1966 Chevrolet Caprice 427ci Turbo-Jet big block

A walk-around of my 1966 Chevy Caprice with an original 427 ci big block motor. This car was bought new by my wife's great grandfather in Breckenridge, Texas and still has the original dealership badge. It was given to me as a birthday gift June 2011 with 45,000 original miles. Muscle Cars of Texas www.musclecarsoftexas.com rebuilt the brakes, suspension, fuel lines, replaced the fuel tank, serviced the engine and transmission and installed a new Holley 650 CFM carb (I think I mistakenly said Edelbrock in the video) and Weiand stealth intake. My plan is to restore the car to its original condition over the next 5 years, including repainting it the original Aztec Bronze color. Pretty cool to have a car that has been in the same family for 45 years. From the factory this motor made 390HP and 460 ft lb of torque. Next on the list is upgrading the exhaust and replacing all the bad power window motors and

[@nerradnosnhoj5122]

Our neighbour had this exact same colour , etc , 396 car though ....wicked

[@vinnieteranova2578]

GET THE CARB AND INTAKE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DaraghCarter]

I have the original intake.

[@oscarbedoya7586]

Congrats. She's a Beut.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Please DO NOT modify or alter this car in any way! A 66 Caprice with a factory 427 is very rare and only going up in value. 1965-66 are the best looking of all the full size Chevy's in my opinion. Is your 427 the 390 horsepower L36? Or the 425hp L72? If it's the L72, you've got an EXTREMELY rare car

[@DaraghCarter]

Jeremy Thompson best I know it is the 390HP 427.

[@ronaldbertin9455]

Single master cylinder,,, i,m suprised thought they came as dual in 66

[@mikepotter5071]

If nurtured and educated, this young man may be the savior of the car. I would venture this is probably the only one built and trimmed like this. Calm down, explain carefully and bring this owner and car along. It’s 390 horse btw. Be interesting to see if it’s limited slip. It’s a 12 bolt for sure. Even the 396 cars were

[@frankwood7878]

66 Caprice's are alot nicer & rarer then Impalas. I wish i could own one some day

[@pjesf]

This was my favourite model year - loved those bar tail lights. My grandfather had the '66 Impala and then later a Biscayne (can't remember what year though). So many good memories

[@larrylomascolo6289]

i would be getting the original carb and intake back, i bet they talked you into replacing those items,a rebuilt carb and the original intake cleaned up you would not notice perf gain,and it raises the value of car alot more than aftermarket products

[@frankwood7878]

66 Caprice's are alot nicer & rarer then Impalas. I wish i had one someday

[@zone47]

Yep, the original parts adds a LOT of value to the car. A 650 is too small for that engine, you should probably have at least a 750 or 780 cfm carb on there. If you want to improve performance, you need an open element air cleaner and dual exhaust. Nice car, I hope you enjoy it!

[@eddiebarnett2217]

Yeah I'd say that 427 makes it a little special..! Not a SS but my dad had a 67 396 Chevy wagon... that's right a wagon.. we had every muscle car you could imagine bud dang I loved that 396 wagon. It wasn't the 360hp version and had the chrome valve covers.. a well known Chevy man said it was a 375hp 396 camper wagon with a close to 4:11 rear axle. All i know that he offered my dad almost 3 Times what dad had paid for it.. so the wagon was gone. At 16yrs old I loved driving it to school. Although I had a awesome Chevy11 that wagon would devour 351 Clevelands, 383 road runners and stock GTO'S. It would take off like a rocket.. dig in and go.. supper easy to drive. I would have loved to had known the full story of that Chevy "camper"

[@iq6840]

Looks like it has more miles than it does, lol thank your wife for that. Hey that's going to be a sweet ride to restore, very awesome cars and it's a bucket seat package!!!!!

[@mschiffel1000]

Keep that original carb and intake manifold !!...they will be like money in the bank !!

[@bradleyclark435]

This is probably a #'s matching car. VERY nicely optioned. The Comfortron HVAC system really worked nicely. It would adjust the fan speed, as well as the amount of coolant traveling through the heater core to keep the temperature constant year 'round. Yes, they had some issues with reliability, but when working correctly, it was a very nice option to have in this car. Power windows are a plus ! Very nicely optioned ! Don't give up on the Comfortron. Have the A/C drawn down to a vacuum,, and convert it to the newer R134A. You'll be glad you did. Beautiful car. Drive it with pride & confidence. And don't be afraid to "wind it out" a few times a year. That's what 427's are good for.

[@MichaelSmith-dg1fb]

Parking lot mishap..at 40 mph

[@capitainebonhomme1609]

The 427ci engine same as in the 428ci 67 toronado?

