Help with an 81
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 52
From: Southern NJ
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Help with an 81
I am helping a friend evaluate an 81 in DE. I have a midyear and know a bit about them however not much on the shark cars. I do know where to look for rust on a C2 and I assume it is the same on the C3. I also know where to look for all the numbers stuff. What other things that are known on the C3 cars that we should look at carefully. Thanks in advance for your help.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
John
Nice choice in a C2.
Sounds like you are in good shape to look at it now. Rust frame & birdcage & brakes. 80 up Federal have a computer & autos. have lock up converter. Some have mentioned a writeup on what to look for in C3.
I haven't looked at it- don't need it. You probably are fine now.
Nice choice in a C2.
Sounds like you are in good shape to look at it now. Rust frame & birdcage & brakes. 80 up Federal have a computer & autos. have lock up converter. Some have mentioned a writeup on what to look for in C3.
I haven't looked at it- don't need it. You probably are fine now.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Glenn Heights Tx
look to make sure the fiberglass bumpers fit right and are not cracked, same goes for the hood
make sure the brakes are still good, alot of em go soft due to the crappy calipers we have...
make sure the windows and t tops dont leak, these sharks are notorious for t top leaks and the windows pushing out due to weatherstripping
check the rear end for play on each side where the half shaft connects to the rear end..
check for play in the front end,these cars tend to chase the road way if they dont have good suspension stuff..
if i can think of anything else ill get back with ya!
make sure the brakes are still good, alot of em go soft due to the crappy calipers we have...
make sure the windows and t tops dont leak, these sharks are notorious for t top leaks and the windows pushing out due to weatherstripping
check the rear end for play on each side where the half shaft connects to the rear end..
check for play in the front end,these cars tend to chase the road way if they dont have good suspension stuff..
if i can think of anything else ill get back with ya!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
By '81 there wasn't much in the way of options, so numbers matching isn't a big issue. The L-83 was it for motor as I recall. If your friend is looking for an original car then look to see if the smog equipment is still present. Lots of folks rip out the A.I.R. pump, cats, swap out the original manifolds for headers, etc. Also a lot of '81's have had their notoriously difficult-to-work-on computer controlled carbs (not many out there, so therefore not many folks experience working on them) removed and replaced so check to see if it's the original carb.
The urethane front & back if original will almost certainly have some wave to it as well, so that's something to look for. My 80's rear spoiler looked like a rough day at the beach.
The urethane front & back if original will almost certainly have some wave to it as well, so that's something to look for. My 80's rear spoiler looked like a rough day at the beach.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,391
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
the '81 had the L81. the L83 was the '82,'84 cross-fire engine. the L81 will be the most significan mechanical deviation from your '66. kinda scary, huh? frame, suspension, brakes, driveline all pretty much unchanged in 15 years. everything else is pretty much "car". interior, body, etc.
the body has already been pretty well covered. the birdcage is notorious for rust, just like the rear kick-ups. but you knew that.
numbers? on an '81? o.k. the '81 is one of the few corvettes out there where you might be better off not having a matching numbers engine.
the L-81 can be kind of finicky. if you have smog issues in your state, your friend should have the car smog tested prior to buying just to get an idea of where the car is. as stated above, the car has a computer controlled carb and distributor, few people are really good with them. bad smog testing could prevent investing alot more money just getting a car legal to drive
if smog is not an issue, make sure the car runs well and good luck.
the body has already been pretty well covered. the birdcage is notorious for rust, just like the rear kick-ups. but you knew that.
numbers? on an '81? o.k. the '81 is one of the few corvettes out there where you might be better off not having a matching numbers engine.
the L-81 can be kind of finicky. if you have smog issues in your state, your friend should have the car smog tested prior to buying just to get an idea of where the car is. as stated above, the car has a computer controlled carb and distributor, few people are really good with them. bad smog testing could prevent investing alot more money just getting a car legal to drive
if smog is not an issue, make sure the car runs well and good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 1
From: St Augustine FL
Check the bird cage by removing the some of the interior trim piece like the wind shield pilar trim. Remove a door panel and check the doors for rust even if the weather stripping looks good. Raise the hood and check for rust by the head light assembly on the bumber mounts.
Im speaking from expirience! I bought an 82 that had a lot of popcorn rust in the doors and all over the power window regulators and locking mechanisms. Also check the inside of the wheels themselves. These are places I have found rust. Fortunately for me the bird cage and frame are good and doors are easy to fix or replace. Good luck!
Im speaking from expirience! I bought an 82 that had a lot of popcorn rust in the doors and all over the power window regulators and locking mechanisms. Also check the inside of the wheels themselves. These are places I have found rust. Fortunately for me the bird cage and frame are good and doors are easy to fix or replace. Good luck!
