Original vs upgrading
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Original vs upgrading
I just bought an 81 vette. The car has 46,000 miles on it and everything is in descent shape. I know the car has been babied for the last 12 years and kept in a garage. The owner didn’t even know where the windshield wiper switch was because he never drove it in the rain. Paint is in good shape and body is perfect. Motor is smooth and interior is all good except the divers seat has a couple of cracks. ALL STOCK through and through, down to the radio/8 track/CB.
Here is my dilemma, I wanted a car my son and I could upgrade with a mild cam, maybe side pipes, and change the color of the paint but before we start I’m thinking it may hurt the value of the car. I love the lines of the 81s but I hate the performance. Any ideas on which way to go? I could put about $500 in the car and have a great survivor but I will not be excited about driving it. On the other hand I don’t want to spend money on something that will hurt it.
Here is my dilemma, I wanted a car my son and I could upgrade with a mild cam, maybe side pipes, and change the color of the paint but before we start I’m thinking it may hurt the value of the car. I love the lines of the 81s but I hate the performance. Any ideas on which way to go? I could put about $500 in the car and have a great survivor but I will not be excited about driving it. On the other hand I don’t want to spend money on something that will hurt it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Seems you have arrived at the direction you want to take. Besides, what you're proposing isn't going to have a significant effect on the value one way or the other and we're many, many years before automotive museums are vying for display rights on '81 Corvettes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
IMO you have the perfect car to start with. All original and sounds like Bubba wasn't in there yet. This is the type of car I bought too, although mine had twice the miles yours does. I'm slowly upgrading mine and couldn't be happier.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 468
Likes: 20
From: Warrenton VA
I'd go ahead and make the upgrades with my son, if I were you. As posted above, the 81's are dogs in the performance arena and its most likely going to be long while before they ever become expensive museum pieces. It's always nice to document the work and keep as many of the original parts as possible for future resale. Bottom line, it's your car and enjoying it is what it's meant for. Good luck and have fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
That's good. Just keep everything you take off. I have all my stock parts packaged away in labeled boxes so I know where everything is if one day I need it again.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Well thought out and executed mods that can be reversed will not hurt your car's potential resale value, but will most definitely increase the value of your ownership experience. Just photo and document everything you undo, properly mark and store anything you may ever wish to re-install, and keep Bubba away from the car. As for non-original paint, stick with fairly popular colors and you should be fine.
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Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Mar 21, 2013 at 05:52 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
I just bought an 81 vette. The car has 46,000 miles on it and everything is in descent shape. I know the car has been babied for the last 12 years and kept in a garage. The owner didn’t even know where the windshield wiper switch was because he never drove it in the rain. Paint is in good shape and body is perfect. Motor is smooth and interior is all good except the divers seat has a couple of cracks. ALL STOCK through and through, down to the radio/8 track/CB.
Here is my dilemma, I wanted a car my son and I could upgrade with a mild cam, maybe side pipes, and change the color of the paint but before we start I’m thinking it may hurt the value of the car. I love the lines of the 81s but I hate the performance. Any ideas on which way to go? I could put about $500 in the car and have a great survivor but I will not be excited about driving it. On the other hand I don’t want to spend money on something that will hurt it.
Here is my dilemma, I wanted a car my son and I could upgrade with a mild cam, maybe side pipes, and change the color of the paint but before we start I’m thinking it may hurt the value of the car. I love the lines of the 81s but I hate the performance. Any ideas on which way to go? I could put about $500 in the car and have a great survivor but I will not be excited about driving it. On the other hand I don’t want to spend money on something that will hurt it.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: MISSISSAUGA ONTARIO
Leave the body and paint alone if its good and its a colour you can live with,spend the money on some engine and tranny upgrades and like everbody else has already stated save all the original parts for later.And most of all have fun with it as you go Cheers
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
lots of good advice here and you are lucky to have found such an unmolested car,or are you?most of the rest of us it seems have bought disturbed cars and hence have become very sharp troubleshooters.best of luck on whatever you decide.
Last edited by billcarson; Mar 22, 2013 at 10:23 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
But if you want to get radical, put in a 350 H.O. or ZZ4 crate engine with the forementioned exhaust system. Now we're talking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,852
Likes: 3,306
From: NYC NY
Everybody is basically on the same page here as far as the mods go. It would cost thousands to undo a color change. The time you spend working on the car with your son will be priceless.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
FWIW: Leave the car alone. It has managed to survive essentially stock and unmolested all this time and has been thoughtfully cared for by the previous owner. It has earned the right to survive.
Sell this one and purchase another for a project.
Sell this one and purchase another for a project.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
i don't usually disagree with Mike but I do on this one.
would you rather spend all your time fixing up rust, replacing broken worn out components, doing body work and turning something into a frame off project that you can't drive, or finding a perfect car and swapping in the fun stuff like engines and transmissions, and being able to drive it in between while saving money for the next thing. Me, I'd rather the fun stuff
would you rather spend all your time fixing up rust, replacing broken worn out components, doing body work and turning something into a frame off project that you can't drive, or finding a perfect car and swapping in the fun stuff like engines and transmissions, and being able to drive it in between while saving money for the next thing. Me, I'd rather the fun stuff
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran