FULL RESTORATION 1969 L88 Corvette
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Unlike many cars that come through our doors, this 1969 Corvette L88 arrived in surprisingly good condition. But after taking a closer look, we began to spot the details that needed attention. Watch as we completely restore this very rare and desirable 1969 L88 Corvette (Dream Car Garage, 2003).
After taking it for a test drive, Peter Klutt makes note of what's working and what needs attention. The customer has specific expectations, and we're committed to meeting them. Restoration videos are always a favorite of ours, though they take time to perfect. Stay tuned for our exciting upcoming restoration videos!
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I remember (like yesterday 😂) being a teenager and watching each weeks episode!!! Thanks Peter and team for re-releasing these as full episodes on YT!
Such a fantastic episode to rewatch, thanks guys! It's not easy to take care of fiberglass body and you did a great job working on this 1969 L88 Corvette. Color is insane, I call this shade of wine red Burgundy. We need more cars like this!
Thank you for posting these older episodes of Dream Car Garage. It is quite an education to see and hear what is involved in a restoration of this level. It's unfortunate that some of the other commenters are unable to see past the choices the owner of the car made. My takeaway from this video is seeing and understanding all of the steps involved in the restoration process.
That was awesome. I had owned Vettes since 1966 a 64 Vert my first 365 HP, I had built several Rats and one i used a ZL1 CanAM Cam with 435 HP TriPower and it was a BEAST. This whole video takes me back to the late 60s when we were so young and every penny was spend on our Hot Rods. Oh My the fun, the rough idle, the torque the roar at 4500 up to 6500 was pure sex. That little old 64 was so fun. I was so young and so dumb. But I lived. You know, you gotta live. Thanks so much, Dennis in Virginia
Awesome car, awesome build, and sure very satisfied customer.
This was one of my favorite shows when it was on the Speed channel. Saturday mornings were great.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I couldn't finish watching this after they said they were going to stroke the engine. A car this rare and iconic deserves better. A lot better.
Often these so called Top Flight restos are not indicative of how new cars were delivered to the original buyer. Restos are far better than new.
They couldv done the same resto build with any 327 Corvette.
Why an original L88?
What a beauty!
What a classic so cool. So interesting to see what's involved in this type of restoration
Glad you enjoyed the details!
I’m not looking to rain on anyone’s parade but I do question if taking a very rare, valuable L-88 and doing a meticulous restoration while simultaneously modifying it for more performance is a good idea. Yeah, the owner makes the call but he/she is only the custodian so wouldn’t it be better to take a super clean, base 350 car and hot rod it? It would definitely be more cost effective and there would be less risk of damaging a super rare engine. Beautiful car and top notch resto work, just some odd choices in this one.
Everything they changed could be simply unbolted and returned to original
Thanks guys.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Incredible work as always! Love the Corvette outfit too Peter lol
Thanks! We think the outfit is pretty sweet too.
In NCRS when I’m judging none of those engine up grades will pass mustard. Same holds true for the chassis mods.
If I see you at a NCRS event you better run, punk…
My god ! That engine sound ! :)
That sound is truly something special!
@@legendarymotorcar one of the best sounding engines I’ve ever heard 🤩❤🔥
Bravo👏👏👏👏👏👏
Love those hair plugs!
ur a classy dude, eh
Maybe the next thing he buys is an engine stand!
❤
Sounded great to hear an unfettered V8 blowing through the gears.
It's an absolute scream!
Having owned two original, unrestored L88s, a 1967 and a 1969, I completely agree with the decision to stroke the engine. While L88s make great power upstairs they are quite sluggish at the lower rpms you will see during street driving. Sure, you could install a 4.56 gear but that's not the best solution either. Adding more stroke will make any L88 a much better street driver and no one will ever know unless you tell them.😉
Well explained. I agree.👍
« Adding more stroke will make any L88 a much better street driver »
No, it has to do with the head design and camshaft. Not stroke.
L88 crankshaft are very special and HIGH quality. No China stuff like they installed.
Torque is a function of displacement, plain and simple. Cylinder head and camshaft design have much less of an effect on torque output. They don't change the AMOUNT of torque significantly; only WHEN it occurs in the rpm range.
Save your breath @Yann396 is a troll.
