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Well, after tinkering with our Corvette for 5 years it was time to do something new. Wendy and I have enjoyed the car but we found someone who wanted it more than we did and we wanted theirs. Over the holidays we made a 4-day, 2,500 mile round trip to the Detroit, Michigan area from East Texas stopping here and there to visit family and friends along the way. Weather was pleasant (could be horrendous this time of year) and overall the trip was smooth and were came home very pleased. Here is what we picked up:
1972 Chevelle, 383 with 4340 crank, rods, pistons, Dart heads, Team G single plane intake, Holley 780, EWP, all MSD ignition, 350TH with brake, 12-bolt 4.10, NOS Big Shot, full chromoly cage, ...
Car is immaculate in, out, under. Provided dyno sheets show the engine to have made 500/500 NA and the NOS system can go up to 400. Wendy and I plan to attend local car shows and trailer to ones further away. I'm sure I'm race it eventually but we're going to turn into those people with the lawn chairs sitting behind their car getting up every now and then to rub on it. I'm kind of looking forward to learning about carburetors, timing lights, jets ... again and leaving behind laptops, oxygen sensors, and the like.
The new C5 owner isn't a racer so he was looking for something to go from A to B, as well as car shows, with AC, PW, etc. He seemed happy and I'm sure he will enjoy it as much as we enjoy the Chevelle.
Thank you. As the saying goes pictures really don't do it justice. It isn't perfect (what car is?) and there are some little areas I'd like to address over time but for now we're excited to start attending car shows. In Texas, you can go most weekends during the year if you look hard enough and feel like it.
We had fun with the C5, and I learned a TON from the forum members, but I'm looking forward to the simplicity of an older ride. Not having an annual inspection for the state will be nice too.
I'm sure sooner than later I'll run it and post some results. I've been playing with the transbrake in the neighborhood and I'll have to admit they're fun! Regardless of what it runs I'm going to try to resist the temptation of making it go quicker and just enjoy it as it is. We have grandchildren that are about old enough to start appreciating cars and attending shows and races with us so we'll try to leave it alone.
Thank you. As the saying goes pictures really don't do it justice. It isn't perfect (what car is?) and there are some little areas I'd like to address over time but for now we're excited to start attending car shows. In Texas, you can go most weekends during the year if you look hard enough and feel like it.
We had fun with the C5, and I learned a TON from the forum members, but I'm looking forward to the simplicity of an older ride. Not having an annual inspection for the state will be nice too.
I'm sure sooner than later I'll run it and post some results. I've been playing with the transbrake in the neighborhood and I'll have to admit they're fun! Regardless of what it runs I'm going to try to resist the temptation of making it go quicker and just enjoy it as it is. We have grandchildren that are about old enough to start appreciating cars and attending shows and races with us so we'll try to leave it alone.
Scott
I love 70-72 Chevelle's and yours looks great. I hope you have a blast with it.
Straight up trade? That looks like a great deal (although I don't know the particulars of your C5)
Enjoy!!!
Yes, straight-up trade. We had a 2 owner, 54,000 miles 2004 coupe with bolt-ons and a cam. Longblock (other than cam), transmission and differential were stock. We did have LT headers, converter, gear, Bogart wheels and a nice nitrous system.
I was asking $25K for our car which I thought was fair and about what the market was going for on modded C5s. It was for sale for a long time with zero interest.
He was asking $30K for his. Was it worth that? Who knows? Included in all the paperwork I received on the car (a box full of every receipt, manuals for all of the go-fast goodies, dyno sheets, ...) was a professional appraisal valuing the car at $28K. What's that worth? Again, who knows?
It cost us $1K (diesel, hotels, food) and 4 days to drive to Michigan but we looked at it as a vacation as both Wendy and I have relatives in the north so we visited family and friends along the way.
In the end I think we got a great deal and we're very happy and think it was a fair trade for both parties.
