Frames

[Tweek]

I have an 80, and a 79, in the catalogs (Corvette America, Eckler's, ect.) the show frames from 68 - 82 with the tranny crossmember that has 2 holes for the exhaust to travel thru. The 79 I just got has the 2 holes I'm talking about, with a automatic transmission, and my 80 has a crossmember with an indent just on one side for the exhaust to pass under, and an auto tranny. Now I was always told that the crossmember with the 2 holes was for the manual tranny, are these intercangeable? Someone enlighten me please.

 

[Dave L.]

Tweek - The last year for that cross member with the holes in it for the exhaust to pass through was 1979. Both manual and auto's had this type of crossmember. As far interchange,I don't know for sure. 80-82 cross members are the type you mentioned with the exhaust pipes underneath. sounds like that car you brought home needs some work.

Dave

 

[Tweek]

Yea Dave I think it's going to be a project, mechanically it's very promising the more I look and play with it, the driveline is great, someone has done most of it at one time or another. Motor is very strong, just not a daily driver, to much cam. The body has 3 coats of paint on it and the last one is purple, that will be work. The interior is pretty much shot, along with all the rubber. The spring show is coming, I'll get me some trinkets to play with up there. Maybe the wife will have a change of heart when I tally up a price tag on making it drivable. I would love to have someone look at the motor, and verify that it has way to much cam in it, or what is going on with it. Do ya know anything about cams, and timing?

 

[Dave L.]

tweek - I wouldn't be able to tell you any more than you already know by just looking and listening. If need be,detune with a little less radical cam if thats the case. Biggest pain in a camchange is pulling the radiator and AC condenser out.

take care.............Dave

 

[Tweek]

When I first got it fired up it was popping and running really rough, I played with the timming, and it doesn't seem to make a big difference, so I was thinking that maybe it was installed wrong. I would love to check the lift, and if it is on its timing marks, but I guess there is no easy way but to tear it down some. If I do that, then I'm in there, and you know what happens then.

 

[pax]

Tweek,
What do you mean by "popping" ?
I had a 79 350 motor years ago that was popping....at about 30-40 mph it actually sounded like it was making pop corn. It turned out to be the lobes (spelling) at the rear of the cam were worn almost round. I found this by removing the valve covers ( one at a time ), putting a piece of carboard on the outboard side where the cover was so the oil wouldn't spray too much in the engine compartment, started the engine and watched the rocker arms. If this is the problem, you should see the difference between in the movement of the rocker arms. For the price of 2 valve cover gaskets this may tell you.
Other than this, possibly a timing gear and chain.
How are you playing with the timing....light....ear?
good luck, john