Chill out and people will be nice to you here
(BTW.. you dont really have to get into what other cars you own and how they handle to get answers to your simple questions)

A year ago I came here seeking opinion about a vette that I was about to purchase. I have loved owning a vette and being on this forum since then.

 

I have four of them and they are great cars:

2004 Z4
2003 525i
1995 318i
1993 318is

The 2 318's are my kids and I wouldn't put them in anything else for the money.

 

Howdy!

Dont' mind the guys here pardner......we've been leaning over the motor too long and sniffin the fumes...........

Now, as to your questions (and not knowing anything about your personal skills, finances, etc.)

1) No shortage of beat-up C3s out there.

2) Compared to newer stuff they really don't handle too well. Compared to other cars of their era, they do handle well.

3) Depends on what you start with. Crates run around $4k. Customs can go anywhere from $3k and up for a turnkey. Most of the guys here speak quartermile jargon.

4) Some are very reliable. Mine has to go under the knife for one more summer before I can declare her to be reliable.

5) Compared to today's cars they are easy to work on. Not as easy as some same-era musclecars, in my opinion.

6) These cars are not for the faint-of-heart or the weak-of-funds. The challenges can be great but so can the rewards. As people are different, so are the cars, the projects, and the results. My C3 pushes my envelope with every project. But I absolutely love her. And the guys here have been unbelievable. The skills and knowledge available here for free has made all the difference in the world with both my corvettes. This forum has been the single most valuable tool I have.

These guys can chew on me all they want.........

Now be a good boy and go fill out your profile.......

 

The small block, while still a great design and cost efficient way to make power, is an old design. All the seals on the LS are o-rings and rarely leak. The heads and ports are at better angles to allow more free flowing air, and the cooling and oiling is better. A streetable 500 HP out of a LS engine is the tip of the iceburg. I'll be close to 500RWHP with my setup and I basically just have a 5.7L LS6 with a roots blower and a 90mm throttlebody (cam is a bit different too). People with the same combo are reporting mileage of 18 mpg city, over 20 highway, and close to 600HP.

6.0L engines are cheap if you look in the right place. The truck blocks are iron, but still have all the same properties of the aluminum LS engines and can handle more power. They can be had for less then $2,000. Production diplacements are 5.7L, 6.0L, 6.3L, and 7.0L and go-fast parts are coming out constantly for all these options.

Whether you go LS or stick with the Gen I, just be prepared to spend some $$$ and time on a Corvette project. Try to buy a car that is already finished or a project someone has already started and taken the hit on. When you're deciding the route you want to go, look at the long run. It's always better to drop more money on the front end to get what you want then to buy something you don't like and change it later. Good luck!!

 

There's a lot of good opinions here. The one not mentioned yet is to find a corvette club in your area and talk to those guys & gals and see if you can possibly drive a few, or a corvette dealership that sells C3's. You'll be disapointed in the performance and handling compared to modern cars.
The thing is they ride harsh, are loud but sound great, are a lot of work to drive if it's like mine with no power steering or brakes, they leak water a lot of the time when it rains etc... , BUT this is what we love about them! It's all just time and $$$$$$$$ as to how far you want to take it.
They are a step back in time and addictive as others have said and the beauty of their design is timeless. I guarantee you'll get way more looks and then the BMW will ever get.
Glenn

 

but there's nothing cooler then a C3 track/street monster. The C3 will cost you as much as a used C5 including financing to get it even close to the same performanace. They just look too though!

These are threads on my project. Maybe this will inspire you.......or make you run!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1537457

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1819824

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1862564

 

Thanks again guys for all your help, ever since I saw my cousins’ C3 I have kinda gotten the bug. I am still not sure if a Corvette is what I want to do, I have a little more research to do, (insurance, parts pricing, just more foot work) but I am leaning more towards the Corvette any way.

 

Wow that's pretty rude. A little ugly jealousy at not being able to afford a new BMW, I suspect.

Any way, to answer the original question, the C3 is more of a retro ride. It is very easy to work on, especially the earlier ones without vacuum hoses running every which way. You can modify the suspension to improve handling, but it will never have the handling feel or ride of a modern sports car.

 

If you want a corvette, go buy a C5 and be done with it. I have both and there's no comparison.

 

[QUOTE=rcread;1562896260]Wow that's pretty rude. A little ugly jealousy at not being able to afford a new BMW, I suspect.


Jealousy - I don't think so. I bought a new Corvette in 2004 so I suppose I could afford a new BMW. I prefer Corvettes, that's why I spend time on Corvette Forum.

 

What do you want from someone not smart enough to move out of Jersey?? (go through too many traffic circles on your way to the diner?)

 

The reason there is some arrogance on this site (mostly in my opnion from C3 guys) is because it is the single most recognizable american made car. It is almost impossible to mistake it for anything else for ANY distance. Anyway, reliability of the car is in your hands and how well you build it. I can't say whether it will handle as well as a C5 or be as confortable, but you won't have the feel of raw power in a C5 that you get in a built C3. C5's have a lot of power but it is tamed with the ecm controls.(even with the traction control off). C3's the only control is in your foot. I'm sure you can get the handling close to a C5, and definitely better than a beemer.

 

also if your gonna be switchin out motors and dont care about originality and just want the body. look towards the later c3's like 74+. you can probably find these easier and cheaper