Ok guys and gals,
I've posted in the c4 and c5 forum concerning my potential purchase. For a little background, I'm looking for a weekender that I can use as a dd from time to time. My wife was so happy to see the '91 c4 go as she doesn't like the styling and hated climbing in and out. I decided a c5 would be the answer, but after a few test drives she and I both feel like the vettes kinda lost some of their "soul" beginning in '97. They are beautiful and fast but I don't feel the love. I still love the way a late 80's-early 90's c4 feels and drives, she hates em. She does, however, love my '77. It rattles and leaks, the a/c and heater core are long gone, and sometimes I think parts are falling off while travelling down a bumpy road. The th350 is slow and I'm doing good to get 10mpg, but it makes us both smile as we pull out of the drive...just because. She thinks the wavy stinger body styles are beautiful and easier to enter/exit than a c4. Sooo, I think I have the answer. Find an '82 in decent shape. I'm thinking best of both worlds. The c3 look and feel with a modern tranny and injection. Road and Track testing data tells me it's a second slower 0-60 and a 1/2 sec. slower in the qt. mile than my '77 was the day it was sold, but I'm not a speed demon. Data also shows that the crossfire is more effecient overall at 21.5 mpg avg. than my first vette ('87) was at 17.5 mpg avg. Am I being realistic, or over rationalizing? Friend of mine has an '84 and never had any problems with a crossfire engine. I realize there is not much modding I can do so I'll never get 300hp out of it. I'm guessing injection stuff is still available? Thanks for any feedback, especially from any high mileage '82 owners.

 

I'm on my second 82 and I can tell you as a driver they are probably exactly what you're looking for. The CFI 350 is not an easily modded motor so you will most likely be stuck with a low hp cruiser. It doesn't bother me as my 06 puts down 540rwhp so if I feel the need, it's ready to go.

I put 70K+ miles on my first 82 and the only issues that came up in seven years was a bad torque converter solenoid at 65K and some leaky calipers at 16K. I bought the car in 85 with 2700 miles on it.

My current 82 was left neglected for a few years but only has 28K miles on it. I have rebuilt the suspension and have slowly been ridding it of electrical issues. The car drives fine and looks good but still needs work. I bought it as a mild project. There are lots of 82's out there from driveable projects to NCRS quality.

Good luck on your search.

 

Whats wrong with a 81? You still get the ride,looks,comfort creatures of the 82. But you also get a carb. 350. Easy to work on and great for getting parts. More easily reworked for more HP.= FUN.

 

What is so special about the 82 hat has you in a tither to buy one ???

The 80 & 81 look and ride the same and avoid the electronics that most of us older guys who can rebuild a Carb blindfolded do not understand .

Bob G.
64 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 79 & 88 Coupes

 

Not to cause you to back-track on your thought process, but I might be able to give you some insight since I currently own a C3, C4, and C5. The C3 ('75) is the most primitive. It rattles, rides rough but is by far the best looking style wise (in my opinion). I purchased my C4 ('87) while I was doing a 4 years restoration of my C3 so I could be driving a 'vette. I feel in love with with that car. Some say the C4 is to plain. I liked that sleek styling and the inside felt like a sports car (still). I'm not comfortable with taking the C3 on long road trips but I would take the C4 anywhere. My goal is to own 1 of very generation at the same time and the prices of C5 were dropping and I found my 2002 convertible. I had been reading and studying them here on the forum... learning the common issues with them so I could make an educated purchase. I was a member of a Corvette club and good friends with many members and was fortunate enough to get to drive every generation. All I can say is, yes the C5 is more luxery feeling instead of the sports car feel but the ride and power are awesome... style is very nice also. I fell in love with that car as I was driving it home when I purchased it. In summary - really consider what you will want to do with a car. Longer trips, etc. Compare dependability and price with any cars you are considering. I love all generations and I'm happy with every purchase I've made because I took the time to get exactly what I wanted. Good luck on your search.

