Please share your thoughts....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
Please share your thoughts....
Hello all,
I normally spend my time over in the C5 sections, but I'm about to purchase a 1981 Corvette so that my wife can have a "toy" of her own. I would like your opinions on a few things before I commit to the purchase.
The car has about 140,000 miles on it with (as the story goes) a new crate motor put into it about three and half years ago. The body is clean (other than some waves in the front bumper and a small crack below the vent on the driver's side fender) and the repaint is very nice looking from a foot or more away. The interior is very clean with no rips or cracks and soft weatherstripping.
The only major flaws I noted are as follows:
1) The driver's side headlight is slow to open and then doesn't open all of the way.
2) There is some slop/play in the steering wheel.
3) The turn signals do not cancel when the steering wheel is returned to the straight position.
4) The speedometer "wobbles" below 10 mph.
I'd like to know what sort of costs and/or headaches I should expect in repairing the above items.
Thank you in advance for your help,
LO PHAT
I normally spend my time over in the C5 sections, but I'm about to purchase a 1981 Corvette so that my wife can have a "toy" of her own. I would like your opinions on a few things before I commit to the purchase.
The car has about 140,000 miles on it with (as the story goes) a new crate motor put into it about three and half years ago. The body is clean (other than some waves in the front bumper and a small crack below the vent on the driver's side fender) and the repaint is very nice looking from a foot or more away. The interior is very clean with no rips or cracks and soft weatherstripping.
The only major flaws I noted are as follows:
1) The driver's side headlight is slow to open and then doesn't open all of the way.
2) There is some slop/play in the steering wheel.
3) The turn signals do not cancel when the steering wheel is returned to the straight position.
4) The speedometer "wobbles" below 10 mph.
I'd like to know what sort of costs and/or headaches I should expect in repairing the above items.
Thank you in advance for your help,
LO PHAT
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
Since you ask ... $8,500 is the price we are at right now. When compared to other C3 Corvettes I've looked at (I've been hunting for about five months now), I'm generally comfortable with the price. As the story goes, it was traded to a local Mazda dealer a few years back. Rather than dumping the car at auction, the dealer actually put it in their showroom and then sold it to an elderly woman. I can certainly see that the car was nice enough to sell this way, and the paperwork included with the car backs this story. Interestingly enough, I would now be buying it from the woman's neighbor who bought it from her after she had a stroke.
Buying price aside, I'm more interested in the costs of needed repairs. I'd also like to know if the repairs are something I can easily do in the driveway myself.
Everyone please let me know what you think.
LO PHAT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Hello all,
I normally spend my time over in the C5 sections, but I'm about to purchase a 1981 Corvette so that my wife can have a "toy" of her own. I would like your opinions on a few things before I commit to the purchase.
The car has about 140,000 miles on it with (as the story goes) a new crate motor put into it about three and half years ago. The body is clean (other than some waves in the front bumper and a small crack below the vent on the driver's side fender) and the repaint is very nice looking from a foot or more away. The interior is very clean with no rips or cracks and soft weatherstripping.
The only major flaws I noted are as follows:
1) The driver's side headlight is slow to open and then doesn't open all of the way.
Usually not too bad. Couple of things could be going on, leaky actuator, bad relay valve, or a leaking line.
2) There is some slop/play in the steering wheel.
Possible loose/worn steering parts. I'd guess maybe $150 in parts + labor depending on what's worn
3) The turn signals do not cancel when the steering wheel is returned to the straight position.
This is a good one.. either the cancel springs are broken (common) and/or the cancel cam is worn. Springs and cam will be under $20 for parts- fix it yourself in the driveway while drinking a beer with tools loaned from your local parts store
4) The speedometer "wobbles" below 10 mph.
Maybe as simple as the cable needs lubed or maybe the speedo head needs a rebuild.
I'd like to know what sort of costs and/or headaches I should expect in repairing the above items.
Thank you in advance for your help,
LO PHAT
I normally spend my time over in the C5 sections, but I'm about to purchase a 1981 Corvette so that my wife can have a "toy" of her own. I would like your opinions on a few things before I commit to the purchase.
The car has about 140,000 miles on it with (as the story goes) a new crate motor put into it about three and half years ago. The body is clean (other than some waves in the front bumper and a small crack below the vent on the driver's side fender) and the repaint is very nice looking from a foot or more away. The interior is very clean with no rips or cracks and soft weatherstripping.
The only major flaws I noted are as follows:
1) The driver's side headlight is slow to open and then doesn't open all of the way.
Usually not too bad. Couple of things could be going on, leaky actuator, bad relay valve, or a leaking line.
