I love to get cars to run after being parked for a long time. I also love cars that are super original and this one is both. Time to get this old beast to run since it was parked in 1991.
@@scottbarker9058Oddly, the expert listings on data argue or rather show two different horsepower ratings for a 454 of that year model. The Corvette Black Book list this engine ( 1973 ,as installed in the Corvette ) at 275 hp will most others list the LS4 at 270. Interestingly enough the Corvette Black Book list the next year model Big Block, 1974, as 270. This data must be tied to the understanding the method of rating horse power, at the time, was at the end of the transmission shaft with all of the accessories attached. Does this include exhaust system plumbing etc? This was the beginning of the age of government strangulation of the muscle cars due to EPA regulations. Was there much or any actual "Long Block" differences in year models of basic engines? Did the '74 have the peanut heads? Also the compression ratio seems to be in dispute. Some refer to 8.25 to 1 and others refer to 8.5 to 1 compression ratios. We can agree either of those ratios is a crying shame. Even if the engine exists in a weakened HP form, the torque due to its massive displacement is listed universally as 390 ft/lbs at a relatively low rpm of 2500 though 5k. The cars were low geared and what I can gather at 70 mph the rpm we're somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 rpm. Also the other kick in the groin was this was after the oil embargo and Nixon's "let's drive 55!" Can you imagine sitting behind this monstrosity of an engine in a car shaped by the wind and limited to a maximum velocity of less than a daisy BB gun? Ok not a fair comparison, the car is 80 FPS at 55 mph. A bb would not make it out of the barrel at that velocity. So it is heartbreaking slow. As someone who drove a '66 Chevy 2 Nova with a 283 bored 30 over with cam and other goodies attached, I got 7 speeding tickets in 2 months before I understood the Country Mounties were serious about the 55 mph craziness. But hey I have memories and now I own a silver numbers matching BIg Block turbo atomic version of the same car Ben is twisting bolts on and there is no such speed limit now. The only difference is I am now a 18 year old trapped in a 69 year old body. Oh and gas prices.
@@65stang98What is your plan to bump those numbers up if one wanted not to re-cam and limit the modifications to restore-to-original. Another words to keep the original parts to be able to restore the car to original if so desired. I think most people who end up with a numbers matching car, like myself, who are retired or with budgets which are limited without the means to Jay Leno a car to its showroom glory struggle with this very question. Do you invest $5-10k to help it breath a little easier and give it some modern creature comforts or keep it original and possibly not really enjoy the luck fortune has given you? Your, can't get greasy, kids will sell it too cheap when you are gone anyway. It is a time aged dichotomy. It is after all not a split window big block.
They were ok. I had a 74 454 /4 spd around 1979 and a 1968 427 4 spd rock crusher at the same time and same bright yellow paint ironically. Two different motors for sure and the difference that 6 yrs of new smog laws implemented certainly made a diff I can tell u. The 454 being a truck motor was torque but the 390 hp 427 would pull that ,454 Everytime. Both were hella fun regardless and wish I'd never let go......but if I hadn't I guess I wouldn't have gotten my 71 440 GTX or 69 390 AMX,LOL. I will say that out of all that batch and subsequent ones that my personal and under appreciated fav was the 1969 AMX 390 which for those who don't know,wasn't a javlin without a backseat but a 3500 lb well handling little rocket that felled 455 transams with ease, and ate Porsches for breakfast.Thats the one I'd wish for again.
One heck of a find there! And I have to say, You're one of the first people I've seen actually change the oil and filter before trying to start a car that's been down for years. Nice work, in fact you did pretty much everything I would have, gotten the valve covers off to replace the gaskets, a thorough oil priming, checking the ignition out. I would have added pulling the plugs just to get a look at them to see if there's any obvious old oil fouling. But man, a 454 with a manual, that car is going to be a blast to drive, and restoration won't be so hard because it's all original and unmolested. A perfect job to do.
If we all SHARE this video Ben’s subscriptions will jump overnight. I’m sharing now because I want to see this channel grow so we will all see more Corvette content!
My father bought a 73 Corvette in 74. Second owner. When he passed, I go it and kept it for several years. I then gave it to my son in Hawaii and he drives it a lot. All original parts and engine. It's painted the original yellow. 454 with an automatic tranny.
I revived a 74 L82 last year from dad's barn. I just replaced the nose on it before I put it away. Runs great only 44000 mls on it. Love the vids. Inspires me to keep going on it. God bless.
I enjoy your videos. I restored a 1976 stingray when I was 17 - 18 years old. Learned a lot about cars but I would NEVER restore one again. I absolutely HATE this era of Corvette. They were gutless on power, handled poorly, rode poorly and used a lot of gas! But I still watch!!!
My son had 78 it was dark brown orginal color was yellow painted it back yellow found his in a storage lot sat there 20 years got her completely restored.
To me it sounds like the noises are all valvetrain. Not all rockers are getting oil & several rockers were barely moving. Make sure no pushrods are bent & all valves move freely also. A 454 Vette with a 4 speeds is very cool!
There were two Corvette yellows in 1973, Code 952 is a non-metallic yellow. Code 953 metallic is probably the original color for this car. Recommended interior colors for Code 953 were black, or midnight blue. Paint code and trim code will be stamped on a stainless steel plate high on the driver-side front door jamb just below the windshield. Motor oil since the 1990s has been missing the ZDDP needed by these old flat tappet cam engines. I would use nothing in classic cars, including C1, C2, C3 Corvettes, but conventional motor oil formulated with the ZDDP they need. It will cost owners a little more, but worth it for the low miles they're driven.
