1966 Corvette L72 Light Refresh

[napa68]

After I posted in the "birthday" thread, there seemed to be some interest in my latest acquisition. This 66 coupe is features all born with drivetrain, trim tag, VIN tag, and most all original secondary dated components. The only exception I have found yet is the water pump (which I have sourced a properly dated unit). The NCRS Shippers Report indicates the car was officially produced Jan 10th 1966 being delivered to Marsh Hallman Chevrolet in Albany, NY. The car was later sold on May 19th 1966. Documented by it's original Protect-O-Plate and dealer invoice. The car is optioned with.
-L72 427-425hp
-M21 4 speed
-G81 3.70 positraction diff
-K66 Transistorized ignition
-N14 Side mounted exhaust
-P92 White stripe 7.75-15 tires
-U69 AM/FM radio
-A01 Tinted glass









The combination of a real L72 car, Nassau Blue with blue / white interior, and a factory side pipe car is just too irresistible to not keep around for a while (or longer). It's an original paint car, with a really nice original interior. Good docs, great colors (IMO). I bought this car from a friend, so I did not travel to inspect the car nor have anyone look at it (mistake)

Sometimes these cars play well, and other times not so much. This one fought me right off the trailer. When the car arrived, it was about 10F degrees. The battery was not up to the task first of all. Then after rolling the car out of the trailer, I was able to get the car started with a jumper pack. That led to a carb that was hemorrhaging fuel. I'm thinking to myself this ain't starting out too well. With the addition of a fresh battery (old one was 5 years old) and a carb rebuild, I got the car fired up and proceeded to tune on it a bit. Actually runs pretty good (especially when one considers this still has the original plug wires on it yet). I'm thinking to myself maybe the worst is over? I did discover though there were some more items that were inop than what was presented to me when I bought the car. Most notably the fuel gauge, temp gauge, back up lights, and wiper motor (but wait.....there is more).

I knew the clock and radio did not work going into this. Soooooo, I popped the clock to send that out, and then diagnose the radio situation. I was pleasantly surprised to find the speaker was the culprit. Ironically, I had just gotten a couple mid year speakers rebuilt by Jackson Speaker Service and they were on the shelf. Radio now sounds great and works like a charm.
On to the rest of the issues.........


On my initial examination, I also discovered the speedometer was disconnected at the trans. I do know for certain the car had accumulated about 100 miles since 2022 (last time the car was advertised). It's a safe assumption there is an issue of sort, so I pulled the tach and speedo to send that out to my speedo guy in Milwaukee. I have had people ask me where I am sending this type of work to, so here is the link to his shop. He (Roger) is very knowledgeable and turns the work around quickly.
http://www.speedometersolutions.com/



I then proceed to diagnose the rest of the inoperative items.
1. Fuel gauge
2. Temp gauge
3. Back up lights
4. Wiper motor
The first 3 items have a common source for power. After testing for continuity in all of the respective circuits, I find a pretty good voltage drop in the main dash harness. I peeled that apart to find at least 1 issue. Furthermore, there was another issue I discovered to boot in the main harness. So, I've got a new main harness on order. I'll also add this car must of had an electrical issue previously, as the engine harness had been replaced.



The car is showing 65k miles on it. I see freeze plugs with imprints on them, along with Fel Pro head gaskets. We now know it has some type of rebuild on the engine (which is fine IMO). I am always a bit concerned with an original engine due to the nylon timing gear. I scoped the bores to have a look. I appears as though the engine retains it's original domed pistons? I did not see any sort of imprints on the tops of the pistons, and also saw hone marks (along with a few scuffs). It would be great if this had the original size bore and proper compression. They always seem to run a bit better when they have some squeeze. The plugs looked decent given the lack of activity the car has had in recent years. The valve lash was really close when I checked it all. But, while I'm here, I ran all of the valves.




Today, I'll bench test the wiper inop wiper motor and see what needs to be done there. If I can get it going, I'll put new rubber components in the washer pump and clean everything up the best I can. One of the headlight motors is really lethargic (another item my "friend" neglected to tell me). So I'll get both of those out, clean the armatures in both, clean out the old grease in the transmission side of the motors, lube everything up and see where that takes me.

[RPOLS3]

Love following along on these threads - this car checks all the right boxes too.......

[67since67]

Yet ANOTHER reason for a visit to the Boulder Beer Bar!!

You are having too much fun Tim!

[dykstra]

What a great car! Love this!!

[Steve Shauger]

Tim you are amazing and when this has had your touch it will be perfect! Look forward to this "Light Refresh" progress.

[napa68]

I got into the wiper motor yesterday, and that endeavor was a bust. I'll need some professional help there. FWIW, that has been suggested to me more than a few times prior

Here is what I did rebuilding one of the headlight motors. More often than not, the grease in them gets so gummed up, electrically they are fine. Just a good cleaning and reassembly is all that is needed. I keep the gears in stock, as sometimes they have a section that gets worn and can bind up a little bit.




Some time in the ultrasonic cleaner with Purple Power (I left the field housing alone to preserve the ink stamp). Here is the old gear (left) compared to the new gear


Perfect date for a January 66 car


And reassemble with white lithium grease


As mentioned before, the car is a New York car. What history I can put together this far, the car was in NY until 1995. The car had received a Bloomington Survivor Award in 1993 on all parts of the car with the exception of the chassis. Certainly, that program has become much more stringent since then. Regardless, I busted out the Go-Jo to start soaking, degreasing and cleaning the chassis.

A few before pics. The chassis is VERY solid, just not a California car.




And the first soak......

[TimG]

The car is looking good, Tim. I want to see chassis pictures as you progress. If there is a '66 worthy of this type of mechanical rebuild, this is the car.

[60sStuff]

Tim,

Your endless energy spent on refining top of the line Corvettes that you seek out and bring to BMC is exciting to watch.

And yet “another” gauge cluster, soon with eyes closed.

Thanks for sharing the preservation of such awesome cars!

Chris.

[TimG]

Tim, I know we talk often and I could ask you in one of our conversations, but what type of Go-Jo do you use? Do you just apply it and steam clean it off? I thought others may want to know, also.

[Z282NV]

Beautiful Vette. I always enjoy watching you work out the gremlins on the cars coming into your shop.