After being a lurker for the past several months - while shopping for a decent C3 - I joined up today. Found a very good deal (in my opinion) on an original, numbers matching L48 '76 Stingray. Happy camper indeed; a clean, California rust free 'Vette for $3500. Car needs some suspension work, a tuneup, paint, etc etc, but mechanically and structurally a solid ride. 80,600 miles on the clock (and the factory Delco radio works.)

Just wanted to thank you folks for the superb info I'd gotten which helped immensely in my hunt. Although I've owned many 'classics' over the years, this is my first 'Vette and there's a lot to learn.

Look forward to posting on this forum. Pix attached - minus the stock caps which I'm cleaning up.

Regards,

Dan G>

 

Congrats Dan!
Have any plans for the car yet? Many great people here to help, post lots of pictures and questions.

 

Top items on the list - brakes, shocks and steering gear sorted out. Brakes are spongy; need bleeding and likely seals. Bushings are suspect and need to be looked at. Carb needs tuned; idles high. But motor/trans are strong otherwise.

Interior carpet needs replaced, and I'm debating whether to replace the dash or attach one of those dash caps. Opinions on that welcomed. T-tops' interior panels are delaminated.

And paint. But that's down the road. First things first. And yes - plenty of questions to come. Pix too.

Thanks!

Dan G>

 

Congratulations.

 

Drive it like you stole it.

Happy miles to you.

 

Hi Dan,
From the picture it looks like you've found a nice car.
I hope you have some fun working on it and enjoy driving it!
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks for the welcomes. Have some time off work the next few days; guess what I'll be doing.

Dan G>

 

Well done I am sure it will bring you some enjoyment!

 

Congrats and welcome to the forum. Since you have become lurker-free, then you know the drill: more pictures. The help really comes in buckets when we can see, what you see.

Auto or stick? Other options? You will find that the car gets a lot of attention when you are out and about so post away and enjoy the ride.

 

Congratulations!!!

Sounds like a nice ride for a super good price!

76's are good!!!

I have a white 76 that I am still playing with, don't have to worry about running up miles, you can drive it and enjoy it!

This forum and the people here are great, you are at the right place!

 

Looks like a nice starter. I like your thoughts on things to work on first.

 

Congrats! Great find and I'm curious too, stick or auto? Welcome to the C3 community. A lot of great information here and support! Allow me to insert a couple of thoughts here.

1) Take lots of pics of everything on the car, from every angle, inside, outside, engine compartment and all. You won't regret this and it will be helpful later on (believe me!).

2). Get a fresh bound notebook pad and devote the first three or even four pages to "To Do" and start writing things down. The next three or four pages is for "To Get" and there's plenty of both! After the six to eight pages, you could devote to thoughts, rough sketches, etc.

3). Get the FSM or Factory Service manual for 1974 and the update for 1976, also the AIM (Assembly Manual) or how it's put together is very, very helpful on these cars.

4). Order a bunch of 5x7 heavy duty, zip lock bags from U-Line and bag and tag everything you take off. The fasteners on these cars, especially on the interior, seem to be unique to that part only! Take pics of everything as it comes apart!

5). If you have power windows and they're still working, get the door panels off (the lock **** has a clip behind it) and grease and lube the tracks, rollers and channels (there's one on the backside of the inside too!). The 37 year old grease has long hardened to an almost rock-like consistency by now and the motor having to fight it, is probably the single leading cause of power window motor and regulator failure. You're much better of, doing this, because if you think lubing it is a PITA, wait until you have to replace the regulator or motor!!!

6). These are great cars, a lot of fun to have, but they're tough to work on too. A lot of the time, you're going to have to really think through some of the stuff we have to deal with on this car, so beer helps!

 

Excellent advice - all of it. Thanks.

Car's got auto trans - 350 TH; and - in my book - a good thing: crank up windows!! One less electrical headache. Call me old school, but my daily driver and truck have enough 'tech' for me.

No air conditioning (that's what the T-tops are for), but the heater/blower appear to function. But, I'll get back to you on that.

More photos to come; several are still in my phone.

Dan G>

 

DING there goes another one!!!!!

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on your purchase!

Don't mind the DINGING, that is just an inside thing that has nothing to do with you. That is just me banging my head on the wall.

Best regards.

 

Sounds like you have your priorities all sorted out. Welcome, and dang rats (lol. That auto correct was so funny I had to leave it). What I wanted to say was congrats.

 

you have chosen well and welcome to the '76 club.

 

Congrats (no dang rats here, damn you autocorrect!!) and welcome. F22, your comments sound great. I have a book of everything I've done (with costs) on my '79 and a list of things yet to do. Brakes were on my first list, compressor for a/c and little stuff on my spring list. Always something.

 

And where are you located ?

 

Whoops! Haven't filled out my profile yet; been too busy.

We live in Northern California - El Sobrante, in the SF Bay Area. Nice big garage/workshop for hobbies. Further self-important nonsense: own/sail a 35 foot sloop, so I'm used to fiberglass repair. West Systems Epoxy is one of my closest friends.

Question for '76 owners: have any of you replaced that stellar Vega steering wheel? And if so, with what? I've noticed '76 is somewhat limited with regard to wheel swaps. Not that I hate the steering wheel; it's kinda growing on me. But I thought it was worth asking about.

Dan G>

 

Many of us have, I replaced mine with a Grant mahogany wheel. It's not a straight-forward swap as with other years, but not that difficult with a little ingenuity.