Hello Corvette Forum

This is my first post and my first Corvette so please bear with me. My wife surprised me with it for our anniversary, bought it from a friend of ours that wanted a Mercury Marauder. It's a white 1977 L48 automatic car with a built 400 HP 355 in it. Anyway, I've had it about 8 months and I have an pretty good idea what I want to do to the car but I wanted to ask any of you if you can provide any insight if you've done the same stuff. Below is my list o ideas.

New seats: My wife is only 5'2" and I want to put in better seats that will be adjustable forward and up enough so she can reach the pedals and see over the hood enough to drive the car. What seats will fit and can I get power seats? Car does not currently have power seats.

Stereo: Has anyone put rear speakers in a 77? Any advice?

Suspension: I think I want VB&P Street and slalom. Any input?

Automatic to manual conversion: I've looked at the Kiesler kit but has anyone used it? Is it a pain?

New guages: I see all kinds of cars here with Auto Meter Ultralights in aluminum mounts. Where can I get this mount????

Well, I think that's enough babble for now. Thanks for looking.

 

welcome. Great wife!!!

 

Welcome to the C3 world
We have some great people here who can help you out with your mods.
I'm a wash & wax guy

 

yeah, she's a keeper. to top it all off, it was our first anniversary. pretty much last present for life i think...............

 

Welcome aboard from one '77 owner to another.

 

Welcome to the insanity!!

I know these posts are not answering your questions. But it keeps your thread at the top.

But seriously, check the archives with the search function. A wealth of information is there!!!!

 

Welcome!

Durango Boy is the stereo guru.

Can't help you with other questions. If this were OT I'd ask for pics of the wife

 

Power seats...$$$

Speakers..$

Suspension...$$$$

Auto/manual...$$$$

Gauges...$$$

That about sums it up...

 

where's the archives? i see a search but can't seem to find archives...

 

Congratulations on the anniversary and the present. That's pretty cool wife! I used to live in Schaumburg about 6 years ago and moved to Missouri. I lived over by the mall just down Golf. Good luck on the new ride that will take all your money when it's all said and done!

 

Many people have put speakers in either custom fiberglass or mdf boxes. I currently have two mdf boxes in the back with two 6x9's which will be amped up this coming summer. If you have the ability and know how to make fiberglass boxes I'd suggest it as it will free up some cargo space (the little that we have) as well as look nice. Concerning speakers, depending on what you want, there are certain brands that are geared towards each category.

I have been looking into putting in some Auto Meters as well. I'm not sure what aluminum mounts your talking about whether in the center console or speedo/tach, but for both people have made their own custom mounts. The center console fits auto meter gauges without modification to the gauge surround. The speedo/tach are a little more tricky, though they are the same size as our stock gauges. For more information about mounting those wait for someone who has done it to chime in.

The search function is what your looking for.

Welcome to the forum, good luck with the car, and we need to see some pictures!

 

Welcome to the forum and yes what a great wife, does she have a single sister?


greg

 

Welcome to CorvetteForum. I hope you find lots of good advice here, as we have some very knowledgable folks here.

 

i've seen a few interior photos of cars and they look like plates made from sheet aluminum, i think someone out there has a template but i need to find the thread again.

as for photos, i have 3 but they are not good. i can dig up them or shoot aome new ones. as i'm in balmy chicago, the cars in the garage under a cover.....

 

Here's a couple threads on Auto Meter gauges

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1860100

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ght=auto+meter

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ghlight=gauges

http://earchitect.50megs.com/corvette/gauge.htm

 

Welcome.....

I have a white '77 L48 4 speed. The only advice I gan give is to take it slow and do 1 thing at a time. I got in WAY over my head and now its been a year since the car was a driver. If I had to do it all over, I would do it so that I could still enjoy the car. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying putting the car together (keeping it as close to orig as possible), but I wish that I could drive it around!

Post pics when you can. GOOD LUCK

 

welcome to the pond. jump in the water's warm.. does your wife have a sister????

 

My wife is 5'1", so I can relate.

I kept the original seats, but replaced the foam and covers. The new foam helped her a lot, as it increased the seat height by an inch or two. I also lowered the car on all fours (~1.50" in front and ~0.75" in rear), which made a signicant improvement in line of sight. As for reaching the pedals, with new seat back foam (again, adding an inch or two), my seat tracks have enough fore/aft adjustment for her to reach with no problem.

Just some ideas if you're not 100% sold on a seat swap.


Welcome to the forum, and don't forget to POST PICS!!

 

Welcome to the forum, and congrats. I too have spent some time in Schaumburb, as my good friend went to school there so I made frequent trips to the Chicago area.

Just let us know, any way we can help.

 

First anniversary, eh? I'll give you one piece of advice - it's not a gift: it's a loan.

Five or six years from now, she'll be demanding you sell the vette so SHE can have something