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Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Nashville TN
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Hello. Step one to buying a Vette, join a good forum.
We are looking to purchase a C3 for our next project. This has long been a dream since childhood and my wife caught the bug soon after we were married.
Our goal is to find a C3 under $5000 and restore. I'm thinking a 6.0 ltr with 6 speed manual would be a good drivetrain swap. We plan to drive it a LOT.
What are soon popular drivetrain swaps?
We are looking to purchase a C3 for our next project. This has long been a dream since childhood and my wife caught the bug soon after we were married.
Our goal is to find a C3 under $5000 and restore. I'm thinking a 6.0 ltr with 6 speed manual would be a good drivetrain swap. We plan to drive it a LOT.
What are soon popular drivetrain swaps?
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 62
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From: Nashville TN
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,093
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From: long beach California
Yeah the rear glass acess is nice. I want to get my hands on the cars an concepts conversion if I can find one. I was bidding on one a while back but lost the final bid on eBay. Good luck on your search I will tell you however that if you spend just under $10,000 you can change the engine trans or any part of the car you want an still come out saving money. The 3-5k dollar cars have for the most part fried brakes, trailing arms, rear differentials, frames, bird cages, lighting electrical an everything else. I know I bought my 79 last summer for $3k an have to replace every single piece of my suspension an brakes before I get it on the road
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 62
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From: Nashville TN
Sure we could. However, the mid 70's small blocks are gas sucking inefficient iron dead weights. We both commute 50 miles a day so good gas mileage is a must. But that's why I joined this forum. Maybe I'm wrong. What kind of mileage should I expect from a C3?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 2
From: long beach California
Several people who have gone with the drivetrain upgrade say that they can get 20+ mpg. That makes a huge difference in te actual affordability of driving the car. If you can get say 23mpg on average if your driving it RESPONSIBLY an not speeding or burning out. Then the car is a great fun to owne commuter. Then on weekends an car club fun run days it can be your toy as well is this what your going for? I think you are right to want to up date your setup but to each his own.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 62
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From: Nashville TN
Between my wife and I we drive 40K a year. When I restore something my goal is to drive the hell out of it. We will probably put 15K a year on this car so gas mileage IS very important. I really like the LS2/6 speed for power, availability/affordability and efficiency.
My last swap was an LM7/4L60e into our 59 Apache Suburban. Even with terrible aerodynamics I'm getting north of 20 MPG on the highway. That's up from the 13 I was getting with the original 6.
A good friend had the LS2/6 speed in his 03 Camaro and he was getting 30 hwy.
My last swap was an LM7/4L60e into our 59 Apache Suburban. Even with terrible aerodynamics I'm getting north of 20 MPG on the highway. That's up from the 13 I was getting with the original 6.
A good friend had the LS2/6 speed in his 03 Camaro and he was getting 30 hwy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Welcome to the forum! You will find great information, great people (with the occasional jerk) and lots of great ideas (with the occasional clinker). How about a radical supercharged V6 for something different and economical?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Welcome!! I have a convertible with mild modified 350, 400 auto with 3.08 gears and I'm getting up to 20mpg on the highway. Thats just going the speed limit and having a tail wind. Also running a rochester carb with headers and 2.5 exhaust.
When you get a chance try to go into you profile and place a little information there, like where you live and such. Good luck.
GG
When you get a chance try to go into you profile and place a little information there, like where you live and such. Good luck.
GG