78 Keep stock or modify
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
78 Keep stock or modify
I know this is a personal question but want to hear some responses. I have a low mileage 78 vette. It is unrestored except for new paint. It is a clean car except for a little rust on the unpainted surfaces. This car has not been modified one bit. I changed what I think where the original plugs and wires. Just replaced the original tires. Only modification I did was put true duels with no converter and s.s. mufflers. Mufflers that where on the car where dated gm78. I entered my first show with it at smithville, NJ. This was my first car show I ever entered. Now unless I take the car apart and replace, repaint and reanodise and not drive it alot. I will never win anything. I personaly feel the car is not worth a lot. I can well exceed what the car is worth to restore it. What I want to do is put efi on it ,some chrome and headers. I want to give it some performance and be able to drive it on long trips. Should I start modifiying an unmolested car?
Mike
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
It's a '78; they're a dime a dozen IMHO. Have fun with it, turn it into what you want it to be. I know my '81 wouldn't have been much fun stock so I'm changing it into what I really want. It will never be worth the money I put into it but it's what I want and that's why I bought it.
I think on a '78, if you modify it right, you just might increase it's value; I don't think you will hurt it.
I think on a '78, if you modify it right, you just might increase it's value; I don't think you will hurt it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 2
From: Sherwood Park AB
Modify away, keep the original parts on a shelf. Best of both worlds. You will have much more fun with a 350+ HP engine than the original 220 hp.
Did you throw away the mufflers and plugs/wires?
Did you throw away the mufflers and plugs/wires?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Modify the heck out of it. It is your car do wha tyou want to do. EFI is a good choice. I modded the heck out of my low mile 72 LT1. It is 1 of about 406 LT1 verts sold in 72. Never worried about modding it. I don't care what others think. It is way more fun modded than it ever was stock. Have fun with it.
Last edited by Gordonm; Oct 22, 2007 at 06:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
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Mufflers are gone. They where rusted threw on the bottom corner. Plugs and wires where also thrown out. Didn't see them being worth anything. The egale st tires are still at the tire shop unless they trashed them already. Funny thing is I didn't see one car with eagle st tires at the show. Mine had good tread but had cracks between the treads.
Mike
Mike
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,982
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
I'll disgree with everyone. Don't ruin a nice original car. My '65 big block wasn't worth anything when I bought it in 1977, either.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
What I want to do is put efi on it ,some chrome and headers. I want to give it some performance and be able to drive it on long trips. Should I start modifiying an unmolested car?
Mike[/QUOTE]
From the list of things you want to do to the car is not really doing a resto-mod. Put headers & true duals on her I would rebuild or replace the carb for increased performance. Chg the old tire's to new radials and add new shocks for a nice ride and enjoy the car. Drive it like you stole it & fix what ever breaks. Put all the old stock items in box's in the back of the garage.
Mike[/QUOTE]
From the list of things you want to do to the car is not really doing a resto-mod. Put headers & true duals on her I would rebuild or replace the carb for increased performance. Chg the old tire's to new radials and add new shocks for a nice ride and enjoy the car. Drive it like you stole it & fix what ever breaks. Put all the old stock items in box's in the back of the garage.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 473
Likes: 6
From: New Port Richey FL
I'll disgree with everyone. Don't ruin a nice original car. My '65 big block wasn't worth anything when I bought it in 1977, either.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
78's ARE a dime a dozen, but an unmolested corvette is not. If I had a fairly stock car, I would keep it as such. If I wanted to mod something, I would start with something less original. I would think if thats the route you want, and unless you got a killer deal on your original car, you'd save some money buying someone elses project as opposed to moding up your car. Even if you got a great deal on an original car you could probably sell it at a profit and have something left over to spend on goodies for your new project. If trophies are all your after, sell the vette and buy the nicest cheap car you can and go to those car's shows. I personally have a "stock" car and have no interest in trophies,... the garage is cluttered enough as it is.
