Will these upgrades ruin my car?
#21
Safety Car
you are right, it is a 79, the delta will be minimal.. you will see a hit, but not so much that it should discourage you.
now if the car was a 69 or a 70.. then it would be a much greater hit.
not many people are collecting 79's
now if the car was a 69 or a 70.. then it would be a much greater hit.
not many people are collecting 79's
#22
Safety Car
FWIW- Rear window louvers will scratch the rear glass everywhere they touch the window. Not a big deal if you leave the louvers on but if you ever take them off plan on also replacing the rear glass.
#23
#24
Race Director
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O cool another thread where someone asks how they should build THEIR car,
This one has the "respect thy father" in the mix,
So what, my dad passed sept 4th, we had long tech/car/mod talks he had a pristine stock Avanti his dream car, not mine and that's okay, he liked my vettes but not his dream car,
You do not have to have the same tastes to respect dad.
Lambo doors I looked at them but just would not get off the cost they want for them,
Louvers, love them, both my 81's wore them never any glass damage,
But I am a louver snob, I only like the hard to find cragar wrap arounds,
they look so mako shark over that silly bubble butt rear fish bowl glass,
While people bash them now back in the day people loved them, a sign of the times and era of the car, and they cut heat way down...
anyhoo like people are telling you the mods you desire are not like big fiberglass body mods,
they could be undone easy by you or a buyer,
It's your car please yourself...
This one has the "respect thy father" in the mix,
So what, my dad passed sept 4th, we had long tech/car/mod talks he had a pristine stock Avanti his dream car, not mine and that's okay, he liked my vettes but not his dream car,
You do not have to have the same tastes to respect dad.
Lambo doors I looked at them but just would not get off the cost they want for them,
Louvers, love them, both my 81's wore them never any glass damage,
But I am a louver snob, I only like the hard to find cragar wrap arounds,
they look so mako shark over that silly bubble butt rear fish bowl glass,
While people bash them now back in the day people loved them, a sign of the times and era of the car, and they cut heat way down...
anyhoo like people are telling you the mods you desire are not like big fiberglass body mods,
they could be undone easy by you or a buyer,
It's your car please yourself...
#25
lol, my kids say I'm old, but I still tell everyone I am 29 and holding.
I bought my car 2 years ago and have no intention of leaving it stock.
I love the lambo doors, don't care what everyone else thinks, but they may go too high when the car is up on the ramps in my garage so I am holding off.
I replaced the stereo first thing, there is nothing stock about my sound system. I replaced the seats with Fiero ones because I hated the original ones. I replaces all the dash lights with LED ones, so not stock there either. There are some things that should NOT remain stock. The manufacturer changed them in new versions for a reason.
What you have listed is NOT radical and can be undone if needed. I would expect that when/if you sell your 79, the purchaser will love the doors. I know I would. As for the louvers, I hate them on a vette, but that's my opinion, not yours.
As long as the car runs and is safe, do what you want to spice it up. Your dad can always drive his bone stock caddy behind you down the road.
Ken
PS. keep the old seats and hinges, just in case a purist wants to buy your car down the road.
I bought my car 2 years ago and have no intention of leaving it stock.
I love the lambo doors, don't care what everyone else thinks, but they may go too high when the car is up on the ramps in my garage so I am holding off.
I replaced the stereo first thing, there is nothing stock about my sound system. I replaced the seats with Fiero ones because I hated the original ones. I replaces all the dash lights with LED ones, so not stock there either. There are some things that should NOT remain stock. The manufacturer changed them in new versions for a reason.
What you have listed is NOT radical and can be undone if needed. I would expect that when/if you sell your 79, the purchaser will love the doors. I know I would. As for the louvers, I hate them on a vette, but that's my opinion, not yours.
As long as the car runs and is safe, do what you want to spice it up. Your dad can always drive his bone stock caddy behind you down the road.
Ken
PS. keep the old seats and hinges, just in case a purist wants to buy your car down the road.
#26
O cool another thread where someone asks how they should build THEIR car,
This one has the "respect thy father" in the mix,
So what, my dad passed sept 4th, we had long tech/car/mod talks he had a pristine stock Avanti his dream car, not mine and that's okay, he liked my vettes but not his dream car,
You do not have to have the same tastes to respect dad.
Lambo doors I looked at them but just would not get off the cost they want for them,
Louvers, love them, both my 81's wore them never any glass damage,
But I am a louver snob, I only like the hard to find cragar wrap arounds,
they look so mako shark over that silly bubble butt rear fish bowl glass,
While people bash them now back in the day people loved them, a sign of the times and era of the car, and they cut heat way down...
anyhoo like people are telling you the mods you desire are not like big fiberglass body mods,
they could be undone easy by you or a buyer,
It's your car please yourself...