I also have an LS4 454 corvette with 4 sp. Very rare. Most were autos. IF the motor rotates, use some pre mix fuel and dribble into the carb to get it running as the premix will lube the pistons and jugs real good. Maybe take a bore scope and look at the jugs.
You are a true and authentic car enthusiast. You're from Texas & I'm from Sebastopol CA. I love the way you present one of the best actually. Wish you had 1,000,000 subscribers you deserve it. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Cheers
My friend had a black on black 73 Corvette also. It used to be green though. He drove it out to Arizona in the mid eighties from Ohio when he moved there, and sold it out there around 1990. It looked almost exactly like yours. Pretty neat video which brought back some good memories.
I’m kind of hap-hazardly casually looking around for a late 60’s early 70’s chrome bumper corvette. Thank you very much for the videos you are putting out. It helps me to know what to look at & look for. Keep up the excellent work. It’s greatly appreciated.
Love the black on black. Soo dark and mysterious! 😅 I always thought a black C3 was a batmobile when I was just a little tot...😂😂 Expected the Batman to jump out and start beating bad guys! 💪✊😂😂
20 years ago I bought a 1970 454 auto Corvette top ,org motor and transmission 355 gears . Built the motor Balanced and blue printed by Auburn Machine . It has a custom front end . Pushing 525 hp . Fun to drive. I found out the car was a track car in the 70s . Wishing I hadn't sold it. Great project have fun 😊.
One big problem I had was belts, when you get her going, air and everything, they love to throw belts. They gotta be right. Good Luck, they are easy and fun to drive. Oh, they say Zora didn't like the big block cars. When he retired, he ordered a big block Vette for himself, with an automatic no less. Gotta love the torque, he did! Oh, an aluminum radiator will really help. Just replaced my 'BeCool' that lasted 14 years. They are great guys, too!
Another unheard of find. I like the fact that you are talking the time and the extra steps to ensure you don’t damage this rare original. I think that the 4-speed 454 has to have some pretty low production numbers. Congratulations….!
_A 4-speed 454 in yellow with air conditioning has to be even more rare. Of the 25,521 coupes manufactured by Chevrolet this year, as you add in four speed cars, LS4 engine cars, paired with A/C, then opting for yellow, I would bet the total production has to be a staggering 1 to 2 percent(maybe even less)._
My '73 numbers matching numbers big block also finally got running and restored this year after sitting for 17 years. Great job getting that LS4 turning Ben. Happy Holidays!
Wow, that is one great surviver. I have watched all your video's since I have inherited my Late Fathers 1982 Base Corvette. It has a 1995 LT1 and has no start issues. Gaining knowledge on the electronics and narrowing down the root cause and I think I found the culprit. Keep the Vid's coming and Merry Christmas and Happy New Years from Craig in Cost, Texas..
1973 Corvettes are near and dear to my heart, first sports car I bought as a 19 yr old kid, decades ago. Spent my entire savings on it and enjoyed the hell out of it for many years. Wish I had kept it, but I guess we all wish we kept some of our nice cars. Yellow Metallic is a great color (IMO), I would definitely repaint it back to that. Code 953.
Another cool find ! Why not find a kid in the neighborhood that can help do stuff like turn the key, hand you parts, hold the camera, etc.? You get help and he/she learns something.
Great find! Even by 73. a 454 with a 4speed was a rare thing because of the energy crisis and high insurance rates .IMO I would return the paint back to the original yellow gold color it looked really good 👍 on that car .
Looking forward to future videos Ben. Numbers matching 454 very rare car. I hope you can restore this 73 to as nice as your wife’s. I had a gold 73 same black leather interior deep pile carpets wood grained door panels. I am really looking forward to watching you restore this very rare Corvette.
Wow what a find. I would definitely keep that one, do a driver quality resto & keep it as original as possible. The original color is cool but I'd have to stay with the black myself. 🖤
Wow, this Vette looks really solid & complete. What a great find. And at around 15:50, I saw a blue 1956 (I think) Buick outside in the driveway. With your 55 Pontiac and 56 Cadillac and all of your Vettes, it seems like you just need a (preferable mid-50's) Oldsmobile, for a full house of the GM car brands of that time.
From what I can tell from the video, that motor has 858 heads on it which are 65-67 396-427 closed chamber rec port heads. Might wanna check the block and pad numbers, it may not be the original motor. But its still a big block 4 speed car, which is cool in its own right.
Found my all original 68 coupe 4 years ago. All original with air and power everything. Took a lot to get her going but she’s alive. Not a big block though, she’s a baby 3 speed 327.
Unlikely to be a rod knock imo, but it does sound like one or more of the hydraulic lifters could use adjustment. Hydraulic lifters require about three-quarters to one turn of preload, or they can do a real good imitation of rod-knock for those unfamiliar with the sound.
That's the proper way to resurect a sleeping engine. Nice job. One additional thing I would have done is pull the plugs and squirt a mix of light engine oil, Marvel mystery Oil in the cylinders. Looking forward to the progress. My 73 coupe was that ugly orange sprayed black before I got it, and looks just like yours
The Stingray is about the only corvette I'd even want to own... not that this decision would depend in the slightest on my choice but on the fact that the budget would not allow for it anyway.
Id love to find this year in this condition to work on. I have a 75 i found that is 100% original with minor surfuce rust, no damage of anykind. I am the second owner.
