69-442 restoration

[fatboy578]

This coming Saturday my car goes in the shop for a little TLC. I am having a new clutch put in, tranny rebuild,and motor rebuild. I cannot wait to get it back as all I can get out of it now is a chirp out of 1st gear. I want to keep it original,as it is a numbers matching car. I have done work to it myself but my knowledge is limited. I am learning. Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts as to what to have done to the motor. The place where I am going says to let them know what I want out of it,meaning power. I am sure the possibilities are many. The place that is dfoing this is called Tubbys Custom in largo Florida. They did my friends GTO,and it came out very nice. Thanks Larry

[68Tom]

Hey Larry. I myself am having the same thing done next month. While I don't have an answer for you, I JUST posed a similar question in the "big block" section of the forums, in case you want to keep an eye on it for ideas. I'll keep an eye on this post as well.

[fatboy578]

Hey Tom. I just read your post. I could not have said it better myself. I will keep an eye on it. I hope we both get some good advice.

[Olds64]

If you are going to keep the car "original" I suggest investing in having the carburetor rebuilt and tuned appropriately. It is surprising how much the tuning of the carburetor can effect the way an engine runs. You might even consider larger jets, or different metering rods if that is what your mechanic calls for (nobody would ever be able to tell they weren't original).

[fatboy578]

I would do that,but there are some disturbing sounds coming from the motor. bad knocking sounds. it is hard to tell if it is the valves or a rod. I am afraid to drive it now, fearing a rod will go thru the block, Then I will really be out of luck. That is why i made the decision to have someone rebuild it for me, as close to original as possible. Of couse i would love more power than it originally came with,but I do not want to do anything really radical to it.