Hey Scott,
Enjoyed meeting both you and Wendy. Hope you have a blast with the Chevelle. Like I said before, it found the right home. Had (3) Chevelle's and (1) 87 Grand National. I'm looking forward to cruising and learning about the C5 corvette's. To all out there, Scott & Wendy are awesome good hearted car people. Wouldn't even let me give them some gas money. The timing couldn't have been better with the weather, holidays, and the same time off. Sucks I have to wait till spring to try out the corvette, but more time to read and ask questions here.
Hope to stay in touch.
Brad & Dee
Hey Scott,
Enjoyed meeting both you and Wendy. Hope you have a blast with the Chevelle. Like I said before, it found the right home. Had (3) Chevelle's and (1) 87 Grand National. I'm looking forward to cruising and learning about the C5 corvette's. To all out there, Scott & Wendy are awesome good hearted car people. Wouldn't even let me give them some gas money. The timing couldn't have been better with the weather, holidays, and the same time off. Sucks I have to wait till spring to try out the corvette, but more time to read and ask questions here.
Hope to stay in touch.
Brad & Dee
Good morning Brad! Nice to see you and Dee on the forum. It was great to meet both of you and I know you'll learn a bunch from these guys and gals. Very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable folks.
Nice avatar too. I recognize that shop. I can't wait for you to be able to get out and drive when your weather breaks. Anxious to hear your first impressions.
Found the guy's name that built the Chevelle in the paperwork as well as his number and tried to contact him to find out a little history on the car. He called me back this morning and we talked for about 30 minutes. Nice guy! Learned a lot. He had the car for 20 years. Also found out the car was originally built in October of 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland and was originally dark green with a dark green bench seat interior. Wendy and I are currently detailing it ... clay bar, polish, wax ... we're crawling over every inch.
Good morning Brad! Nice to see you and Dee on the forum. It was great to meet both of you and I know you'll learn a bunch from these guys and gals. Very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable folks.
Nice avatar too. I recognize that shop. I can't wait for you to be able to get out and drive when your weather breaks. Anxious to hear your first impressions.
Found the guy's name that built the Chevelle in the paperwork as well as his number and tried to contact him to find out a little history on the car. He called me back this morning and we talked for about 30 minutes. Nice guy! Learned a lot. He had the car for 20 years. Also found out the car was originally built in October of 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland and was originally dark green with a dark green bench seat interior. Wendy and I are currently detailing it ... clay bar, polish, wax ... we're crawling over every inch.
Scott
That is cool you got a hold of original owner. When I bought the car I was told he was in a financial trouble, so I didn't feel right contacting him. But time can change things. Been checking out the H2 tuning software, very similar to the F.A.S.T. software I used for the Grand National. But until I can take it out for a few passes, I'll just leave the tune you left me with. Hope you and Wendy hit some cool shows this year... going to have to make room for the trophies... lol
So many times I've thought about dumping my vette for some classic iron. But, it would have to have LSx power.
This so much. I LOVE my car and have put a lot of time and money into it. But I would really love a classic car with LS power and a rear seat so the kids can enjoy riding in it too.
Ive been looking at craigslist for 63-67 Nova's lately. Those can look really intimidating with the right touches.
I understand the appeal and advantages of the LS platform and definitely see the coolness factor of having modern EFI in old muscle. However, I've been tinkering with fuel injection and computers for 20 years and to be honest am kind of over it. This 383 is nothing to sneeze at with all forged rotating assembly, giant roller, Dart heads ... To make 500 hp on pump gas and be able to handle all the nitrous I want to throw at it is perfect for me. I'm really anxious and ready and excited for a change back to old school. I'm going to order a carb tuning book as well as various tuning parts and even though it will never be an EFI unit I'm excited to learn how to fine tune it myself. Heck, this car doesn't have AC, heat, a radio, PS or PB so it wasn't really designed for long cruises which is perfect for us!
01-06-2017, 09:27 AM
traded the C5 for something "new"
I can't wait for you to be able to get out and drive when your weather breaks. Anxious to hear your first impressions.
