Thanking the P.O. ....(?)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 9
From: Viking Longhouse North Wisconsin
Thanking the P.O. ....(?)
It's been a loooong cold winter on the Southside of Chicago, & I've been busy doing stuff with the wife at our new northern retreat, but I FINALLY got a chance to go out & play with my '73 project.
Filled the tires, and went to go start the preliminary task of brake bleeding - beginning with soaking the bleeders with rust penetrant...
To my surprise (& great joy) I found that the P.O. must have been working on them before he sold me the car, because they opened without a problem!!! (nothing will ruin your day like busted bleeders - I used a line wrench & a small rubber mallet) Then, I took them over to the wire wheel & cleaned them up before re-installing - all I need now is a bro to help pump the brakes...
So - Thank You P.O., you are my hero today.
Filled the tires, and went to go start the preliminary task of brake bleeding - beginning with soaking the bleeders with rust penetrant...
To my surprise (& great joy) I found that the P.O. must have been working on them before he sold me the car, because they opened without a problem!!! (nothing will ruin your day like busted bleeders - I used a line wrench & a small rubber mallet) Then, I took them over to the wire wheel & cleaned them up before re-installing - all I need now is a bro to help pump the brakes...
So - Thank You P.O., you are my hero today.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 591
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
My PO did some pretty amazing things... Here's a few examples;
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 591
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
I'm very happy with my find/purchase... Price was right for what I got... The most expensive fixes for road worthiness were the trans(the rebuilt th350 lost third after 2200 miles) and wheel bearings/trailing arm bushings( just for road worthiness/safety )... Making mine my 500 hp daily driver! ;-) finally finished with most of the mechanical/ suspension... And starting on interior/exterior finishing touches...
How far off is yours from seeing the pavement again?
How far off is yours from seeing the pavement again?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
My PO did some pretty amazing things... Here's a few examples;
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
hahaha good stuff
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 9
From: Viking Longhouse North Wisconsin
KapsSA - Homewood -
Fireball - Brakes, Timing & Electrical yet.. (That I know of ...)
I think I noticed a trans leak too.. Don't wanna go there yet... : (
Dustup7T2- Here's my thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-a-budget.html
Fireball - Brakes, Timing & Electrical yet.. (That I know of ...)
I think I noticed a trans leak too.. Don't wanna go there yet... : (
Dustup7T2- Here's my thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-a-budget.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
My PO did some pretty amazing things... Here's a few examples;
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
Said the headlights would not go down a month after having them rebuilt... I pushed the plunger up under the dash that creates a vacuum leak to force em up... They work perfectly!
Said the cd changer in the rear never worked... Found the wire coiled up under the passenger seat... Works perfectly and came with 10 cd 's!
Said the reverse lights didn't work... He put 1157 bulbs in the sockets, replaced with 1156 bulbs and they work perfectly!
Said the tach didn't work since installing the 383 stroker... Found the input wire, extended it 6", and it works perfectly!
Said the door locks didn't work... Opened up the door panels, reattached one and cleaned them, they work perfectly!
Opening the T-Top bags that he said he never installed... And I find the remaining pieces of a replacement carpet kit that wasn't installed...
It's always fun being your own mechanic and knowing what you're looking at... Priceless! Still finding and fixing the little things...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,372
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,039
Likes: 504
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
73 Rat, Please take the time to buy stainless steel bleeder screws and use a little bit of never seize on the threads. I have owner my 68 Vette for 42 years and have never had a problem! Lou.
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
No one can say with any evidence that you don't work hard, Mike. That is a nice writeup on the progress you've made... and on a budget too. Very impressive.
I wish you well and warmer days so that you project the image that a C3 has earned. The fun-factor is high when you get these old classics out for a spin and puts a smile, a mile wide on driver and fans.
Enjoy!
I wish you well and warmer days so that you project the image that a C3 has earned. The fun-factor is high when you get these old classics out for a spin and puts a smile, a mile wide on driver and fans.
Enjoy!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
The PO to my Vette said he had his mechanic do all the work on the car (which really wasn't much), but after I drove it home (750 miles), a buddy of mine and I were checking things out and decided to check the front wheel bearings, well there were spotless - NO FRICKEN GREASE! there were a couple of other small bubba things as well but that blew my mind that a "mechanic" would install wheel bearings and not pack them 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 9
From: Viking Longhouse North Wisconsin
The PO to my Vette said he had his mechanic do all the work on the car (which really wasn't much), but after I drove it home (750 miles), a buddy of mine and I were checking things out and decided to check the front wheel bearings, well there were spotless - NO FRICKEN GREASE! there were a couple of other small bubba things as well but that blew my mind that a "mechanic" would install wheel bearings and not pack them
Nice - Did you have to replace the bearings? 
When I bought it, he PO said he didn't do much to the car, only had it for a year or so... I have been finding little things "bubba'd" from the P.P.O... (I'm trying to correct as I go along). Having a complete 78-79 interior previously installed makes me cringe when I think of what wiring issues may come up... But, I only paid $2500 for it.... & it's MY"frankenvette". I'll take whatever she throws at me...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 6
From: Madison WI
I'm happy for you. My experience was a previous owner who was clueless about what the car had. Aftermarket cam but not sure which, is the motor stock bore and stroke? not sure. Is the transmission modified? Not sure. What supsension is on it, it's clearly not stock. Not sure. The timing was way off, the carb needs rebuilt and the rockers need adjusting plus the dash lights weren't working. That's just part of the list! Oh well, such is our hobby.