new 78 corvette pics
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
new 78 corvette pics
here are the pics of my new corvette. The birdcage has only light surface rust. I have included some pics of the undercarriage as well. If anyone notices anything that jumps out at them or can shed some light on anything please feel free to do so. This is my first corvette and I am learning as I go. Also if anyone can identify the interior color that would be great as I would like to replace the carpet asap. I think it may by saffron?
thanks
Chris
thanks
Chris
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 103
From: Brisbane Queensland
Welcome and nice 78.
There should be a little plate rivited to the 'A' pillar on the drivers side with the interior code and paint code.
There should be a little plate rivited to the 'A' pillar on the drivers side with the interior code and paint code.
Last edited by M A Fry; Apr 3, 2014 at 08:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Nice car. You could order any of the stock interior colors with the B2Z paint package. You may have mahogany. Go here http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area and see if you can obtain a copy of the original dealer invoice for your car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
A nice '78 and it looks like its been very well maintained. Funny thing though, those appear to be rubber bushings in the rear, but poly in the front. No big deal. By the way, did you remove the chrome "T" molding piece under the roof panels?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Welcome, car looks great congratulations. Nothing major, but your window trim is black on the front and polished stainless on the rear. Your trim tag should say either 722 for red or 762 for saffron. Ernie at Wilcox should have your carpet in stock, good luck. The poly/rubber combo is interesting......might want to decide one way or the other.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
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
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
Welcome, car looks great congratulations. Nothing major, but your window trim is black on the front and polished stainless on the rear. Your trim tag should say either 722 for red or 762 for saffron. Ernie at Wilcox should have your carpet in stock, good luck. The poly/rubber combo is interesting......might want to decide one way or the other.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 90
Likes: 9
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6,196
Likes: 58
From: Denton, Texas
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 360
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I think you did very well. VERY nice looking 78.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
78s look great in Silver. They were civilized cars of the C3 series by then.
I had a bright red 78 in college , 1980 it was. Car was nearly new . Was not my first corvette .....the blue engine took some getting used to.
Mine was an l48 auto grocery getter , but it got me plenty of girls back then anyway . Actually was probably the best overall corvette out of the many c3 and c2 series I ve owned. Very reliable.
Alas, I traded it 6 months latter for a 79 L82 Black 4 spd car.
Enjoy your new ride.
I had a bright red 78 in college , 1980 it was. Car was nearly new . Was not my first corvette .....the blue engine took some getting used to.
Mine was an l48 auto grocery getter , but it got me plenty of girls back then anyway . Actually was probably the best overall corvette out of the many c3 and c2 series I ve owned. Very reliable.
Alas, I traded it 6 months latter for a 79 L82 Black 4 spd car.
Enjoy your new ride.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,009
Likes: 11
From: Philadelphia, sub burbs Wynnewood, PA
Looks like you did pretty good. I probably would've tried to talk him down a little more myself. But it looks like the car was well taken care of. Only thing I see of concern underneath the car is the body mounts look old and dried out. The rest of the rubber looks decent. A little TLC in the car will be perfect. Enjoy it and welcome to the club
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 115
From: Yelm Wa
Looks like the engine was removed/rebuilt/replaced recently with it showing fresh paint even from the underside.
Obviously it has aftermarket valve covers, air cleaner, headers, carb?, and apparently intake manifold. Did you get the specs on the engine?
Nice car, good price, especially if the engine is a fresh rebuild.
Congratulations.
Obviously it has aftermarket valve covers, air cleaner, headers, carb?, and apparently intake manifold. Did you get the specs on the engine?
Nice car, good price, especially if the engine is a fresh rebuild.
Congratulations.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
You guys are good!
Yes, saffron it is, or mahogany.
Good catch by 80baby. Just saw a nice one at the NCRS Orlando meet from a wrecked Pace Car. It didn't take long for it to be picked up.
While the original trim changed during the model year, early was polished stainless front and back.
The color combo looks familiar!
The previous owner would have better invested in the 1978 if he used some of his $ on cosemtics stuff for the brakes and master cylinder. Master Cylinder looks rough...I would do a thorough check on the brake system and ensure calipers are sleeved and brake fluid fresh.
I have done quite a bit of work maintaining my 78 including the saffron interior so if you need help/tips, feel free to drop me a note. I found the Mid-American interior dye a near perfect match and have used it on the hard plastic materials...like kick panels as well touchup on the seats.
Have fun! You picked it up at a great price...just ensure its mechanically sound (brakes) before any major road trips.
did you remove the chrome "T" molding piece under the roof panels?
Nothing major, but your window trim is black on the front and polished stainless on the rear.
The color combo looks familiar!
The previous owner would have better invested in the 1978 if he used some of his $ on cosemtics stuff for the brakes and master cylinder. Master Cylinder looks rough...I would do a thorough check on the brake system and ensure calipers are sleeved and brake fluid fresh. I have done quite a bit of work maintaining my 78 including the saffron interior so if you need help/tips, feel free to drop me a note. I found the Mid-American interior dye a near perfect match and have used it on the hard plastic materials...like kick panels as well touchup on the seats.
Have fun! You picked it up at a great price...just ensure its mechanically sound (brakes) before any major road trips.
Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Apr 12, 2014 at 05:35 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No saffron in '78. (I thought saffron was a bright yellow-orange?)
Must be mahogany (dark reddish-brown color).
Nice looking car. With a little work to clean-up and detail the engine compartment [the engine, itself, looks fine as it is!], you'll be ready for the car show circuit.
Congrats.
P.S. The only thing I noticed was that you already have 'long' bolts connecting the trailing arms to the rear spring. And, since the rear of the car appears to be riding a little high, you can solve that by running the nuts on those long bolts DOWN about one inch. Make sure those nuts are nylon-patch type or that they have Loc-tite to keep them from backing off the bolts....or you can double-nut them. Not good for them to fall off.
Must be mahogany (dark reddish-brown color).
Nice looking car. With a little work to clean-up and detail the engine compartment [the engine, itself, looks fine as it is!], you'll be ready for the car show circuit.
Congrats.
P.S. The only thing I noticed was that you already have 'long' bolts connecting the trailing arms to the rear spring. And, since the rear of the car appears to be riding a little high, you can solve that by running the nuts on those long bolts DOWN about one inch. Make sure those nuts are nylon-patch type or that they have Loc-tite to keep them from backing off the bolts....or you can double-nut them. Not good for them to fall off.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Apr 12, 2014 at 06:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Welcome to the forum.
Nice looking car for the money. Have fun tinkering with it and enjoy it. Noticed a hose not connected, going through a clip at the alternator, perhaps from the charcoal canister?
Also, is it the original engine in the car?
Best of luck with the car.
Nice looking car for the money. Have fun tinkering with it and enjoy it. Noticed a hose not connected, going through a clip at the alternator, perhaps from the charcoal canister?
Also, is it the original engine in the car?
Best of luck with the car.