Double_0_7

I added some photos. If you think I should look elsewhere too, please suggest it. Please take into account that I already own the car outright. That makes this different from "Should I buy this" threads. This is more of a "Should I fix this"...

1. driver side under the windshield


2. passenger side under the windshield with rust


3. driver-side kick panel. looks bad. please give your opinions




4. a few random underside pics









edit: car-depressed. not a life changing problem. in case you don't want to click.

Just...I dunno...Has anyone else been where I am?

First, I know people don't have to read, and it isn't really a problem...maybe some kind of first world problem, and I'm just being whiny...

I also know I've posted questions before, and people have helped eleventy times more than I deserved. Some stuff I already took heed to.

I bought my '80 in '08. It was my only car, in good shape, and I planned to use it as my DD until I could do more. I had no job, but I thought it was a great deal. I was going to drive it until I could find a job and buy a decent DD with my new job.

Well, that worked, sorta. Later that year, I bought an '04 Saab 9-3 aero. But between that first period, including an interstate move, and the later periods, including unemployment where I lent the Saab to my parents because it wasn't paid for and the vette was and they needed a car, the Vette took the hits made for whatever else I should have had that I didn't like as much.

I've been working to get back on my feet, and some things are better now, which is why I feel like I'm just whining. But here's the part I'm struggling with.

The Vette makes weird noises. Sounds like (and I know I have no idea) exhaust trouble and some clicking noise from the mid-, rear-sections of the car. Ticking/clicking speed goes up and down with RPM, volume goes up and down with throttle, always with car in drive. And I have no idea how to check whether there's surface rust or more than that.

I want to work on the car, but I'm not sure about going there, either. I have most basic tools, and a few other necessities like engine stand and hoist that I bought in expectation of this job, and am willing to pay for others. I bought S-A Design's "How to Rebuild the Small-Block Chevrolet", and a book recommended inside about interchangeable parts. I have new trim for the tops, a polishing kit for the aluminum wheels, etc.

I have no idea how to work on suspension and steering, both of which I'd like to do. Do I need a lift? stuff like that...

I digress...Sorry...

My Saab is now paid for. The vette always was. I now have about $6,000 that I saved up SPECIFICALLY for working on the vette. I just can't escape the feeling that things are sliding downward with her, and I don't know enough to stop/reverse it. If I sold the Saab and Vette, I could use that cash, and add a little more to it over the next few months, and get a decent C5...But I like my C3...

I know this seems whiny, but I had no options before, and dreamed of having some. And now, they all seem like the wrong choice. The time I spent saving this money in a way that wouldn't hurt me makes it a very important and rare opportunity, and that weighs on me...

My '80 is in no shape to be a cruiser. If I fix it, I might be sinking money in a lost cause. If I sell it, I know I'll miss it.

Investment isn't the issue. Recouping cost later isn't either. I just want a car I'll have for more years. Learning to work on my own car isn't either.

I guess I'm just distressed because I don't know how to identify stuff, and taking it to some shop I don't know from Adam won't give me much actual info one way or another. Either they aren't specialists, they just want the repair money, or they think I won't know any better, etc...

Has anyone been here? What did you do?

I know I wasted a lot of words...sorry...and thanks if you read it...

imariver

If you are having a specific problem, I'm sure that there's plenty of people here that can help. Just ask!

Double_0_7

I don't think it gets very specific.

I'm at the point where I need to either spend enough money to not be able to do something else with my car budget or part with my vette. How do I know what to do?

I can do quite a few things working on the car with instructions and time, but how do I know if hard years have made this car not worth it?

I know a lot of you have collections, but I'm not there. If you had to make a decision to repair the vette or find another fun car, how do you choose.

scottyp99

Learn by doing. Roll up your sleeves, (ya know, it might better if you changed into some work clothes, actually.........) and dive in. Start small. If you get into trouble, drive the Saab for a few days, come crying to us, we'll help you out. Either that, or go get a bucket of Ben & Jerry, and dig in. You'll feel better.


Scott

Double_0_7

So is there ever a point where the rust I can't see, or stuff like the bigger jobs just make this something where I'll never get it to be a M-F, going to work in the summer for 10 miles r/t, type of car?

How do I know that I won't waste so much of my $6,000 that I can't switch gears to something else fun?

mrvette

Largest thing is to know where you live, otherwise we can't suggest any vette clubs/help from guys in the area, much less some competent shop familiar with your car.....

the range of problems you MAY be facing can run the gamut from lost cause/terminal to mild and a few hundred bux....

but without definitive information, all is lost....

