1973 Chevrolet Corvette

LS4 454 Coupe

8 - Cyl.

Manual

1Z37Z3S429659

Gasoline

NO RESERVE I have owned this car for nearly a decade. I bought it in 2001 from a guy in Chicago who had kept it in his garage for years and did not do much to it except right at the end of his ownership when he spent $4,000 at a Chicagoland Corvette specialty shop to get it running in decent order. Per the receipt I have in my files, that work included a new gas tank, straps, sending unit, fuel pump with new line to carb, stainless steel brakes - all 4 wheels, new master cylinder with rebuilt booster, starter, fusible link, repack front bearings and other work to sort out what was then apparently a long-dormant car. After driving it back from Chicago to my home (then) in St Louis - where it was made! - I spent nearly six years doing more to really make the car a daily driver with a few tasteful performance upgrades as seen below. The last four years have been the pay-off as I drove it to car shows and an occasional short trip just to get the seals lubricated and try out the (now) superb air conditioning. I have many other receipts for the work I have had done to this car - and many more photos I can send out if you like. As you can see from the maintenance history below, the car has new seat foam and covers in the dark saddle interior. My goal was to try and leave as much of the original interior parts as I could. As such the original dash pad is still there and it has crack in it from the sun. The interior photo shows a car show card resting below gear shift plate low on the console, but be assured that is not something glued or otherwise attached to the console at all...! I believe the miles to be accurate per my seller's representation to me in 2001 and also by his representation that the motor and transmission are the original ones that the car rolled off the line with. I knew that I was getting near the end of my parts chasing days for this car when I even replaced the worn out inner belt idler pulley on the front of the engine - a hard-to-find part. Most recent work includes a new battery on June 28th, 2011 and then both headlight actuators in August. That was an example of owning a car long enough to have to replace parts you already replaced once! All of this attention should mean piece of mind for you in getting a car you can drive out and enjoy. I am selling because I just do not drive it enough and I think it ought to get more use than I give it. The left door has a small ding at the rear center and the nose has a slight "smudge" in the soft upper portion. Otherwise, the paint is very shiny and the body reflects the care shown by serious painters who blocked and sanded this car very well before laying down the paint. Turns heads everywhere! Then just wait until folks hear it idle or run up through the gears - big-block power with a reasonable modern-spec cam that maximizes low to mid RPM torque... I do not HAVE to sell but would be glad to at the right price to the right buyer. Thanks for looking and good luck! Info below from local sales flyer I printed up for hand out at car shows, cruise-ins, etc. The Car’s History as I know it: Prior owners - Gary W Mode by a USAA insurance card eff. 09/01/90 – 09/01/91. Not sure who before or after Gary, until… Chuck Zenkus, who sold to me, said he owned car for 6 years (would indicate he bought it in 1996). He had over $4,000 in work done to get it running. Receipt in files, work as noted below. Car sat mostly in garage. Date Mileage Work Done 11/10/1998 ~43,000 New fuel tank, straps, sending unit, carb*, fuel pump and line to carb; drain and refill fluids, new pts* & condenser*, battery*, starter, fusible link, new s/s brakes all 4*, new master cyl and rebuilt booster, repack front bearings. *= replaced later by me, see below for details. (Begin work done under my ownership - Oil/Filter service done 2x year based on time, not miles…) 07/10/2002 43,984 Purchased this date from Chuck Zenkus, Chicago, IL 07/11/2002 44,132 dealer service – r/r ignition switch, plugs, OEM distributor 07/28/2002 44,200 Living in St Louis - r/r windshield washer pump. 09/10/2002 44,210 original M-21 trans rebuilt (gears were fine, needed new synchros and soft parts), clutch, pilot and throw out bearings, misc rubber, fork, ball stud. 09/11/2002 44,250 r/r belts, correct fan/HD clutch, horns, headlight system - actuators, actuator relays, vacuum hoses, etc., harm bal, chrome valve covers, p/s cylinder/valve, carpet, door panels, new seat foam/covers. 10/17/2002 44,350 r/r front suspension: A-arms, coil springs, rear rubber. 01/01/2003 44,400 r/r new front bumper cover – deploy to Iraq days later. 07/21/2003 44,424 Home from Iraq - r/r a/c system: compressor, VIR, hoses, fan shroud. 07/31/2003 44,020 r/r water pump, wipers (NAPA 60-016-2). 10/17/2003 45,000 Steering column repaired, new ign switch/key. 10/29/2003 45,030 new exhaust, restore radio w/ conversion board – Westech, new/matched keys at locksmith. 04/08/2004 45,050 restored seat belts – Ssnake-Oyl. 09/15/2005 48,185 Carlisle, PA at USAWC - new BFG Radial T/A tires P235/60R15 (Wal Mart). 09/16/2005 48,500 r/r rear t-arms/rotor/matched bearings, offset upper front A-arms (needed to align) - Van Steel; *rear brake calipers. (SS from AZ l/t wx) and s/s lines, pwr ant conversion. 10/05/2005 48,950 Car painted: Carlisle Classics; alignment. 04/24/2006 49,000 r/r motor and trans mounts, alum intake from 1968 427/390 L36, *Pertronix II elec ign kit, wires, spark plugs. 05/19/2006 49,050 Install 1 7/8” Hooker Super Comp headers. 06/26/2006 49,080 r/r trans lock cable. 04/27/2007 50,000 Living in Louisville, KY - r/r PS control valve LLT Auto-Zone (AZ) warranty 10/25/2008 51,050 r/r steering flexible coupler (“rag joint”). 11/01/2008 51,180 r/r all fan belts, choke 2 pts richer, center steering wheel. 02/07/2009 51,220 oil/filter change, 6 Qts 10W-40 (done 2x/yr nws mileage) 09/08/2009 51,400 oil/filter change, 6 Qts 10W-40 (done 2x/yr nws mileage) 03/27/2010 51,933 Valve job on stock ‘049 heads (East View Auto Parts). Install Comp Cams XE262H K-kit: camshaft, lifters, springs, roller rockers, etc. Direct-Fit aluminum radiator, core support, r/r plug wires, new inner belt idler pulley, Oil/filter service: 6 Qts 30W with high Zinc for cam break-in and then 6 Qts 20W-50 Castrol Syntec for high ZDDC. 05/23/2010 52,148 r/r complete a/c system - Vintage Air Sure Fit Gen-IV w/ trinary switch and condenser pusher fan. 06/15/2010 52,340 Obtain and install correct Rochester 4MV carb with correct intake box for heated choke. Oil/Filter service. 12/16/2010 52,520 oil/filter change, 6 Qts 10W-40 (done 2x/yr nws mileage) 06/20/2011 52,683 oil/filter change, 6 Qts 10W-40 (done 2x/yr nws mileage) 06/28/2011 52,695 r/r battery, Auto-Zone heavy duty 08/10/2011 52,810 r/r both headlight actuators sourced from Keen Parts - a local Corvette parts dealer. Details for my car and with reference to data for all 1973 Corvettes 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Big Block 454 Coupe 4-Spd Manual, factory A/C VIN: W1Z37Z3S429659. Four thousand serial numbers for the 1973 model year were never built. The last Corvette built in 1973 ends with 34,464 but production only totaled 30,464 the missing numbers are VIN 24,001 through 28,000. This car is #29,659. Model Code: Z37, Model Desc: Coupe, Motor Type: LS4, Color Code: 980 (Orange) now in 927 Dark Blue, Trim Code: 418 (Dark Saddle Vinyl), Production Date 1973/06 (Code “K”), 3,407 lbs, base cost new $5,921, 25,521 Coupes sold. Options: RPO A31 Electric power windows ($83), RPO