In full mid life crisis mode I bought a 74 on eBay (yes, I'm an idiot). Had it shipped and parked it in the garage. The seller said the right side suspension needed some work. Took his word for it and planned to get to it.

Life happened, our third kid came and the plans for the 74' were placed on hold.

My wife had a reliable mechanic pick it up and have it repaired as she knew I was too preoccupied with work and the kids to get to myself. She's a good woman.

Turns out the car was in a decent wreck and the passenger side is a mess. Looking at a minimum of $7k to get it straight and running.

The interior is clean, motor seems strong and body, while not cherry, is intact.

Looking for some insights as to what I should expect to move it with all transparency to the car's faults.

I appreciate any feedback. I've loved the lines of the C3 since a boy. I was in crisis mode and I made an emotional purchase and now want to evaluate the loss.

Thanks

 

Would need more detail, it body was repaired correctly on right side - what is the issue frame? Do doors close, line up?

Maybe a second opinion is needed from another body shop?

7K seems high if just suspension.

 

Member since 2012 and only one post.....?????

Need pics if you want any serious help here.
$7K is a lot of money especially if you are just finding out now.
Sorry, this does not add up.
I would not be talking to my wife's mechanic.
I'd be talking to a body and frame man.
The mechanic might be the "fleece"

IMO

Get us some more info first....

Good luck with your new project.

 

Thanks man. I'll try to upload some pics. The mechanic is a friend of a friend who I trust.

The frame needs to be straightened out. The motor is pushed towards the driver's side a bit, there are 10 or so shims on the passenger side to get the wheel straight enough to drive. Distance between wheels is 1 1/2" shorter on the passenger side. A couple of spacers and washers allow the passenger side wheel to rotate. Many more complications that just don't make sense to make the expense...

 

Doors close just fine.

Mechanic doesn't feel the car is structurally sound for driving. Frame on the passenger side front end has been compromised.

 

 

 

Also "right side needs work" should have been a red flag. Suspension problems are usually front or rear, not left or right.

 

How about starting out by taking the car for an alignment? No not a mass merchandiser alignment but a specialist. With the technology built into the latest alignment equipment that's available today the technician should be able to tell you what's wrong and at least then you know what you are up against.

 

Hi D,
I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation.
I'm not sure that "the car was in a decent wreck and the passenger side is a mess" describes what the current problems are or would allow anyone to help you determine what the solutions to those problems may be.
????
Regards,
Alan

 

 

I'm sorry to hear that you feel like you got fleeced. We've all been there to a greater or lesser extent but it sounds to me like you're at the point of wanting to do something about it.

As the others have said, we'd need a lot more detail to make an informed recommendation. A lot of very knowledgable people on here so my recommendation would be to take advantage of them.

First thing is to provide some details on the car. Is it a base coupe or a convertible big block 4 speed? You said the body is decent but nothing about the paint. Huge difference.

Second, if I read your line above, I'm thinking that you want to sell it. No matter what the condition, there is always some value in these cars even for parts. Again, some details or pics will go a long way. You might want to be clear on what you're looking for in the way of advice.

Last, if you want to fix your car to enjoy it, a lot more detail on the damage will be needed. These cars are old and somewhat unusual in the way that they're built. Taking them to a mechanic that services your Toyota is probably not the best course though you shouldn't disregard what he told you either. Pricing aside, post what he says needs fixing. As others have said, $7k is a lot of repairs. Possibly most of the market value of the car. You don't want to spend good money after bad. I know I wouldn't.

 

It is a good looking car, so I wouldn't be to quick to dump it.

The pictures aren't real helpful, though I can tell that the fit of the hood to the right front fender is way off. Granted, the 73-82 hoods are often lower in relation to the fender, but that seems to be a little more than normal.

It might just be the lighting, but the right front tire looks like it is to far inside the wheel opening? Is this an optical illusion, or is the right front tire deeper inside the right fender, than the left is? A 3/4 right front view, just like the 3/4 left you posted above, would help in determining if the tire is positioned correctly.

I would take the car to another shop, for a second opinion. Even better, you should take it to a body shop, a frame shop, an experienced alignment shop, or a Corvette restoration shop, some shop that's familiar with older full frame cars. Very few cars have full frames anymore, and even some trucks are going to unibodies, so there are fewer shops that have experience straightening them.

I won't say that it can't get expensive, but you'd be amazed at what an experienced frame shop can do. I've got a real good alignment shop near me, that has been in business for 40-50 years. People come to them from all over NJ, and most of the Corvette shops in the area use them for frame and alignment work. They just straightened a 70 El Camino frame for a customer of mine, that the insurance company had totaled. It took a couple days, and multiple pulls, by it's straight now.

Where are you located? There may be someone on the Forum that can recommend a good alignment/frame shop or Corvette shop, for you to take the car to.

 

body and paint look pretty good in the pictures. You say the interior is good and the engine is solid. So you've got a frame/suspension problem. I wouldn't dump that car. Take the body off the car, strip off all of the suspension, and send the frame out for repair.

 

Oops, couldn't see the pics that you posted this morning. Freaking iPad. Look like a base coupe with at least decent paint. The base coupe greatly reduces the threashold at which you'll be underwater. If it doesn't need paint, it greatly improves your prospects.

 

look at it this way. you can sell it for 7000 less than you paid for it and still come out even.

but as others said.. anyone who quotes 7K is jacking up the price because he does not want to do it. I would question your trustworthy friend of a friend. he is looking for high margin work.

i would dump the car. .try to get close to what you paid and now that you know better what to look for, buy a better condition car.

 

Sorry you feel you got hosed...i have been there too many times, and we have to just pick up the pieces and do what we can,
First off no ofense to you or your mechanic friend but you need other opinions even some people with corvette shops make mistakes or are wrong no matter how much they rant they know it all and are a great shop, lots of ego in the mechanic world moreso with specialty cars like corvettes, get more opinions,

Then after you know for sure what you are up against decide if you really love the car like i did with my 69....there are many of us here building cars that other people here called junk or said to flip them, we are way upside down on our labors of love,

If you love the car and decide to build it then find out just what that takes, and go for it,

If you dont want to repair it and keep it then yeah, flip it just tell people the real deal about it...karma will jump on that guys head that sold it to you and go ****-a-doodle-doo,
Looks like a nice car otherwise...very sad.
Good luck
B

 

This is all about whether you love this car. There's not enough info about numbers (going to assume engine is replaced) or detailed photos to determine the frame / body repairs necessary. Custom color, base or NOM small block 74 coupe, the ceiling on value isn't very high on value on its best day. Not much room for 5 figure repairs.

Some people don't care how much more they spend than the car's worth and that's fine as long as your eyes are open first. Don't dump all sorts of $ after bad and be shocked when you find out you are into the car for double its market value. Taking the body off sounds like a terrible idea unless you want to keep the car forever.

I agree that first thing, get a professional Corvette alignment, and tell the techs that you are trying to determine frame damage. Then take it to a good body shop who is experienced in Corvette body/frame repair for a credible assessment of what lies ahead.

Then make an informed decision about what's best for you.

 

This may be too personal, but it would also be helpful if we knew how much money you have in the car. If you bought it on the cheap, it might be worth that much.If you do not wish to say, I understand.

 

I'll echo what others here have said...take it to a specialist in Corvettes and has access to a good frame man.
Then decide..

Good luck.

Pretty car in the pics....hate to see it sit still. Love the wheels (have the same for my project)

Dennis