Dalm

Willingness is a key to success in life and in the garage! I've been a leader of sales executives for many years and I will take an inexperienced, yet willing sales exec over an unwilling, experienced one. Your eagerness and attitude will carry you far and your knowledge will develop by experiment and this forum. Go for it!

Double_0_7

I live in Indiana. I do apartment living, but my vette is always garaged. But that can't help it when between here and metro Detroit, I drove it through some of the winters since 2008 through about fall 2010. I'd love to find someone who can help me with it, even if I drive and pay or bring beer/food...

I am actually a little more worried, because my impulse is always "Go!" but if I get $3000 in before I realize I shouldn't have started, I won't be able to do anything else.

I always have to walk the line between willingness and impulsiveness...I bought some books, and read up on some stuff, but I'm still scared of unknown unknowns...

Venting has helped already, so thanks guys.

Ummm...If I bought a steering refresh kit and a suspension refresh kit, how much would I be able to do without a lift and/or professional tools? Suspension is okay, but the steering is really floaty(lots of play in the wheel), and that's just one more thing I can't begin to diagnose as "Oh, a couple hundred bucks" or "A thousand or so," and the amount I can do myself makes a difference here too.

I guess my biggest three needs for just how big my problems are, are the steering, the frame/rust, and that clicking/any rear end problems...

Dustup7T2

Looks like you're in MI. Lots of resources are available in many places there. Clubs, shops, and individuals. Never hurts to ask CF if someone local can help.

Being concerned about losing money in a project is not shameful; that's smart $ management. Getting one crack with cash saved has variables like, how much joy do you get from the C3 experience? Got another vehicle so the Vette is not the DD? What do you want to end up with, what do you want to do? Show? Race? Cruise?

What facilities can you access; does the car have to stay outside while it's apart or got a garage with some extra space?

Many of us get distracted, bummed, or tired of fixing these old cars when they need it. Right now, it could be cabin-fever; I know I'm sufferin'.

If the car is street legal and the weather cooperates, I always get a thrill to take my pig out for a stroll. The looks and thumbs up are only exceeded by the little kids who yell and point, "look! a Corvette!" (I'm always amazed they know!)

Granted, it's easy to get in over your head but with some thought to make a plan, it just takes some desire to see "what if"?

I started out a big dummy, working on mine. Now I'm just an old, big, dummy but the car turned out ok, with a little help from my friends.

Shark Racer

FWIW, cars can be pulled out of downhill spirals. I have a 302k mi Honda Prelude in my driveway. Probably well kept most of its life, started getting beat on in the last few months before I bought it. I fixed all the hack job $#!7 done by the last guy and now it's a great running car again. And not a whole lot into it.

Where you catch it on the slope determines how much effort there is.

Double_0_7

I move a lot for work these days, so never got around to fixing my location. I'm now near Richmond or Muncie, IN, but will be moving in May, to Elkhart IN.

I'm not so concerned with losing the money itself as I am the opportunity cost. I have enough with cash and the two paid off cars to buy around an 02, 03 C5, but it won't be much money before that isn't true anymore. I love my C3, experience, simplicity, roughness, everything. My vette isn't my DD. No show, no race, just a fun car to drive to work or the store for 20 miles a day, weather permitting.

It was in the 50's here today, and I drove it to work. I love that car...

I have no access to facilities, but I do have a one car garage with plenty of room, and can find extra space in the form of a second garage in one of the empty ones in my complex.

How do I find someone in Indiana that can help me with an evaluation?

I guess that's the problem right there. I don't know how to find out where it is on the slope.

