I'm not sure how to start this to you guys this is my first post and my father is on this forum. He told me you guys have a lot of knowledge and this is the place to come! I have a winter project on hand and I will be getting into racing next season very heavily. I have for me to work on a 1979 Corvette L-48 Auto 38k miles. It's in pretty good shape for the year.

Some history: The car was stored for 22 years in a barn in New Jersey. A sports director for Rutgers University wasn't interested in keeping it. So he put it on eBay. The car was a 1979 Light Sky Blue with 37k miles on it. The way it had been stored i was surprised. What this guy did was he filled the entire motor with oil, took out every spark plug and filled the cylinders with oil, and put it on blocks under cover. The guy also had a whole new power steering system, whole new OE calipers and bent brakes lines , and about 1000$ in just random parts. (Carpet, roof pannels, brake master cylinder, ect...) The car rolled out of the barn with us pushing it minding you it hasn't moved in 22 years. We walked away with this car for $1,500$
I think we got a deal...

Any who, I want to make this a mild street/low speed auto-x car.

Engine options: I currently have 2 350 blocks from a 86 corvette and obviously the one motor that is in the 79 corvette now. One of the 86 blocks I know for sure had a blown head gasket. We used all the parts off that one to complete the another car. We have the oil pan to the pistons. I would like the same set up that i had in my 1987 Corvette with the headers/exhaust system set up but who knows for now...

Transmission: I drive sStandard. Any car i drive for a good period of time must be standard. I love it.

But was wondering if a 700R4 would be better for auto-x and drag? Does it really all come down to personal pref? I shift pretty good in my car. Whether its the corvette/daily driver. Let me know on this one... And if i do go manual do i would like the 6 speed (from 1991 vette), or 4 speed (from 78 parts car), 4 speed (4+3) (from 87ish that auto shifts into over drive when your done shifting to 4th gear manually), are there any other combinations from maybe a different car?...

Now if i go with the newer set up i want to put the digital dash that comes with that new car. With this i would have to custom a dash out of fiberglass i believe or something else.

There is body work to do! but i will be doing it myself. Nothing big just hate the itchy part of fiberglass. Its original paint. I'll get some pix sometime.

So let me know what you guys would do??

This is the only picture i have of it right now... to drive this car as it sits i needs:

Transmission gasket kit
wheel bearing (left rear)
battery
carb rebuilt kit
frontal fuel lines
Oil change
paint job

Any input appreciated!

 

You really have a broad field to decide from, and you will get a LOT of suggestions...mostly contradicting one another.

I would suggest:
383 stroker
5-Speed Manual (T5 or Keisler...ect.)
Complete Brake and Suspension Kits

Front Spoiler
Rear Spoiler
Electric lights and Hydro Braking (Shave off weight and vacuum system.)

Like I said...many ideas will come...and a must here is pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome to the forum I don't do any racing, but a handful of the guys here do, and I'm sure you will get plenty of advice.

It sounds as though you made a real good deal on the car. Hopefully the frame and birdcage are solid. Good luck with the project and stay plugged in here. Post up some more pics when you can

 

Build for the drags, put a 632 in it and scare women & small children.

 

Oh, and tint the windows and add lots of performance company decals. Cars always run faster with decals. I hear black cars are one of the fastest...so you may consider painting it black too...

 

thanks that helps me decide what color to paint it...

I think this is going to be an "economy" build. Meaning I rebuild the carburetor, fix the wheel bearing, do the 4 speed swap, and paint it. When the motor blows or whatever the case may be, next winter will be an LS1 swap? who knows. i know i just want to be able to drive the car this summer!

Would anyone have a List of parts needed to do the complete swap?

 

For all the info you could want on LS1/6/7/X swaps, register on this forum, and search, search, and search.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/index.php?

 

No info on an LS1 swap, but I'm thinking just what you seem to be thinking. See what you've got in the engine that's in the car by getting it running. I bought my 79 a little over a year ago and it was a must that it had to be a 4 spd, so in my opinion, I'd definitely be doing a swap somwhere in the future.

 

38,000 original documented miles ??? keep it stock, restore & refurbish don't bubbasize it at all !!!

i'm certain there arent too many very low miles ones around !!

$1500 you should be in jail for: ROBBERY !!!

 

I almost bought a Florida '73, 383 stroker, mostly Bubba custom, but it had 11K original miles. I passed because it was just a little more than I would want to pay for that car, when I would be changing a lot.

 

Why would anyone mess around with an 11,000 mile ORIGINAL car ?

 

I'm not sure, but he was asked by a lot of people if the mileage was rollover, and he said he had documented proof that the mileage was an original 11K. Hard to believe, and I wanted it...but I had to pass.

 

I've done a little searching. It seeme the T5 seems to be pretty popular! I'm goingg to look more into that. I would much rather have the 5 speed then the stock 4 speed.

 

hello all new to the forum me and my wife have a 74 and a 76 dhu my screen name gave that away. but we are going to do the 76 as a custom and keep the orange 74 stock best of both worlds i think we have the parts for the 76 just waiting for the weather to warm up here in colorado. i have to say there is so much info on this forum and the people seem very nice.

 

What plans do you have for the '76?

 

I just pulled the transmission and engine this weekend... I do have pictures if anyone would like to see what a mess im working with.... If the engine harness is pretty cut up can you buy the engine compartment harness and if so does it plug in somewhere that makes it easy to change it out? i already have to pull the dash! Anyone want to see some pic's let me know i'll post them

 

Getting back to the original message:

I put large runner TPI with FAST ECU and CLosed loop with free flowing side pipes (original block bored .30 over), bigger aluminim radiator, Tremec TKO 500 (3:55 rear) Electric cooling fans, VBP front mono and composite rear (ditched the coils) Upgraded brakes and rotors, 17" low profile, lowered (3") to give better center of gravity. Modified interior with all Autometer Phantom guages and carbon fiber dash inserts. Serpentine system, upgraded late model power sterring system. Tinted tops and reatr window, blacked out taillights. Put a few stickers on as well, but only after it was dynoed (lol) It took about 4 years in my spare time.

I also was able to drive it when I wanted as I only did one project at a time.





Engine pic shows the 700R4 trans cable I had originally replaced the TH350 with a 700R4, but decided I really liked the better feel and control of a 5 speed. I have never measured it with a meter, but VB&P says the car should pull .97g's in the turn with this suspension set up.

Good Luck

 

Under the car on the lift... not too shabby... i've seen worse...


say goodbye to the automatic transmission...


The power source... and brand new leaking power steering....


what does this do?


Frontal


needs new fuel lines... to the tank... they are all rubber..


The project...

shes a bit messsy....


massive line mess...

Its decided... with school and the amount of money i have its going to get a gasket kit and im going to paint it. Full exhaust w/headers. Performance intake, rebuild of the carb, and the auto to manual tranny swap... its a very dirty car compared to all of your corvettes on here...

 

I saw a Fram oil filter. I would suggest throwing that thing away and getting something that'll filter better the screen door on your house.

 

You have a PM