Just found this forum. Not sure how active it is though. Anyways....I have owned a '59 Vette for nearly 30 years. It has been sitting for the last 25 years. I am wanting to rebuild it with a modern day engine/tranny combination. I wouldn't do this but the engine that is currently in it isn't the original. When I got the car it had the entire drivetrain replaced.

The engine-trans-rearend, from what I can ascertain, is out of a 1970 1/2 Z-28. Same engine as the 370HP LT-1 but I think it was only rated at 360HP in the Camaro. Trans is the close ration (M21? Rockcrusher) and the rear is a 4:10 12 bolt. Needless to say this Vette would get up and go. Unfortunately with todays pump gas it is not the best thing to run on the street. Plus, it was more of a quarter-mile type ride. I really enjoyed it in my younger days but I am getting older and would like to still enjoy this car but as a daily driver.

I am hoping I can put a newer Vette engine/trans combination in it so I can burn regular pump gas instead of mixing octane boost all the time. The engine and trans in it were rebuilt many years ago but never run. I was involved in a bad auto accident that left me laid up for nearly two years. Thankfully it wasn't in the Vette. Unfortunately I am not able to work on the car like I used to and am wondering if there is any places that could do this conversion.

Thanks,
WW

Hi WW,

Welcome to the 59 Registry. I check in here every so often to see what is going on. There are shops across the country that do this kind of work. Some better than others. Ask around at car shows or with a local Corvette club for a recommendation in your area. You didn't mention what part of the country you are from.

Are you thinking of staying with a stick or going to an automatic trans?

Tom