The Rebuild; Rebuilding a 1966 Corvette

The 1966 Corvette has been an icon for the automotive world, and a classic that many collectors have put time in restoring. It is a car for lovers of the American car.

Now, it is time to get the hands dirty, and start rebuilding this American Classic. There are many ways to go about this project, but it is best to find a base that you can work with. First you will need to find a frame, and body to work with.

Rebuilding the Drive-train of a 1966 Corvette

This is the part of the build that separates the men from the boys or women from the girls if you like. You will need to decide the gear ratio, engine, and shifter. It is important to decide a combination that is going to work together smoothly.

There is more than one choice in engines when it comes to the 1966 Corvette, but you will want to have the transmission installed before you can get started. There are 2 choices that you can make, you can have a stock transmission that has been rebuilt to install in your 66′ Corvette, or you can rebuild it yourself.  Either way, our Mechanics in Tempe Arizona can help.

If you choose to rebuild the transmission yourself, you will have to decide on things like gear ratio. This can be a great way to have a car that will kill the competition on the drag strip, but if you want to have an original 66′ Corvette, you may find that it will save you a lot of headaches to find a rebuilt Chevrolet transmission. Some of them may even come with a warranty, which can help you to insure you investment.

The engine is also important, but it is something that has a little more leeway than the transmission. On the 66′ Corvettes, there were 2 engines that were installed in them; the 327 and the 427. Each of these had their benefits, and a lot of power.

If you choose to install the 327 cu in engine, you will have an astounding 350 hp with the small block. The 427 can give you as much as 435 hp, but it all depends on how the block is rebuilt. Those are stock numbers, so it is evident that you can add to the performance of these engines.

There is also the choice of installing an engine that comes from another model year, but this will take away from the original rebuild. The 65′ Corvette also offered a 396 cu in engine, which would put out 425 h9, which was the same as the 427. It is a great choice if you are looking to rebuild your Corvette to have power and speed, but not be completely original.

The Benefits of Restoring Corvettes from the 1960’s

It is not only about rebuilding a car that was part of history. These cars are rare collector items and extremely valuable when restored to their original factory conditions.

The 66′ Corvette only had a production of 27,700 cars. This is something that makes them even more valuable. It is a rewarding experience to see a car go from a little more than a pile of rust, to a piece of history and an investment that can be worth $400,000 or more. If you decide to restore this car, when you’re finished, you will never want to sell it, no matter how much you are offered.

Published By: Chris McCurdy

Scottsdale Muffler & Automotive

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