C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C3 project/intro

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 10:14 AM
  #1  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default C3 project/intro

Hey y'all, I am new to vettes and found a lot of help here with my project. So a little about it, it's not a purists car for sure. It was a 72 convertible but had an 80 back half and front clip molded on. The molding job was done well and not hacked. It's a 4 speed and the numbers on the block come back as a 300hp 350 from a 69 corvette and it runs great! When I picked it up it was painted with a brush, and over the pinstripes as well! I grabbed it and a 74 parts car middle of August. Ill let the pics talk for a little while.












Reply
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 10:54 AM
  #2  
Roco71's Avatar
Roco71
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Default

Wow..it looks like you have been busy. Nice work
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 12:33 PM
  #3  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

Thanks! Yeah, I haven't wasted much time getting it together. I put a set of new trailing arms built by penn Ohio corvette in it. They came with the parts car as well as the receipt! Nice to know I don't need to worry about the RWB. I put in adjustable rear control arms and all new bushings too. I am hoping to get the wiring wrapped up this weekend and if I am lucky put the new power steering setup on it as this one leaks pretty bad. After that I need to get it aligned and inspected and it should be a driver!

Reply
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 03:07 PM
  #4  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,164
Likes: 4,242
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi Cj,
I'm a 'purist' but I can recognize a nice piece of work when I see it!
That's some BIG improvement.
Not only was it painted with a brush..... IT WAS A BAD! BRUSH PAINT JOB!!!!!!
Well Done!
Regards,
Alan

My guess for the material used is TAR thinned with kerosene!!!!!

Last edited by Alan 71; Sep 7, 2013 at 03:09 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 04:40 PM
  #5  
lvmyvt76's Avatar
lvmyvt76
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
Default

what are the holes in the mufflers for???
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2013 | 06:35 PM
  #6  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by lvmyvt76
what are the holes in the mufflers for???
LMAO! I haven't figured that out yet... Speed holes? Another thing that needs changed, I kinda want to do headers with a 2.5" exh and flowmasters.

I just finished up the dash wiring and installed the rest of the dash parts. i took it for its first actual "cruise" I put about 30 miles on it and its pretty sweet to drive!
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 08:50 AM
  #7  
LS4 PILOT's Avatar
LS4 PILOT
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Default

BTW ....what state are you in, that car looks familiar to me?
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 11:27 AM
  #8  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

I am in PA. where did you see the car?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-4

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 11:37 AM
  #9  
LS4 PILOT's Avatar
LS4 PILOT
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Default

Originally Posted by Cjustin
I am in PA. where did you see the car?
in vinton , va ....... i checked out a corvette that looked like that , maybe 10 years ago, I was totally baffled as to what year it was , it was a hodgepodge of several distinct C3 eras , mixed body panels and interior . The owner finally came out while I was puzzling over his car and blew me away saying it was vin a 72 . it had a motor , frame , body and interior all different years , with several years body panels cobbled together.

Just figured couldn't be too,many around like it.

Last edited by LS4 PILOT; Sep 8, 2013 at 11:40 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 11:54 AM
  #10  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by LS4 PILOT
in vinton , va ....... i checked out a corvette that looked like that , maybe 10 years ago, I was totally baffled as to what year it was , it was a hodgepodge of several distinct C3 eras , mixed body panels and interior . The owner finally came out while I was puzzling over his car and blew me away saying it was vin a 72 . it had a motor , frame , body and interior all different years , with several years body panels cobbled together.

Just figured couldn't be too,many around like it.
I picked it up in Ohio. it was silver under the black brush paint with lots of pinstriping... everywhere.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 12:31 PM
  #11  
F22's Avatar
F22
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
Default

I love it! Nice job bringing it back.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 12:43 PM
  #12  
oldschoolvette's Avatar
oldschoolvette
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
Default

Originally Posted by F22
I love it! Nice job bringing it back.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2013 | 09:37 PM
  #13  
sweeet76's Avatar
sweeet76
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 948
Likes: 1
From: pensacola fl
Default

Nice but hard work. I thought the black late model was painted to look like alligator skin. You took care of that though and now have a nice C3 you did on your own.Good luck and keep us posted.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 06:02 AM
  #14  
doorgunner's Avatar
doorgunner
2026 Loser of the Year
Supporting Member
10 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,557
Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Default

Thanks for the thread.....being a rookie at Corvettes-it's just what I needed to read....

I don't want to jack your thread...just need a few suggestions to get started.......

I'm new to corvettes and want to buy/"rescue" a '68 convertible with early '80s front & rear clips (did I say that right?)....

I'm not trying to "restore" it since I have no bodywork experience.....just get the body back to 1968-73 looks....

and have a D/D keeper just for me.....

Thanks for any input....I'll start my own thread "doorgunners project"
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 09:24 AM
  #15  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

No worries on hijacking! Ill offer whatever help I can.

Bodywork on these cars is considerably easy in some cases (no exterior rust) and completely unforgiving in other areas. Fiberglass can be really tough to work with especially if you sand too deep and go through the gel coat, it can also react poorly to different primer types if you don't check with your local paint supplier first. the way these cars are put together requires a lot of fiberglass bonding, so to change out a front clip and keep the body gaps tight and right is not an easy thing to do. I personally don't think I have the experience and skill set to tackle a front clip molding job yet, but I will do metalwork of any difficulty all day long without fear.

So the car you're looking at, is it a convertible as it sits or did someone turn it into a coupe like the one I am working on?
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 10:16 AM
  #16  
929nitro's Avatar
929nitro
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Default

Good job on bringing this one back. Keep up the good work.
Just so you know there is no gel coat on corvette bodies.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 10:23 AM
  #17  
Grumpy 427's Avatar
Grumpy 427
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 69
From: Regina Sk Canada
Default

Great stuff, looks like you are able to most of this yourself, which will be a huge plus down the road.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C3 project/intro

Old Sep 10, 2013 | 02:35 PM
  #18  
Cjustin's Avatar
Cjustin
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 929nitro
Good job on bringing this one back. Keep up the good work.
Just so you know there is no gel coat on corvette bodies.
good to know, thanks! I have played with jeeps most of my life and assumed all fiberglass had a gel coat, but you know what happens when we assume

Originally Posted by Grumpy 427
Great stuff, looks like you are able to most of this yourself, which will be a huge plus down the road.
I have been building mainly jeeps for the last 16 years and do all of my own work. roll cages, drivelines, axles, even some custom machining. I lost interest in the jeeps and started playing with cars lately as I have always liked hotrods and muscle cars. its been a blast so far.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 02:56 PM
  #19  
929nitro's Avatar
929nitro
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Default

Looks like you are handling the transition from Jeep to vette quite well!
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2013 | 03:46 PM
  #20  
Grumpy 427's Avatar
Grumpy 427
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 69
From: Regina Sk Canada
Default

I need to learn how to weld, that would be a big plus for me.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:37 PM.

story-0
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE