Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

george · 11-02-2002, 05:55 PM

I've had a few and raced all of them. All were big blocks. The newer Z06 corvette STOCK vs a Big Block 65-67 all STOCK corvette is a given. The Z06 will win. Traction, traction & traction.

Why, The older corvettes had so many u-joints on the half shafts that when you got serious as I did with the stock suspension and wrinkle walls you would break a u-joint everytime out of the hole.

The older high HP Big Block had so much torque they had to have some tire spin or it was u-joint city. Plus the skinny tires, they would fry & cut down the cars times by unamaginable amounts.

Wonder what they would do today with the tire technology we have, or the Z06 type rubber. I'd have to go with a healthy mid-year then, hands downs. These cars with HiPo BB as I ementioned were mean machines.

Most of the members stock Z06's run 12's or very close to it. The fastest I ever ran in a stock Big block midyear was mid 13's.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a member of the NCRS and love restoring midyears but our newer cars have come a long ways.

As for brut power, you just have to drive a Big Block L78-396, L72-427 or L71-trip power 427 and you really appreciate the power and torque these bad boys had had. Not to mention the
L-88's.

Imagine if GM had the type of fuel injection we have today on those Big Blocks back then. Plus the computer technology.Wow.

Any way you put it corvettes are here to stay and have been part of the American way of life. Don't we all just wish we had more.

Just my 2 cents.

provette67 · 11-03-2002, 01:00 PM

Well said I agree totally with you

03Z06EB405 · 04-24-2003, 04:06 PM

I am lucky to own both cars. A 1969 corvette 427-390 horse big block car and also a 2003 Z06. True the big block cars are fast and have quite a unique ride and sound all their own but for seat of the pants excitement and push you back in your seat acceleration nothing beats a ZZZZZZZ..

My 2 cents

JoeS · 04-25-2003, 07:18 PM

And you get no change back on your $.02 - well said!

Gordy M · 04-28-2003, 01:15 PM

I know a few who tried to make the mid years go fast in stock form but even with BFGoodrich drag slicks on 8.5 x 15 rims, the best they could do was 12.78 and 12.81. This was with worn out fron springs and shocks, Sway bar disconnected, etc. The problem from going faster was the exhaust. I have had my 64 FI down to 13.3's with the proper setup and another friend had his 70 LT1 down to 12.79. These were in NCCC trim and were torn down to make sure the engine, rear, etc were stock.

Now put a set of headers on those big blocks and then watch em go.

If you did a lot of drag racing back then, you always went with u-joints and an extra haft shaft. In fact I still have two rebuilt ones in the basement today.