Hi everyone,

I don't know much about corvettes or cars in general, but I love corvettes and would love to have a 1978 in the near future. However, people have been telling me that they need to be constantly repaired and are not reliable as a source of transportation.

I've found several for sale online that have had many things replaced and/or fixed though. So wouldn't that make it alright? Will I be spending a fortune getting things fixed all the time? Will it break down on my way to work? I'd hate to give up the dream...

-Thornton

 

Constantly repaired? Not reliable? Oh man........

I've only had mine since new. And It's been close to bullet proof for 71 thousand miles & 31 years. They have their guirks but they are Chevys...

Most any car that's 30 years plus is going to have alot of things replaced & fixed. It's how they were done. Mine is an exception here and if you're able to find a nice low mile original Vette it might make life easier for you. But if you can't find one like that you need to keep your eyes fixated to this site. Lots of Corvette smarts around here and you will learn all of the C3 things to look out for in no time. And when the time comes make sure you have someone with some car brains to help you out.

Good luck future Corvette brother..........

And don't forget to fill out your profile....

 

I had a '78 Silver Anniversary I sold this year and while, yes, it did require some repairs over time, you have to remember it was an unrestored 35+year old car. Any car of that vintage will require repairs and maintenance.

Yes, Corvettes of any vintage have problems peculiar to them. The same can be said for Porsches, Vipers, Ferarri's and any common run of the mill car. If you want to know about problems, ask any owner of a British car that has Lucas electrics.

The advantage of a Corvette is the engine and drive train...small block or big block, they're as bullet proof as any engine ever built and parts are plentiful at most any retailer...you don't see that with some of the more exotic makes.

There is always a lot of Vettes for sale. Most have been repaired for various reasons...normal wear and tear, preventive maintenance as well as abuse. Look for a car that Bubba hasn't worked on. The tough thing about older sports and muscle cars is having to undo what past owners have done so it can be done correctly.

 

[QUOTE=Thornton;1562813206]Hi everyone,

I don't know much about corvettes or cars in general, but I love corvettes and would love to have a 1978 in the near future. However, people have been telling me that they need to be constantly repaired and are not reliable as a source of transportation.

What you heard is from some guy who doesn't have a vette and his ex-girlfriend left him for a guy who does.

Vette's are one of the best road cars an american car company has mass produced in the last 50 + years and they keep getting better. From the first vette made it has been compared to imports that cost 2 to 3 times its price tag. As far as the 78 your looking for. Try to find one in as best condition as possible w/the stock motor. My 79 had the stock L48 and it ran great and got very good mpg. G/L and post pic's

Oh last bit of advise don't buy one until you have it checked out by someone who know corvette's and you will do fine.

 

we 'tinker' a lot because we want to.

it's not just owning an old car (as a couple here have minimized it)

When something does break on an old Corvette, you WANT to fix it. Where if it was an old Dodge Dart, or something, one may consider just gettin rid of it and gittin sumpthin else.

 

This is my dream car and I don't want to give up on it. I'm just worried (after what people not on this site have told me) that the car will break down on my way to work and/or will cost a fortune to fix. There's also the money factor...not looking to but a show roon quality car, just a driveable one that I could work on when funds permit.

I've seen quite a few for sale that have several modifications and that makes me think it would run better since the parts are newer is that correct?

Also, I don't mind tinkering with the car if it's things that I can handle myself. This being said, I have a lot to learn as I've never worked on a car in my life. I want to learn as much as I can though and gain a good developing knowledge of the car before I seriously look at one to buy. Are there any good books that explain the terminology and anatomy? Or books ranging from basic to advanced?

Thanks again

 

The people who bad mouth Vettes are usually the ones who are jealous because they don't have one or are not capable of repairing an older vehicle!

 

It's a good time to buy...the economy is starting to suffer and prices are stable, if not down. Read up, shop around to learn what you're looking for then go for it. Buy smart, not on impulse. I totally agree about having a knowledgeable owner check one out for you. I learned so much in the first few months that I wished I'd known when I bought.

