New Guy
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
New Guy
Hello.
You guys have a great forum, i've been looking around for the past few weeks.
Last week I purchased my first C3 (72 coupe, 454, auto). Since it hadn't been started/run in at least a year (but no more than 2), I had it towed home on a flatbed. After some investigation, i've found the following things wrong:
Power steering leak - FIXED - return hose had 2 holes in it, burst or rats
RF brake caliper leaking - this was the only factory one left on the car, new part came in today, replacing tommorow
I also drained the gas tank, replaced the fuel filters, charged the battery, and changed the plugs. The battery will drain if not on a tender, this is the reason my boss quit driving car.
Now the car starts and runs great! very nice growl from the sidepipes. But once at operating temp, i get a fairly steady oil leak dripping from between the tranny and oil pan. Since i've got cork valve cover gaskets, i'm hoping its leaking down from there. I'm hoping to replace the caliper tomorrow and drive the car for the first time tomorrow.
Pictures at: http://www.pantsface.com/
You guys have a great forum, i've been looking around for the past few weeks.
Last week I purchased my first C3 (72 coupe, 454, auto). Since it hadn't been started/run in at least a year (but no more than 2), I had it towed home on a flatbed. After some investigation, i've found the following things wrong:
Power steering leak - FIXED - return hose had 2 holes in it, burst or rats
RF brake caliper leaking - this was the only factory one left on the car, new part came in today, replacing tommorow
I also drained the gas tank, replaced the fuel filters, charged the battery, and changed the plugs. The battery will drain if not on a tender, this is the reason my boss quit driving car.
Now the car starts and runs great! very nice growl from the sidepipes. But once at operating temp, i get a fairly steady oil leak dripping from between the tranny and oil pan. Since i've got cork valve cover gaskets, i'm hoping its leaking down from there. I'm hoping to replace the caliper tomorrow and drive the car for the first time tomorrow.
Pictures at: http://www.pantsface.com/
Last edited by 4fifty4; Feb 2, 2006 at 03:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
It looks to me like someone took a newer C3 and put on the front and rear clip from an early C3. The rear compartments are not correct and this is usually something that people would not change. The door panels are wrong and the gauges are incorrect as is most of the interior for an early chrome bumper car. You don't have a bad looking car but I'd do some more investigating to find out what you really have. The rear end is a little high also.
Last edited by Gordonm; Dec 31, 2005 at 01:01 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 3
From: East Waterboro Maine
Originally Posted by Gordonm
It looks to me like someone took a newer C3 and put on the front and rear clip from an early C3. The rear compartments are not correct and this is usually something that people would not change. The door panels are wrong and the gauges are incorrect as is most of the interior for an early chrome bumper car. You don't have a bad looking car but I'd do some more investigating to find out what you really have. The rear end is a little high also.
, looks like someone switched almost the entire interior from a later year C3. With a little TLC you'll have a nice looking car, congrats! 
Definitely loose the wheels though.. 
Just don't look right on a C3 IMHO.And by the way, you have a very intersting looking dog in that first picture, kinda looks like one of those creatures from Men in Black...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
It is a 'period' custom - Mid to late 80's. VB&P were advertising pulling a G on the skid pad then with their carbon spring package and C4 wheels. Full upgrade to late C3 interior is a little unusual. L88 hodd, headlights in the grill. Pretty cool over all. Have fun!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Welcome to the forum...
Looks like you got a "two fer".....79 later ? innards and 72 front/rear clips...??? I have a 78 and a 69 and found myself running back and forth comparing both of mine to yours...
Think you might find a VIN on the frame..back by rear wheel ???
Good Luck
Looks like you got a "two fer".....79 later ? innards and 72 front/rear clips...??? I have a 78 and a 69 and found myself running back and forth comparing both of mine to yours...
Think you might find a VIN on the frame..back by rear wheel ???
Good Luck
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Welcome to the Corvette Forum. You will love it here. Lots of great folks here.
The great thing about it is you can do whatever you want to this car. It is yours and if you are happy with it, that is all that matters. Ask most here and you will find out we all have way more money in it than they are actually worth. Just enjoy the car for what it is. A great cruiser and capable sports car.
The great thing about it is you can do whatever you want to this car. It is yours and if you are happy with it, that is all that matters. Ask most here and you will find out we all have way more money in it than they are actually worth. Just enjoy the car for what it is. A great cruiser and capable sports car.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Thanks guys. Loving the forum!!
I got the new brake caliper on today plus new brake pads on front and bled all the air out of the system. Once I ran it up to operating temp up on the jack stands I found out i've got a leak on the rear main seal and maybe the front one also.
I don't know about tackling that myself, so does anyone know what that is gonna run me? There is a corvette-specific shop in town...
Got her out on the road for the first time tonight, got a good car wash and a full tank of premium and took her home. I switched positions and let my brother bring her the last 1/3 of the way, he got in and dropped her in 1, then it died. We think he or I kicked the aftermarket alarm and the alarm is killing it. It turns over, gets spark (at plug wires) and fuel, but no start. Oh well, now i've got something to do tomorrow.
Other problems i've found today:
No dash lights
Brake warning lamp stays on (goes off with gearshift jiggle)
No blinkers
Alarm sucks
I got the new brake caliper on today plus new brake pads on front and bled all the air out of the system. Once I ran it up to operating temp up on the jack stands I found out i've got a leak on the rear main seal and maybe the front one also.
