67 L88 help

I would like to know how to identify an L88 car. A friend has found a 67 sitting. It currently has a small block, but the owner thinks it was originally an L88. Is there any way to tell for sure?
Thanks

[67HEAVEN]

Welcome aboard, Ken.

This is a highly-charged topic due to the rarity and desirability of any L-88.........never mind a '67 L-88.

"If" you friend's car turned out to be legit, it would be extremely unusual. As you know, only 20 were sold during the '67 model year.

I would suggest starting with the following information from right here on

Get back to us once you've looked it over.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...8/l88prod.html

[Ken Anderson]

Originally Posted by Ken Weilbrenner

I would like to know how to identify an L88 car. A friend has found a 67 sitting. It currently has a small block, but the owner thinks it was originally an L88. Is there any way to tell for sure?
Thanks

The car will be stored inside a climate controlled building and insured for well over a million dollars. This is one of the surest ways to tell. In other words, I believe all of the original ones have been found and accounted for-but your friend can dream. I suspect the owner is trying to extract maximum dollars from your friend's wallet.

Thanks for the responses. The car is not for sale at all, so I don't think money is the issue. It needs a complete restoration due to it sitting in a garage for the last 15 years. It has a big block hood, but it currently has a 327 in it that is not original. I think that is what is leading him to believe it's a 427 car. Other than the hood, how can I tell if it was originally a small or big block car?
I'm researching info on it, but I thought I'd be lazy and ask the experts to save some time. : )

[67HEAVEN]

To save some real time, I'd ask the owner why he thinks it's a L-88. We could help him see the light fairly quickly then.

[BarryK]

BB cars had different fuel lines, different yokes on the half shafts in the rear, different springs, different size front stabilizer bars, different radiators and no expansion tanks like the SB's had (except the L-88's and '65 BB 396 which did have expansion tanks), and a few other differences.

On the other hand, LOTS of SB cars had their hoods changed out to the BB stinger hood because people just liked them. There are a lot of cars just on this forum alone that are SB cars with the BB stinger hood on them for just that reason so if he is basing his belief that the car was originally a 427 car just because of the hood that probably won't get him too far.

Has the car ever had the body off it or the gas tank replaced? If not, the original tank sticker very well may still be on top of the tank. If so, that will tell you for sure what motor was originally in the car.

[67HEAVEN]

As Barry states, there are a number of differences between SB and BB cars. There were many specific requirements for a L-88, however, as outlined on the link I provided above.

If the car has a heater or radio, forget it (unless they were added later). If it doesn't have the J-56/J-50 Special Heavy Duty Power Brakes option, forget it (unless they were removed later). Same with K-66 Ignition (and associated harness/amplifier), etc. Different rad......special warning plate on console, etc., etc. If the VIN is too early in the model run......uh-uh.

Better to tell us why he "thinks" it's a L-88.

[4WDVETTE]

Come on now guys - this could be one of the 60 or so of the known remaining originals left - of the 16 that were built of course.

Steve

[67HEAVEN]

Originally Posted by 4WDVETTE

Come on now guys - this could be one of the 60 or so of the known remaining originals left - of the 16 that were built of course.

Steve

Hi Steve. The 16 you refer to is an even rarer 427 option (the L-89 / L-71) although not as valuable as the 20 original L-88 cars.

[BarryK]

Originally Posted by 67HEAVEN

Hi Steve. The 16 you refer to is an even rarer 427 option (the L-89 / L-71) although not as valuable as the 20 original L-88 cars.

isn't that an odd thing?
The L89 is rarer and an actual steetable car as opposed to the L88 which is such a radical motor it probably doesn't work well as a car to actually drive on the road. Not to mention lack of a heater and radio. I'd think the L89's would have more value to most enthusiasts and collectors but as we all know it's the L88's that bring the true big bucks - not that real L89's are cheaply priced either!. I guess it's the race history that is most of the value on the L88's

[67HEAVEN]

Originally Posted by BarryK

isn't that an odd thing?

It's all about balls-to-the-wall.


Ever heard a L-88 idle?

Originally Posted by BarryK

isn't that an odd thing?
The L89 is rarer and an actual steetable car as opposed to the L88 which is such a radical motor it probably doesn't work well as a car to actually drive on the road. Not to mention lack of a heater and radio. I'd think the L89's would have more value to most enthusiasts and collectors but as we all know it's the L88's that bring the true big bucks - not that real L89's are cheaply priced either!. I guess it's the race history that is most of the value on the L88's

L88 was truly a race car that was not meant for, or even worked very well on, the street. The pinacle of take no prisoners, with a window sticker. Even though not very streetable, a legendary car that was actually available if you knew how to order it - the baddest of the bad, HP-wise

The legendary baddest of the bad always command the top price, even if a more comfy, more streetable and/or more economical car made infinitely more sense on paper.

[Tom Bryant]

Is the hood bare on the underside or is there a L88 air chamber? If it ever had K66 the mounting holes would probably still be there. Also what are the numbers on the 327 that is in there now? If it has a matching vin to the body the search is over.


Tom