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I don't know much about these cars, although have been reading here at the forums a month or so.
Began looking for a '74 to '77 for a year and a half, off and on. I'm probably yet another guy wanting one since I was a teenager in the 1970's so that's what I'm all about.
Fiberglass body appears to be okay, paint not so good. Seems like original paint with some touch up spray on the fading front.
Interior is bad, cracking stuff everywhere. Dash, seats and door panels. Oh yeah, and console is apart but gauges in place-- functioning yet not sure 100% correct. Oil pressure hovers around 40, give or take several PSI, and Voltage stays well above 13 (middle-right) yet GEN light wants to glow alot (battery was said to need replacing). Fuel level is right enough.
No idea what all it's been through, even though the 3rd(?) owner/seller was told by previous (2nd) owner about the original owner before him buying it new. The almost 44000 miles showing on odometer was believed to be correct, even though overall condition of car suggests adding a couple hundred thousand to that if you ask me.
Trim plate tells of red leather. Seats sure look and feel like vinyl to me, although they look like the ones I've seen in better car pictures.
Drove the car home and worst of it is brake pedal going to the floor so it stops precariously. Seller had changed out calipers and couldn't get brake lines bled right, or so he believed.
Power steering pump is useless, broken, so isn't on a belt. Lots of play in the steering wheel and turning is tough obviously.
Vacuum lines are off or plugged just about everywhere. Headlights don't work and **** for them under dash is missing with a vacuum line showing there. Engine compartment vacuum canisters look bad.
Well enough of that. Sounds depressing. The best thing about it is getting it for $3000. Unless that's not good either, so I'm grateful to anyone with a comment to share about all this.
Forgot to mention the driver door window glass is scratching up all across it. Power windows and it's also slow to move upward. Bad weather strip or something else, who knows, but I haven't gone over such details yet to find out yet.
The reason told of the console being apart was to fix reversed switches...?
I bought a 79 with an 81 frame. its my little fun frankenvette and also paid 3k for it. have fun. I'm roughly just over 6k invested on my frame off so far.
Don't know how much experience you have with restoring cars, but it is labor intensive and the $$$ ads up fast in parts and for anything you cannot do yourself.
previous owner information indicate why an '80 - '82 rear end was in the car?
Yikes! I never would've thought that! Was suggested the car was completely original. So that makes me wonder if someone put a 77 body on different car.
Last edited by LongRoadHome; Feb 13, 2016 at 09:47 PM.
thanks TMU, The plan for now is to get it in better driving shape, then throw maybe $500-$1000 at a time at it and see what I end up with before reaching over 8000 total cost.
Aw heck 540 Vette, hate to hear about that. My brother had a Datsun 270 Z back in the 1980s and it was stolen off the street in front of his house. Fortunately in his case he cared more about the money it was worth that he didn't get back from the insurance company since he didn't do things to his car.
Wanted to add this, I've never restored anything. Only the usual maintenance stuff and last time I rebuilt (one) engine was 1984 and a good friend helped with most of that.
Last edited by LongRoadHome; Feb 13, 2016 at 11:23 PM.
Well, your forum name sums it up right! But enjoy the journey! IT should be fun and beieng able to throw money at a black hole doesn't get any better thatn with a 'Vette! BE sure and keep us picture junkies well fed with lots of as you go pics! Glad to have you along!
I like pictures to and incredibly I didn't make one of the engine while I was looking it over. No A/C, and no surprise there, air cleaner doesn't fit right and something is wrong with choke or fuel mix and idle. 1500 RPM until it decides on it's on to drop to a lower but not perfect 1000. Can't see anywhere to adjust that because choke and idle stop aren't touching linkage.
Some words for all of you, no more pictures yet:
Date State of Title Type Mileage
2015-12-31 Alabama Current UNKNOWN
2015-07-30 Alabama Current UNKNOWN
1993-07-26 Alabama Current EXEMPT
Acquired this via vinalert.com, no 'reports' of junk, salvage, stolen, etc.
Curiously the same as the only other one I did for another '77 last month, except the years are 2014, 2014 and 1990 (months different too).
Last edited by LongRoadHome; Feb 13, 2016 at 11:21 PM.
Reason: info added
Yikes! I never would've thought that! Was suggested the car was completely original. So that makes me wonder if someone put a 77 body on different car.
Having a non-original rear end may not be a problem.
Just be aware of the difference if/when you start purchasing parts because there are some changes in the later C3s.
Good luck with your project.
It looks like you have a great project there, that will give you many good hours in the garage. I also bought a project car a few years ago, with many hours in the workshop :- ))
A look at the outside to show old paint, front end mud splatters and a big white bird dropping spot included. It'll get cleaned soon.
I think someone did a rattle can spray paint of the front, up to the top of the fenders. Looks faded again on some of that, you can see how it changes around the headlights.
Can't be seen in this picture but the roof and upper sides, along back window, have scratch marks thanks to a little kid using it for drawing. Happened during the relatively short time the seller/PO had the car.
count me in! 1977
But enjoy the journey! IT should be fun and beieng able to throw money at a black hole doesn't get any better thatn with a 'Vette! BE sure and keep us picture junkies well fed with lots of as you go pics! Glad to have you along!
