putting a big block in a C1 Corvette

[L88 crazy]

I want to put a 427 big block into my 57 to 60 Hot Rod Corvette project that I am planning to do when I find a non-numbers matching car shell. What do I do to make this work? It is possible to do this because I have seen a guy on Ebay currently selling a 59 Corvette with a 396 big block installed.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I know for sure it will fit. I am using a tubeular chassis under mine.

The one on ebay looks like a real interesting car, These cars used a plate that mounted to the front of the small block to mount the motor.So someone had to weld some brackets onto the frame to use the conventanal motor mounts.

I am sure this must be a beast to try and steer at low speeds with all of that motor sitting on the front end and no power steering.

The car on ebay looks like a great canditate for a tupe chassis conversion

Good luck

 

[IH2LOSE]

how crazy is this there are actually 2 59 vettes on ebay with big blocks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-Roadster-1959-Corvette_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6168QQitemZ4576823563QQrdZ1 Black one



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevrolet-Corvette-corvette-59-corvette_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6168QQitemZ4578560854QQrdZ1 White one


I would chose the white one to start with

 

[cbernhardt]

I am currently building a '59 with a big block. Here is a link to some pictures: http://www.carols62.com/59
I think you will find that it is just about impossible to fit a big block, headers, stock suspension and steering in a stock C1 frame. I would suggest that you go with one of the aftermarket frames that use C4 suspension front and rear. I built one car by modifying a stock frame to accept C4 suspension and I can tell you that you will get a stronger and much more rigid frame by choosing one of the aftermarket frames. Plus it is much easier to fit the drivetrain into a frame that does not have the stock X member.
Charles

 

[Tom Bryant]

Charles. What a fantastic project. That '59 is going to be a monster.
Those 2 EBAY cars are a little crude but have possibilities. The white one looks to have been setting for a long time and the black one has a lot of repair work needed.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Well the black one did not sell. bidding stopped around 30,000.00

I was going to bid on the white one but it is right around what my maximum bid would be and it has not reached its reserve yet.

How cool would it be to restore it as it sits now