C4 guy looking at a C3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
C4 guy looking at a C3
Greetings C3'ers from C4 land,
Your opinion on a 80 C3. Looks like a mostly stock 350 AT 70M.
Would this be a better choice than an 82 with a crossfire? The headlites go down one at a time. Is that normal? The body and interior look good but the engine and suspension area look kinda rusty (Minnesota car though I can't imagine anyone driving these through the snow), Is this going to be OK or should I look for a southern car with a cleaner undercarridge?
Oh, he wants $12k.
Thanks for your input.
Beep
Your opinion on a 80 C3. Looks like a mostly stock 350 AT 70M.
Would this be a better choice than an 82 with a crossfire? The headlites go down one at a time. Is that normal? The body and interior look good but the engine and suspension area look kinda rusty (Minnesota car though I can't imagine anyone driving these through the snow), Is this going to be OK or should I look for a southern car with a cleaner undercarridge?
Oh, he wants $12k.
Thanks for your input.
Beep
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
The headlights going down one at a time is a simple fix. The rust is what you really need to worry about. Is it just surface rust or is scaley rust that comes off in large chunks? Check the area at the door post where the VIN # is for rust and look for delamination or bubbles around the windshield.
There's nothing wrong with the Crossfire engine. Other then limiting your HP, it is a very relable system.
For $12,000 the car had better be in awsome shape though.
There's nothing wrong with the Crossfire engine. Other then limiting your HP, it is a very relable system.
For $12,000 the car had better be in awsome shape though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Not meaning to hijack this thread.......... but
Whats the simple fix for the headlights?
Mine go up and down fine but the passenger side is always last in the race
As far as going from a C4 to a C3, the later year C3's should feel more comfortable to you as you are used to the C4.
Obviously the early C3 will have a serious performance advantage over the later C3 but that costs more $$$$
My '73 is actually pretty comfortable but theres always something that needs attention
Whats the simple fix for the headlights?
Mine go up and down fine but the passenger side is always last in the race
As far as going from a C4 to a C3, the later year C3's should feel more comfortable to you as you are used to the C4.
Obviously the early C3 will have a serious performance advantage over the later C3 but that costs more $$$$
My '73 is actually pretty comfortable but theres always something that needs attention
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio
If you plan on making any motor improvements at all, I'd advise to go with anything 1980 or earlier, because in 1981, GM put the CCC and other electronic curses on the car. I've got an 81, and it's been a real pain trying to make more power, when you run into problems with the computer. I just disconnected it, but now it's a mess of wires under my hood with no purpose. Save yourself some trouble and buy anything pre-1981 if you plan on doing ANYTHING to it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 921
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
I like the carb better than fuel injection because of it's simplicity like Guitarcrazy suggests (by the way, I play a Music Man Stingray 5 bass around town here). It would be a breath of fresh air after dealing with the severly over-engineered C4.
The passenger headlite goes down about 1 sec after the drivers. It must have something to do with the relays. I recall Fiero's having all kinds of problems with them.
Ill head over today to look more closely at the car and maybe grab some pics. It sounds so far like 80 might be a good year.
The passenger headlite goes down about 1 sec after the drivers. It must have something to do with the relays. I recall Fiero's having all kinds of problems with them.
Ill head over today to look more closely at the car and maybe grab some pics. It sounds so far like 80 might be a good year.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 1
From: Sydney
I assume you have driven a C3? They are a fair bit different to a C4 (I have a '70 and a '90).
As has been mentioned rust should be your biggest concern, do a search if you are unfamiliar with the C3, but the chassis (usually starting at the body mounts) and the 'bird-cage' can rust out and both can be a very costly thing to fix.
As has been mentioned rust should be your biggest concern, do a search if you are unfamiliar with the C3, but the chassis (usually starting at the body mounts) and the 'bird-cage' can rust out and both can be a very costly thing to fix.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,623
Likes: 22
From: Boise Idaho
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '15, '17
There are a huge amount of late year C3s available, especially with automatics. For $12,000 the thing should be near perfect.
The member below just bought a clean one for under $5,000.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1747438
The member below just bought a clean one for under $5,000.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1747438
Last edited by TMU; Jul 7, 2007 at 01:03 PM.