 

Your reasoning is solid...if you maintain the requirement that the vehicle be completely stock. But, then, the '82 has a more efficient...but puny...30 year-old engine that can have mechanical difficulties at any time. And, not many folks know how to work on CrossFire engines; and, parts can be hard to locate/procure.

Why not open up your 'requirements' a bit and include other C3 cars that have had a powertrain "transplant" which brings them into the modern era? Lots of C3's have been modified to include better steering systems, better wheels/tires, and better powertrains...with EFI induction systems, electronic ignition systems, and lockup & overdrive transmissions. And, since they have been 'modified', they usually sell for a very resonable sum, compared to vintage stock cars. For what you and the wife seem to want, that sounds like a very viable alternative which is also a more reliable form of transportation than the '82 stock car. Just a thought....

Good luck in your search.

 

I'm thinking that if you love the '77, why not just fix that? A crate engine, 700R4 trans and some TLC here and there and you'll have a nice weekender, and you already own it!

 

This is great advice.

The mid/late '70's models do not have high collector value, but they have the cool C3 body style. If I had some spare cash I'd like to get one of these and modernize it.

 

Thanks for all the input. All of you make a valid point. I have no issues with older c3's other than the carbs sucking so much dead dinosaur. On paper, the crossfire mpg is not much different than later c4 cars, so that was what sold me, but if I could find a c3 with tbi or tpi and a r4700...that would be awesome. Might be cheaper too. The '77 is all original except the paint and it is the original color. It does need a touch of body work, but with numbers matching I really don't want to modify it any. Maybe I shoud get my head out of my a** and just get a c5, but there is magic in a stringray. Thanks for the replies. It all helps in the decision process

 

Before you rule out a C5, take a Z06 for a ride. The Z06 is a true Corvette enthusiast’s car. They are a different animal than the C5 CP or Vert. I had a C5 CP automatic and traded it for a Z06 and can still remember the first words out of my wife’s mouth “now this is more like us”. Good luck with your search.

 

I love my 82 and with the right knowledge they are not hard to mod and still get great MPG's. I regulary drive mine on liong trips and still average 25-30 MPGs on the highway. The only problem I have everhad was a bad transmission and that was only due to someone replacing the factory witha rebuid from a V6 car. Now all is well and runs great.

 

Good luck with your search. If your interested, I have my original 82 CFI engine, electric fuel pump and computer sitting on an engine stand.

 

Nothing wrong with an '82, if you can make it fully functional and reliable. I had an '84, which had the very same powertrain as the '82. It was fuel efficient (20 mpg at 100 mph). A stock '82 which has had good maintenance and/or a good rebuild of the powertrain would do very well. Such an 'animal' may be more difficult to find than another C3 with a modern powertrain transplant. {And, personally, I prefer the look of the '68-73 cars over the later vintage C3 cars. An early C3 with a modern powertrain...best of all worlds, IMO.}

 

You posted twice and mentioned C5 each time. I get the impression the C5 is what you want.

 

Either find a WELL maintained, original 82..........
OR
one with a blown motor and drop in an LSX motor = best of BOTH

 

My subconscious wants a c5. reliable, modern, tons of aftermarket stuff. Just seems more practical and less expensive in the long run. My 30 mile roundtrip daily commute would be nothing for even a high miler, but...my heart wants that c3 body style and cockpit. Even though my '77 is not worth much these days, I still don't want to mod it because one day it might be a valuable ride. I've read and read on this forum and it looks like a lot of people have used an early crossfire as a daily without much more maintenance than a c4. I'm not good with decisions, thats why I always seek opinions of those with real world experience. Thanks for all the iput so far.

 

Problem solved. Here you go.
http://www.specialtysales.com/1978-c...te--c-2393.htm

 

Replacing a drivetrain does not necessarily require losing the original. Put the OE stuff on a shelf, fix the A/C and heat and have a ball driving that 77 everywhere. I may have a bit of bias as a 1977 owner myself, but this approach seems logical to me.

 

have you seen the new intake for the cross-fire?theres lots of cross-fires with 300+ hphttp://www.crossfireinjection.net/hers one to think abouthttp://www.autabuy.com/Vehicles/Deta...Model=CORVETTE