........frustrating???? 
........but rewarding in the end! 
It's not Rocket Science...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
It's not Rocket Science...
... but what is it?
I've been an all original C-3 owner since June. Last month, the water pump went out. I began pulling things off to access the water pump. Air pump, fan and clutch, pulleys, etc. Then I noticed that the old blue paint was peeling off of the engine block. Light rust on everything, too. I figured I'd just remove some more brackets, the alternator, and replace the thermostat and hoses. And I'd better clean it all up! So I called a guy who does detailing from his home to do some of the work. He did some scraping, sanding, painting and parts renewal. I did the wrenching.
Of course, while removing the upper and lower heater hoses (to replace with new) I tacoed the upper heater core copper tube. (Don't do what I did.) So, I also replaced the heater core. Fun.
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
Now on a previous corvette weehicle the Helms manual was about all you needed. Maybe a few pictures on the forum were nice, too. But this baby took all of these things and then some to get it properly back together.
I have concluded that working on C-3s is not ROCKET SCIENCE. But then, what is it?
Well, here are the before and after pics. I focused on the front part of the engine, alternator, AIR, fan, pulleys, thermostat housing, brackets.
Before:
After:
AIR before/after (detailer did the alternator just as nicely):
Nearly complete:
It's all back together and running, now. Thanks everyone!
I've been an all original C-3 owner since June. Last month, the water pump went out. I began pulling things off to access the water pump. Air pump, fan and clutch, pulleys, etc. Then I noticed that the old blue paint was peeling off of the engine block. Light rust on everything, too. I figured I'd just remove some more brackets, the alternator, and replace the thermostat and hoses. And I'd better clean it all up! So I called a guy who does detailing from his home to do some of the work. He did some scraping, sanding, painting and parts renewal. I did the wrenching.
Of course, while removing the upper and lower heater hoses (to replace with new) I tacoed the upper heater core copper tube. (Don't do what I did.) So, I also replaced the heater core. Fun.
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
Now on a previous corvette weehicle the Helms manual was about all you needed. Maybe a few pictures on the forum were nice, too. But this baby took all of these things and then some to get it properly back together.
I have concluded that working on C-3s is not ROCKET SCIENCE. But then, what is it?
Well, here are the before and after pics. I focused on the front part of the engine, alternator, AIR, fan, pulleys, thermostat housing, brackets.
Before:
After:
AIR before/after (detailer did the alternator just as nicely):
Nearly complete:
It's all back together and running, now. Thanks everyone!
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Looks allot better. Nice work! 
In the "before" shot, is the belt off center or is it just the angle of the picture? I'm sitting here twisting my head in front of the monitor to get a better angle look at it. Nope still looks off center. Ha Ha
In the "before" shot, is the belt off center or is it just the angle of the picture? I'm sitting here twisting my head in front of the monitor to get a better angle look at it. Nope still looks off center. Ha Ha
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
... but what is it?
...
So, I also replaced the heater core. Fun.
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
Now on a previous corvette weehicle the Helms manual was about all you needed. Maybe a few pictures on the forum were nice, too. But this baby took all of these things and then some to get it properly back together.
I have concluded that working on C-3s is not ROCKET SCIENCE. But then, what is it?
...
It's all back together and running, now. Thanks everyone!
...
So, I also replaced the heater core. Fun.
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
Now on a previous corvette weehicle the Helms manual was about all you needed. Maybe a few pictures on the forum were nice, too. But this baby took all of these things and then some to get it properly back together.
I have concluded that working on C-3s is not ROCKET SCIENCE. But then, what is it?
...
It's all back together and running, now. Thanks everyone!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
... but what is it?
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
In putting it all back together I used:
1. Two '79 Vette Manuals
2. A pdf of the Corvette Assembly Manual (AIM)
3. Many, many forum postings from past posts
4. Personal emails to a C-3 expert (Thanks Ed T!)
5. New forum posts
6. Digital photos I took before of everything (VERY glad I did)
7. My own previous experience (not saying much there)
8. Various websites
9. Paper instructions on some parts, paints, etc.
10. Tips from the local Napa, Autozone, and Advance Auto
11. Phone calls to detailer and Eastwood
12. Parts orders from various vendors.
13. Lots of tools. A few new ones
14. ipod & radio for entertainment
And lots of it. Besides that it looks great.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,919
Likes: 3,333
From: NYC NY
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
Thanks folks.
Yes, lots of work. It's more than I wanted to know about the engine components at this point in ownership, but I think it'll definitely be beneficial in the long run.
Ganey: I am indebted to GD70's excellent post with pictures here. Absolutely invaluable post!
78Vette-SA: I knew I forgot something.
The thing I found myself doing was removing a part and noticing a bolt head or bracket that needed sanding and/or painting. I'd paint it with Eastwood's Chassis Black Satin spray. Wait 48 hours. Reinstall. Only to find another part that needed detailing. Repeat.
Is this an obsession/addiction one gets by owning these things?
Yes, lots of work.
It's more than I wanted to know about the engine components at this point in ownership, but I think it'll definitely be beneficial in the long run.Ganey: I am indebted to GD70's excellent post with pictures here. Absolutely invaluable post!
78Vette-SA: I knew I forgot something.
The thing I found myself doing was removing a part and noticing a bolt head or bracket that needed sanding and/or painting. I'd paint it with Eastwood's Chassis Black Satin spray. Wait 48 hours. Reinstall. Only to find another part that needed detailing. Repeat.
Is this an obsession/addiction one gets by owning these things?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Great job!
I posted a thread last month showing the heater core replacement. I did it from the engine compartment. It may be helpful if you don't have AC, otherwise you need to pull half the dash out to access it.
Glenn
I posted a thread last month showing the heater core replacement. I did it from the engine compartment. It may be helpful if you don't have AC, otherwise you need to pull half the dash out to access it.
Glenn
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
The only motivation was I so badly wanted to drive it again for the fall colors. Whew. Barely made it!
Glenn: It was your excellent post that helped me to go ahead and replace the heater core after I doofed the copper pipe (No A/C). Thank you so very much for putting those pics and the tip on the removal tool. It was TREMENDOUSLY helpful!!!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
Leung: What kind of paint did you use for the fan? Eastwood Underhood Black? Lookin good.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 35
From: LaUgH, mOrE!
Leung: The fan was sprayed with Eastwood Chassis GLOSS Black. As were the upper brackets and pulleys. The lower pulleys were sprayed with Eastwood Chassis Satin Black. Both have a nice sheen. The block was cleaned, then painted with Eastwood Engine Gloss Black (no primer) brushed and/or sponge brush. Hope this helps.