jesse10886

first of all for 6k dollars you can get a **** load of things done to your c3

specifics you can get a new rear differential about $900 from a few of the catalogs, new rear springs an the mounting rebuild for the rear suspension around $600. Also completely rebuilt trailing arms with NEW brakes rotors, parking brakes, wheel bearings, races, seals and mounting bushings for $700 from j&d corvette. The basic front steering rebuild kit from corvette america only cost me $325 with shipping. Any one can change out the basics on the entire front end you remove the old parts and you bolt on the new ones. That kit included new inner an outer tire rod ends an sleeves both sides, new upper an lower ball joints both sides, idler arm, upper an lower a arm bushings both sides, a arm dust covers. I know i am over simplifying these things but if you have a will theres a way. 6000 dollars can get allot of **** done to your car. A new carb edelbrock 650cfm on craigslist along with a new performer intake mainfold ALL DAY long for $100 a piece. A alternator $150, a starter $200 an a decent cam new or used for a really nice one $200. So as long as your internals are good valves rod rings pistons crank you can have your engine in great shape for 750 bucks. so for $2,775 give or take a few hundred the parts i just mentioned will make your car a whole new world from where it is at now an you still have $3,225 left. So spend that for recarpeting wich is around $500 hundred new seals doors an ttops $5-600 an lets say just for the hell of it new electric harness under hood $200 an new stock brake calipers $700 thats another $2,000 total. These prices are generalized an very simplified but are not unreasonable an are very do able to someone with patients and who really wants to keep a car that they love. My rear clip in fiberglass should have been $325 plus shipping i got a beautiful brand new ecklers one for $100 bucks craigslist! You would still have 1200dollars left it if you already have wrenches an basic tool to buy a $100 dollar 12ton shop press for your a arm bushings an who knows what else!
I only type this much to make you seem whiny as hell and becuase everysingle person on this site has at one point or another had that moment where they thought to hell with it this is too much money or i can't aford it or i am over my head. This site is for people just like you who think or know they can't do it on their own there is more help info an encouragement here than eanywhere else! If you really have $6000 dollars and you really want to fix the car you can make it your dd again and love it! Everyone here will be glad to help you do so with information, pics, videos, and encouragement. keep your car!!

Dalm

Are you near New Albany, IN? I have a great corvette restorer contact that you may be able to visit for advice or service.

69VetteFla

Sorry to hear about your bad head right now. Not sure if you saw my story mid last year but I bought my '69 from a dealer site unseen and ended up bringing it to 3 different "corvette specialists" which took there turns ripping me off. I don't know how to work on the car except for very minor stuff and fortunately found a couple of guys from this forum that live nearby. I can honestly say that if I didn't have these guys here to help me when I need it, the car would be for sale. I am currently out of work too and it isn't real fun when you have a car that is supposed to bring you pleasure cause you aggravation and $s. Hopefully someone will pop up here on the forum that is near you and can help. Both of the guys from this forum that are near me I consider my friends now and it makes owning the car that much more fun. Really hope it works out for you.

learje

look at the trees not the forest...

DD the the other car and take some time to look over the vette - pretend your gonna possibly buy it for the 6K.

FIRST: check the frame and birdcage for rot. TONs of info here on where and how to check, no special tools required. a set of surdy jackstands would be nice...if theres rot, not surface rust...imho sell it

if it passes the rust check, check the safety stuff.

u mentioned play in the steering. this could be as simple as a ragjoint(if your year car used them, i dunno), or steering box adjustment and lube. both are easy fixes with basic tools, and the procedures are covered here. if its not these, then ur probably talkin balljoints, tie rods etc. bit harder fix, but not tons of money.

check the brakes...do they leak? stop well and straight etc? if u need more than pads figure on changing the hoses, they r probably tired.

rear suspension work is time consuming, but not terribly difficult or expensive..until u get to the trailing arm bushings and bearings.

once u evaluate these safety items u can make an informed decision. like others have said, find a vette club, ive found other vette owners to be a helpful bunch FTF, just like the guys here.

hth

Double_0_7

Sorry guys. I didn't want to make the car seem like a total basket case.

How do i know the difference between surface rust and worse?

Double_0_7

Sorry to hear about your job. I wish you luck. I've been unemployed for a lot over the last few years, but I'm working now. I guess I'm still nervous about spending money. Also as part of my car choices, since my credit is still shot, I know how important this can be. I can't finance a car.

Double_0_7

I just looked at google maps, and Albany's only about 30 mins from here. Your contact might be a great help. Thanks.

My specific location is in Winchester, just off i-27.

Slotehog

Don't get yourself discouraged...when I bought mine I knew the engine was under the hood and "R" was for "Race." With help from this site I am becoming a little more competent (I said a LITTLE).

If you love the car, have another for a DD, and it passes the rot checks, hang on to it forever. You will never recoup the money spent on it but if you love it, it shouldn't matter.

Keep on keepin on...even the experts were once in your position.



Andy

qwank

Sell The '80 and the Saab, take that money and your $6000 and buy and C5. You will never look back.