researching a vette
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
researching a vette
So i sold my camaro ss cuz i bought a house and im looking to make a c3 my next toy. heres a few little q's i have:
1. is there a good page on the detailed differences in the years?
2. what year would be best to have if i plan on an ls1 swap?
3. any advise on things to look for when buying a c3? problem areas to check?
Thanks!
1. is there a good page on the detailed differences in the years?
2. what year would be best to have if i plan on an ls1 swap?
3. any advise on things to look for when buying a c3? problem areas to check?
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I don't know of a web page detailing Corvette yearly differences but a Google search should turn up something. The Corvette Black Book is a great reference to have and there are many many books on Corvette history available.
You can put an LS1 into any year C3 so your budget will be the deciding factor in which year you buy. Good luck on your search and post some pics when you find a Vette.
Rick B.
You can put an LS1 into any year C3 so your budget will be the deciding factor in which year you buy. Good luck on your search and post some pics when you find a Vette.
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
As far as problem areas to check are:
frame rust especially around lower controll arm mounts, frame sides and end of frame in front of the rear tires where it's welded and goes up and over the rear suspension, bird cage (steel cage around pass compartment), bring a white towel when you go look at a car and put it under the dash by the kick panels and open and close the doors a bunch of times. If you see rust flakes on the towel there's rust on the bird cage probably at the base of the windshield corners. Costly repair!
Lots of times there's stress cracks around the headlight covers and hood at the corners. Common problem.
Check the vacume system to make sure the lights pop up quickly and if it's a 68-72, the wiper door opens when you turn on the wipers .
Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Glenn
frame rust especially around lower controll arm mounts, frame sides and end of frame in front of the rear tires where it's welded and goes up and over the rear suspension, bird cage (steel cage around pass compartment), bring a white towel when you go look at a car and put it under the dash by the kick panels and open and close the doors a bunch of times. If you see rust flakes on the towel there's rust on the bird cage probably at the base of the windshield corners. Costly repair!
Lots of times there's stress cracks around the headlight covers and hood at the corners. Common problem.
Check the vacume system to make sure the lights pop up quickly and if it's a 68-72, the wiper door opens when you turn on the wipers .
Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Glenn
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
I don't know of a web page detailing Corvette yearly differences but a Google search should turn up something. The Corvette Black Book is a great reference to have and there are many many books on Corvette history available.
You can put an LS1 into any year C3 so your budget will be the deciding factor in which year you buy. Good luck on your search and post some pics when you find a Vette.
Rick B.
You can put an LS1 into any year C3 so your budget will be the deciding factor in which year you buy. Good luck on your search and post some pics when you find a Vette.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
As far as problem areas to check are:
frame rust especially around lower controll arm mounts, frame sides and end of frame in front of the rear tires where it's welded and goes up and over the rear suspension, bird cage (steel cage around pass compartment), bring a white towel when you go look at a car and put it under the dash by the kick panels and open and close the doors a bunch of times. If you see rust flakes on the towel there's rust on the bird cage probably at the base of the windshield corners. Costly repair!
Lots of times there's stress cracks around the headlight covers and hood at the corners. Common problem.
Check the vacume system to make sure the lights pop up quickly and if it's a 68-72, the wiper door opens when you turn on the wipers .
Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Glenn
frame rust especially around lower controll arm mounts, frame sides and end of frame in front of the rear tires where it's welded and goes up and over the rear suspension, bird cage (steel cage around pass compartment), bring a white towel when you go look at a car and put it under the dash by the kick panels and open and close the doors a bunch of times. If you see rust flakes on the towel there's rust on the bird cage probably at the base of the windshield corners. Costly repair!
Lots of times there's stress cracks around the headlight covers and hood at the corners. Common problem.
Check the vacume system to make sure the lights pop up quickly and if it's a 68-72, the wiper door opens when you turn on the wipers .
Hope this helps. Good luck in your search.
