1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427 L88 Tribute

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

In the second year of the third generation, the 1969 Corvette Stingray was both aerodynamic and beautiful in T-Top Coupe or Convertible versions. The exterior design was characterized by voluptuous fender flares and vacuum-operated pop-up headlights, while the redesigned interior featured an aircraft-inspired instrument cluster.

Utilizing a capable independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a slate of powerful 350- and 427-cubic-inch V8 engines, the ’69 Corvette was a serious contender on the street and the track. But one optional 427 was an absolute world beater: the L88.

Improving on the 435-horse 427 was a tall order, but GM legend Zora Arkus-Duntov specced out the iron-block L88 like a race engine: 12 to 1 compression, a rowdy, 354º/360º-duration solid cam, high-flow, lightweight aluminum heads with massive 2.19/1.88-inch valves, and a firehose of an 850-cfm Holley carb. It was laughably rated at 430 horses to dissuade casual buyers, with actual horsepower over 500 with the stock exhaust uncorked. And from 1967–69, only 216 L88-equipped cars were built.

The owner of this 1969 Corvette discovered that his 427 had the high-performance 3935439 GM block. So he decided to rebuild it as an aluminum-head L88 tribute — modernized with lower compression and a hydraulic cam so it can be enjoyed on the street.

Highlights 

• 1969 Corvette Convertible with a radical yet street-friendly 427 engine 

• Custom-built 427 cu-in V8 engine dyno tested at 563 hp and 593 lb-ft of torque 

• Tremec five-speed manual transmission with heavy-duty McLeod Street Extreme clutch 

• Finished in primer (originally silver) with a black interior 

• Air conditioning

• Cleaned and painted undercarriage 

Features 

• 15-inch American Racing wheels wearing 225/70R15 Silvertown Radial tires 

• Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes 

• Precision-balanced driveshaft 

• Headers and dual exhaust 

• MSD ignition 

• New seat covers and carpet 

• Racing harnesses 

• 160-mph speedometer, 7,000-rpm tachometer, oil pressure, coolant temp, voltage, and fuel level gauges 

• 427 engine components include: 

  • GM 3935439 1969 427/425 block with “LD” stamping (not an “IT” L88 block) 

• Rotating Assembly 

  • Crankshaft: Scat 4-454-4250-6385 premium forged steel, 4.0-inch stroke 

  • Rods: Scat 2-454-6385-2200 Pro Sport 4340 forged steel H-beam rods, 6.385-inch 

  • Pistons: SRP 212143 small dome forged steel pistons, 4.310 bore, 118cc volume, 10.3:1 compression ratio 

  • Internally balanced rotating assembly 

• Camshaft and Lifters 

  • Lunati Street/Strip Retro-Fit hydraulic roller cam with 290º/300º duration 

  • Lunati Retro-Fit hydraulic rollers for Mark IV Big Block 

  • Lunati Voodoo aluminum 1.7-ratio roller rockers and 7/16-inch studs 

• Cylinder Heads 

  • GM Performance 12363410 Bowtie L88-style rectangular port aluminum cylinder heads 

  • 2.25-inch intake/1.88-inch exhaust valves 

  • 12462970 dual valve springs  

• Intake Manifold

  • GM Performance 19131359 aluminum high rise, rectangular port for high performance heads 

• Carburetor

  • Holley 850 CFM street/strip double-pumper four barrel 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint, as I chose to keep the car in primer to just enjoy it 

• Some areas need bodywork on the fiberglass 

• Paint on door panel metal strips is scratched 

• Hard top needs a small hole filled, a new interior, and external finishing 

Included 

• Keys 

• Hard top 

• New cloth top with powder coated frame and hardware 

• Engine build paperwork  

• Used seat slip-overs to protect new seat covers 

• Derale engine oil cooler 

• Door weatherstripping set 

Ownership History The consignor states, “This is an early 1969 Corvette built in the fall of 1968. I purchased the car in 2009. The 427 engine was supposedly rebuilt. But after getting it on the road a bearing seized in cylinder 8. When I tore down the engine, I found that it had the #3935439 high performance block and decided to rebuild the engine as an L88 tribute. It dynoed at 563 horsepower with 593 foot-pounds of torque. There are less than 250 miles on the new drivetrain.”    “There is some work to do, but I ran it as a rat rod, not a finished show car.”