Looking at a 1979 and need some comments
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village Kansas
Looking at a 1979 and need some comments
I came across the '79 at a local garage with an $8,000 obo sign on it. The mechanic hadn't worked on it a whole lot and was letting it sit out front for one of his customers. Interior looked to be in good shape, it had true dual exhaust without the catalytic converter and the tires looked good as well.
From this forum, I figure it's not an original motor, missing the A/C, there's some sort of oil leak somewhere, and one of the frame to body mounts in the rear is cracked, but what else am I not seeing? Does $8k seem ballpark for a NOM vette? Not being numbers matching doesn't bother me.
From this forum, I figure it's not an original motor, missing the A/C, there's some sort of oil leak somewhere, and one of the frame to body mounts in the rear is cracked, but what else am I not seeing? Does $8k seem ballpark for a NOM vette? Not being numbers matching doesn't bother me.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 120
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi, on my 78 the right #4 frame to body mount (same as yours) was also rusted and cracked, maybe a little worse tha yours. After removing mount I found the fiberglass under the mount had a crack in it from no support from mount. IMOP $8000 is kinda high. Check under upper rear of the front fender corners at bottom of windshield corners with a flashlight for rust. The c3s were known for T tops keaking and water getting in windshield frame and down door hindge support and rusting. Good kuck, Frank.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
$8k is a little high, but it looks to be a do able project, not in all that bad shape. The greasy pics are not oil leaks, thats grease from the ball joints, it squirts out when you put new grease in them and can be cleaned up.
The brake MC and calipers have been changed out in the not to distant past, fresh looging surface rust on them.
Motor has been bubba'd a bit, missiing AC and the like, aftermarket valve covers.
If it runs and drives ok, look for rust on the #2 mounts and frame kickups in front of the rear wheels. If it looks ok, go in at $6k
The brake MC and calipers have been changed out in the not to distant past, fresh looging surface rust on them.
Motor has been bubba'd a bit, missiing AC and the like, aftermarket valve covers.
If it runs and drives ok, look for rust on the #2 mounts and frame kickups in front of the rear wheels. If it looks ok, go in at $6k
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village Kansas
Thanks for the comments. 
I'll have to take a closer look at the other mounts. I just looked at the rear kick up area and mounts. I figured 8k was too high, but went looking through the Corvette Catalogs to see what replacement bushings, mount parts, and A/C went for.
I'd been looking for a white '78 with red interior, but not too many were made that year. I was impressed with the interior (except for the carbon fiber dash kit) and liked the '79 / pace car seats. Pretty supportive and more similar to my '02 WRX.
I'll have to take a closer look at the other mounts. I just looked at the rear kick up area and mounts. I figured 8k was too high, but went looking through the Corvette Catalogs to see what replacement bushings, mount parts, and A/C went for.I'd been looking for a white '78 with red interior, but not too many were made that year. I was impressed with the interior (except for the carbon fiber dash kit) and liked the '79 / pace car seats. Pretty supportive and more similar to my '02 WRX.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
From: Warren Ohio
I was in the same boat. Spent 6K on my '79. It had new seats, an non- original 350, and a noisy rear end. Had the rear end rebuilt, put in a upgraded A/C system from Classic Auto Air which works great. My paint looks worse than yours but I've got a nice driver that I really enjoy. If you like to work on your car, you can improve and maintain it as your time and budget permit. If you'd rather just wax and drive, you need to go beyond the 6K limit unless you really get a great deal.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
With the economy I would go 5500 max .. There is going to be a lot more it needs then you will expect and it is a buyers market on these cars. The only real issue for you is your hunting a specific color combo and I sure hope you did not mention that to the seller 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Prairie Village Kansas
. Just looking for a nice date night / special occaision car (not an investment). As I'm learning from owning the WRX and a house, all things that you enjoy are "money pits".
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 54,001
Likes: 6,214
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
If thats the color combo you like and you like the seats and the fact the NOM doesnt bother you, you are negotiating from a position of strength.
Stick with the points that the NOM does hurt the resale significantly and that '79s were the most produced year up to that point (over 50,000), and you should be able to buy it for 6500 max, hopefully less.
Then drive it until the wheels fall off.
Stick with the points that the NOM does hurt the resale significantly and that '79s were the most produced year up to that point (over 50,000), and you should be able to buy it for 6500 max, hopefully less.
Then drive it until the wheels fall off.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
From: Warren Ohio
As most us know, sometimes buying a Corvette is a matter of the heart and not the wallet. If you wait for the "perfect" one to come along, it could be a long wait. Yes, there are lots of '79s out there, but unless you plan to show it, a NOM engine shouldn't be a deal breaker. The car looks pretty good to me. Make the best deal you can and cruise to your heart's content. Look on Craig's List and E-Bay if you can find one close enough to inspect in person. Good Luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I drove a 1979 L-82 for 17 years. They are great cars, notwithstanding those who poo-poo them for too many being made. I very much enjoyed that car. I sold it in 2003 to my younger Brother and it is still going strong today.
The engine is a bit of a mystery as it seems to have an intake oil fill tube. That goes back to C2 days. And it is hard to see any crankcase ventilation system. But what the heck. If it runs well go for it. (I assume you do not have emissions inspections; particularly visual. If yes, that would change my opinion.)
The engine is a bit of a mystery as it seems to have an intake oil fill tube. That goes back to C2 days. And it is hard to see any crankcase ventilation system. But what the heck. If it runs well go for it. (I assume you do not have emissions inspections; particularly visual. If yes, that would change my opinion.)
Last edited by Paul L; Feb 16, 2013 at 05:15 PM.