Sluefoot's '79 Pics
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
Sure...ya' never know! I have a feeling that now I have this "TOY", that I'll be ridin' my Harley a little less....go figger!
Racer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 420
Likes: 6
From: Springfield Missouri
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
I decided to keep the radiator as original as possible, so I took it to a place to have it recored....BRASS....as original.....they're gonna do it for $315, including straightening out the filler cap area, which is tilted a bit, rounding out the outlet tube that I slightly bumped while taking out (will be more careful putting it in!), and a 5 yr. warranty....they've been in business for over 21 yrs., and know what they're doing....hell, even the receptionist (lady) said "Oh, a Corvette radiator" soon as I walked in the door".....I was impressed! Gonna replace ALL the belts w/ Gates brand, and thoroughly flush out the whole system B4 I put the newby rad. on!! I'm also going to remove the smog pump (gonna keep it!) & plug the threaded holes in the exhaust manifold.....People I've talked to that have Vettes say I don't need it on the car....so OFF it comes!
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,618
Likes: 7,068
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
My grand-kids said "what are those things for"?
Me: To lower or raise the window
Them: "Which part do you press"?
Me: You don't press it---'you turn it around until the window goes down.
Them: "Awwwww....that's too much work...we don't like them!"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Without the internet ....OMG ....I can remember in the 80's .....this Black L82 4 spd car was seriously hard to find .
I had one with oyster leather pretty much like it. and it took some doing to track it down. No internet ......so dummies today would have no clue what to do . The internet has made this car available without lots of effort.
Cars were all stashed away , unless they were new , nobody drove them much , not like F Bodies , where they were passed down to siblings and destroyed .
Finding any 1970 and up four speeds in any muscle car In the 80 s for sale was dang tuff. Save some ragged out Mustangs ,and Camaro s with blown engines
The come 2000 .....everything is suddenly for sale .
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
Yeah, a guy at work that has a '78 told me that the L82, combined with the close ratio 4 speed, AND the Gymkhana suspension (this car has all that!) is kinda rare.
(On a side note, I've decided to leave the smog pump on, as that's exactly the way it came) I'm not tryin' to think about spring, when I'll actually be able to drive it for the FIRST time....only driven it so far from where I unloaded it in my driveway to the inside of my barn!!
(On a side note, I've decided to leave the smog pump on, as that's exactly the way it came) I'm not tryin' to think about spring, when I'll actually be able to drive it for the FIRST time....only driven it so far from where I unloaded it in my driveway to the inside of my barn!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
My 79 is also an L82 with close ratio 4 speed and Gymkhana suspension but I'm getting rid of the too harsh gymkhana suspension and have a wide ratio 5 speed for it.
Looks like a real nice car you have there. I think the factory steering wheel is a great deal better looking than that reddish brown
one.
Looks like a real nice car you have there. I think the factory steering wheel is a great deal better looking than that reddish brown
one.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
My 79 is also an L82 with close ratio 4 speed and Gymkhana suspension but I'm getting rid of the too harsh gymkhana suspension and have a wide ratio 5 speed for it.
Looks like a real nice car you have there. I think the factory steering wheel is a great deal better looking than that reddish brown
one.
Looks like a real nice car you have there. I think the factory steering wheel is a great deal better looking than that reddish brown
one.
SO....you're saying the Gymknana is too stiff?? Why did you find it necessary to change transmission??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
For me the Gymkhana is much too stiff, I have lighter springs waiting to go in. I have 3.70 gears in my car and it turns about 3000 rpm at 60mph which is faster than I'd like and I only get 15 mpg at highway speeds. With the 5 speed I'll be turning about 1950 rpm at 60 mph which will increase the gas mileage and increase the longevity of the motor. Even with the 3.70 gears I find the 1st gear in the close ratio 4 speed too high and I've got to rev the car quite a bit and slip the clutch to get moving from a stop and the car sometimes shudders when I don't get it just right. The 5 speed has a 3.37 first gear vs the M21's 2.20 which will also be much more to my liking for city driving. I had roughly the equivalent of 5.00 rear gears in my 70 Torino and thought that was ideal.