L79 cam. Just a little more lift and more duration.

See no reason it won't run hard. The only reason I said the cam is the weak link is in comparison to the LT1. Given the high rise and 4053 carb on the LT1, that may be an unfair assessment. GM didn't give it a 350 horse rating just for fun.

I am curious to see how the tune goes. Hopefully everything internally is still stock.