A85 Custom shoulder belts ($41), RPO C60 Air conditioning ($452), RPO G81 Positraction rear axle (has a 3.36:1), all ratios ($12), RPO J50 Power brakes ($46), RPO LS4 454-cid 275-hp V-8 ($250), RPO M21 Four-speed close-ratio manual transmission (n/c), RPO N37 Tilt-telescopic steering wheel ($82), RPO N40 Power steering ($113), RPO U58 AM-FM stereo radio ($276), RPO UF1 Map light ($5). Note: 70.8% of 1973 Corvettes had air conditioning, 41.2% had four-speed manual transmissions, 91.5% had power steering, 79.3% had power brakes, 46% had power windows. Stock specifications: Performance from the factory: Cars Magazine and Car Craft tested the 1973 Corvette with the LS4 engine. Car Craft got it to do 14.76 for the ¼-mile with a trap speed of 93 mph. Cars got it to 14.61 for the ¼-mile with a trap speed of 98.2 mph, and a 0-60 time of 6.4 seconds. Engine Code: CWM, 454/275, LS4 with four speed, stock compression ratio is 8.25:1 with stock steel shim head gasket of 0.022” thickness. After top-end work last year, new Mr. Gasket steel gasket is thinner at 0.020”, yielding perhaps 8.5:1 CR. Block: 3999289, 2-bolt main bearing caps Heads: 353049, open chamber 119cc cast iron, large oval ports, 2.06” intake/1.72” exhaust valves – reworked by Terry at Eastview Auto Parts 456-6635 (machinist) with valve job and new CompCams springs from K-Kit for XE262H cam. These are recognized as very good stock iron BB heads. Comp Cams Magnum pushrods and Magnum Roller Rockers to be installed. Camshaft: Original in car was 353040 (used part retained), specs below are at 0.050" lift per Flatlander Racing – other sources say 228 in/ex duration)) Lobe Center 114.5 Valve Overlap -17.5 Intake Lift@Valve 0.440" Intake Duration 210° Exhaust Lift@Valve 0.440" Exhaust Duration 213° IVO (BTDC) -13.0 IVC (ABDC) 43.0 (111° at the seat) EVO (BBDC) 37.0 EVC (ATDC) -4.5 ICA (ATDC) 118.0 ECA (BTDC) 111.0 BMEP ~160 for ping prediction On 3/28/2010 – Machinist performed valve job on stock heads and I installed Comp Cams XE262H. Total of 2 intake and 1 exhaust valves needed to be replaced. Heads went back on over a thinner metal head gasket (quality stuff from Mr. Gasket and machine shop had to special order them) than stock to raise the compression just a tad, likely now 8.5:1 instead of stock 8.25:1 (which was actually far lower most likely). I retained the stock cam and saved it in new cam's box. Old cam had worn lobes and a few lifters and rockers showed wear (all thrown out). Rockers were all replaced with Comp Cams Magnum Roller Rockers. All springs were replaced with Comp Cams springs from their cam K-kit. We found no ridges or gouges in cylinders so the bottom end was left alone – makes sense with barely 50,000 miles on the engine since built in 1973. Comp Cams XE262H camshaft Specs - K-Kit installed. (Cam Specs at 0.050" lift) Lobe Center 110 Valve Overlap 1.0 Intake Lift@Valve 0.504" Intake Duration 218° Exhaust Lift@Valve 0.510" Exhaust Duration 224° IVO (BTDC) 3.0 IVC (ABDC) 35.0 ( ° at the seat) EVO (BBDC) 46.0 EVC (ATDC) -2.0 ICA (ATDC) 106 ECA (BTDC) 114 Using my computer and some software to do a little bit of bench racing I got: Projected Performance Level from Desktop Dyno 2000 using Baseline plus Comp Cams XE262H cam: stock heads, stock 8.25:1 CR and exhaust manifolds: 434 ft-lbs torque @ 3000 rpm, 296 hp @ 4000 rpm = +9 ft-lbs, +16 hp over baseline. With XE262H cam and small-tube headers: 462 ft-lbs torque @ 2500 rpm, 327 hp @ 4500 rpm = +37 ft-lbs, +47 hp over baseline, or +2 ft-lbs, +23 hp over baseline and headers.Comp Cams free software, CamQuest6, gives 482 ft-bs @ 2000 rpm, 317 @ 4000 rpm for this XE262H cam and headers. Intake Manifold: 1968 Chevy aluminum low-rise L-36 intake 3937793. Retained the (heavy!) stock 353015, cast iron, low rise, Q-Jet spreadbore