Gonna miss ya Corz, I've allways enjoyed your post, even when they were a little heated about the car. Good luck in whatever direction you choose to go. Your still young and have a lot of good years ahead of you.

Take care,
The Iceman,
Keith
PS I'm 45 now and have some expendable income, and you can't be one of these people that worry about how much it cost to get it the way you want it and keep it there. I just think at least I'm not blowing it at a Casino or in a bar, etc. I know I'll propbably never get my money back but a classic musscle car is not an investment, it's a toy

 

Cory,
That's too bad about the latest engine. Do you think the gasoline was the cause or too tight a ring gap?

One thing to remember is these cars are junk. Ok everyone can rip me if you want but I've worked on enough of them for the past 30 years to say that. Does anyone remember going to a showroom in the 70's and really looking over a vette on the floor? I do and the fit was bad with 0 miles on them.

With that said the drivetrains are pretty good. You might say you had bad luck or are cursed but these are just machines not witchcraft. Find the problem and repair it, like anything else. Yes, it will take time,money,tools and experience. They can be made into a reliable driver, many C2 and C3 have hundreds of thousands of miles on them.

When I was your age I drove my 69 everyday in CT- rain, snow, hot days, drove it to college parties, bars, etc. You know what? it broke just like any other car would. The majority of the problems were the vette dedicated crap items- wiper door, door handles,headlights, water leaks,tac-drive,etc. The drivetrain ran great once I rebuilt it. I kicked it,punched it, drove it hard and repaired it. I stopped driving it daily years ago because they are as practical as riding a bike in the snow for regular use,not because a mechanical problem just no room for anything.

If you like that car, and I think you do, park it and walk away for year or two or more. These are the best cars to hate, but most keep them.

Good luck and enjoy life while you can.

Gary

 

Agree on GM quality ie poor body fit,like gaps in doors,seams showing,weldspatter on frame,etc,but junk ? Hardly.
Just my opinion after owning driving,racing autocross,many road trips around the country in the past 25 years.Still on orignial motor,tranny,rear end.I can add a few more items like Carb,alternator,starter. Yeah,put new A/C compressor,fuel pump,radiator,water pump,clutch fan,u-joints,steering control valve,smog pump,misc hoses,but not all at once.OH,new paint and blocked the body,too.Even fiberglassed both door seams,and re-cut to correct the gaps.Parts wear out.118,365 miles.and increasing !! And the fun.........never hated that.

 

How is this sad news if you gave it to your parents AND you're buying another Vette? How can you afford a Z06, but not afford to fix the engine on the C3? Sounds like good news to me!

 

I agree, I wish I could have such bad news

I know what you mean and recently I keep feeling like I'm losing the battle of attrition. I am sure as hell not going to give up (inherited stubbornness from my grandfather) but I am finally doing the smart thing and getting a DD that gets 50-60mpg (50 is when you flog it!)

Yeh I posted this already in another topic... I'm a little excited about it.

Good luck and hope you can make it a 2-Vette stable soon,
Chris

 

Never said I couldnt afford a new engine, I just chose not to pay for a new one with my great luck with this car

it's sad because I'm finally giving up on my dream car.. for now at least

 

I stayed out of trouble through my teenage years fixing cars. I learnd skills that I can still market for extra money to this day. I always wanted a Vette. I stated with a basket case vert at 24 after being married 1 1/2 years and it took 10 more years of work and through 2 kids to finally be able to drive it. Many times I enjoyed just going out, looking at the car, and dreaming what it would be like. Now 3 years later there is no time to work on anything much extra. Kids take all your extra time if you do them right. My point is this. Maybe you lay low on the cars until you find the right girl, but you should enjoy your car time now. I don't see much time to play cars again for 15 or so years. By that time I'll be 50+ and unable to get under the dash anymore. Maybe we will get to restore 1 with my sons, but wow there is a lot of time needed for them-and we only allow 1 activity at a time (ie: not baseball and soccer same season).

By the way, my wife "bought off" on my hobby before we got married. I won't tell you we never disagree with it, but I was easy to find in the garage if she needed me. And she is OK with the extra car that I always seem to have waiting for an engine. Fixing and buying and selling cars is how I financed my Vette.

Good luck whatever you do.

 

You'll be back......TRUST ME....know why? if you get a c5 you will feel like your in a camaro and the older vettes like c2's are sky high and although I really like m c4 theres nothing like looking out over these huge humps on these c3's.

 

Sorry to hear
Hope that you'll find a nice C5.

 

That's a fun bike. I had a Kawasaki EX500 (same class) for a long time and sold it to get my Vette. My wife said I could get a Vette if I sold the bike. I really miss the bike. Wish I still had it.

 

maybe on some days (when the c3 is running again), your parents will be willing to trade cars.