1972 corvette for $3000 opinions?
07-08-2015, 11:24 PM
#242
I'd like to give you advice -- but it's only valuable if you understand and consider it.
The most common personality traits that exists with newbie Vette owners is optimism and lack of budget. I have a 72.. I knew nothing about 72 Vettes prior to owning one. I had the car since 2008 and have taken it to NCRS 2nd Flight. When I bought it, I just wanted to drive it.
Corvettes frames are old to begin with and having them garaged helps slow down the rusting process. A Corvette parked in the open in a field exposed to the elements for god knows how long -- with the wrong front clip and clear engine rust should be a big red warning beacon that says "Car was hit -- that's why the front' clip was replaced. If the car was hit, the frame is probably bent. If the car was so good, it wouldn't be in the field for $2,000.000 or have the wrong parts. No one sells a perfect good "driveable vette for that price". And that should tell you that your plan of just driving it is "optimistic".
I reviewed the pictures in detail. I've looked at over 500 72' vettes. that car is a mess. You have no idea what expenses and issues you are going to run into. Unless you have deep pockets to put that car into SAFE and MECHANICALLY SOUND CONDITION, do not buy it or drive it. Vettes are surrounded in Fiberglass, not Kevlar. You can be seriously injured in an unsafe for the road old car.
My best advice is go lease yourself a car you can afford or buy one -- and when you have the budget to do a restoration -- then you can look at something like that 72. And the car is totally wrong -- so any money in is money not well spent.
Run.
The most common personality traits that exists with newbie Vette owners is optimism and lack of budget. I have a 72.. I knew nothing about 72 Vettes prior to owning one. I had the car since 2008 and have taken it to NCRS 2nd Flight. When I bought it, I just wanted to drive it.
Corvettes frames are old to begin with and having them garaged helps slow down the rusting process. A Corvette parked in the open in a field exposed to the elements for god knows how long -- with the wrong front clip and clear engine rust should be a big red warning beacon that says "Car was hit -- that's why the front' clip was replaced. If the car was hit, the frame is probably bent. If the car was so good, it wouldn't be in the field for $2,000.000 or have the wrong parts. No one sells a perfect good "driveable vette for that price". And that should tell you that your plan of just driving it is "optimistic".
I reviewed the pictures in detail. I've looked at over 500 72' vettes. that car is a mess. You have no idea what expenses and issues you are going to run into. Unless you have deep pockets to put that car into SAFE and MECHANICALLY SOUND CONDITION, do not buy it or drive it. Vettes are surrounded in Fiberglass, not Kevlar. You can be seriously injured in an unsafe for the road old car.
My best advice is go lease yourself a car you can afford or buy one -- and when you have the budget to do a restoration -- then you can look at something like that 72. And the car is totally wrong -- so any money in is money not well spent.
Run.
As long as it doesnt have a bunch of rust, starts, stops, turns, we're good. I never said it was a perfect driver. My dads friend needed the car gone because he was storing it on a lot next to his shop and the owner of the lot wanted the cars gone ,he didn't even have a title for the car until we put a lien on it. Thats why the price was so low. My title is coming in the mail as we speak. So everything is sorted out.
07-09-2015, 12:17 AM
#243
Safety Car
I know this car needs work lol, thats no issue. The car as I said has little to no rust. I have all new brakes for it, steering colomn is coming in the mail. I spent a total of $80 refreshing the engine.
As long as it doesnt have a bunch of rust, starts, stops, turns, we're good. I never said it was a perfect driver. My dads friend needed the car gone because he was storing it on a lot next to his shop and the owner of the lot wanted the cars gone ,he didn't even have a title for the car until we put a lien on it. Thats why the price was so low. My title is coming in the mail as we speak. So everything is sorted out.
As long as it doesnt have a bunch of rust, starts, stops, turns, we're good. I never said it was a perfect driver. My dads friend needed the car gone because he was storing it on a lot next to his shop and the owner of the lot wanted the cars gone ,he didn't even have a title for the car until we put a lien on it. Thats why the price was so low. My title is coming in the mail as we speak. So everything is sorted out.
07-09-2015, 12:27 PM
#244
07-09-2015, 02:27 PM
#245
Instructor
Good for you, looking 100% better already.
I know this car needs work lol, thats no issue. The car as I said has little to no rust. I have all new brakes for it, steering colomn is coming in the mail. I spent a total of $80 refreshing the engine.
As long as it doesnt have a bunch of rust, starts, stops, turns, we're good. I never said it was a perfect driver. My dads friend needed the car gone because he was storing it on a lot next to his shop and the owner of the lot wanted the cars gone ,he didn't even have a title for the car until we put a lien on it. Thats why the price was so low. My title is coming in the mail as we speak. So everything is sorted out.
As long as it doesnt have a bunch of rust, starts, stops, turns, we're good. I never said it was a perfect driver. My dads friend needed the car gone because he was storing it on a lot next to his shop and the owner of the lot wanted the cars gone ,he didn't even have a title for the car until we put a lien on it. Thats why the price was so low. My title is coming in the mail as we speak. So everything is sorted out.
07-10-2015, 02:45 PM
#246
One thing I noticed on that engine and you may just have not gotten to it yet is that you don't have the block off plate for the choke heat riser on the intake manifold. You may need to have that otherwise heat from there may be directed up to the rear bowl fuel line directly above it and you don't usually want to heat the fuel up, especially not unevenly from the temperature the front bowl is getting.
07-10-2015, 02:52 PM
#247
One thing I noticed on that engine and you may just have not gotten to it yet is that you don't have the block off plate for the choke heat riser on the intake manifold. You may need to have that otherwise heat from there may be directed up to the rear bowl fuel line directly above it and you don't usually want to heat the fuel up, especially not unevenly from the temperature the front bowl is getting.
07-10-2015, 02:56 PM
#248
Drifting
Coming along nicely! Get it driving and stopping safely then worry about the little things. That's how my 75 project is going. The 68 is a whole other beast of a project.
07-11-2015, 05:14 AM
#249
Thank you haha! I checked out your 68 it's a nice ride. I also noticed it says Lansing Michigan on the back, half of my family is from Lansing haha.
07-11-2015, 05:01 PM
#252
Drifting
Thank you. We are still in the Lansing area. But haven't lived in Lansing for 30yrs. That will probably get updated when the car gets me paint.
07-11-2015, 05:50 PM
#253
Burning Brakes
07-15-2015, 08:21 PM
#254
Burning Brakes
1972 corvette for $3000 opinions?
Keep up the terrific work! Awesome to see her being put back safe for the road.
Later
Lee
Later
Lee
time to move onto wiring
07-28-2015, 02:04 PM
#257
It's not really what I need more along the lines of putting everything back together. The previous owner kind of spliced everything and it's just a huge mess of wires I'm thinking there will be more time into this than into the engine.
07-28-2015, 04:59 PM
#258
Drifting
I just noticed your thread today, then I saw it's been a few months. I skipped to the end and found you jumped in with both feet. It looks like you're really making good progress! Best wishes and hope to hear about you driving it soon.
03-15-2016, 10:22 AM
#260
Update
It's been a very long time since I've made an update on this car. However the good news is everything works perfectly now, runs and drives flawlessly! New brakes,shocks,tires,rims,sway bar,leaf spring, door panels, windshield, exhaust system. Interior is partially out right now due to making all of the interior as best as I can. This Friday through Sunday the car will be at the 60th annual Portland Roadster Show. I'm a senior in high school and was invited to show my car in a high school competition so I'll certainly be there.
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