Excellent video and work, wow! 😁What is the Cubic inches now? As I remember the 454CI was a stroked 427 with an overbore. I always thought the 427CI had a better rod/ stroke ratio than the 454CI. But the 454 seems to last a long time as well.
Chances are since it was stated that it was a “stroker” that usually means that it would be a 4.250” stroke rather then just a 454’s 4.00” stroke over the 427’s 3.76” stroke.
It’s common to go for max stroke w/o needing a 10.4” deck height.
@@thomasrussell5562 , thanks for the update.
427 is basically a 454 block with a 396 crankshaft, same bore size just short stroke. Actually a better revving engine than a 454 and bores will last longer because of rod angle of the longer stroke of the 454.
@ , I agree.
And people wonder why good work is so expensive?? Just the time it takes to do just the body and paint work on this car someone else can build a house in that amount of time, the factory never did this much work when they originally built the car and they looked perfect to me. I guess its the whole un-doing everything that takes the greatest amount of time, then the re-doing, whew!!,its a lot of work and time thats for sure😮
It’s hard to believe you guys stroked an original # matching & perfectly running L88 engine. It already has close to 600hp. Literally removed everything that makes an L88 an L88 in that block and put cheap Comp stuff instead.
Those older resto really dont age well (the yellow Baldwin Motion LS7 Camaro too). I’m happy people today leave survivor cars alone.
And could you imagine believing that lining up the ring gaps will make your engine lose compression, lol.
Lmfao did you not hear him say the CUSTOMER wanted it???? The customer also wanted some non-stock suspension parts so make sure and get sad about that 😂 And just because you may know something about piston rings, you can't assume everyone watching does. All shows try to speak to new viewers in the hopes of getting them interested in the hobby. And I can honestly say nearly every engine building video I have ever seen always talks about not lining up the gaps. Get over yourself 😂
Guy says "only rotate the crank in one direction", then he rotates in the other direction. lol
Per the customer’s request, nuff said.
Brother when you get your own do it your way. Personally i liked everything he did and i would do the same.
Technology marches on. 1969 production Chevrolet parts were never considered high quality!
Performance mods? Lol freshen up and a proper tune with leaded fuel was pretty impressive back in the day
These cars should be kept original, they are historic vehicles. As an NCRS member, I'm totally against altering the engine ; (
Not your car
Do you have x-ray vision?
@@Chris-q7r7wdont need x-ray vision. Very easy to tell it’s not a L88 anymore by the sound of it, especially through side pipes.
I appreciate all the work that went into the car, but I'd prefer it be left as a survivor.
Already been restored once
@innsanewayne Gotcha. Thanks!
Goodyear’s over Michelin tires how come ?
Why?
Leave it alone. What a huge mistake!
I realize that the sky is the limit but roughly what does this cost?
I'd love to know the total man hours!
Where is this car now? Same owner?
Nice L88 love the color .
17 inch rims make it look funny
the owner is a moron to butcher a L88 u guys should have refused it
I thought it was a mistake or a joint, but he said it twice. A Heim Joint and a Hymen are NOT THE SAME. There is no such thing as a Hymen Joint.😂
It's just going to be a nice driver. Nice, but a driver.
If that was mine it would be a trailer Queen...l
There's just no way I would put that car in jeopardy on a racetrack or even on the road.. it's just too rare of a car to gamble with... There's plenty of other less rare Corvettes to gamble with on the track and or road..
Pretty sure those are heim joints not hymen joints…
With all of those mods, might as well have painted it a prettier colour.
All that white lithium will clog the oil filter during run-in.
Yep, that L88 build is cringe worthy.
The use of white grease was prevalent throughout the engine building industry in the 1980s and 90s before better lubricants were developed. It will melt well below the engine's operating temperature.
@@Chris-q7r7w sorry but assembly lube existed in 2003. In 1980 too.
Not gonna finish watching this vid. I would have turned customer away.
The car had been previously restored and was in need of another restoration. There is nothing wrong with a few reversible upgrades that make a classic car more drivable in todays traffic.
The shop simply does what the customer wants. It how they pay there bills. It a very very good shop that known around the world for there work.
Glad I don't give a rats ass at that level of detail...
This from the 90s?
That's Dumb Leave It Along
I remember (like yesterday 😂) being a teenager and watching each weeks episode!!! Thanks Peter and team for re-releasing these as full episodes on YT!