After a month of waiting I finally got to pick up my 72 convertible. I drove it home 225 miles with my son.

The interior is shot completely. I have already begun ordering carpet, etc. The dash is bent and warped badly. No resurrection there. The paint is pretty good and will not need attention for a few years. The wheels and tires are very good. All the glass and the windshield frame is fine. Under the hood looks good too. The rear window is torn so I guess that means a new top.

The standard 350 (I assume) misses terribly and stumbles on acceleration. My daily driver van could beat it 0-60. She really does not like it above 70 mph (4 speed). When you let up on the gas it backfires A LOT. Also, about half way home she started cutting out sporadically. We thought we were going to have to walk the last hundred miles. I don't think it even got 10 mpg. It has some model of edelbrock carb. The motor sounds OK. (I am NO mechanic). There are no wipers working and no heat. We got the fan to blow up through the defrost. I don't even know where the wipers come out! (dumb C4 guy). The console control units for the heater A/C and wipers seem to be broken.

This year I will concentrate on the interior. I absolutely will welcome any and all advice. When it comes to C3 knowledge I have no pride. I LOVE THIS CAR! It rides like a lumber truck compared to my 91 and it's not nearly as fast but THAT LOOK! Nothing like a red C3 vert!

 

Start by picking up a shop manual and assembly manual. A must before you touch anything. I would also consider a crate engine and a OD 5 or 6 speed tranny, but that's just me. Have fun!

 

Congrats on the new/old C3 sounds like a 225 mile trip to remember w/your son.

 

"have fun!" That's exactly why I bought this car. I enjoy improving where the previous owners neglected her. I my situation, I need to remember to go slowly and do every project "right". Even if it takes a few years. And don't forget to taker her for a drive regularly......

 

Ok heres my 2 cents. If you didnt pay a bundle and you and your son are going to make it a project its worth every penny you spent. If you are going to do the work yourself, it will cut the cost,but these cars are money pits to make right. My suggestion to anyone buying an old Vette is to buy a car someone has done and spend a little to have it checked out. Take your time, ask the Forum for advice, go to Swap meets for parts and have FUN doing it Good luck with your car. Send us some pics.

 

So far it sounds like everything is normal. It sounds like you need some work on the vacuum system and just about everything else in the engine compartment. You will progress from " I am NOT a mechanic" to "My mechanic doesn't know Sh*t" before you are through. Good luck and dust off your checkbook.



Rick B.

 

As we speak parts are being ordered and catalogs are being rifled. I can't start digging in too much. It snowed 8 inches here in about 5 hours this morning. Streets are plugged, schools and businesses are closed, I am pooped from shoveling and wallking through the heaviest snow all winter here.

I figure this to be about a five year project... I do not have the level of commitment that lots of you fellows have nor do I have any "corvette guys" around to assist. I do have access to a good GM-trained independent mechanic who tries not to laugh too much when I bring him my stuff I have messed up. But this car is not about having pros do the work. I will do 100 percent of the work I am capable of doing, as I did on my 91.

I read this section every day. That is how much respect and admiration I have for this group......

 

Hey, my brother is moving to Zumbrota (not that far away from you). He's got a 75 he's going to be ripping into, so if I'm over helping him, it might be arranged for me to come down and maybe give you a hand if you're really having some trouble or you want to see a fairly well put together 72.
Good luck. No better feeling then improving a car with your own 2 hands.

trw

 

"Nothing like a red C3 vert!"

Very true! You can see mine if you click on "My Corvette Photos". Welcome to the wonderful world of C3s. I would change spark plugs, cap, rotor, points, condenser, and wires. Good old fashioned tune-up. Lose the Edelbrock carb and get a Quadrajet rebuilt by Lars. That base 350 should run like a scalded dog.
Do a forum search for wiper/vacuum problems. The systems are not rocket science to troubleshoot. Ask lots of questions- there are plenty of knowledgeable C3 guys here.

Rich

 

I'm jealous! Your car is going to be so easy to improve. Have fun!

 

Cool welcoome to the world of C3's and chrome to boot. First of all i want to commned your bravery for making that trip. second of all the fact that you got it home at all is a reaaly good sign, means the old boy still has heart

Some one said get the assembly manual ans service manual. I would add picking up a copy how to restore and modify your corvette http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...lance&n=283155


I got this before i bougth my 68 as a guide of what to look for, it is a very handy book.

thne i would do the following

get it up on a lift or stands, and closely examine the front and rear suspension, and brakes. and fix anything you find. then do a general tune up replacing al the fluids, filters, and plugs, points, cap and rotor. This way at least you know you can drive it saefly with no surprises.
Then deice if you will do a rolling resto ( still get to have fun while working) or the frame off type, then decide on modifications enhancements

again
suspeinsion - busings, springs, shocks, control arms, ball joints tie rods etc.
Brakes - calipoers, lines hard and rubber, MC, (booster if poweer)
Powertrain - Top end fresh up carb, intake, ignition, cam or Complte rebuild to include pistons, rings, bearings, rods, crank.

Tranny and diff

just some thoughts

Congrats and ggod luck

tim

 

My 69 had 2 ***** under the steering wheel, 1 opened the headlights and the other opened the door that the wipers came out of (both are vacumm operated). All of the heater controls are vacumm also. I do not know about your year though?

 

All 68-72 had the same wiper and headlight overides ( actually pull down type switches). these were put in place to do maintenece in those areas when the engine was off. the third switch in the middle is the wiper overide that stops the wipers in a position to allow you to change the blades.

The heater controls on my 68 were all cable driven, not sure when they switched to vaccum

 

Congrats on your new awesome addition. You're right, the C4's and 5's drive incredibly better, BUT nothing has as much eye-candy value as the C3. Sounds like you have reasonable expectations on fixing her up. I too, read this forum everyday and am getting ready to pull my motor to do a rebuild (burns oil). I took the advice of many here also, and had Lars (he's an icon here) rebuild my leaking carb and also re-curve my distributor.

One suggestion I have (and I may get flamed for it) is to consider what and how much documentation you have for your car. If it came with a good history of who owned it, etc, and it hasn't been overly modified, you MIGHT want to consider keeping it stock, for long-term value and originality. Or that might not be your style, that's fine. I found with mine, that it had a lot of good records and is about 98% stock, so I decided to keep it that way - I love this car and mine's not about being the fastest. Good luck and let's see some pics.

Mark

http://www.1970stingray.com

 

Good purchase and let the fun begin!

 

Also go to
Doc Rebuild and pick up his vac system trouble shooting guide. That and a vacuum gauge will tell you what parts need to be replaced to get your headlights and wipers working.

Sounds like you might also need to look at getting the carb looked at/ replaced.

Scott

p.s. Enjoy!!

 

Corvettes seem to be like Harleys..... if you own one for any amount of time you become a mechanic. Also you wont have to fix that heater til last. my 71 sends enough heat through the firewall that I rarely have turn it on maybe 3x in 15 yrs.

 

225 mile trip with your son in a beat up red vette vert ..... priceless !

 

You guys are too much. I can tell my learning curve will be much sharper with the C3 than the C4. Now all I need is some decent weather. More snow on the way and lows in the teens. It was 10 above here this morning.

Yep, I DO want to see some other chromies if in the area.

Oh and by the way, I let junior drive her home most of the way. He never offered the wheel back to me........