New guy rescuing a '75 ragtop
02-23-2017, 11:14 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
New guy rescuing a '75 ragtop
Hello everybody. I am new to the forum as a member, but have been viewing as a visitor for quite a while.
While not new to C3 ownership, having previously owned a ’75 Coupe as a kid and an ’80 Ragtop conversion later on, I purchased this ’75 Roadster as a long-term project. I’ve had a lot of project cars but I wanted another Corvette. You could say that I had an itch that needed to be scratched. When I first saw the car, it was on jack stands, the spark plugs were sitting on the air cleaner, while the interior and top, if not tattered, were moldy. It had apparently just been moved inside after being stored outside, under a tarp for the better part of 20 years.
The good news though, was that it was a number matching car and the owner assured me that it ran great when parked. Yeah ok, they all run great until the moment they stop.
But I negotiated a price of $5,500 and within half an hour the paperwork was complete, it was strapped down on the trailer and we were heading home.
Once home, I washed and scrubbed 20+ years of accumulated nastiness away and found that despite the questionable storage methods, all metal structures were in very good condition.
Next, I went through the brake system and prepped the motor for restart after its long hibernation. After some good soak time with fresh oil I first turned the motor by hand and then cranked it over with the starter, minus the spark plugs.
Now for the moment of truth. Spark plugs went in and did a final check of all fluids. After just a few cranks it started right up and went into high idle. After it warmed up it settled down into a smooth idle and absolutely no lifter noise and no smoke. Once the tranny fluid was topped off it engaged flawlessly!
Amazing…within a week I had a running driving and stopping C3 Corvette Roadster, albeit a scruffy one!
Where to go now? I love all Vettes but I am not a resto guy. While this one of only 270 roadsters imported into Canada for the 1975 model year, I will personalize it to my tastes, but do nothing to prevent it from going back to stock fairly easily.
So, after a couple of months of work, the pics show how my Vette has progressed. The mold and mildew are gone, the fiberglass bumper covers installed and most notably, it’s been lowered over a set of 20” Foose wheels.
Still to come are the top and tend to any mechanical needs to make it roadworthy. Oh, I’ll blend the bumpers to match the faded paint, but for the time being, I’m going to enjoy the car with its well-earned patina.
P.S. I do a little artwork so I’ve attached a couple of renderings of the car. One is of the finished car and the other…Boy if I had deep pockets.
Cheers
MK
While not new to C3 ownership, having previously owned a ’75 Coupe as a kid and an ’80 Ragtop conversion later on, I purchased this ’75 Roadster as a long-term project. I’ve had a lot of project cars but I wanted another Corvette. You could say that I had an itch that needed to be scratched. When I first saw the car, it was on jack stands, the spark plugs were sitting on the air cleaner, while the interior and top, if not tattered, were moldy. It had apparently just been moved inside after being stored outside, under a tarp for the better part of 20 years.
The good news though, was that it was a number matching car and the owner assured me that it ran great when parked. Yeah ok, they all run great until the moment they stop.
But I negotiated a price of $5,500 and within half an hour the paperwork was complete, it was strapped down on the trailer and we were heading home.
Once home, I washed and scrubbed 20+ years of accumulated nastiness away and found that despite the questionable storage methods, all metal structures were in very good condition.
Next, I went through the brake system and prepped the motor for restart after its long hibernation. After some good soak time with fresh oil I first turned the motor by hand and then cranked it over with the starter, minus the spark plugs.
Now for the moment of truth. Spark plugs went in and did a final check of all fluids. After just a few cranks it started right up and went into high idle. After it warmed up it settled down into a smooth idle and absolutely no lifter noise and no smoke. Once the tranny fluid was topped off it engaged flawlessly!
Amazing…within a week I had a running driving and stopping C3 Corvette Roadster, albeit a scruffy one!
Where to go now? I love all Vettes but I am not a resto guy. While this one of only 270 roadsters imported into Canada for the 1975 model year, I will personalize it to my tastes, but do nothing to prevent it from going back to stock fairly easily.
So, after a couple of months of work, the pics show how my Vette has progressed. The mold and mildew are gone, the fiberglass bumper covers installed and most notably, it’s been lowered over a set of 20” Foose wheels.
Still to come are the top and tend to any mechanical needs to make it roadworthy. Oh, I’ll blend the bumpers to match the faded paint, but for the time being, I’m going to enjoy the car with its well-earned patina.
P.S. I do a little artwork so I’ve attached a couple of renderings of the car. One is of the finished car and the other…Boy if I had deep pockets.
Cheers
MK
The following users liked this post:
60 SHARK (03-15-2017)
02-24-2017, 12:59 AM
#2
Nice find and job fixing her up. Great color.
Congrats
Congrats
02-24-2017, 09:32 AM
#5
Race Director
Another C3 pulled out of a dismal existence and brought back to life! Yeah! Great job!
Isn't the '75 the last of the convertibles till '86? Nice find!
BTW.... great artwork too!!!!
