Hopefully this photo won't put chills up his spine.

Welcome to the forum Ross!

 

Ha! Thanks for the good words about my 82. That look is very similar to my garage! I have, probably, more parts on the shelf (spelled $$) than I have in the car! We all seem to have the similar car life. Each in their own area of the country. Wouldn't it be great to all live on the same block and share parts, stories, good times, beer, and help!

I found 2 guys on my street that have Vette's after I bought mine. Never knew them on that level before. :-)

 

Hey guys,

I didn't forget about this post. Thanks for all the great advice. When I was looking into the purchase seriously, my wife "told on me" to my dad (amazing how that can still happen when you're a grown, independent adult) and he sat me down over some Yuengling to talk it out.

His concerns were that tuning the carburetor would be a headache, and that any serious maintenance would be beyond the capacity of the local mechanics, who mostly work for chains like Tires Plus and Pep Boys (I almost thought I heard him use the phrase "whipper snappers," but I must have imagined it), and the timing of the ignition system (if any of this is off, it's because I'm mis-remembering it, not because he had it wrong) might be hard to maintain.

His opinion was that I should use the money for a slightly used (10-25k) C5 and wait until I had a bigger garage (mine is only 2 bays) and some real tools beyond two sets of sockets and some wrenches, and had spent more time around people who worked on old cars to get a feel for it before I commit. I'm taking his advice under advisement. What do you guys think?


PS: As to questions about me driving the hypothetical vette in ice, snow and salt-Hell no! That's what my wife's beloved 2012 Mustang is for!

 

For the price of a C5, you can get a fully restored C3 that will be every bit as dependable as the C5. If you want a C3, get a C3. Just don't get one that isn't a good fit for you. If you want a C5, that's fine too - but it's a very different animal... Which do you really want?

 

I think Yuengling is a damn tasty beer.

You just need to find a C3 that has had most everything mechanical already done to it. They are not that hard to identify...the handy work of a real car guy is under the hood and underneath the car. There is nothing simpler to work on than an early C3 with points ignition and a carburetor. You will learn, people here will help you. Put aside some money for buying tools. Make friends with a local car guy.

 

Well said. My Brother owns a C5. Not very mechanically in-tune with it. When the C5 code says replace X, he does. Not my kind of system. I love my 82. It has a computer, codes, etc, but also has the ability WITH 2 SOCKET sets, to fix almost anything on it. Get the C3. Spend the extra $$ to find one that is quite well restored. You will be happy! Hint: Make yourself a spreadsheet with all the years from 70 to 82. The 68/69's are way up there in $$ for what you want it for. Then, next to it add pro/con and comment columns. It will become very clear as to what to purchase. Then the hunt begins. Craigslist, eBay, local newspapers, word-of-mouth, etc. I decided on mine that way. I have had several other restorations throughout the last 10 or so years so I was ready for another. My rules have changed with the Vette. The others were restore / sell / buy something else. The Vette is a keeper. I decided on the 82 as the last model year. There were plenty of them to chose from, they should have the latest tech (at the time) that GM had to offer, yet they are still user-friendly enough. Here is the funny part. I decided on a Monday that I was looking for the next project car. Told a few folks at the office. By Wednesday, I was test-driving a car through word-of-mouth from an associate that I work with. Negotiated the price, showed up with a bag of money, and moved on.

 

Something else that I forgot ... My old restorations were British / German. Triumph, then a Lotus, then a Porsche before the Vette. Always had to order parts. Now I walk into a Napa, Pep Boys, etc and say "Water pump for a 350", $45 and I'm a happy guy! Not $380 for the Lotus water pump.

 

If you take rdroe's advice, don't keep in mind that starting in 1972 Chevy began reporting in net rather than gross HP. If HP is important to you and chrome bumpers are not, I'd hate to see you spend twice as much on a car listed at 270 gross HP (like the 1971) when really that's the same as 200 net. From 72 on they were measured in net HP...

My 1978 L48 is rated at 185 net. With it's aftermarket exhaust it gets a little better than that - call it 200. I'd need a dyno to be sure. That's the same HP as the 1971, but the 1971 costs much more.

If on the other hand you do really prefer chrome bumpers - and lots of people do - go for it!!

 

HA! I would love to have had a 69. But my bag of money wasn't big enough!

C3 is definitely the Corvette in peoples minds when you mention Vette. At least the folks my age (54).

I am sitting here at the office, drinking the first of many cups of Coffee, and trying to find a good deal on a hi-capacity oil pan. Why? Because lots of cool, good oil is good for the engine. Do I race? No. Do I compete? No. I just enjoy the car very much and like to upgrade little pieces that are *original* and need to be replaced. My original Oil Pan looks like it wants to rust through any minute now. It made my replacement list after the new exhausts, and it's time. Enjoy the C3 ! That's why God created them.

 

Thanks all. I am still serious about the C3. The spreadsheet idea sounds great. I've got two working cars now, and one as I said is quite new, so I have some time to do real research and get exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you!

 

interesting take, and one that has been debated on this forum many times. C5 will certainly be less work if you find one that is well taken care of. They are fast and comfortable and have A/C, good sound systems, etc. However, if something goes wrong with it there is very little chance you will be able to fix it without some computer equipment and also specialized tools.

I like the look of the C3 and enjoy working on it. It is not my daily driver. For a DD I might go with the C5 too.

 

If you have "two sets of sockets and some wrenches" you already have 98% of the tools you are going to need to work on a C3 - you would be absolutely surprised how much can be accomplished with a set of just 1/2", 9/16" and 5/8" sockets and box ends on these cars.

Your dad is probably quite correct that most local mechanics wont be able to adjust your carb, most probably can still set your timing, but keep in mind both of these things are things you can do yourself with practice and some assistance from other car folk. Also dont leave out the possibility that there may be some corvette specific shops near you that can assist with the more esoteric parts of the C3.

A 7 mile trip to work is nothing and you should easily be able to find a car that can handle that load. There is nothing wrong with the C5 idea either, but if you are not interested in that generation I doubt you would enjoy it much. for the kind of money a C5 will cost you, its already been pointed out you should be able to get a fully restored C3.

Most of all dont rush into anything, many leap before they look and if you continue to do your research you will probably do just fine.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do, and when you get the C3 anyway - dont forget to post pictures

 

AND ... building on what fauxrs said, send us pictures before you pull the trigger! There are a few of us that will take an interest, a genuine interest, in what you are purchasing.

 

It depends on where you live, my 81 has no smog, no cats, no computer, all removed, as simple as an early model. Now if they change the laws, I may be putting the smog crap back on! :O)

 

I would love to can the computer, but the XFire FI won't let me. I could go back to a carb, but so far, the fire is working quite well.