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So, I have been on the site for a while, I have a 2009 C6, but about a month ago I ended up with a C3 so figured I would check in over here and learn.
Long story short, I was eating out dinner and was admiring a black 1979 in the parking lot. Ended up trading the car I was driving for it and drove the vette home. Its nothing super unique, 1 of about 2600 that is a black auto with oyster interior, but I am growing attached.
Now that I have got it, I have started trying to make a reliable driver out of it, replacing the power steering control valve, ram cylinder, brake master cylinder, brake calipers and pads, radiator, and water pump. After all that, its not leaking, and I can feel better driving it, but the suspension can best be described as scary. I put a new set of BFG's on it today, 255/60/15's all around, which helps, but all the bushings, etc are shot.
I am not going to race this on a track or drag strip, just want a fun driver out of it, that will perform well for some spirited driving and stoplight racing.
I am considering replacing all the bushings with Prothane's kit (72012) and new MOOG steering components. But beyond that, springs, shocks, sway bars, I am not really sure what to do, so hopefully I can get some good info here this weekend and get her where she is fun to drive.
Welcome to the C3 world. Your '79 looks very nice, should be a great cruiser. My grandkids think the C3 wide bodies are the best looking Corvettes ever! That's good as they will likely own mine one day.
Congrats! Looks like a pretty solid C3 from the outside.
As for bushings I read and hear that the poly ones are a bit noisy. If you want quiet and comfort I'd stick to the rubber ones. The new springs and shocks will help quite a bit.
Welcome to the forum, and the late C3 club! Sounds like you're on the right track regarding repairs. The general rule I've seen repeated on the forum is work in the following order:
- make it stop
- make it go
- make it go faster
- make it pretty
Replace all rubber, front and rear, and shocks, tie rods, ball joints. I just can't see new sway bars and springs being major issues. Unless you have some serious sag, and your photos don't reflect that. Save your money for future rebuild of TA's and worn axle yokes. It's not a question of if, but when that happens.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Theres a thread around here on prefered shocks. Mine came with bilsteins and I'm happy with them. Others have said there are comparable shocks for lesss. Congrats on the C3. Welcome aboard
Hi 10,
Well! Traded what you were driving for it, and drove it home!!!
That's a pretty interesting part of the story!
You've gotten some good advice so I'll add just one thing…. you might want to consider saving EVERYTHING you take off the car or replace.
If your direction with the car changes a bit while you have it you may want to have some of those parts back to rebuild.
So if you have storage space, keep everything.
Good Luck! I hope this car gives you lots of pleasure.
Regards,
Alan
Welcome aboard and congrats on the new ride. These things are fun, a lot of work to get it right but Fun.
I would change out all the bushings and wearables but keep the stock sway bars until you have it back together and start tuning from there. No sense in changing out parts like that for bigger or stiffer unless you need them. only takes a couple hrs to do both of them.
Good Luck with it!
Welcome aboard and congrats on the new ride. These things are fun, a lot of work to get it right but Fun.
I would change out all the bushings and wearables but keep the stock sway bars until you have it back together and start tuning from there. No sense in changing out parts like that for bigger or stiffer unless you need them. only takes a couple hrs to do both of them.
Good Luck with it!
Thanks! Unfortunately the rear sway bar is missing. I am actually thinking of getting VBP Street and Slolam kit. I *think* that plus the new poly bushings kit will get my suspension where I want it.
New C3 guy here, lots to learn
