Good luck man! Welcome to the club!!! 
My new 79 woes
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
My new 79 woes
Well I traded my 76 Superglide Harley for a pretty clean 79 Vette. It has a new paint job almost a platinum color. The interior is all new black except the dash is cracked. All new rotors, calipers, KYB shocks, tires, and radiator. None of the gauges work axcept for the temp gauge. The tach reads 5000 at idle, the speedo dosen't work, nothing works. The passenger window is dead. The headlights are of course in the up position. I look ofrward to tackling these little issues. I am an tech and service manager at a local shop so these little gremlins are fun to me. The bad part is the motor went south last night. It wiped 2 lobes off the cam. I also noticed a 6 inch crack in the side that had been welded up. I also found out the motor is a 400. So I went ahead and ordered a Jasper 385 horse stage 2 motor. All new with Dart heads. So I blew my budget on a motor but at least I won't have to worry about the motor again. The guy I got the car from gave me $1500 towards the motor. He is a stand up guy. After all the problems I still love the car. My 5 year old sone really loves the car. He was the reason I got it. I plan to take him to cruises and showes. Here are some crappy pics of the car. Thanks guys.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
Thanks guys. Jims79 that is what I think, all the important stuff is in good shape. Just work out the gremlins. I plan to take a bunch of pics of pulling the motor and trans. It will give me a chance to clean and detail the trans and engine bay.
Friend Request Magnet
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 50,242
Likes: 149
From: ♫ ♪ ♫♫ ♪ ♫ ♪♪ ♫
Originally Posted by windsoreight
Thanks guys. Jims79 that is what I think, all the important stuff is in good shape. Just work out the gremlins.
No chance the "headlights wont go down" gremilin is because the "stay up" acutator siwtch is in the incorrect position for them to be able to go down?
Its the little push button switch under the steering wheel attatched to the lower dash pnael...try pushing it in with the car running and headlights OFF.
Jim
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
Nope I have tried it. The actuator for the left headlight is bad. I operated the system with my Mitvac and the right side worked perfectly. There problem is inside however. I have vacuum going into the firewall but none coming out. So I have to go into the dash to see whats up.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
That IS a unique color for a C3. Glad your "standup" guy came thru with a little cash concerning the motor. I'm just wondering how standup he really is, selling you the car and not telling you about the motor. Hope it works out well for you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
Thanks guys. The guy I got the car from knew nothing about the car. He bought it from a used car dealer, put a $2500 paint job, all new black interior, and traded it to me. He never even drove the car. I drove it first and all seemed good. The funny thing is I have worked of at least 5 78 & 79's in the last few weeks. Out of all of them mine is the best driving car. I even inspected a 79 today from an estate auction with 60,000 miles. I just can't wait to get the new motor in. I have everything ordered. Jasper reccomends a 750 and Edelbrock RPM intake. So I have them coming along with hooker headers, dual exhaust, and Flowmaster mufflers. So what if none of the gauges work, I should run its *** off.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Ocean City MD
I pulled the engine and trans today. I will get pics up tomorrow. My transmission will have to be rebuilt. It shifted great but is full of clutch material. So I just ordered a kit and 2000 stall convertor. Looks like one night this week I will be tearing it down and building it. I hope nothing else goes wrong. This vette is getting expensive.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by windsoreight
I pulled the engine and trans today. I will get pics up tomorrow. My transmission will have to be rebuilt. It shifted great but is full of clutch material. So I just ordered a kit and 2000 stall convertor. Looks like one night this week I will be tearing it down and building it. I hope nothing else goes wrong. This vette is getting expensive.
