Hey guys, you may recognize me from my 68 build, "Charlie's Toy" or my 75 red driver project thread. I'm here with yet another build thread. I found a deal on a 73 that I couldn't pass up. I'm finally able to get into a running and driving chrome bumper, be it only half chrome, without breaking the bank. I'll be putting my little red 75 up for sale soon, I'm just deciding if I should finish the body work and paint it before selling it, or listing it as an almost complete project.

My new 73 runs and drives, but has some basket case issues. It doesn't have the original motor, but was a fairly high optioned L82, white with deluxe dark saddle interior. Tilt tele wheel, air, power brakes, steering and windows. But, Bubba has dug his hands deep. The interior has been covered with custom leather on a lot of the panels, the speedo is the only working guage, headlights dont open. And best(worst) of all, there was a terrible respray that was poorly prepped and never wet sanded. Fish eyes and runs galore. I will be trying to cover over the blemishes and wet sand the entire car to try and save the paint job on the car and make it a ten footer instead of a twenty footer. Should keep me well busy.

On to the eye candy...

As she sat at a biker aparrel shop that doubles as a used car lot.
Attachment 48359041
After I left my deposit on Friday evening.
Attachment 48363120
Spraying the whole engine bay black counts as detailing it out right?

Leather wrapped trim gives it a classic mild custom feel. Many of the panels have some warping. I have the entire interior from a 74 that I picked up coincidentally a few weeks ago. Many of those pieces will be dyed dark saddle and used on this car to return to a stock interior.

Loaded up and ready for the 75 mile journey home on Saturday evening. I had already been on the road most of the day and was beat by the end of it, but so worth it.




And as is tradition with any c3 I buy, the first thing it did was mark its territory by pissing atf fluid from the cooling line. My 75 did this as well but was way way worse. This will be the first fix, then tires and everything else.

 

Congrats, looks like a fun project. That leather wrapped center console doesn't look as bad as I expected, but it looks like it would make reassembling it more difficult

 

It's really not too bad. A tasteful custom really, other than having the speakers exposed on top of the dash. If the door panels and top panels weren't warped and I didn't already have all the replacement pieces I would leave it be for now.

 

I didn't notice the dash speakers but that would bother me too. That's one of the reasons I didn't wrap my cracked stock dash pad, I didn't want to give up the speaker holes

 

Nice looking 73! Welcome to the club.
Even has the correct exhaust tips.
Keep us posted on your progress with lots of pics.
Fran

 

Didn't say what you paid, but if it was a deal you could not pass up, go for it.
Got to love the one year only 73's.
Terry

 

The pic of the engine compartment shows no male hood latchs. How did you keep the hood closed on your trip home?

 

Congrats! Looks like a much better start than the '75!

 

Will do. It's quite the looker from 20 feet, just had lots of work to be a stunner from a closer distance.

I've always like the chrome bumpers. The 73 has such a unique look to it. I picked the car up for $6k.

I didn't do anything to keep the hood closed. The weight of the hood was enough to keep it down. I was also only on country roads on the way home, so 55mph max. I'll be fixing the female latches and installing the male latches off my 75 donor body soon.

Thanks! This one looks much better on the outside, but has more gremlins to sort out under the surface.

 

Welcome to the bumper club Chuck. You should have a ball with this one, only limited by your imagination and money in the pocket. Let me know if I can help, well, right after I finish your 68 chassis that is.
Congratulations and again welcome.
David

 

Were there any spare parts that came with it? I noticed that part of the fan shroud is missing. I'm thinking your definitely going to be needing that piece.
Great find though and welcome to the club.

 

Thanks David. It will be fun once I get a plate and insurance on her so I can take it down the road. Tires are a priority, like the first place I'm driving priority.

The part number on the fan shroud indicates it is for a 69 to 72 350 engine, but is missing the extension it would use for the ac. It doesn't have the original fan shroud for a 73.


I started diagnosing and fixing issues on the 73 vette. Replacing all the fuses fixed a couple issues. Replacing the front turn signal bulbs fixed the flashers. They would turn on but not flash. There is lots of electrical and vacuum line work to run through still. Headlights work but do not lift up. I think a lot of the gauges are disconnected because whoever replaced the engine didn't take the time to hook up the connections to the engine. Tach will have to be replaced with a newer electric one to function.

Fun stuff.

 

Congrats! I think you did pretty well for $6K and the '73 is a sharp looking ride.

Later,

Lee

 

Great Find. Looks like a fairly clean start to a nice project.

The shroud on my 76 looks similar, I'll have to look at some parts manuals...., are they "2-piece" / similar in 76 as well ? I could of sworn our old 73 had a larger shroud. The 76 I just bought resembles your shroud. The entire fan is exposed. When it's running, all I can think of is loosing an arm.!

At first, I thought perhaps it was a shroud from a big block car, or from an other car entirely. I have to take care of that. Good luck with the project.

 

Looks great Chuck! Enjoy cruising in it this summer! Slightly jealous! LOL!

 

Thanks Lee! Should look even better once I get the orange peel and fisheyes fixed. That will be a rough weekend on my da polisher and my forearms.

Thanks!

I sure will. It will look better rolling into the car shows than the red one with the busted front end lol.

I will say, there will need to be another complete frame build in the future. I will be keeping my eye out for a replacement frame for this car. It has its issues lurking underneath a decent exterior.


I figured out that the rheostat is broken this evening. The dash lights are functional but do not dim. The interior lights are not functional, but that could just be a lightbulb issue. We will sort that out later.

 

Also need some input on which plate to go with...

1.


2.


3.

 

Where are the frame issues on the 73 Chuck? Can they be repaired? I know a frame guy, LOL.

 

I would go with "73vett" as it answers the question most people ask when seeing it.
Fran

 

From what I have seen, it would be better to start with a more solid frame. I'll be keeping my eyes out for a decent replacement to eventually build up.

Thanks for the vote