'78 Restoration
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 93
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From: Everett WA
'78 Restoration
So here is the deal. I bought a '78 that seemed to be pretty strong. I paid to much but not horrible considering I live in Hawaii. Turns out it has typical C3 problems. The body is coming of to fix the bird cages and the forward frame mounts. THat should be fun
Here is the question, I'm on a limited budget. What should I replace while I have the body off. I wanted to do something really wild with the engine to get better gas milage, but I've canned that idea. The car is a daily driver now, and will return to comuter duty 10k miles + a year when it is finished.
The engine and transimion seem strong. They have been comuting onver the mountains for a year and a half without any problems. The car has 100k miles. Should I just bit the bullet and have them rebuilt while the car is apart or wait until they break. I'm also considering rebuilding the front and rear suspensions. I have no problems with them, but it seems like a good time to do it while the car is apart.
What are your thoughts. What absolutely should be rebuilt, what could wait until it later.
Jarrett
Here is the question, I'm on a limited budget. What should I replace while I have the body off. I wanted to do something really wild with the engine to get better gas milage, but I've canned that idea. The car is a daily driver now, and will return to comuter duty 10k miles + a year when it is finished.
The engine and transimion seem strong. They have been comuting onver the mountains for a year and a half without any problems. The car has 100k miles. Should I just bit the bullet and have them rebuilt while the car is apart or wait until they break. I'm also considering rebuilding the front and rear suspensions. I have no problems with them, but it seems like a good time to do it while the car is apart.
What are your thoughts. What absolutely should be rebuilt, what could wait until it later.
Jarrett
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Its a shame you cant do everything since your going to go through so much trouble to take the body off. If it were me, I would take some of that money and go buy a cheap daily driver that gets you where you need to go and take the time with the vette. That way you can do what you want with the vette as time and money constraints allow.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 576
Likes: 1
From: Baytown Texas
Originally Posted by LittleJake
Its a shame you cant do everything since your going to go through so much trouble to take the body off. If it were me, I would take some of that money and go buy a cheap daily driver that gets you where you need to go and take the time with the vette. That way you can do what you want with the vette as time and money constraints allow.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Once you have the body off every thing is more accesable. you may as well go through the suspension and brake system, change fuel and brake lines and give the frame a fresh coat of paint. If you have rust in the bird cage, you may find some on the frame as well. this is the time to fix it all. Be sure to remove the windshield and trim to check the pillers for rust also. As far as the drive train goes, do you really want to have to pull the motor again in a year or so? If budget allows, I would drive train, frame, suspension, underbody rust now and leave paint, interior, and easily accesable items for later. I have a pretty fresh 350 from my 81 I will sell cheap. PM if you are interested. I have no idea what shipping cost would be though. may not be worth it.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Everett WA
Originally Posted by LittleJake
Its a shame you cant do everything since your going to go through so much trouble to take the body off. If it were me, I would take some of that money and go buy a cheap daily driver that gets you where you need to go and take the time with the vette. That way you can do what you want with the vette as time and money constraints allow.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Jarrett
