Hi, I just recently came into 74 stingray. I was attempting to drive it home, I live about 60 miles from the guy i bought it from an when i got it on the highway when i got it to about 45 pressing it to 50 it started bucking sputtering and loosing power, it drove fine at 30 and below but had issues when i started pushing it higher. So i took it off the highway an took it to park infront of a relatives home till i could get it towed. When i popped the hood again I noticed there were 2 bolts missing on the drivers side exhaust manifold. The previous owner had had it tuned up before he sold it to me and said they had put in two temporary plugs in the bolt holes, but they had been blown out when i checked the engine... I don't know if some emissions thing or whatever may have been on there before , so i'm trying to nail down if this may have been the cause of the power failure and if i can just find the proper bolts to bolt in there or if some other deal needs to be put in.

If anyone can help on this, i'd be much appreciated.... not to fun having a sports car that's top speed is 35mph.

This might sound too simple but have you tried running a higher octane gas?
Johnny blue corvette

Check out your fuel filter too. It could be clogged.

Is the car an automatic? My 73 did the same thing and the hose came off the transmission. I cut it slightly and shoved it back on and car ran fine.

what motor and trans do you have do you hear a ping. more info needed.

It sounds like a fuel problem.

distributor/weights stuck, cap, rotor button, coil, module, plug wires, plugs not seated tight/wrong plugs,(compression loss/raw fuel leakage) converter, hot exhaust at tail pipes. pull plugs do leak down test, compression test. could be fuel problem if you are lucky. good luck.

Check the short rubber line at the fuel pump. When i picked up my 74 it did the same thing. The rubber line at the fuel line had a kink in it. After the kink was out she ran fine. Just a thought for ya. Dave :cheers:

It does sound like a fuel problem,but a 74 is a low compression engine,anyways,so the octane of the gas wouldn't/shouldn/t be a issue.
Is all the org.Smog stuff on there?If it is......I would get rid of it,if you live in a state where they don't check,but put it up somewhere.That stuff is GOLD!!!!
Check your filter.If the car has sat,then you may need to pull the tank,and clean it real well.You could also,have a weak fuel pump.
The missing exhaust manifold bolts shouldn't have anything to do w/you loosing power,but....if the people are that careless to not tighten them down properly,and use loctite,or a equivelant,then I would go over everything,or have someone start w/a compression check,check/change the fluids,check the fueling system,make sure no plug wires are pinched,and jumping arc,etc.
My first vett,and like the next 3 were 74s,so they hold a soft spot for me,and make great cars.:cheers:

Like I Said Put A New Distibutor In . Case Closed