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6
78 and 79 were bumper crop years. there are lots out there. question is... what are your long term goals. If you want to get rich off it, then you've got some work to do.
the 78 Pace will always be the money getter for 1978. The Silver Anniversary... not as much.
I just put bubble tail lights on my 81. If that gets me voted off L81 Island.. oh well. It's my car.
the 78 Pace will always be the money getter for 1978. The Silver Anniversary... not as much.
I just put bubble tail lights on my 81. If that gets me voted off L81 Island.. oh well. It's my car.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Kearns UT
My 78 has a zz502, Mcleod 800HP clutch, lakewood bellhousing, TKO600, custom 3" exhaust, Super 44 mufflers, Hedman headers, Speed Demon 850 carb, MSD wires.......... the list goes on and on. What I am trying to say is, there is NO WAY I would have as much fun with it if it was stock.
If you are a "stock" guy then keep her in as perfect shape as possible and maybe someday she'll be worth $$$, but as everyone said, they are a dime a dozen, so my opinion is drop your life savings into her and don't look back. Unless it's to see how far you are ahead of the person you were racing.
If you are a "stock" guy then keep her in as perfect shape as possible and maybe someday she'll be worth $$$, but as everyone said, they are a dime a dozen, so my opinion is drop your life savings into her and don't look back. Unless it's to see how far you are ahead of the person you were racing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
I'm a purist, at least for the C3. I looked for a long time to find a stock 79' and intend to keep it that way... The only mods are an Edelbrock open air cleaner and valve covers and some nifty new BF Goodrich Radial T/A's. I'd keep her stock...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I'll disgree with everyone. Don't ruin a nice original car. My '65 big block wasn't worth anything when I bought it in 1977, either.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Good advice.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
I'll disgree with everyone. Don't ruin a nice original car. My '65 big block wasn't worth anything when I bought it in 1977, either.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
Sell it to someone who will take care of it, and buy one of the millions of late '70s Corvettes that have already been messed with. Don't ruin a nice car just because you don't think you can win trophies with it.
It sounds like you bought the wrong car.. I would've bought a mild custom in need of another resto. During that resto I would do what I want with it..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
I vote modify ! Especially an OD tranny. If you want to take 'er out on the highway THAT's #1. Keep all the stuff you take off and put it in a corner. If for some reason some guy 20 years from now wants a 190 hp smog motor , he can put the old cr*p back on himself.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,176
Likes: 88
From: State of Confusion
..... I entered my first show with it at smithville, NJ. This was my first car show I ever entered. Now unless I take the car apart and replace, repaint and reanodize and not drive it alot, I will never win anything.
What I want to do is put efi on it, some chrome and headers. I want to give it some performance and be able to drive it on long trips.
What I want to do is put efi on it, some chrome and headers. I want to give it some performance and be able to drive it on long trips.
As others have said, it's 'just a rubber-bumper car', and even-if you DO all of the above improvements to make a show-worthy, people will walk right-past it to gawk at what some think to be 'more-desirable' years of Corvettes in worse condition
(I have a '79 Z28..... try parking it next to a '69 Z28 ).
Zora didn't fight the bean-counters at GM and build us these cars, just so we could apply Zaino while wearing bad toupees and listening to doo-wop.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 1
From: Collinsville MS
St. Jude Donor '08
I have a 78 pace car that was completely original when I bought it. I am upgrading it where I deem neccessary to turn it into the car I want. Mainly engine and suspension mods. I am taking the old parts off and saving just in case I ever want to go back to original or sell it to someone else else. I feel I am just improving it to where I want it to be in the meanwhile so I can just enjoy driving it. Kind of like a transplant, its taken a licking but I am going to keep it tickin'!
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Create a picture in your mind of how you would like to see the car end up being, and then follow that dream! It's your car, make it what you really want it to be!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
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From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
the production numbers were higher during that year, (78-82) but it's still a Corvette, sorry I disagree with the dime a dozen theory. I have a chrome bumper and a rubber bumper, so I can sit on either side of the fence.