[@funkynassau..4881]

Where are you from Canada A....

[@rayhack7936]

Last one I saw was in the same year, 1966, when I was in High School. The guys father bought that as his family car and then two years later he bought his son a 426 hemi road runner.

[@edwinrouse511]

It was for sale put the price on it !!!

[@larryhawkins3294]

Telescopic steering wheel was available on its Pontiac Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac cousins as were factory options such as power antenna, power passenger seat when equipped with buckets. Cornering lamps also were not available on Chevys until their downsizing in 1977. Cornering lamps were first offered on the Ford LTD in 1971. It was a huge front end assembly and was unavailable on the LTD Squire because of the fraud woodgrain.

[@chuckdickinson8012]

Chevy offered a tilt/tele wheel in 66 (only). Neither Pontiac nor Buick had one (incorrectly stated above), but Olds and Cad did.

[@gedisdiop]

Judging by your description, for a car of this caliber, you should sell it and let someone that knows what they're doing take over. You certainly love the car, but you just don't have the "chootspa".

[@DaraghCarter]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[@papocam3853]

it's a gem in the rough. Get busy, it's worth it. NJOY.

[@wileecoyote5749]

As it sits you can get $784K

[@cj8172]

Cool car man. Ive got a 66 Belair 2 door post. Running a 454 manual. I'll never sell it. Hope you still have this car?

[@m.pietro9087]

You have an awesome and rare car. Very original with the beautiful hub caps. Restore the body, please.

[@ammarhusin4389]

U have great car hop u keep the car

[@Stevespoken]

Beautiful

[@dannmarceau]

Guy didn't even have a clue about the car, wrong owner.

[@infodisco4097]

"Guy didn't even have a clue about the car" He literally went in an in depth into the stats of it (which he got right). You can fact check what he's saying on google and you can verify that he's right. Everything he said in the video is perfectly correct and you can fact check it if you don't believe me.

[@stanleytroski4309]

I feel like this caprice is going in the wrong direction. Sell it to someone who really knows what it is and will restore it the right way. Plus the carb is way too small for that 427. Poor engine, it’s going to starve to death.

[@duncancox2243]

390 horse 427s came from the factory with Holley 3370 carburetors, rated at 585 cfm.

[@Stlthpntr]

@@duncancox2243 wrong...Caprice and all B body oval port 427's came with Quadrajets in the 750-760 range. Corvettes came with Holleys

[@duncancox2243]

@@Stlthpntr L-36: produced 1966-9, had 10.25:1 compression, Holley or Q-jet carburetor, nodular iron crankshaft, hydraulic lifters, oval port closed chamber heads, and two-bolt main caps.

[@duncancox2243]

@@Stlthpntr The Holley 4160 used on full size Chevrolets in 1966 with the 390 horse 427 was part no. 3868864, List 3140-1. Easily verified on multiple sites on the web.

[@duncancox2243]

@@Stlthpntr Even the lowly 325 horse 396 engines came with Holleys before quadrajet production was ramped up enough to meet demand. As one example, stamped code on a 396 and what it means: T0709LF is a Holley equiped 396-325 engine with 4 ps trans, RPO L35 with Holley Carb. T - Tonawanda NY engine plant 07 - July 09 - Day LF - 396-325 engine with 4 ps trans, RPO L35 with Holley Carb.

[@charlesgrayson1510]

Congratulations on having a very nice original survival Caprice. My favorite years of full size Chevys are the 66 and 69. I like the body style regardless of trim level. My very first car was a 66 Chevy Impala 2 dr. HT with the 283 2 bbl. and Powerglide automatic. Your car has a 3 sp. Turbo-hydramatic. With the big-block 427, more than likely the thm 400 transmission.

[@joeblow8451]

This guy got married and was gifted an original 427 car wow God is good! 💪😁

[@toltec13]

My father had a 1966 canary yellow and black top Chevy Caprice. The biggest issue was the air conditioning system and took it to the dealership and air condition specialist and it still didn't work properly.

[@larryhawkins3294]

This is an unusually well optioned car for the time period. The comfortron equivalent to today's automatic climate control was an unusual option for the price class in '66. Bucket seats and console was a $184.00 option. The only available options at the time missing on this car are a tilt wheel, cruise control a power driver seat and door locks. Nevertheless this cars final original sticker price as equipped most likely topped 5K. This was near luxury money for a car in '66.

[@DaraghCarter]

It has a power driver's seat (but it doesn't work).

[@martydriscoll1402]

Also optional was tilt telescopic steering column, two spoke wood steering wheel, four way emergency flashers, tachometer, am/FM multiplex stereo system, clock on top of the dash, front seat headrests, remote drivers side mirror... and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. But there were a lot of interior options.