2) There is some slop/play in the steering wheel.
Possible loose/worn steering parts. I'd guess maybe $150 in parts + labor depending on what's worn
3) The turn signals do not cancel when the steering wheel is returned to the straight position.
This is a good one.. either the cancel springs are broken (common) and/or the cancel cam is worn. Springs and cam will be under $20 for parts- fix it yourself in the driveway while drinking a beer with tools loaned from your local parts store
4) The speedometer "wobbles" below 10 mph.
Maybe as simple as the cable needs lubed or maybe the speedo head needs a rebuild.
I'd like to know what sort of costs and/or headaches I should expect in repairing the above items.
Thank you in advance for your help,
LO PHAT
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Orlando Florida
Keep in mind that these cars are around thiry years old.. Things are going to need to be replaced in time as GM didn't engineer these parts to last this long. Look at my "found this under my carpet" thread on this forum as an example...from the outside, everything can look great, but it's no C5 with 20K miles on it. I have invested nearly $15k in mine but everything is new and I trust it on any long term trip. I like the C3's the best of all the vettes (well a C2 would be nice...) but expect more work than your initial assessment unless the owner will allow you to take off some interior trim, carpets, and the best advice I can give you: put it on a lift and go thru the underside SLOWLY with a good flashlight- then you can see the actual wear and tear on it..hope it helps...DDBS
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
This is good information guys. Thank you for your replies.
I need to let the seller know by tomorrow if I want the car for a price of $8400 (price lowered $100 due to a suspected bad starter after the car wouldn't start for 15 minutes when I went to look at it again the other night - now the issue can't be duplicated again).
Can anyone else offer any thoughts? Is there anything else I should be taking into consideration before handing over a check?
LO PHAT
I need to let the seller know by tomorrow if I want the car for a price of $8400 (price lowered $100 due to a suspected bad starter after the car wouldn't start for 15 minutes when I went to look at it again the other night - now the issue can't be duplicated again).
Can anyone else offer any thoughts? Is there anything else I should be taking into consideration before handing over a check?
LO PHAT
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 716
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
These items shouldn't be difficult or costly to correct. Of course this is only the beginning as other problems will arise periodically on a car this old but as long as you understand & accept that going into then all sounds well. My wife drives my C-3 on fridays and loves it. In addition the aboe I'd also go through all the fluids also and make sure the A-arm bushings are good, wheel lugs are torqued properly and give everything a detailed inspection. Check that that you don't have too much play in the wheel bearings, tires aren't too old, etc. I don't trust dealers and by my own law wouldn't buy a car from one becuase they are either hiding things or don't know about the car not to mention it will be over-priced 99% of the time which makes me a little concerned cause the price seems low for what a dealer would typically charge for the car you described. Just my impression but I'm sure you know what you're seeing and impression of the dealership, etc.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Check the linkage for opening all the way.
... 2) There is some slop/play in the steering wheel....
...3) The turn signals do not cancel when the steering wheel is returned to the straight position....
...4) The speedometer "wobbles" below 10 mph...
Nothing on your list is out of the ordinary for a C3.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 585
Likes: 2
Thank you again to all of you who replied.
At this time I'm pleased to say that my wife and I are the proud new owners of a very beautiful 1981 Corvette!
I'll post pictures as soon as we get some taken.
LO PHAT
At this time I'm pleased to say that my wife and I are the proud new owners of a very beautiful 1981 Corvette!
I'll post pictures as soon as we get some taken.
LO PHAT
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,996
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From: if you have a ? on my avatar, please contact me directly, you spineless twit
St. Jude Donor '09
Congratulations. Welcome to teh sickness. It's a little different here in C3 than anywhere else, you'll love it.
BTW, when you fix any of those problems, you will be tempted with "While I Am At It-Itis", which is when the frame-off usually starts.
Seriously, congratulations!
BTW, when you fix any of those problems, you will be tempted with "While I Am At It-Itis", which is when the frame-off usually starts.
Seriously, congratulations!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 7
From: Providence Rhode Island
Good luck with your purchase.
I to have a C-5 and just bought an 81, It needs paint and seats but it is a nice car drives and handles beter than i thought it would.It has a big cam headers and the heads have been changed also has that side exhaust that i love on these cars. im really looking forward to this project and lots of help from my now C-3 brothers.
Good luck with your purchase.
I to have a C-5 and just bought an 81, It needs paint and seats but it is a nice car drives and handles beter than i thought it would.It has a big cam headers and the heads have been changed also has that side exhaust that i love on these cars. im really looking forward to this project and lots of help from my now C-3 brothers.
Good luck with your purchase.
