Well i am looking at 2 corvettes right now. one is a 68 convertible with soft and hard top, blue with black interior, 4 speed, has a 350 crate motor in it now but the original 327 comes with it. Asking $22500, I hope to get him closer to $19 - $20K. The other is a 71 LT1 with M22 rock crusher 4 speed, blue on blue, asking $29500 and try to get him down to $25 - 27K but it is still a bit steep for my budget.

This will be my first corvette and have dreamed of owning a 68 - 72 vette since i was a kid (i'm 56 now). I am in the process of selling my '49 Hotrod chevy truck my dad and built and will be using that cash to buy the corvette. I test drove a 71 350 automatic the other day and was the first time i got to drive one let alone ride in one.

So, wadda ya think?

 

Hello, I think that you should have someone knowledgeable with you about C3's especially 68 - 71. There are a lot of places to look for possible problems and you need to know that. It is very easy to fall in love with these cars just by looking at them and how nice they look. Sellers sometimes are very eager to find a newbie because they see the outside stuff and miss the important stuff. You also need to think about what you want. Something to restore, already restored and if so what etc. You can also post pictures to the forum where we can see what you are looking at to get a better idea.
Good Luck1
r

 

especially on the 71 you have to make sure it is the real deal, correct engine and a real M22

 

Here they are:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/4905318834.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/4863246640.html

So far I got the LT1 down to $28500. Says he's had 10 vettes and this is the most fun one he has owned.

Talked to 68 vette guy, covers are for protection as he bought it as an investment so seats are in good condition. He put the hard top on once and the rubber seal was messed up and wore a small hole in paint, waiting for pic of that. The 327 has a spun bearing, I will probably rebuild it and swap it back out to keep more original but keep big block hood until I decide to sell.

No matter which one i decide on, i will have to travel to dallas from austin and drive it back, both are reliable.

Thanks,

Ayesijuan

 

Lets start with the LT-1. Not a lot of pictures to go by.

The LT-1 is missing the A.I.R. pump/equipment.
The fuel filter and fuel line are incorrect.
The Wiper Door actuator is painted black. It shouldn't be. Looks like a possible engine compartment rattle can restoration.
In 1971 there were 130 M22 transmissions installed. These were most likely installed in the ZR-1, ZR-2, and LS-6 optioned cars. There is a slim possibility this LT-1 has an M-22, but I doubt it.
The oil pan has a side drain. I don't believe this pan is correct for a 1971. The drain is normally on the rear of the pan.
On the passenger side frame rail, there appears to be two fuel lines. Two fuel lines indicate a quadrajet carb. LT-1's did not come equipped with a quadrajet. LT-1's had a Holley carb installed, which only has one fuel line running from the fuel tank.

Go look at the tach. Does it have a 6500rpm redline?
What is stamped on the engine pad?
What is on the Trim Tag?
What is the VIN?

Before jumping into early C3's you need to better educate yourself before righting a check. (We all needed to learn sometime.)
There are a lot of Corvette clubs and knowledge in the DFW area. You may want to talk with a few people first.

You may want to read this. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html

 

Hi a,
Both cars are sorta a mix of parts.
At this point I agree with Revi that there's not a lot to make me believe the 71 was an LT-! equipped car when it left St.Louis. If it wasn't, it's really too much money.
The 68 looks like it's been played with quite a bit. When that's the case you really don't know just what was done and how well it was done.
Both cars deserve a look but seem to be too much money.
What are YOU looking for in a Corvette? Are you looking for a 'stock-ish' or modified car? I certainly understand your desire to have a 68-72, but make sure what you buy will end up being what you hoped it would be.
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks guys. I am just looking for a toy to play with, it doesn't have to original or perfect just in my price range. I am going to offer 18k for the 68 cuz it already has the BB hood on it but I will definitely get those seat and wheel covers out of there. Thanks for the info on the 71 that made my mind up

 

Even if it isn't going to be a keeper.....have fun with it....

start your own thread and post plenty of pics!

 

Thanks, I sure will! I've got 6 little monkeys that can't wait to ride in it

 

Welcome and I assume that you are located in the DFW area?

 

Okay, it sounds like you already made your mind up and you are off and running on a car that cosmetically looks good. All you will have to do is change the seats maybe. I understand but let me show you some things that you will run into.








Okay so picture #1 is my 69 that I bought to just drive around in and have fun ,right! See anything wrong ? NO looks good shiny paint good tires runs strong.
Picture # 2 That's what is left of a seat belt bracket. Yes the one that hold your butt in the car
Picture #3 So underneath the shiny windshield trim was this. See anything wrong. Go back and take another look at the windshield trim. Look great. Well look what was underneath.
In closing I know you are excited, so was I, and 20k over what I paid for the car I find myself 1 year later in a full body off restoration. So spend your money now and save a lot for later. You gonna need it.
r

 

Wowser! thanks for the warning. I plan on looking it over pretty good. The seats are just covers to protect what he says are good seats, I hope. Said he has never had the steering wheel cover off so i be wunnerin' about that.

Thanks again

 

Nope, Austin area, that's' the bitch about it. I will have to travel 7 hours round trip with 6 kids and a trailer to haul the spare engine and hard top back cuz I am driving that sucker back.

 

He says it has the 6500 rpm

 

Have you checked out some of the cars for sale in this forum? There are some really nice cars there!

 

Yes, I plan on it. Just talked to one of my bosses and he says he has a 68 he wants to sell but 327 needs rebuild. What's the going price on a rebuild and should I upgrade the cam?

 

Rebuild cost could be anything depending on the condition of the engine. If it's just in need of gaskets and seals, then probably not much. If the bores are worn, valves shot, etc... it could get expensive pretty quickly. And then there's the consideration of how much your rebuilder will charge to do it, assuming you don't do the work yourself. If the engine is in sufficiently poor shape you may be better off, economically, dropping a crate engine in it. However, you may wish to keep the original 327 as a point of nostalgia, pride, or whatever.


One thing I've learned about these cars since buying mine is this: You have to just not worry about cost. These cars are money pits. You'll never get out of it what you put in. I've heard it said you can spend 5k on a car, drop 20k in it to restore or rebuild, and only get 12k when you sell it. Then there's the fact that any part you need is going to have a markup simply because it's for a Corvette. That turn signal switch may be $10 for a 68 Chevelle, but you're going to pay $25 for a 68 Corvette. That's part of the cost of ownership: everything is more expensive.

So don't let the cost of something be the main factor in your decision-making. By all means consider it (we all have a budget of some sort) but don't let it be the only thing you look at. For example, the engine; don't choose the crate engine just because it may be the cheapest if you'd rather keep the original 327 in it. Getting what you want may cost more, but in the end it's worth it because it's what you want, not simply what you could afford.

 

Just pointing this out... not sure if it matters to you... but from what I can see that is not "the BB hood" i.e. the big block hood from 1968... it's a full custom L88 design scooped hood in the "long" style, meaning it has eliminated the wiper door.

Again, some people do not care about this while others like the stockish BB design hood (different scoop area), but want to keep the overall stock configuration of the wiper door assembly. Some do not.

 

Find one where the rebuild has already been done. You'll be mad net ahead having someone else pay for it. Then you can drive it to see if it has the kick you're looking for.

 

Thanks for the info. I have another lead from one of my bosses for a blue on blue 68 with a 327 that he says needs to be rebuilt because it smokes. Where is a good place to get a crate 327 and what do I need to buy with it or can I just swap over all old 327 stuff?

Thanks