[@wileecoyote5749]

Now as it sits he can get $784K

[@edwardsheridan5336]

Long ass list

[@kennethtibbitts6641]

beautiful car, you should get boy fixed it deserves it

[@jondstewart]

I would love to have a vintage car like this that is all original and not all souped-up! If you can find a 1960's Chevy that is a 4 door, an even bigger bonus. My grandparents had a red 1966 Caprice I loved and red interior, but then traded it in for a 1973 Ford LTD that was BORING! GM cars always had a lot of character to them. If I could find a 1960-1967 Chevy in Alaska for sale in good shape, that would be very nice!

[@billslim9267]

Nice car but I would not produce a video and talk about it when you are not very knowledgeable. Learn something about the vehicle before talking and making yourself look bad. Nice car though.

[@fdlb99]

Nice car

[@williamwhiting6285]

The 427 in 1966 had a top horsepower rating of 435. That was with tri-power carbs (three two-barrel carbs).

[@johntramburg3278]

The top hp 427 in 1966 was the L72 at 425. The 435 hp L71 tri-power L71 was a Corvette only option beginning in 1967.

[@boostedboys2342]

Wait you said that was your birthday gift.?? Howed you have it in highschool the ?

[@toltec13]

Yes, the air condition never worked well. My father had a 1966 Caprice, canary yellow, black vinyl top with a 396 engine.

[@hamslice151]

You could have fired it up and smoked the tire. Jeesh.

[@checkmate440]

You have a great father in law.your Texas accent sounds a bit Aussy

[@lalvarado63]

You really must LOVE your Father-in-law!!. Awesome!

[@SCc8154]

Please do not change the top. Please do not change anything about this car. Restore it back to original. From the sound of it you don't realize what you have. You changed the intake and carb, big mistake. And a 650 carb is too small for a 427 if you are going for performance. The fact that you don't know that it is a 3 speed transmission tells me you know nothing about this car or cars period. Don't keep destroying this car. If restored correctly it could help you put your kids through college. As for the engine (stop saying motor) it sounds like you have gotten your information off the internet. If you don't know the exact details of the engine you nees to stop all restoration and find out. Because it could be the 425 hp 427 not the 390 hp. If that's the case you are sitting on gold. Please be responsible with this car. It is a piece of history and you are ruining it.

[@GlassTopRX7]

Pretty easy to tell it's not a L72 car, it has auto, wrong heads, factory AC car.

[@duncancox2243]

If we are not allowed to say "motor," then why are big block Chevrolet engines called rat MOTORS and small blocks called mouse MOTORS? Also, the 390 horse 427 in 1966 came from the factory with a Holley 3370, rated at 585 cfm, smaller than the 650 currently on the car.

[@infodisco4097]

So because he didn't know he had a 3 speed transmission, he knows nothing about cars? Wow, the logic here is strong. And second, he isn't destroying his car. He actually sent it to a body and work shop to have it restored to its original condition. So stop it with that "he's destroying the car" BS. He's not. And he isn't "ruining" the car. In fact, he's actually restored it to its original condition. And also, when you started criticizing him for getting his information of the car off the internet, I think that's a dumb criticism. Where the hell else is he supposed to get the information from? The owners manual is gone, he can't go back to the dealer, and chevy isn't really going to keep track of their older cars like this. So where the hell else is he supposed to get information about the car from?

[@richardholmes7199]

Do you still have the car now?

[@brianbayer9746]

I cry when I see this happening to such a nice car.

[@DaraghCarter]

When you see what happening?! It’s not like I chopped the roof and put it on 24’s.

[@bruceh92]

What are you talking about

[@jeffcunningham5699]

Add four 12" pines & Suction pipes on the back 😀

[@infodisco4097]

🤓

[@pj8864]

hope you kept the vinyl top, it'll keep the car cooler plus it ties the car together !great vid

[@sachemrock]

It’s a 3 speed automatic!

[@GT-hg1cs]

Ugh! Yet another unmolested survivor car falls into the hands of the ill equipped. Painful to watch this video. Please DO NOT alter that car in any way!

[@jradish]

ok boomer

[@chevken1831]

Oooh... you really told him, dork.

[@jhancock1575]

I’m sure the car will be fine. It’s now owned by someone that likes it and has a plan for it. Pretty cool to see one in this condition.

[@infodisco4097]

"Ill equipped" I hope you realize that its a family car and that he's restoring it right?

[@checkmate440]

Groovy car man.

[@johnnyace1954]

Nice Caprice

[@senorkaboom]

Champagne ideas, beer budget.