Glenn
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
From: North Richland Hills TX
Do what I did; go to your local Barnes & Noble and look in the automobile section...you'll find a ton of stuff to read up on.
The "68-82 Restoration Guide" is a good book to have; tells you what to look out for and how to's...
The "68-82 Restoration Guide" is a good book to have; tells you what to look out for and how to's...
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Ponoka Alberta
Sorry for jumping the thread.
Is this the book you refer to?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...0306574&itm=15
Is this the book you refer to?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...0306574&itm=15
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
A later higher production number year like 1979 would probably have the largest selection of reasonably priced cars. It's going to take about the same amount of work to convert any C3 to a LS1. There aren't any complete conversion packages so you have to do a lot of your own engineering and fabrication to make it work. There are a few forum members who have operational LS1-converted cars and a growing number who are working on conversions now so there is a lot of information available.
Rick B.
Rick B.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I remember going through this process when I was first looking for a C3 coupe.
Corvette C3 101 for body styling.
'68-69 is the notchback with chrome bumpers and no body flaring on the fenders or quarterpanels with the shark-gill (4 slots) vents on the fenders. You'll also notice that '68s have a push-button on the doors for opening. There are many other things unique to 68s, but we'll keep this to outside appearance for simplicity sake.
'70-72 is the notchback with chrome bumpers with flaring on the bottom rear of the fenders and quarters (greatly reduces rock chips, etc) and the egg-crate vents on the fenders.
'73 is the notchback with rubber bumper in front and chrome bumpers in the rear with one big slot vent in the fenders.
'74-77 is the notchback with rubber bumpers front and back and one big slot vent in the fenders.
'78-79 has the bubble back window, and '80-82s are the same but many/most have the big air dam packages on the front, back and/or sides.
This is all very general, and I hope it helps some until you get one of the books listed above. If I've missed something, someone will chime in soon enough.
Have fun looking.
Corvette C3 101 for body styling.
'68-69 is the notchback with chrome bumpers and no body flaring on the fenders or quarterpanels with the shark-gill (4 slots) vents on the fenders. You'll also notice that '68s have a push-button on the doors for opening. There are many other things unique to 68s, but we'll keep this to outside appearance for simplicity sake.
'70-72 is the notchback with chrome bumpers with flaring on the bottom rear of the fenders and quarters (greatly reduces rock chips, etc) and the egg-crate vents on the fenders.
'73 is the notchback with rubber bumper in front and chrome bumpers in the rear with one big slot vent in the fenders.
'74-77 is the notchback with rubber bumpers front and back and one big slot vent in the fenders.
'78-79 has the bubble back window, and '80-82s are the same but many/most have the big air dam packages on the front, back and/or sides.
This is all very general, and I hope it helps some until you get one of the books listed above. If I've missed something, someone will chime in soon enough.
Have fun looking.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Try this link, some of it is old, and down at the bottom of the page after the pictures is a listing of the various years and their differences etc. Good Luck in your search, best bet is to find the nicest one you can afford and drive it/enjoy it,,, working on them could be a drag.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1980/vet80.htm
Peace,,,Moosie
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1980/vet80.htm
Peace,,,Moosie
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
Likes: 34
From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Wow. Might as well remove my previous post after seeing that. Talk about one-stop-shopping.
Way to go Moosie!
Way to go Moosie!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Good luck. Not sure if there is ever a "Cheap C3" that doesn't need a lot of work. Take the advice of many people on the board. Buy the best car you can, instead of the cheapest. It will save you money in the long run.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Try this link, some of it is old, and down at the bottom of the page after the pictures is a listing of the various years and their differences etc. Good Luck in your search, best bet is to find the nicest one you can afford and drive it/enjoy it,,, working on them could be a drag.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1980/vet80.htm
Peace,,,Moosie
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1980/vet80.htm
Peace,,,Moosie
thanks for the tips guys, more and more im seeing that it will be way more worth it just to get the most i can afford and go from there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario