Montana, known as “Big Sky Country” for its expansive vistas, is officially “The Treasure State,” a nod to its rich variety of natural resources. In the small town of Belfry (population 304), Moores Garage creates automotive treasures of its own. One of their latest masterpieces is a 1964 Corvette Sting Ray, powered by a Chevrolet Performance LT4 crate engine.
This stunning Corvette was recently showcased at the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis, where shop owners Rick and Casey Moore displayed it at the Gandrud Chevrolet booth. The event provided a glimpse into the versatility of Chevrolet’s crate engines.
“They’re awesome,” Rick Moore said of the LT4 engine. “Tons of power, very drivable. To me, it was the right thing to do to this car.”
The Corvette, originally from a car show organizer in Deadwood, South Dakota, had just 30,000 original miles and its original paint. Initially, Moore planned a restomod with an LT1 engine, but a chance to attend the SEMA Show led to an upgrade to the supercharged LT4. To accommodate the larger engine, a 1965 Corvette hood was selected for added clearance, prompting a complete repaint by Jake Neibauer, Moore’s son-in-law.
The car now gleams with its original Silver Blue color, complemented by Budnik wheels and Nitto tires. The LT4 engine, paired with a SuperMatic 4L75-E four-speed automatic transmission, is a highlight of Chevrolet Performance’s Connect & Cruise Crate Powertrain Systems.
“I like the shift and I like the supercharger feel between the gears, so that’s why I like the 4L75,” Moore explained.
This Corvette also features modern touches like a C4 Corvette suspension, a Be Cool radiator, and Classic Auto Air conditioning. The wiring was handled with an American Autowire harness, and fuel is delivered by a Rick’s Tanks fuel tank designed for the LT4.
Inside, the original seats were re-foamed by Kevin Stiles of Kevin’s Upholstery, and new Dakota Digital RTX gauges, which mimic the car’s original dials, were installed. Moores Garage remains a family business, with Rick, Casey, and their son, Ricky, working together. Jake’s Collision and Paint, run by Ricky’s sister Alex and her husband Jake, handled the Corvette’s stunning paint job.
Moores Garage’s dedication to quality is evident in this Corvette, as well as in their other projects like an LT4-powered 1967 Chevelle and an LS3-swapped 1968 Pontiac Firebird. Rick Moore’s passion for Chevy builds is clear: “If you sand on anything long enough, you’ll fall in love with it.”
Specs and Performance Highlights
- Engine: Chevrolet Performance LT4 Crate Engine
- Transmission: SuperMatic 4L75-E Four-Speed Automatic
- Suspension: C4 Corvette Suspension
- Wheels: Budnik Wheels
- Tires: Nitto Tires
- Cooling: Be Cool Radiator
- Air Conditioning: Classic Auto Air
- Fuel System: Rick’s Tanks Fuel Tank
- Wiring: American Autowire Harness
- Interior: Original Seats Re-foamed, Dakota Digital RTX Gauges
- Paint: Original Silver Blue Color by Jake’s Collision and Paint
Source: Chevrolet/The-Block
This Article use tools from Chatgpt
