OK guys and gals, now that we have all had our say on the membership issue, I've noticed "the regulars" are back to the cars.
I have a question about my L-71. The engine has been built back to factory spec, I am concerned about cooling a very expensive engine. I've sent my tired old original radiator out to be recored (it's been patched a couple of times and the core fins are pretty rough)
A stiffer fan clutch and 7 blade fan have been suggested by my engine guy. Does anyone have any other suggestions on improvements to an engine notorious for heating issues?

BTW, it's punched .030

I also have an L71 as well that's .030 over.

I don't know what to say about the fan clutch. I believe they're pretty well matched up to the engine as it is, as is the oe radiator...very efficient. That being said, it's also 35+ years old technology that may well be improved upon today.

What I did with a hot running Dodge Charger I also own, was have the radiator re-cored with the same dimensionally sized core, but with increased fins per inch, increasing thermal efficiency. Instead of 12 fins per inch, it now has 18 fins per inch. See if your radiator shop can do that...it will help. Also make sure the seals around the radiator are intact...that's very important.

Watch out for high output water pumps...if you pick the wrong one matched for your style of driving, it can cause cavitation and hurt cooling efficiency. The stock water pump is usually just fine.

Thanks Bruce! My shop recommended the same thing and is sending the radiator out for the re-core with the closer spacing. I actually have the original water pump in good working order. Carbs were sent for replating and "truing up" the bodies were warped just a bit. I'm hopefully setting the body on it this weekend! Paint turned out awesome, my son and I painted it in the shop.
I looked at your car, NICE RIDE!!! How long have you had it? Did you do the resto yourself?
Mine is an early car, Jan build date, what's yours?

Thanks for the compliments Dave, though I can't take credit for the car...I bought it last year already restored. The last owner was owner of his own Chevy-Olds-Pontiac dealership in Indiana and this was one his personal stable of cars. He owned several Vettes of different years and models and decided to part with this one when he bought a '69 Z-28.

The car was assembled on February 20, 1969...I have much of the original paperwork for the car...original window sticker, what's left of the tank sticker, copies of the original bill of sale and title and subsequent one. The car also came with all the shop receipts for the rebuilds of the motor, transmission, carburetors, etc.

The only missing from the car when it was originally built and sold is the removeable hardtop...it was separated from the car at some point over the years. I'm hoping I can come up with one in the future.

When I bought the car, the seller had his son and an employee deliver the car to me in an enclosed trailer. When they opened the trailer in my driveway the car was wrapped in plastic! I admit I was very lucky to land this car.

My '78 is more pleasant to take on a drive...small block, power steering, automatic...but the L71 makes the ground shake when it's running. Can't help but feel like I'm King of the Road when driving it. I hope you get the same feeling with yours when it's done!

I agree with gunslinger here, my big block has no overheating problems, just make sure the carb is set up right for the outside temp, occasionally check your fluid and you should be fine. Good luck. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend for rebuild with the bore?? I'm looking at doing that this summer. Mine only has 53,000 original miles, but through many years of sitting some of the rings are a little sticky and she's just a little oil happy at times.

The guy I bought the car from had the motor rebuilt, but I have the receipts so I can share with you the costs. To rebuild the engine and bore it .030 over, it cost $2736 in labor and $2479 in parts, including new Wiseco pistons, new Crane L-88 spec cam, bearings, lifters and Isky springs, recondition the conecting rods, mill the heads, refinish the crank, valve job, etc. It cost $585 to rebuild the M-21 transmission It cost $480 to have the three carburetors rebuilt and refinished by Holley.

Not cheap...glad it was the last guy who had it done. The car runs great...the ground shakes under it when running and you hear the crackling through the exhaust.

And people wonder why I don't like rice rockets with their tinny sounds from their coffee can mufflers and tail pipes!

You don't like rice rocket? Only because you know what true muscle is. Almost makes you feel sorry for them. Almost.

Ken Styer

I really don't want to put down rice rockets...automotive technology has advanced to the point that it's amazing what can be routinely produced from these little four bangers...stuff like fuel injection, turbos, etc., was really exotic years ago and commonplace today, along with computerized ignition and performance chips with great handling. These little cars produce performance numbers that would have been unbelieveable not that many years ago. Of course these same automtove advances make the C5 and now C6 Corvettes even more superior automobiles than their predecessors were.

I guess what it comes down to is I grew up in an era where performance was measured not just by 0-60 times, but by how the ground shook under your car when you started it, lumpy idles, exhaust tones that could bring the law down on you. Now I'm retired, I seem to be regressing back to my teen years.

I can't stop growing older, but I refuse to grow up!

I'm right there with Gun man on cost, carbs almost 500, machine and parts 2700, we did the assembly. I was lucky to find a GM cam for the L-71 NOS and lifters too! Machine shop costs included a dynamic balance (spin balance)