see the no's have it.

I have a 1980 'vette. My brother has a 1997 'vette. His car is better than mine in every way imaginable, power, handling, overall condition, options, you name it, but people still walk right past it to oooh and aaah over my car. He gets so pissed off about it, it's kinda funny!!!!! I love my C3 'vette, even with all of it's faults.


Scott

Man!! Mario Andretti has got to be, like, a hundred years old!!!! And he can still hustle a car around a road course like it's nobody's business...........good for him!!!!!!!


Scott

Thanks for all the info. I will most likely end up with another C3 unless someone with a C4 or C5 wants to do a partial trade deal.

I loved my C5 but as many have said, it is not a classic Vette. I would never have taken it to a car show as the view from behind the wheel out is the best. I figured nobody would really want to see it in a car show hen you could just go to a dealer and see the same thing.

Because I will use the car very infrequently, I will do suspension mods in steps and see what I like. Of the four C3's that I had I never really disliked the handling. It was just that the C5 is so much better. I can live with a "driver's car" that requires more driver input. Sometimes that is a more fun ride. Hell, I drive a lifted truck most of the time and it certainly is no sports car!

I take it that you have never driven a C6Z06, our Z06 can light the tires at will even with the traction control in full "nanny" mode.

Back to the question, you will never get C5/6 level of comfort/performance out of a C3 Vette but, the ride isn't all that bad if you stay with factory engineering. I have a 72 LT-1 with F-41 suspension set-up, it ran autocross times right there with our old C5 Z06 with both being on Kuhmo V710 sticky tires (we sold the C5 for the new C6 Z06.)

One thing the C3 will never equal is the comfort of a C5 Vette, but with the right parts it will handle pretty well. I am a big fan of Chevy engineering and had a basic F-41 suspension on my 72 LT-1 and the only good performance mod was a Borgeson steering box. I'm not a fan of retro fit transverse leafs in the front, dual mount rear springs or rack&pinion steering systems, if you want those go with a C4/5/6 Vette. I like steel 7-leaf rear springs (only the ones sold by Eaton Spring in Michigan), Bilstein shocks, and good alignments on a rebuilt chassis (Moog parts only!)

You have to be willing to work on your C3 Vette yourself as paying a shop to perform the tasks required to rebuild it will net you an investment that is more costly than the Vette is worth. The C3 needs to have a blueprinted rear differential, and quality parts in the suspension. There are many aftermarket products I wouldn't use on my Vette but many here champion their use, I think some are so poorly engineered as to be borderline dangerous and many Vettes these parts are found on are "garage Queens". I drive my C3 Vette over 5K miles a year and the Vette is pretty dead reliable.

I guess in the end you have to ask yourself if your willing to make the commitment to making a better Vette, if not, go with another C5 (sometimes I miss our C5 Z06, in many ways it was a far better balanced Vette than the C6 Z.)

you can change suspension and if you put enough money into it you can get close but the C5 has too much of an advantage on weight displacement that I doubt you could ever get close to on a C3. A C3 is what it is. Almost like taking the mini van out and trying to get it to perform like a C5.

Just grab you one and research and add what you want a bit at a time. Sounds like you need to stay away from the BB because of the heavy front end weight would really effect your handling.

Interesting info here. I like your line of thinking on factory options stuff. I am a big fan of early C3 SCCA race cars and would like to simi-duplicate one for street use. I have been looking at all the aftermarket systems and liked the idea of a R&P conversion. Not sure about coil overs and other stuff. I'd really like to see one that has been done. I guess I'll check out the local clubs to see if anyone local has done it.

I will be doing all the work myself (I built the '34 coupe below as well as many others) and this will be a play / hobby car so I can take my time and do the research.

One of the things I really liked about the C5 was its ability to double duty as a long distance traveling car. With close to 30 MPG and the creature comforts it was awesome on long trips. I guess the C3 would be more of a blast around local car so I'm not so worried about the ride.
No matter what I do it will handle and ride better than my hot rods!

Most likely go with LSX for weight savings and hard to beat the bang for the buck.

When I get into an "old" car, I really expect to experience a car of it's era. I'm not saying that I wouldn't appreciate mods to make them more comfortable, but I'm not sure I want to go through the trouble and expense when I could just buy a new car. My 2005 Pontiac Bonneville rides and drives better than my "69 Corvette. My mom's Buick is more comfortable than my Pontiac. I had a Cadillac that was smooth as can be.
I don't mind more power in the old Corvette, but I want the experience of my '69, or my '66, or my '58 now and then.

Not really. Even if you leave it all iron the engine is set back enough to have good weight distribution, about 51/49. Add aluminum heads and intake, some headers, mini starter etc and it will be 50/50.

i kept my car stock (but improved-tuned) and took it to the racetrack : no big handling difference in respect to my Porsche Boxster.

thread starter read here :http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...ay-report.html

In certain situations the Vette gives me even a better handling-feeling than the Boxster.In some other not ( steering box unsolved issue i think , even if i went for the best one -gary ramadei made). I think i should go for rack and pinion but i like to keep my car stock

If you want the "simple answer" to the question that's it right there.
A C3 will never be a C5............but it can be just as much all around fun to own and drive.

Did you use the Performance Plus System Full Kit from VB&P?