I don't know about tackling that myself, so does anyone know what that is gonna run me? There is a corvette-specific shop in town...
Got her out on the road for the first time tonight, got a good car wash and a full tank of premium and took her home. I switched positions and let my brother bring her the last 1/3 of the way, he got in and dropped her in 1, then it died. We think he or I kicked the aftermarket alarm and the alarm is killing it. It turns over, gets spark (at plug wires) and fuel, but no start. Oh well, now i've got something to do tomorrow.
Other problems i've found today:
No dash lights
Brake warning lamp stays on (goes off with gearshift jiggle)
No blinkers
Alarm sucks
Last edited by 4fifty4; Feb 2, 2006 at 03:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
Boy you've had a full day, but don't give up on her. Your main seal leak is easy to repair and you can do it. Just buy a good repair reference book for easy directions. no dash lights could be as simple as a fuse, blinkers may also be a fuse or bad bulb, worse wire inside steering colum. Brake warning light could be a lot of things, but you said you just bled the lines so maybe the valve is an issue. Anyway, good luck and there is alot of good guy's here that can help solve almost any issue, just for the asking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Welcome to the world of C3s as indicated by others your interior looks like 78-82. Is your rear end aluminum or rusty cast steel? The late C3s have aluminum rear end brackets and housings. The speedometer is earlier as it is more than 85.Do you have pictures of the engine/ firewall?
Friend Request Magnet
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 50,242
Likes: 149
From: ♫ ♪ ♫♫ ♪ ♫ ♪♪ ♫
Originally Posted by 4fifty4
The small dog is mine, a Brussels Griffon "Buddy" and the big guy is "Zeus", a Boxer.
Nice...the speedo and tach look nothing like the one in my 79...maybe 82.
Though the seats, door panels, center console and center gauge/bezels looks like my 79..except for the rear-window defogger...that looks like the light switch for my boat..lol
Actually; your boxer even looks like mine, and is name "Zues" like mine.
I resued him after Katrita (hurricanes Rita+ Katrina)
One piece of advice that I was given, and I'll pass it to you...its addictive to have a C-3, and the money can always find a place to be spent on one...its a mystery.
As a matter of fact; since its a mix-n-matched car already...I have a new 350 cubic inches/ 9.0:1 compression ratio/ L-82 console badge if you're intrested.
Good luck on a nice blue start....awsome year C-3
Welcome to the spending spree,
Jim
ps
with ditching the rims...I actually (Friday) seen a very decent set of stock 79 slotted rims on FleaBay sell for a hunert clams BIN... no tires, center caps, or lugs and shipping is about a buck-fifty
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,706
Likes: 298
From: Concord VA, U.S.A.
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
The speedometer is an aftermarket conversion. It's what I have in my '80, though I still have the original 85 MPH as well. I think the '78 and early '79 Corvettes had the 140 MPH speedometers and then switched to the 85 MPH speedometers midway in the '79 run. The '77 and earlier cars had the 160 MPH speedometers. 
The '77 and earlier cars had the 160 MPH speedometers.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Originally Posted by 4fifty4
The small dog is mine, a Brussels Griffon "Buddy" and the big guy is "Zeus", a Boxer.
Have fun with the Vette...almost looks like someone took a 1978 "basket" and put a 72 tail and nose on it.
What do the numbers say it actually is?
Welcome to the best forum anywhere!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I've fixed a few more demons:
Battery drain = pass door courtesy light switch faulty
Cleaned wiring mess in battery compartment and cleaned the corrosion out
Removed A/C compressor (top bracket was homemade and broken)
Repaired "purple wire" under dash, which kept car from starting. Must've accidently come out of a splice during the first test drive.
Fixed all electrical bugs by pulling all fuses/relays and replacing with what's specified in the service manual.
Also found remnants of car alarm, but no "brain".
Now I'm chasing down the oil leak. It appears to be the rear main seal because its leaking from between the oil pan and flywheel/torque converter and spraying a little I think. I can tell this, because the flywheel and torque converter are completely exposed! So I ordered a cover today. I also torqued down the oil pan and valve covers in case the oil was coming from topside.
Tomorrow: Replace plug wires, change oil & filter, get car detailed
More pics should be up shortly on http://www.pantsface.com
Thanks for all the help and encouragement!
Battery drain = pass door courtesy light switch faulty
Cleaned wiring mess in battery compartment and cleaned the corrosion out
Removed A/C compressor (top bracket was homemade and broken)
Repaired "purple wire" under dash, which kept car from starting. Must've accidently come out of a splice during the first test drive.
Fixed all electrical bugs by pulling all fuses/relays and replacing with what's specified in the service manual.
Also found remnants of car alarm, but no "brain".
Now I'm chasing down the oil leak. It appears to be the rear main seal because its leaking from between the oil pan and flywheel/torque converter and spraying a little I think. I can tell this, because the flywheel and torque converter are completely exposed! So I ordered a cover today. I also torqued down the oil pan and valve covers in case the oil was coming from topside.
Tomorrow: Replace plug wires, change oil & filter, get car detailed
More pics should be up shortly on http://www.pantsface.com
Thanks for all the help and encouragement!
Last edited by 4fifty4; Feb 2, 2006 at 03:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
Likes: 9
From: Salinas Ca.
Welcome... yes, this site is topssssss!!!! You'll learn a ton here as I have. Hey, I can't seem to look at your pride and joy. When I click the link.. it seems to go nowhere...must be AOL as the guys dont seem to have a problem. Have fun! Don