[@martydriscoll1402]

I get a kick out of all the critics. It's your car, do what you want with it. You might just want to keep the original parts. My first love is the 66 Caprice. It's what I had in high school.

[@DaraghCarter]

Indeed. You would think I'd enslaved somebody in my basement the way some of these folks are responding. Sheesh.

[@duncancox2243]

I love the car, too. My first car, back in 1973, was a '66 Caprice 2 dr with 396, Turbo 400, buckets, console, etc. I have also have owned one with 327, Powerglide, bench seat. Love 'em!

[@martydriscoll1402]

@@duncancox2243 it sounds like you and I had the same thing. Mine was all black.

[@duncancox2243]

@@martydriscoll1402 Mine was white with black vinyl top and interior

[@dcformee123]

I think it's a beautiful car!

[@nellanitrascannon5489]

Please start the engine so we can hear it!

[@RFKFANTS67]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing happy motoring.

[@mschiffel1000]

Had a 1966 Chevy 4door with a factory 396....it got away from me....too bad.

[@jb1765]

I would put electronic ignition on it .

[@chiefcaptainmoroni1]

Would've been better just to show a video. He knows very little aboot these cars. Yeah, aboot. Hey at least they cleaned the Tonawanda decal off of the valve covers.

[@jondstewart]

I might add, 1965-1967 were my favorite years, but the 1966 my favorite. I liked the butterfly lights on the back 1988-67 as opposed to the singular round ones up to 1966

[@jjc2656]

Turbo 400 trans. 3 speed

[@nealississy]

Thanks for giving me the color of my 66, her name is Maxine.

[@dieselout18]

sell it to me

[@pacey0077]

nice car buddy

[@grapeape9471]

There was a seperate air cleaner decal that displayed the horsepower rating, check the vin number

[@GlassTopRX7]

The VIN wouldn't help. The build sheet might still be in the car. No chance of it being a L72 car with factory AC. The casting numbers for the heads and block will tell him what it is.

[@DaraghCarter]

Yes. I've added a stereo and wheels and tires.

[@bradleyclark435]

+Daragh Carter And you just destroyed the originality of the car. Why can't people leave well enough alone ? Of all the car manufactures of the day, General Motors/Delco had the best sounding factory tunes in the business. Although this car just has an AM radio, it also has a rear speaker. Find a Delco AM/FM MPX radio, and you will have a nice sounding system. By the way, any aftermarket system will need to be installed in the glove compartment, unless you want to hack the instrument panel to pieces. I believe the speaker in the dash is a 6X9, as well as the speaker in the back. Keep the hub caps, however, I would go with a good set of Yokohama Avid V rated tires.

[@infodisco4097]

@@bradleyclark435 How did he destroy the originality of the car? Everything else is original and its a pain in the butt when you want to listen to music while driving and your radio can't work.

[@infodisco4097]

@@bradleyclark435 he didn't destroy the originality of the car. He had to takeoff the tires and remove the stereo because both of them were completely rusted down and broken. The tires were completely destroyed and bent out of place, the rims were rusted and old and weak and not able to properly support this car, And the stereo had to be replaced because a it was broken, be, it was literally rusting, and c, it was quite literally disintegrating. Everything else on the car is original. We even have an original spare tire in the trunk. we have the original paint, badge, windshield, wipers, dealer, badge, engine, Arron, take, interior, steering wheel, speedometer, everything else aside from the destroyed wheels and broken and rusted stereo is 100% original. So clearly you do not have the first clue what you're talking about. This is a very original car that has actually been sent out to a body shop place to be restored where everything is going to get fixed up and it will be brought back to its original condition, as if it just came out of the factory. So calm down it's not the end of the world.

[@ericjohnson9080]

So it doesn't run?

[@camtorrie4515]

don't touch it

[@garymitchell8084]

I agree with Wilbur Snaffel, you're clueless as to what you have and what you already done to destroy the vehicle with the modifications you have made. Sell it to someone who can appreciate this diamond in the rough and make it a true American Classic.

[@infodisco4097]

"Done to destroy the vehicle." What are you rambling about? How is he destroying the car? He literally sent it to a body work place to have it restored to its original paint and condition and yet somehow he's "destroying the car"? And also, its his car. He can do whatever he pleases to it and that's perfectly ok because its his car.

[@bigaparker1977]

All u gotta do is buff it and ride until you find a door. I wouldn't change a thing. But I'd put some Daytons on her.

[@BlowmeRoger]

Cars like this are perfect candidates for Muscle Car Restos, they do awesome work, look like new again, you cant dump the top, its a caprice!