This one has the "respect thy father" in the mix,
So what, my dad passed sept 4th, we had long tech/car/mod talks he had a pristine stock Avanti his dream car, not mine and that's okay, he liked my vettes but not his dream car,
You do not have to have the same tastes to respect dad.
Lambo doors I looked at them but just would not get off the cost they want for them,
Louvers, love them, both my 81's wore them never any glass damage,
But I am a louver snob, I only like the hard to find cragar wrap arounds,
they look so mako shark over that silly bubble butt rear fish bowl glass,
While people bash them now back in the day people loved them, a sign of the times and era of the car, and they cut heat way down...
anyhoo like people are telling you the mods you desire are not like big fiberglass body mods,
they could be undone easy by you or a buyer,
It's your car please yourself...
I can't find one anywhere. I'm in love with that exact one!! Seen pictures but can't find any!
#27
Race Director
The 79 in stock form is Avery boring car. Slow and handles ok but not great. I just did a ton of work on a 79. Totally upgraded the suspension and new 17 inch rubber. Handles and drives great now. Way better than stock but it was a slug. We put in a 425 HP 383 with a 700R4 trans. The car now burns rubber at will and cruises the highway very nicely. Did you devalue the car? I think we added a ton of value to anyone who actually wants to drive the car. It is way better thanhow it left GM. The owner is thrilled with it and has a smile a mile wide now. Worth every penny. If your worried about value sell it and buy a stock port folio. I took a 72 LT1 and riped it apart and now has a LS3 with over 500 HP and a 6 speed T56. It will blow any LT1 in the weeds. Is it worth less. Who cares. I did not buy it for a investment and I don't care re when people say I hurt the value. Do what you want to with the car. Enjoy it!
#28
Le Mans Master
Those are cragar louvers. Super rare and if you di find some they are usually missing the hardware. A decent louver will cost you around $400 on average.
#29
Burning Brakes
The way I see it the 1979 is the most produced Corvette in the history of the car so you really cannot hurt the value of this car much.
Custom Corvettes 20 years from now if still running may bring a higher price than an original is this model year of car so I say go for it and waste the money to make you happy.
You will be the one owning it until you decide to sell it unless the ol'man gave it to you as a gift than I would respect his wishes for a couple of years then modify the hell out of once you can.
Personally I own an all Stock 1977 Corvette while also the 3rd highest produced year in the 1970s that only has a little over 47,000 original miles on it and still has the original tape on all the vacuum hoses on the engine and most of the original everything and keeping it stock. Any MODs I do will never be noticed.
Custom Corvettes 20 years from now if still running may bring a higher price than an original is this model year of car so I say go for it and waste the money to make you happy.
You will be the one owning it until you decide to sell it unless the ol'man gave it to you as a gift than I would respect his wishes for a couple of years then modify the hell out of once you can.
Personally I own an all Stock 1977 Corvette while also the 3rd highest produced year in the 1970s that only has a little over 47,000 original miles on it and still has the original tape on all the vacuum hoses on the engine and most of the original everything and keeping it stock. Any MODs I do will never be noticed.
#30
Melting Slicks
Well apparantly too many of you are "stuck in the mud". My buddy, who just so happens to be in his mid 50's just cleaned up at a big show with his 97 highly customized corvette, it never garnered these awards until he installed the lambo, er vertical lift doors. Easily reversible too.
But whatever, its this young mans corvette, not his dad's and being as though I too have grown adult kids, dont give him bad advice, let him do as he wishes with his car. If dad is stuck in the past, too bad.
But whatever, its this young mans corvette, not his dad's and being as though I too have grown adult kids, dont give him bad advice, let him do as he wishes with his car. If dad is stuck in the past, too bad.
#31
Burning Brakes
To each his own, but another vote against the lambo doors. Im not super old at 39, but maybe just old enough that this is something that would not appeal to me.
There is also a good chance that in 5 years, if you still own this car, it may not appeal to you anymore either. Im sure most of us have been there... When I was 21 I HAD to have RCI racing buckets in my street driven Chevelle, and a ridiculous 4" fiberglass cowl that I never painted.
Its your money...enjoy it, but don't be surprised if someday you say "I wish I spent it on _____ instead".
There is also a good chance that in 5 years, if you still own this car, it may not appeal to you anymore either. Im sure most of us have been there... When I was 21 I HAD to have RCI racing buckets in my street driven Chevelle, and a ridiculous 4" fiberglass cowl that I never painted.
Its your money...enjoy it, but don't be surprised if someday you say "I wish I spent it on _____ instead".
#32
Melting Slicks
You have got to be kidding me. Cars and investments are best left to the rich. For us normal guys, have fun. Golf, hunting, bar hopping, pick a hobby, whatever. $500-1000 for a verticle lift mod? yeah, chump change. dont use that as an excuse. For some reason verticle lift doors win car shows like it or not.
#33
Instructor
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I want to do a few things to my vette physically before mechanically.
