For my High School graduation project I would like to focus on fixing up a c3 vette. I have found a relatively nice '79 for $3800 on craigslist. Here is the ad http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/1074110098.html. I've talked to the seller and he seems like a nice honest guy and will deliver the car for free. He told m the car has been sitting in a garage for the past 5 years. He told me it needs new gauges, A gas tank, battery, cut, splice prime the fuel line (any ideas here? why cut/splice?), and "troubleshoot". I feel very confident in interior work (redid mom's accord interior) but have never done too much mechanically, I have always enjoyed building things (kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors,computers, etc.). My neighbor has a 69 Pontiac GTO and another has a c3 vette so they said they would lend me a hand. Also for the project I need a "mentor", someone that is an expert in their field, we must communicate (email, phone, etc.) at least twice and meet at least once. If you are willing to share your expertise and live in the Raleigh, NC area I would be very grateful. You need a 15 hour product, I think I will far surpass that one .

Thanks Guys,
Michal

 

I've got an 81 tank you can have if you want to come and get it. I can show you where/how to connect it. Not a hard install.

So you're in the first class that gets hit with the Graduation Project ? Be sure your advisor gives you the thumbs up. I may be able to help you out with that some.

 

The car comes with a "refurbished" gas tank but if it's bubbad I might have to take you up on your offer. Good to hear it's not too difficult .

I think the project was instated in 2006 so the first class is graduating next year. Don't hold me to that but that is what the sheet from our graduation project coordinator says. My plan for the is to do a market analysis and have an approximate price before/after and show the potential profit (or more likely on a 79 loss). Don't worry I wont sell it . I am open to any suggestions.

Thanks!

 

Anyone Else?

The car has been sitting for 5 years so here is my list so far. Please add if I forget something(s). My first project will be to get it to RUN. After that I can beautify it. My dad has never worked on a car before and he thinks I won't get it to run so he says it needs to run before anything else. He even asked "How much will it cost to get rid of" But he still hasn't scared me .

Fuel Tank (maybe pump)
Oil Change
Tranny Fluid Change
Bleed Brakes
New Air Filter
Spark Plugs
Battery
Possibly Belts.

 

Yeah.. don't believe the 60k story.
Which 'garaged' car would need a restoration at 60k?

Run forrest run...

 

I think that would make a fine graduation project, or any project for a 17/18 year old kid.

Don't Quit, and tell dad to open up his wallet, because you will quickly dry yours out...unless you go with a pseudo race car build up with a stripped interior.

Wasn't corvette summer a high school project kind of thing?

 

I'm 15. My wallet regenerates 2-3k every summer and $160 a month all year. I would have about 1k initially to get it to "RUN" over spring break. This weekend I get to clean the garage (You can't even open the door to it now there's THAT much junk).

 

Great idea about a Corvette project. If 15 hours is what you need to invest in the project you need to look for another one. With 15 hours you will not be able to learn what you need to do let alone do it.

If you have the time and the ambition you could have a lot of fun doing this.

Word of caution- have someone who knows Corvette look over the car carefully. Rust is an issue. Whoever said fiberglass cars don't rust has never owned a Corvette. The frame must be checked over very carefully as well as the bird cage. Bad rust in either of these places can make the vette virtually worthless. The cost to repair will far exceed your purchase price and the value of the car. Do a search here and on other Corvette forums and you will see the scope and expense of such repairs. These are not the type of repairs that someone without excellent mechanical skills and all the right tools should even consider.

Try to find out why it has been sitting for 5 years. Engine or transmission rebuilds will also be real expensive. Cut and splice the fuel line sounds like the line is leaking(RUST!!!!) and parts of it need to be replaced. Replacing the entire fuel line may entail removing the body from the frame(don't even attempt it!).

I don't want to discourage you but a 30 year old vette for $3800 could lead to thousands of hours and dollars in parts to get safely running. That is why I suggested having someone who knows vettes look it over carefully before you decide.

Good luck and welcome to the club.

 

I did the same thing when I graduated from college. My parents bought me a really beat up 75. It had pretty much every problem you can think of. It would be easier for me to tell you what was working than what wasn't! I wish the forum had been around then, but that was 19 years ago for me!

Here is my advice:
The most expensive things to fix on a C3 are the cosmetics: Bodywork and paint can be $5-10K depending on condition of the bodywork. A new interior can be $2-3K. Contrast that with the fact you could pull the engine, completely rebuild it, and reinstall it for probably under $3K. Susupension, brakes, bushings, etc underneath are also cheaper, parts are abundant, and you are unlikely to need eveything redone at one time to make the car a nice driver. Make sure that those cosmetics don't eat up your budget, or you spend more than you should. It's ultimately cheaper to find a 79 for $10K that has great paint and interior than have to do bodywork, paint and interior on a $3,800 79.

You should do a search for common c3 issues, like the Birdcage (including the windshield and lower frame A pillar), trailing arms in the rear end, vacuum issues, etc. EBay is your friend for parts for a nice driver. For a 79, steer clear of those that want to spend big money on NOS parts or other apsetcs that just increase your costs. No offense to other 79 owners, but it's a 79...not a 57 fuelie! It can be real easy to spend $15K on a car and have it still be worth $10K.

I speak from experience. My 75 needed so much, I spent about $15K on it over 6 years, and when I was done, I got $8K for it! But I was 22 and the forum wasn't here to warn me.

Good luck!

 

15 hours is minimum. I will prob end up 30 hours or more a month. I have spent at least 30 hours on the forum. I get my money with web design and it so happens my favorite client owns a body shop and he said I can get a free paint job minus materials. The body on the car looks great and the owner claims the frame is very nice and the car sat because he got it from an auction ( someone died an he got the car) and he hasn't worked on it because he has 10 c3s. He demanded I come see it before I purchase and he encouraged me to bring a mechanic. Anyone know of anyone around star nc lol?

A few Qs. What do you think it would take to get the engine to run? How hard is an aftermarket guage install? I put in a car computer in my moms car and I plan to do this to the vette! 79s are pre OBD 1 correct?
Thanks for the encouragment! This is somethig I spend 15 hours a week researching and I figured might as well make it official .

 

start with rear end and work forward....

first should be brakes/fuel

then suspension/bearings/bushings

then motor/electrical

then the rest

 

A garaged car is likely to need a restoration. My parents have a '77 that they bought new. It has 19,000 miles on the odometer, most of those put on by me in high school and college. My dad bought it for my mom. She ended up not liking it because she couldn't see well out of it. Dad didn't like it because it was, in his words, "the slowest car I've ever driven". Sitting in their garage, the seats have developed mold, the paint has faded, the trailing arms are starting to rust, the brakes went bad, the tires, obviously, had to be replaced. Cars deteriorate from lack of use.

 

Forgot to add Brakes to the list, Anyone have a brake store the recommend? I'm not looking for wilwood or anything .

 

Being a east coast car, don't you think rust to be a issue that should be checked?

 

Oh the list is things the car will need not what I will inspect.
I will DEFIANTLY check for rust. Can't build a nice house on a crappy foundation.