Right now I have a 1980. New paint, new motor with about 450 HP, new interior, new suspension and it had less than 50 miles on the car. But I have gotten to hate the car because everything I do to it becomes a big project or the piece I put on dosen't work right or something, there is always a problem.
Now next March I am going to search for a chrome bumper C3. BB, 4 speed. It dosen't matter if it original or have the original motor. I will have between $25,000 t0 $30,000 to spend. Plus whatever I get for the 80 when I sell it. The money from the 80 would go into the chrome bumper car and get what ever is needed.
1980 is my favorite year though. I was thinking instead of getting the chrome bumper car taking some money and getting a big crate motor for the 80 a nice 5 speed. Put the coil over conversion in the front and rear and make the rear end bullet proof. And of course get all the parts needed to do the conversion.
My one con in the whole thing is the 80 no matter how much I put into it will never be worth what the early c3 will be worth.

 

But I have gotten to hate the car because everything I do to it becomes a big project or the piece I put on dosen't work right or something, there is always a problem.

1980 is my favorite year though. I was thinking instead of getting the chrome bumper car taking some money and getting a big crate motor for the 80 a nice 5 speed. Put the coil over conversion in the front and rear and make the rear end bullet proof. And of course get all the parts needed to do the conversion.


Seems as though you answered your own question. Hating a big project but considering a big project. You will probably grow to hate it too. Get the chrome bumper. If you decide it's not for you sell it and start over.

 

Unless you have your own personal garage and lift, everything IS a big project and a hassle. You might want to just wait to buy a vette that has everything you want.

 

If you like the 80 but are having too many issues for your to really enjoy it but have that extra cash then why not take it to a professional shop (and reputable), have them do the work so you're not getting frustrated. Then you can enjoy it and probably save some money too

 

Is the '80 running? Then STOP doing stuff and go DRIVE it! Did you buy it to work on or drive? Obviously, you do not like working on them, unlike many on here do.



So the big problem with the '80 is your projects go astray. So the cure is to make a bigger project of the '80?

I think your solution is to cancel your subscription to Hot Rod Magazine, Whatever other hot rod magazines you have, any Corvette magazines, and learn that real life for most people is DRIVING and not doing $20,000 summer projects on their rides.

If it is running, put the tools away, clean up the garage, and go for a ride.




Once you begin messing around changing the early C3, it won't be worth what a stock one will be, either.

 

I don't think you understand what I mean as big project. Doing a run of the mill job that everything that could go wrong does is making a big ptoject of something.. And that is every job on this car. I have been working on cars for 40 years and have done few chassis offs and have never had the problems with other cars that have turned up on this. The car is very frustrating and I have grown to hate it. It will probably be sold soon and the money put towards a chrome bumper car. I don't even drive the car because I am afraid something will go wrong. I jst was thinking out load when I posted this thread. I really don't think the people that answed this thread really understand the problems I can tell by your answers.

 

I admit I am not all frosty tonight and I got a bit confused,
80 is your favorite but you hate this 80, or is the real hate the problems and hurdles you are facing?

First if you are building any c3 for the "worth" it will have you are building the wrong make and model.
You should be building the car to make it what you want to enjoy it for what it is.

If you believe that a 68-72 will somehow have less issues, it might depends on how much chromie you can afford and how nice it is, might just need routine maintenance, but you could buy your favorite year or any year in turn key shape and have less issues too...apples to oranges?

I feel your pain I have owned vettes, a fair amount for over 35 years including 2 81's very wonderful cars, my 66 modded was a dream car, never should have sold it,
It took me about 30 years to stop puzting around and buy my current 69 and make what I desire the perfect for me c3 would be,
I do not believe that all c3's are hassle prone and everything is a big project by their birth right it's not the cars fault how in the last 40 some odd years how neglected it was or how many screwballs did craptastic repairs.
I do understand, my 69 has gone through bad engines, busted struts that lead to full frame swaps and more to come etc etc...and I still LOVE this car.

For me I wanted a "look" not really caring about a "year" I almost bought a 75 convertible it had a 502 and 80 front and rear bumpers,
I passed only because the seller out of state was too hard to talk to about details.

My wife found our 69 and it was the correct price it would be impossible for me to find a turn key modded car just the way I desired it to be and if one did by chance get built close it would have an asking price many times what I have invested in my 69.

I have had all kinds of hurdles with this 69 perhaps more than most of my other c3's combined and I do not hate the car any, makes me more determined to finish it up,
No matter how hard they try metal and fiberglass cannot out smart us.

I can tell you straight up that the grass isn't always greener, see the forest for the trees selling your 80 and buying a chromie could be the best move ever or might be your biggest mistake,

If 80 look and or year model IS your favorite year one thing to consider is 25-30K could pay a shop to build the 80 you want pay them to deal with the hassles, just a thought, while I do not have that kind of funds my hang up with paying shops is finding a good one I can trust Who will build my car my way not try to talk me into or overbearing me into building my car their way.