with EGR to go with the car. Exhaust Manifolds: 1 7/8” Hooker Super Comp Ceramic Coated with balance pipe and 02 sensor bungs. Removed and retained stock cast iron, 3969869 left, 3880828 right. Carburetor: Running correct stock carb, a Rochester 4MV, #7043201. Stock specs are 77 jets, 48 primary rods (with 0.026" rod tips) and DA sec rods. Came to me with 69/44 (was way off!). For this combo, Lars’s paper, table 2, shows 4.1257 WOT and 2.8471 thousandths of an inch area at cruise. Goal is ~14: A/F in all conditions except ~12.5:1 at WOT. The float level is set at 0.375" (12/32" on the paper t-scale provided in the rebuild kits) per Lars. We are all limited by current parts selection in tuning old Rochester carbs, but the carb now has 76 jets and 44 rods and this combo works! Distributor: 1112051 Pertronix II (stock points and condenser removed) and 8mm Accel wires. Cars Magazine reported that factory tuning was 10 deg BTDC @ 900 with distributor vacuum port plugged. Vacuum advance was 20 deg and the centrifugal advance was 18 deg, all in by 4200 rpm. Currently set per Lars at 36 deg (initial + mechanical adv) all in by 2500 RPM, yields ~16 deg BTDC at idle. Manifold vacuum advance (20 degrees) used in addition. Ignition Coil: MSD Blaster, fits as stock in stock bracket on intake manifold Air Conditioning Compressor: came with a long and heavy A-6 Axial. Now using a much lighter Sanden that came with a Vintage Air SureFit Gen IV system for factory a/c cars, stock # 964173 PCU. VA’s long pump big-block (with new, lower, rear) brackets work using rear (of 2) belt track on pulley. Stock factory air parts retained in boxes or new owner - except for condenser and evaporator which were shot. This car has correct braided spark plug wires and distributor shield (which all can be seen in the engine photo). If you have a sharp eye, the interior view shows a Fuel-Air gauge mounted on steering column by use of a big radiator band clamp. That gauge (and old-school clamp) was only temporarily fitted for tuning and then it and the clamp (fastened over rubber so as to not mar the column) was removed after getting carb jetted and adjusted properly. I had the original (which was in the car but inop when I got it) radio rebuilt by Westech. They swapped in a solid-state conversion board. This radio now includes a small Aux-In mode switch discreetly placed to protrude out from the side of the console with nothing cut and a few feet of wire that terminates in an Aux-In RCA male cable lead. This switch and lead allows for plugging into the (3.5mm?) female mini-RCA receptacle on your CD player or iPod so you can listen to your tunes. While at it, a retractable factory antenna was installed (really cool feature - antenna lowers when the Aux-In mode is selected by using the switch) is to clean up the lines a bit. By way of comparison - there is a nice yellow ’73 big-block car up on auction right now – a Bloomington Gold Survivor from the ‘90’s I think he writes – and he is asking a fair price which is a lot more than what I seek. There is also a car up right now where the guy writes that he “wants his garage back!” I appreciate that sentiment. My car is likely nestled between these two and the price reflects that. Auto Trader Classics is showing these one-year-only Vettes (chrome rear bumpers and rubber nose) from $53,000 on down in price. The small block (350, base and L-82 (first year that was offered - right after the LT-1 went away)) cars are more often found for sale - not so much with the real big-block 454 cars like this one. Jump on this good deal for a real deal big-block stick shift car that really deserves to be driven more than I drive it. For sale locally as well but I will honor any valid bids from the auction and encourage local folks to bid in.