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New to the forum, so I'll apologize if this has been covered somewhere else. I just picked up a 77 and an 89 that he threw in the deal. I paid basically nothing for the 77.
My question is, should I part this car out or should I put it back together for a driver? Its been hit on the front passenger side, the frame doesn't look bad, but I can tell from the body work that's been done. I know this car will not be a show queen or bring big money. But I'm a corvette guy and hate seeing them torn apart.
Where is the fine line between part out or keep it and drive it?
I think I would have it on a frame machine to see if it was bent or damaged when it was hit, and also check for typical frame rust. Do you have the dash and most of the visibly missing parts?
You are right, the car does not look bad.
I have some of the dash parts, but would need to buy supports and gauges for sure, and I would need to put an engine in it. Has a recently rebuilt T350 trans.
Frame isn't rusted hardly at all, birdcage looks good. Are there any specific spots that I could look more at the birdcage condition?
I'm not a fan of the color, but that can always be changed.
Easiest things to check is remove the kick panels and the interior windshield trim. That won't tell you everything, but you will know right away if it is Swiss cheese. Check for pieces of rust behind the kick panels.
I'll take a look when I get home and post some more pics. Thanks for the help! Looks like it was originally a light blue/black leather car with a D29 build code.
As mentioned, I think if the birdcage and frame are in good shape, it seems to be a pretty solid start for a project. On a side note, those wheels are kind of interesting. I'd love to see a side shot of those.
Ps,where are you located? (you never know if someone close is looking for a project - or parts if you need to go in that direction...) Welcome to the forum
If you part it, a few choice items will be sold and then the rest of the car will sit in your garage until you pay someone to haul it away. The car looks mostly complete. You can buy a running SBC for $500 and search for other needed items here or on the bay. You'll have a driver, or a car that can be sold for a small profit.
I'll get a better pic of the wheels for you tonight when I check out the bird cage.
Any notorious spots on the frame that go to Swiss cheese faster than others?
Hey thanks.
I agree with JimLentz, Lots of them are rusted back by the kick-up portions in the rear.
I've also seen many that are rotted right under the rear of the door area, cross member area as well as the common birdcage and window trim areas. They do make repair pieces for some of the more common areas and I've seen a few cars that were repaired very well if the rot has not gotten to far.
I think for a single bad spot or 2, etc, they are a good solution but I don't think (for me at least), I'd replace 4-5 different areas of the frame with "patches". (but I have seen a few with multiple repairs that looked structurally sound though). A few I looked at were clearly repaired by someone with very good welding / fabrication skills. I would feel perfectly safe driving those cars. Some of the repairs I've seen were really bad but some were truly "artwork" / perfect jobs.
Last edited by 76C3forme; Jun 29, 2016 at 02:00 PM.
Part it out...if you want to do that kind of work; or sell it to someone for a parts car. The dash would have to be repaired to sell it as a car, and that work is very labor intensive and parts may be expensive and/or hard to find.
But, you know if you have a decent purpose for the car.....or not.
Small world. Our family lived across the swamp (Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary) from you at the old Holiday Cove. Still remember the address because it rhymes. Nineteen Forty Five Sunrise Drive.
That was until 1970 when we moved. My older sister went to Edgewood school near you, I went to Audubon Elementary.
You're only 2 miles from there, or a 4 mile drive going by way of Sykes Creek Parkway and North Banana River Drive. The old Audubon road had "humpback bridge" way back then, now only half left as a fishing pier, that used to cross to where a house is now.
I sure could use your '77 seats and door panels, they look great even though they aren't red like I need. And probably your driver door window too.
So if you decide to part it out maybe I would be interested depending on cost to get them.
Looks like it could be a big job putting the dash together again, and I'm guessing the car needs an engine, but with how the rest looks it probably deserves a chance to be kept together. Glad I don't have to choose.
Last edited by LongRoadHome; Jun 29, 2016 at 02:20 PM.
I think it's all going to depend on the frame and bird cage condition. I'd like to keep it and make a driver out of it, but don't want to keep going down the rabbit hole if it's not worth it.
LongRoadHome - My inlaws live in Holiday Cove on Holt. I'm over in Hampton Homes near the old Senior League baseball fields. Small world for sure, I went to Audubon and Jefferson before MIHS. I'll def let you know if I end up parting it out.
Could be a fun long term project. If you have time and storage space, I would make a list of parts you need and head over to the Lakeland Airport in late January for the NCRS show. There is a ton of used parts for sale. Good luck. Jerry
I would sell it as a project car. Maybe buy a sbc but not put it in to make a more attractive package and up value of car. Too nice to part out, especially if frame n birdcage are good. That could make somebody's day and keep a classic Vette in the land of the living. Since you have like little to nothing in it you could sell it at a very reasonable price, enjoy the profit and make someone else thrilled to death!
So it looks like a sort of restoration for this one! Won't be a quick one, but I'm going to keep it.
The birdcage looks good and frame looks good as well. I did see one spot on the frame that has a broken weld, but I'll take car of that. Tell me what you think about the pics below. I'm not in a spot where I can afford to buy a driver right now so this will be my project and one I'll probably keep for a long time since I'm starting with very little investment. Thanks to everyone for the input! I'll have to setup a build thread for this. Any suggestions on engines and transmissions? I know the typical 350, just making sure I'm not missing something.
None of the rust shown in those photos is a concern, IMO. I would look for a good LS package (engine, trans, ECU and cables) to stick in there. Complete drivetrain makes more sense to me than rebuilding old version hardware. Better HP, mileage, better running manners; O/D transmission with lockup; all-around improvement in performance, economy and reliability. And, with a lighter engine, the balance will be about perfect.
Part out or put back together?