My father shoots down most of my ideas cause he doesn't want me to ruin my car. I understand that. My car is a 79 most people say it doesn't have value anyway because its a 79. Years dôwn the road he thinks the value will be gone if I do these
upgraded
Here's the things I wañnna do physically I hadn't few other ideas on past forums but here's the physical things that make the final list.
Rear window louver, lambo style doors (just a kit opening my door differently then a couple hours installing it) and sport seats. In my opinion all of these will up the look of the car! But years from now will these changes hurt my cars values?
My father shoots down most of my ideas cause he doesn't want me to ruin my car. I understand that. My car is a 79 most people say it doesn't have value anyway because its a 79. Years dôwn the road he thinks the value will be gone if I do these
upgraded
Here's the things I wañnna do physically I hadn't few other ideas on past forums but here's the physical things that make the final list.
Rear window louver, lambo style doors (just a kit opening my door differently then a couple hours installing it) and sport seats. In my opinion all of these will up the look of the car! But years from now will these changes hurt my cars values?
Even though your car is a 79 still it's a C3 a classic car an a American Icon car.
I believe making those changes it depreciate the style, curves and lines of the car, lambo doors are for lambo and nothing else, why to convert you American car into something else" not American nor Italian ether"
I believe you father is right you should listen to his experience.
We like C3'S because we like its style and its design "the stingray"
#34
Melting Slicks
Yeah lot of the guys are saying those changes won't hurt your vette but they not mention that putting everything back it will cost you money.
Even though your car is a 79 still it's a C3 a classic car an a American Icon car.
I believe making those changes it depreciate the style, curves and lines of the car, lambo doors are for lambo and nothing else, why to convert you American car into something else" not American nor Italian ether"
I believe you father is right you should listen to his experience.
We like C3'S because we like its style and its design "the stingray"
Even though your car is a 79 still it's a C3 a classic car an a American Icon car.
I believe making those changes it depreciate the style, curves and lines of the car, lambo doors are for lambo and nothing else, why to convert you American car into something else" not American nor Italian ether"
I believe you father is right you should listen to his experience.
We like C3'S because we like its style and its design "the stingray"
#35
Senior Member since 1492
#36
Burning Brakes
You have got to be kidding me. Cars and investments are best left to the rich. For us normal guys, have fun. Golf, hunting, bar hopping, pick a hobby, whatever. $500-1000 for a verticle lift mod? yeah, chump change. dont use that as an excuse. For some reason verticle lift doors win car shows like it or not.
Chances are you and I see eye to eye in many aspects of this hobby, except this one.
A couple of years back I got involved in a thread that wouldn't go away and don't want this to turn into two hobbyists against each other.
Last edited by Big Block Dave; 11-11-2014 at 08:24 AM.
#37
Le Mans Master
What was that old saying?
"I spent most of my money on booze, women and fast cars, the rest, I just wasted."
Actually, thinking about it, that describes my lifestyle! Three times divorced, two Corvettes, living as a roommate and leasing a shop in an industrial center. Sleep, work , shop, rinse repeat! But it sure is fun!
"I spent most of my money on booze, women and fast cars, the rest, I just wasted."
Actually, thinking about it, that describes my lifestyle! Three times divorced, two Corvettes, living as a roommate and leasing a shop in an industrial center. Sleep, work , shop, rinse repeat! But it sure is fun!
#38
Burning Brakes
Last time i called mine a StingRay
Wolf ...
It's funny you mention the word StingRay The last time I was with a group of guys talking about cars , someone ask me " don't you have a stingray?" I replied , I have an 82 model vette . Then an a$$clown spoke up and said " he doesn't have a stingray , he's got a rubber bumper POS . I get mine isn't a " stingray" , never ever say it is . It just bothers me that people Dog our 78-82 cars , say they aren't worth nothing , yet get mad when we want to modify them , for ourselves . I get we are the " Bas****" of the C3 world ( nobody can deny , look at responses on here to 70 model post for help VS a post about an 81.) ..but dang , people don't have to dog our cars ....
OK , rant over ...
Happy Veterans Day to all
It's funny you mention the word StingRay The last time I was with a group of guys talking about cars , someone ask me " don't you have a stingray?" I replied , I have an 82 model vette . Then an a$$clown spoke up and said " he doesn't have a stingray , he's got a rubber bumper POS . I get mine isn't a " stingray" , never ever say it is . It just bothers me that people Dog our 78-82 cars , say they aren't worth nothing , yet get mad when we want to modify them , for ourselves . I get we are the " Bas****" of the C3 world ( nobody can deny , look at responses on here to 70 model post for help VS a post about an 81.) ..but dang , people don't have to dog our cars ....
OK , rant over ...
Happy Veterans Day to all
#40
Le Mans Master
the good news for you is, every Lambo door kit I've seen installed has to be opened up the normal way before you push the door up into the air. so this should not be an issue for you.