The Haynes manuals are generic for 68-82 but they give you a reasonable idea of issues. The anatomy is found in the AIM (Assembly Instruction Manuals) and the Shop Manual for your specific year. Invaluable, required reading for any owner and available for purchase on line. If you're gonna own a '78, go and get 'em both.

Here's a link to a great site that has lots of reference. Look for the Mechanics Checklists parts 1-3 to help when you buy.

http://wiki.corvettefaq.com/index.ph...e=Misc_Overall

I'm not going to get into rust. You will need help with this since it's hard to detect and can devalue a car overnight. It's critical to know the condition of the frame and birdcage on these cars. Search, read and learn.

There is a general rule of thumb...you will never get back the money you put into your car. A buyer can, and should, take advantage of the extensive upgrades done by the seller. Just because the previous owner spent 15K doesn't mean you should be expected to pay for it...whatever the market demands. With that said, many folks will steer clear of a project car and look for one that is "done" to avoid sinking extra money into it. Simple math that happens all the time with this "hobby"...you buy a $5000 car, put in $10,000 worth of upgrades and end up with a car you can only sell for $10,000.

Some things are expensive to fix and almost always need to be done: suspension and brakes come to mind. If these were recently repaired it's a major bonus. Since you're looking for a DD you have to shop for safety and reliability and less for cosmetics. Brakes and suspension fall in the safety category. From a reliability standpoint I think you'll find a very common (and incredibly annoying) problem is with the starter/ignition systems. Whether its heatsoak, old starter, faulty wiring, hacked electrical system or some other demon, many guys have unpredicatble starter failure that needs to be rectified. It's easily remedied with a new hi power mini-starter. Another bonus if already addressed. These little problems are common in older cars that have had multiple owners. Lots of interesting things to be discovered under the hood and dash.

Sign up for some of the parts vendors catalogues (ie Eckler's) and read them to get an idea of what parts are available and are often replaced. It was an eyeopener for me and actually helped me decide not to buy a vette at one point (I wised up). A little sticker shock never hurts and helps you realize what you're in for.

Vettes tend to have loud, incredibly hot interiors and will most likely need an upgrade to the AC system. This can all be fixed with heat/sound barriers and a retrofit to the AC...if this isn't done it will make for an uncomfortable daily driver. Heed this warning! If the carpet/interior was recently replaced check to see that reflective matting was installed or you may have issues.

These are all my observations and opinions based on my limited experience (one time, current owner of a 79 I paid too much for and have spent too much to repair even doing my own work). I have ~12K into a car I may be able to get 9K for. It's not done and I still wouldn't want to use it as a DD (heat/noise/gas economy). I think using a Vette as a DD would be a hoot but it comes with baggage you need to be aware of, not afraid. Buy with your brain...

Best of luck and enjoy, Steve

 

As far as driving to work and such: would this be your only means of transportation? Sure hope not. If you'd want to commute with it when and if you want, then no problem. If you're in Omaha, for example, you are not going to want to drive it in snowy and icy weather. Since you're in Houston (like me), you know we get lots of rain, and apparently many owners of the older Vette generations are not too into driving them in the rain.

Bottom line (my take, anyway): keep the dream alive! I am currently without Vette, and looking to get a 70 or 71, or possible go a different route and pick up an '80. So... I'm dreaming, too!!!

 

I drive my '69 every day and don't think I could go back to something slower/less exotic. I got my mpg's up to 18 (see recent post) and am quite proud. I can't wait to jump in it everyday to go to work. It NEVER gets old. I knew nothing about cars when I got it -- I even overpaid a little, but ya know what, I still love driving + working on it. I've learned so much that other people bring cars to me now. I've got a beautiful '86 Vert in front of my house and having two Vettes on a col-de-sac for all my neighbors to drool at just rocks.

 

I've had mine for a year now and even though it's not my DD, it starts EVERY time I go to drive it. It's reliable and fast and fun but also needs things to be fixed properly that bubba didn't. I wouldn't trade it for anything else. Like the others stated, find the best one you can afford. Get as much documentation, maintenance records, reciepts etc...
Good luck with your search, take your time, and welcome to the family!
Glenn

 

Great point. Besides taking all of the fun out of the Corvette driving experience, mine would have been a hulk by now if had spent winters around here on the road........