Isn't the '75 the last of the convertibles till '86? Nice find!
BTW.... great artwork too!!!!
Last edited by RMVette; 02-24-2017 at 09:32 AM.
02-24-2017, 05:58 PM
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
It's the original L-48 and runs great. The car shows 88,000 miles which I believe to be true. Mechanically the car appears to be sound thankfully. Unfortunately, the outside storage took a toll on the body, top, and interior. Nothing that can't be fixed, though!
02-24-2017, 08:04 PM
#8
Instructor
Congrats on the 75. I have one that I have been working on for a couple years. Keep us posted on your progress. I have a long post on my journey with my "Lucille", take a look.
02-25-2017, 12:41 AM
#10
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
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02-25-2017, 08:17 PM
#12
Instructor
Thread Starter
As for the luggage rack, the car came with one mounted already. Although I prefer the clean look without it, and since I have no plans to paint it right away I'll keep the mounting holes and put the rack on for overnight road trips.
Just a note to everybody. Thanks to all the members for the knowledge, the wealth of information and inspiration they provide as I delve into this project. Much thanks.
02-25-2017, 08:37 PM
#13
Instructor
Thread Starter
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LRB (02-26-2017)
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The Punisher (02-27-2017)
03-08-2017, 10:34 PM
#16
Instructor
Thread Starter
I thought I'd pass this along for folks looking for a tank sticker. This only works for the rubber bumper cars and I got lucky before I installed my back bumper.
Out of curiosity, while I could, I stuck a flashlight into the recess on the driver's side of the tank and I could see a piece of paper on top of the tank shield. I could just get my fingers in behind it and very gently worked it loose. Amazing. I got it out in one piece.
Two things here. First off I was so stoked that I might have located the tank sticker that I completely forgot to take a pic, so the image you see is a piece of paper I reinstalled that shows exactly what I first saw. Second, there was not much information to be gained as the sticker, while coming out in one piece was totally faded out.
Thankfully, as an import into Canada, all this info and more is available through GM Historical Sevices.
Out of curiosity, while I could, I stuck a flashlight into the recess on the driver's side of the tank and I could see a piece of paper on top of the tank shield. I could just get my fingers in behind it and very gently worked it loose. Amazing. I got it out in one piece.
Two things here. First off I was so stoked that I might have located the tank sticker that I completely forgot to take a pic, so the image you see is a piece of paper I reinstalled that shows exactly what I first saw. Second, there was not much information to be gained as the sticker, while coming out in one piece was totally faded out.
Thankfully, as an import into Canada, all this info and more is available through GM Historical Sevices.
03-08-2017, 10:50 PM
#17
Drifting
I thought I'd pass this along for folks looking for a tank sticker. This only works for the rubber bumper cars and I got lucky before I installed my back bumper.
Out of curiosity, while I could, I stuck a flashlight into the recess on the driver's side of the tank and I could see a piece of paper on top of the tank shield. I could just get my fingers in behind it and very gently worked it loose. Amazing. I got it out in one piece.
Two things here. First off I was so stoked that I might have located the tank sticker that I completely forgot to take a pic, so the image you see is a piece of paper I reinstalled that shows exactly what I first saw. Second, there was not much information to be gained as the sticker, while coming out in one piece was totally faded out.
Thankfully, as an import into Canada, all this info and more is available through GM Historical Sevices.
Out of curiosity, while I could, I stuck a flashlight into the recess on the driver's side of the tank and I could see a piece of paper on top of the tank shield. I could just get my fingers in behind it and very gently worked it loose. Amazing. I got it out in one piece.
Two things here. First off I was so stoked that I might have located the tank sticker that I completely forgot to take a pic, so the image you see is a piece of paper I reinstalled that shows exactly what I first saw. Second, there was not much information to be gained as the sticker, while coming out in one piece was totally faded out.
Thankfully, as an import into Canada, all this info and more is available through GM Historical Sevices.
I too found the remnants of a tank sticker glued to the top of the tank shield on my 75 coupe. There wasn't much left of it though. Fortunately, I found a second copy folded up and stuck between the heat shield on the bottom of the differential. Check it out, you may have one there too.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-to-clean.html
03-08-2017, 11:58 PM
#18
Instructor
Thread Starter
First of all, great work on bringing your '75 back from the dead.
I too found the remnants of a tank sticker glued to the top of the tank shield on my 75 coupe. There wasn't much left of it though. Fortunately, I found a second copy folded up and stuck between the heat shield on the bottom of the differential. Check it out, you may have one there too.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-to-clean.html
I too found the remnants of a tank sticker glued to the top of the tank shield on my 75 coupe. There wasn't much left of it though. Fortunately, I found a second copy folded up and stuck between the heat shield on the bottom of the differential. Check it out, you may have one there too.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-to-clean.html
Yeah it's been fun getting this car mobile after being neglected for so long. The more I look, the more I find, but surprisingly very good mechanically. The truth will be told when I get it out of the garage very shortly and put some miles on it. Can't wait!