Sleep on it all like a wise old Indian and be sure whatever you do IS what YOU want to do....

 

Maybe you are right. I think the level of hate (I will call it frustration) as well as the definition of a big project varies from person to person. I did a body off on a '64 roadster a few years ago with a lot of help from others. It was a great experience with no major set backs. I am currently in the middle of a minor resto on a '68 roadster and am becoming frustrated with it. It's all me though..not the car. I have thought more than once about unloading it and moving on.

My statement would still be the same though. If you hate the current car try the chrome bumper car. Unless you go completely crazy with the money you put in it you will probably be okay with resale. You can always go back to the later C3.

 

It's amazing how people read things and each person gets there own thought on what it means. 1980 corvettes are my favorites, I don't hate 80's, I hate this 80. It has been a series of things that can go wrong will go wrong. From a brand new motor that has almost no miles on it developing a rod knock to parts that don't fit right to parts that fall apart after removing them a couple of times to vendors that give bad advice on parts. I have done numerous frame off's and never had the kind of problem I had with this car. I put a Borgenson box in the car, I drove the a few times and it developed cracks around the steering box area. I later found out that this is a problem that can happen. The frame was perfect before I put the box in. I wire wheeled the complete frame and know every inch of it.
I also don't look at buying a vette for financial reasons. I have about 25k in this car with the purchase price. So I know I am upside down.

And I am not new to cars, having worked at dealers for 15 years, owning my own business, and working on some sort of hot rod, muscle car or corvette for 40 years. I have never had problems like I have had with this car.

 

the 80 is your favorite body style. paint, int, motor are all the way you wanted them done. a 70 is 10 years older. 10 years more deterioration on every piece of rubber orig installed on the car that hasn't already been replaced. 10 more years for assorted thumb-fisted Bubbas to get their incompetent hands on the car. 10 more years for corrosion and stress cracks. i think you and your 80 need to go find a marriage councilor and do some relationship repair, not get a divorce.

 

Sell your 80, then search and find a low mileage 80 that is perfect, with everything you want, all gone thru by someone else. Put your left over money back where it came from! JMO, Mark

 

I also love the 80 style above all others because it has a touch of modern and classic styling .

I also re-did everything .. last owner did frame off I did frame down and drive train ..

My sense is no matter what vette you own you will do something to it because you seam that type , I am as well

So sort out the 80 it HAS to have solutions and once you get to them you will be happy you finished her off and are driving her around town

 

Another 80 owner here.I like the 80 because it was my first corvette, bought new in 1980.

Sold it to get married and start a family, and have always been partial to the 1980's since.

Recently bought one that is very similar to my original one.

It seems that you want an 80, so you have 2 choices:

1) Keep the one you "hate" and get it all sorted out

2) Sell this one and buy another one

If you buy another one, it may be better in some areas and worse in others...they all need something at this age.

Why not try a third option....walk away from this one for a bit...a few days, a week, whatever it takes, and then see if you can come back to work on it with a better feeling.

If that doesn't happen and you still hate it, then it might be best to sell it and move on to another one

They can be very frustrating at times

 

1980 is your year, so accept that, and deal only with 80's.

Once you've committed to a 1980 Corvette, determine if it is the one you already own, or another yet to be bought '80.

Chevrolet, as all manufacturers didn't want, negative reviews, recalls, etc. so their objective was to produce a car with style, performance, reliability, and comfort.

You have modified your car, to something other than what rolled off the assemble line. The changes you have made are at the root of your problems.
I am not against modified cars..far from it, just realize all of the modifications/changes you make, have to be well thought out, and compatible with one another, using quality parts throughout.

I won't preach to you about building cars , you've already stated you are experienced.
Having been down this road building other cars (with their own obstacles to overcome), why are you ready to throw in the towel on this one?
Identify the problem area/s and deal with them one at a time, until you have it all sorted out.

I believe you already own the car you want, it's just a matter of turning it from the present nightmare car, into your dream car.
Good luck, stay with it, and ride it out.

 

Except I will have about 30k for a chrome bumper car and it should be just about done for that money. When I get rid of the 80 I will use that money for anything else it may need. Cars that old 10 years is no big difference.

I don't think you realize I have lost any feelings I had for this car. I don't deal with a person that gives me a hard time, I won't deal with a car. I also don't think alot of you understand the point I am trying to make.

 

Sorry-just got back from driving my car---what was the question?

 

Actually the 80 runs great and looks great with it's new engine and paint. But I won't use it. Instead I take my 67 GTO pro street car out for a ride.

 

He never said he was gonna buy some basket case chromie, my 69 was close but now it's like new or better than it was in 69 and better than lots of non restored c3's and then other c3's are way nicer than mine,
point is, how old the c3 is has little real bearing on it's condition....some are turds some are trailer queens of every year...

540 vette,
I don't really understand, a chromie is a different creature than a 80 you might hate it like you hate your specific 80,
Perhaps you should consider buying an 80 that is what you want already built...

 

I think I would stop doing all the big projects and just enjoy the car.

 

"If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with"