First of all ...I have been deflowered -- I finally scored my first C3 last weekend -- '77 Red 4 spd. It drives like nothing else -- that's for sure.

I have a few items to ask about:

While I'm talking about the car, I haven't driven a C3 before, so I'm not sure if the "geariness" that I feel in the shifter is normal? It's not dramatic, but it is more than I'm accustomed to. I have replacement of the fluids in the tranny and differential on my list, but the stuff hasn't arrived yet. Could it also be a wheel bearing?

The upper radiator hose didn't have any protective wrapping (I call it looming) and it is rubbing against the fan shroud and the belt guard near the alternator. Anyone know a source for that or some other way to protect my upper hose?

The tach doesn't work, and I noticed the brown tach wire had looked like it was "crushed" under the distributor cap at one time (spacing and types of marks). Does grounding that lead take out the circuit board behind the tach? I replaced the section of wire, and ordered a board -- but just in case it's something else ...

The backup lights don't work. I found the harness was cut (I say cut, but the "cut" is too jagged to be a cutting tool). I can't see where these wires should go. I have a connector that leads into a harness that meets a lot of connectors at the firewall on the drivers side. Where do the leads go that sends the power back to the lights? The wires are pink/white strip and light green.

Any experience with any of these items, and you're assistance is welcomed and appreciated.

Brian.

 

Congratulations on getting your C3. There will be a lot of help coming for your questions here on the Forum.

1. What do you mean by GEARINESS? Is that a grinding noise you hear from the rearend, or is it from a wheel assembly area.

2. For the upper radiator hose question is it just sitting on the shroud, or does it look like it is rubbing. If there is any part number or marking on it you may be able to check that it is right hose for your car. The wrong hose may have been used at some point by the previous owner.

3. For the tach issue, you may check the continuity of your wire. If it was crushed it could be damaged and broken. If you replaced it, then the next step would be to check the board, or the fuses to the board. You ordered a new board so that is a good start.

4. For the wiring issue....you need to get a wiring diagram from a manual to chase down all the connections.

Your best bet is to get a set of manuals, Chiltons, Haynes, or assembly instruction manual.

kdf

 

1. Yes, these trannys have much more "geariness" than modern units.

2. Undo the hose clamp at the radiator and twist the hose away from the shroud.

3. You're on the right track in terms of the tach board.

4. Bubba wuz here! Get the GM shop manual

 

welcome to the wonderful worlds of corvettes....i wonder if you are feeling the high rpms at cruising....what rpm do you have at 60mph in 4th

 

Thanks ...great to be here!

I really have no idea ...the problem is that the tach is broke, and I just got the board today for it, so I can't get that answer until I fix the other issue

 

1. By geariness ...I can actually feel the vibration from the gear teeth meshing. It doesn't feel "bad" per se, but it's not something i'm used to and I don't know how much or little of that should transfer to the shifter. Hard to nail down, but it almost feels like rear end rather than tranny ...but I could be off. Also a bit of a growl during decel at certain speed ranges.

2. The belt is rubbing against the shroud and against the corner of what looks like a "belt guard" that is attached the bracket that holds the alternator. For now, I used some nylon ties to hold it in place ...but the chance it's the wrong hose is possible.

4. I'm grabbing those books from Ed ...Chilton is what I have now, and they don't show the "routes" for the wires ...just the schematics, and that part I've got sorted out

I'm going to change all the fluids here pretty quick, and maybe have a look at the rear end. I'm also going to have a look at the wheel bearings to see if they are in good shape.

I found the brown tach wire looked like it had been pinched under the distributor cap, and grounding out that lead appears to be death to that circuit board So lets hope it didn't waste anything else.

Thanks for the input.

 

that is the signal to the tach perhaps it was just broken?