Hey guys, I'm new to this forum andin search of assistance and informationfor a 69 Stingray 350. The car is actually my mom's but sits under a cover and 1000lbs of crap in the garage 24/7, and has been neglected for the better part of the decade.LOL. I would really like to get this car running properly and restored for her, and for my own personal enjoyment of a new project,but dont know much of anything about it. (I do know it has avery nice side exhaust though, I believe I was told it came standard on one of the models?) My area of expertise and knowledge for carsso farhasbeen pretty concentrated on imports,turbos and modernEFI, soclassicChevy carboratedV8's is Chinese tome. Dont get me wrong, I'm not one of your honda riceboy's,the car scene around here just sort of shoved my interests in that direction.. I have still have ataste for cars. I currently ownan 02 Audi S4, with a best 1/4 mile time of 11.4 @ 123. I do all my own work on the car, with the exception of fabrication and things of that sort, so I'm familiar with wrenching. Anyway, I want to learn all I can about thisStingray andhelp bring it out ofits coma. Iwashoping you guys could provide me with some basic info, tips, orreccomendations where to start.(Best oil /filter, plugs etc. to use.) Alink to a FAQ / noob guide for C3's or the motor in general would be great.

Also, I have driven the carand it breaks up really bad under WOTand spits a big flamewhen I let off. Any suggestions on that?

Thanks alot guys!
-Jeff

 

Post your engine numbers on this site and someone will be able to tell you which 350 you have.Everybody loves a mystery. But,it's not just the engine. What's the condition of the rest of the car? Are you willing to put the time and effort into getting it back to where you want it? A lot of people think that older cars are just that, older cars. Fun to look at, but not worth doing anything with. I happen to disagree. But, that's just me. You need to seriously think about this because it may take a little more time and a lot more money than you're willing to expend on a project like this. I'm not trying to run you off, buddy. I just want you to know what to expect.By the way, from what you say about the way she runs I think you've got some cracked heads. No big deal.

 

Where do I find the engine numbers?
The car is in relatively good condition, seats are worn bad, butwe have newones sitting in the garage waiting to goin. The paint looksgood, otherthen theslight cracking at the rear of the "trunk", and the door locking mechanisms dont work. Other then that, its not too shabby. The wheels look great and the side exit exhaustis justmean. But to be completely honest I'm more interested in the performance aspects, not an all out Barrett Jackson show car.

I'm definetly willing to put time and effort into the car. I appreciate cars new or old, and definetly think this thing is worth doing something with andwant to seeit run hard. As for the money into it,I could probabllybuy awhole newStingray and still not have as much as this damn Audihas eaten from me, LOL. So I'm aware what cars do to your wallet.. or credit cards.

I'm considering taking it to a mechanic for a professional diagnosis and then taking it from there. I'll see if I can find time to take some pics tommorow.

 

The engine number's easy to find. Look on the right side of the engine facing forward. There is a flat piece of the block that extends farther than the head on that side. Look down at it and see if you can find the numbers across that exposed strip of flat metal. That should tell you whether you have an everyday Corvette engine or if you have a very rare and very valuable Corvette engine. Plus the matching and very neccessary parts for that very valuable Corvette engine. We never know what we have until we check our numbers. If she's pretty darn close to being original then that leads to a whole set of bugaboos. Good bugaboos, but bugaboos. Check your trim plates also. Those will be inside the drivers' door frame. They'll tell you what paint was used, trim colors and style of car. And when she was built. If this baby is close to being original then you have some hard decisions to make. My opinion on that is, stay original. It may not be the easiest way or the cheapest way to restore one but it's the only way. Check resale prices for numbers matching parts cars as opposed to trusting someone with aftermarket parts and no matching parts. If you can keep her stock and original as opposed to being rebuilt with aftermarket parts any money you spend is well worth it.

 

A break down of the VIN will tell you what engine the car came with.
First try a good tune up, new plugs, wires, rotor, cap, and don't forget to change the condenser too. Set the timing and adjust the carb. Since it has been stting for so long, put a kit in the carb,and watch for any gaskets that may be seeping oil.
Side-pipes are way cool, and the car prob did come with them.
If you go to www.ecklers.com , you can get the repair manual, wiring diagram, and factory assembly manuals for that specific year of Vette.
Wecome to the Vette world, and enjoy your classic Vette.

 

When you get the engine numbers, part of that number will correspond to a VIN derivative. That is the only way to know if the engine is original to the car. The engine suffix will tell you what horsepower rating it is. There were only two small blcok options in 69. The base 300 horse 350 and the L46 350 horse. There were 4 427's availble. The VIN for a 69 will not tell you which engine you have.

 

Oh ya....one other thing,........ the repair manual will give the breakdown on your VIN.

 

The VIN break down, in my manual, tells the modle of my Vette and gives the engine size, example, L-82, L-48, or LG4,but that's for an '80. It doesn't tell the engine ID numbers, just the size.

example VIN
1Z87 "6" AS400001
The 6 denotes an L-82 w/350 4b.
An 8 would denote the L-48 w/350 4b.
An H would denote an LG4,w/305 cid. 4b.
By running the engine numbers, you can find the HP.

Going with what 1969 L46 says, your VIN should tell you if you have the L-46, which tells you its a 350, and 1969 L46 has already let you know that the L-46 is a 350 horse, 350 cid.

 

If your Mom's 69 has been sitting neglected for 10 years the first thing you need to do is get rid of the gas in the tank and the system. After that period of time it is no more than varnish. Drain the gas, replace with high test, change the oil, filters(gas and oil), and set the timing.

There are some precautions that should have been taken before starting but it sounds like it is too late for that. The brakes need to be checked for leaks and if not leaking the fluid should be changed and the calipers bled. If they are leaking they need to be rebuilt. The worst thing you can do to a car is let it sit for 10 years. Fluids contaminate, seals dry out, everything rusts,

That 69 is much more wrencher friendly than your A4. This car is old school technology and can be a blast to work on and more of a blast to drive. Welcome to the club and check out this website and many others to join the Corvette fraternity.

Most importantly drive it.

 

You never said but is it factory side exhaust or the Hooker nest-of-snakes side exhaust?