Am I nuts for considering this process?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 39
From: Beautiful East Texas
Am I nuts for considering this process?
I'm thinking about converting the back end of a '77 C3 from the rounded
bumper cover back to the 68-73 style....
What's under that bumper cover I should be concerned about?
Your thoughts or comments would be welcomed.
mardyn
bumper cover back to the 68-73 style....
What's under that bumper cover I should be concerned about?
Your thoughts or comments would be welcomed.
mardyn
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,935
Likes: 3,343
From: NYC NY
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 39
From: Beautiful East Texas
I saw a 74 'vert with the conversion.. it looked pretty good, just wondering what
all would be involved in such a project.
btw.... my search for the right '73 has proved fruitless thus far, hence my consideration
for such an idea.
mardyn
all would be involved in such a project.
btw.... my search for the right '73 has proved fruitless thus far, hence my consideration
for such an idea.
mardyn
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 549
Likes: 5
From: punta gorda florida
73
pm me about 73 I know where there is one
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
I converted a 2 wheel drive truck to 4x4 once, it was a financial disaster.
This is along that same lines..
spend the money on a big motor or
cold beer
just because it can be done doesn't mean that it should??!!!
This is along that same lines..
spend the money on a big motor or
cold beerjust because it can be done doesn't mean that it should??!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Crawl under and take a look. All of the crash impact features are behind the bumper cover. AIM shows all of it. Remove it and you have no rear impact protection.
Not worth your time, effort, and expense. Cruise and enjoy the 77 without the chrome.
...Your thoughts or comments would be welcomed...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
I second that.
Heres another option.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...es-flares.html
http://customimagecorvettes.com/?por...per-conversion
Heres another option.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...es-flares.html
http://customimagecorvettes.com/?por...per-conversion
Last edited by 540 vette; Apr 4, 2013 at 09:32 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Yep, 80-82 rear bumper. That's what's on my 74' and it's a great look to have. As Easy Mike said, the rear crash and impact structure under the car is a huge consideration. But there are problems!
The 80-82 rear bumper is such a tight fit over the 74's rear structure, that's there are no license plate lights on my car, because there's only an 1/8" clearance (if that!), that I'm going to have to go with either an external plate light in the recess (ugly!) or running the narrowest, thinnest LED strip in that space (my solution).
This was done by the previous owner, but I still like the look and am working on the license plate solution.
The 80-82 rear bumper is such a tight fit over the 74's rear structure, that's there are no license plate lights on my car, because there's only an 1/8" clearance (if that!), that I'm going to have to go with either an external plate light in the recess (ugly!) or running the narrowest, thinnest LED strip in that space (my solution).
This was done by the previous owner, but I still like the look and am working on the license plate solution.
Last edited by F22; Apr 4, 2013 at 10:23 AM. Reason: Grammar damn it!
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,981
Likes: 6,207
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Yeah, the problem is its a financial and effort total loss. The designs are completely different, so whether you choose to graft on some wrong year tail which could easily result in a seam that will never go away, or whatever other approach you take, you will be spending lots of money and time to pretty much eliminate any value the car may have had and, well, make it kinda funny-looking.
Easy answer: Sell the car, buy a cheap bumper car. '73s are plentiful and not expensive and there's deals out there on 68-72 coupes if you look. Or, like suggested, go to an 80-82 rear bumper cover for the easiest option.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
Yep, 80-82 rear bumper. That's what's on my 74' and it's a great look to have. As Easy Mike said, the rear crash and impact structure under the car is a huge consideration. But there are problems!
The 80-82 rear bumper is such a tight fit over the 74's rear structure, that's there are no license plate lights on my car, because there's only an 1/8" clearance (if that!), that I'm going to have to go with either an external plate light in the recess (ugly!) or running the narrowest, thinnest LED strip in that space (my solution).
This was done by the previous owner, but I still like the look and am working on the license plate solution.
The 80-82 rear bumper is such a tight fit over the 74's rear structure, that's there are no license plate lights on my car, because there's only an 1/8" clearance (if that!), that I'm going to have to go with either an external plate light in the recess (ugly!) or running the narrowest, thinnest LED strip in that space (my solution).
This was done by the previous owner, but I still like the look and am working on the license plate solution.
Go to Speedway Motors or Summit, they sell license plate bolts that have lights in them. I have them and they work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
I might just go that route. I have one of those vintage 70's stamped aftermarket license plate frames for the Corvettes that had the year across the top and the word "Corvette" on the bottom flanked by checkered flags and I didn't want to have anything protruding from the top (even the bolts!) but I've got to not be so hardheaded and just do it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 39
From: Beautiful East Texas
I get the slight impression that y'all think this is not such a good idea... Ha Ha!
Of course I know it's a terrible idea to consider... no matter how good it turns out, it'll always be a '77 with the back end cut off.
It would probably cost $5000.00 to do and make it look right, not to mention the removal of rear crash protection & safety factor. It would probably reduce the end value of the car by a factor of 50% as well.
The later gen 81 & 82 rear cap would be a much better solution, but it just doesn't get the look I'm after... which is that of the '73 vintage c3.
I appreciate everyone's opinion that have posted... all valid points.
Oh btw... I don't own a '77 (or any other Corvette currently) right now, although I've found a nice
one (currently for sale) that would make a good basis for a project.
My search continues.
Thx.
mardyn
Of course I know it's a terrible idea to consider... no matter how good it turns out, it'll always be a '77 with the back end cut off.
It would probably cost $5000.00 to do and make it look right, not to mention the removal of rear crash protection & safety factor. It would probably reduce the end value of the car by a factor of 50% as well.
The later gen 81 & 82 rear cap would be a much better solution, but it just doesn't get the look I'm after... which is that of the '73 vintage c3.
I appreciate everyone's opinion that have posted... all valid points.
Oh btw... I don't own a '77 (or any other Corvette currently) right now, although I've found a nice
one (currently for sale) that would make a good basis for a project.
My search continues.
Thx.
mardyn
Last edited by mardyn; Apr 4, 2013 at 11:57 AM.