Sad thing is people buy a chrome bumper vette because of higher HP ratings and putt around like they only have 35 horse power under the hood so they basically waste their money on bragging rights and have a car with no cowl induction hood.
190 hp @ 5500prms verses 250 @ 5500, really prove it take your cherished baby out of its plastic bag hold the gas to the floor and pop the clutch and show me that big horse power you paid $27000 for!!!

 

Lol yeah i agree. You say no cowl induction hood, did a certain year come with one? or your saying cause their 27K "classic" has the classic hood, they cant add a better looking hood like the ones that are cowl induction?

My current plan is to keep my eyes out for a Stingray that has a great body, the paint i dont care, a daily driver engine and manual transmission, and at least a 8 outta 10 interior. So i can use it and drive it around and feel good, but at a certain point when i have the money, i will re-paint it (either sky blue or black), put a crate engine in it (maybe even fuel injected, what do you guys think of that? probably a 350CI or maybe even a big block), i assume with the more powerful engine i will need a higher performance tranny, and the interior when i feel like it, bring it in to a vette/interior shop and have them make it a 10.

 

Wow.....my evil twin......fair price for the condition too. Good call my friend.

 

 

68 thru 72 had a shorter hood and a windshield wiper compartment panel, so they would need a longer hood and maybe some work to make a longer hood fit.
73 thru 81? had the cowl hood for more room for a taller intake and air cleaner.

 

My advice would be to rethink your position on that point. You appear to be new to C3s and looking to purchase your first. Things could change.

Good luck with the hunt.

 

It is all about desirability, the bumper car by allot of people are considered the last Corvettes. That has really changed over the last decade though, you don't see many 73-82 cars on the road anymore. The earlier cars had better engine options etc, but if none of that matters, it is what you like. If you like the 76 better you need to go with what you like and not what others like more. I have had a bunch of 75's for some reason, and a 74. My 70 I only ever drove one time, it was a conv and I got stuck in the rain with it, not only did it really leak but the wipers didn't work. Sold it. So I happen to really like the soft bumper cars, I still have my first Corvette which was a 75, and I am planning on putting it back on the road soon.

 

I like to refer to the 74-77's as the poor man's muscle car. They retain most of the same looks as the 68-72. You can make them perform like the earlier versions for little cash. You can find nice examples for $6,000 - $12,000. Compare that to a similar condition Camaro or Mustang or God forbid a 442 or GTO (68-72) at $20K+.

 

I bought a '76 L-48 4 speed 14 years ago for $7500. Car was in very good shape with, as near as I can research, 42000 miles. Since then, I have replaced the original engine (still have) with a 383 stroker. Engine mods cost me about +/- $3000 , including the stroker short block, TF aluminum heads, RPM intake, CC XE 274 cam,etc.

I now calculate engine HP to be pushing 400. It is a fine running street machine.

All of the mods I made, not things that were necessary to keep it running, not including the stroker, worked out to +/- $3000. So I have a total of about $13500 invested in the car. Well worth it to me.

Depends on what you want to do with the car, but the $7000 '76 is a good place to start.

 

where do '73 corvettes fall on your scale???

 

Thats pretty much exactly the scenario i want to happen to me. What type of MPG do you get? I am wondering if its smart to go Fuel Injection instead of Carb if i was to buy a new engine. Also i have no clue what CI i would want, i asked before but i will re-ask: Can the '1975+ Stingrays still fit a 454 big block like the earlier years had?

 

As an owner of a 76 I bought mine cuz it was reasonably priced.It was not stock,and I didn't care because I want to drive it and not worry if the value would drop.I love playing mechanic on the thing and fix things as problems arise.Upgrades so far are a Borgeson steering box,Richmond 6 spd transmission,aluminum radiator,Edelbrock heads,air gap manifold,Summit 600cfm carb,Crower solid cam.I enjoy tuning the motor to see what settings work the best and provide the most MPG's.I've been able to get around 20MPG hiway on a 36 year old Vette.Future upgrades will be a roller cam and maybe EFI.If you want more power you can go with a 400-427 small block.A Big Block transplant will cost you mucho dollars.My car looks stock on the outside but is far from it on the inside.....Good Luck on your search....
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I freaking love that Stingray! Omg its gorgeous. Love the body, love the paint job, love the rims...wow. I am diggin the 20MPG on highway, nice. So mid too high teens MPG on street?
I totally agree, i want to do EXACTLY what you did to yours, to mine. I want to drive it daily driver, i dont need or really want stock.

So what engine is in it? The stock 350CI? Is big block mucho dollars cause of the price of the engine? or cause you have to do work to the engine compartment to get it big block ready? Can you EFI a carb engine? (Sorry im kinda a engine noob when it comes to stuff like this).

Id love to see as many pics as you want to show. Especially your interior. Its the perfect example of what i want.

 

My first vette was a 73 and I referred to it as a bastard car because it was half and half and I got tired of explaining why the front/rear difference and never convinced some it wasnt wrecked and a newer front end put on it, I finally sold it will never own another one!

 

I intentionally left that year out because of the rear chrome bumper. In my neck of the woods they bring more money than 74-77 but not as much as 68-72. So they complicate the point I was trying to make about prices compared to other cars. Cheers, especially if you have a 73.

 

the '75 and earlier cars has all fiberglass floors. '76 and up had metal ala catalytic converter heat. condition is everything, just bought an '80 for $3500 and a '75 for $3250. how much sweat do you want to invest?

 

A big block 427,454 etc will fit no problem.If you can a 4spd car and or L82 motor option car would be the most desireable,but will probably cost more as well.

 

Back before I had the Q-Jet rebuilt by Lars, I was getting about 13mpg around town and 18 mpg on the road. I have not had it out enough to give you mpg numbers with the present set up.

I don't know what mpg would be with FI, but the rebuilt Q-Jet is as smooth as the FI in my daily drivers. I, too, looked into FI, but I could not justify the cost vs the Lars Q-Jet.

Car has a Edelbrock spread bore RPM intake, headers, CC cam. You know, the usual good stuff.

 

I want as little to no (preferably no) body work required. Tiny dings that can be easily mended would be acceptable, but besides that, body completely straight. As for interior i want it acceptable. By that i mean i have seen a few pics of interiors that look enough "eh" that i wouldnt love sitting there. So good enough that im like "this is decent" and then eventually bringing it in to a shop to get the interior re-done. As for the engine, thats still up in the air. I definitely know i want whatever engine is in it, to be totally drivable.

Well im glad to hear they would fit no problem. I dont know their prices so i have no clue what i would think to go for. The L82 is the stock 350CI in the '76 vette right? And a 4spd is the stock manual transmission? How much can be done to that L82? Doesnt it have only 230HP?

So i take it you can EFI a carb engine? How much was it gonna cost you to EFI? How much more is a EFI 350 V8 than a Carb 350 V8?

UPDATE: Cant believe i didn't think of this soon, but you guys that own Stingrays, what heights are you? Its an American car so i assume its good some space, but still, im 6'3, will i be able to sit comfortably?

Found this, seems to be a insane deal: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/cto/3243817934.html
So its a '74 but no chrome bumpers, do you think he removed them cause he wanted the full painted look? Is that common? Also not sure what to think about a non original motor, should i really be wanting a L82 that badly? I mean its only 210HP, and all i want is a good daily driver until i eventually buy a crate engine. Also its a automatic transmission, should i care? I mean yes i totally want a manual, but most come with 4 gear manuals anyways...and for fuel economy and strength to handle that future crate engine (could have 300-400HP) wont i want a 5-6 speed tranny that can handle that HP/get better fuel economy?

 

Nothing?