I finally got my car back after almost a month of replacing parts and having repairs done. Parts replaced include the water pump, thermostat, fan shroud, camshaft, lifters and valve springs, timing chain, cylinder heads and gaskets, spark plugs and wires, valve covers, transmission filter and gasket, rear calipers, all new vacuum lines, new tachometer board, power steering ram, rear sway bar link and bushings, rear leaf spring mounts, transmission mount and tail light socket. The block was also painted back to the original orange. The car looks, runs and rides, great, but I no longer have a car that's worth more than what I have into it!!

 

welcome to the club.

 

That's why it's called a hobby.

 

How do you guys always get these cars to stick to the ceiling?

 

I hope that's now crawfish333's way of saying he's "upside-down" in his car.

 

I've been upside down financially in my 69 since the day I bought it. But temper that with the fact I got it from the 2nd owner who was a next door neighbor, and I've been pretty much involved in everything he ever did to it since he got it in 1971, the history I have with the car pretty much is an offset IMHO.

 

My 8k 78 SA has another 12k in it after 12 years. That is 30 cents per mile after driving it 5k per year. It is not a Garage or Trailer Queen but a driver.
And a 78 SA is not a 69 Convertible Big Block.
I need more income, 4 car garage, workshop, daily driver and Vert.
TimAT, now that's a Corvette!

 

Then you`d be like some of the rest of us who are SO "upside down".... we`d have to sell the HOUSE to get back what`s in the CARS!

 

Exactly. If you hunt, fish, golf, or what ever none of them pay you back. It's for the enjoyment not the investment.

 

Do an evaluation of the value of your 'family' car from the day you bought it until now. I think you will find that MOST cars are "value losers"; the longer you have it, the less it's worth.

But, over the long haul (unless you go nuts with the improvements), a C3 does better to hold its value than MOST cars.

 

It runs great, is a lot of fun to drive and gets a lot of attention; so despite being upside down in it, I'm happy.

 

You can't put a price on a big toothy smile..........................








Unless you have ZERO mechanical ability (not a put-down....some of us are better at other things) a repair shop doesn't have a fix for up-side-down.

 

YEP!..Think I have more in my 2nd owner L48 Silver Anniversary '78 than the car is 'worth' to the NCRS collector types..
Mine has great headers,..stock 350 w/ Rochester quadrajet..(properly rebuilt), new radiator,hoses, belts..new proper vac lines, fuel lines.. Plugs, wires..etc,windshield washer pump, upgraded to R124 A/C..,..all susp bearings, all parts for brakes, shocks, bushings,alignment, oil, tranny fluid.filter etc, posi rear end fluid..BFG rwl P255/60R15 tires..All new weatherstripping on whole car..New door springs, straight pipes no crossover and no catalytic converters..A/C, heater/defroster, pwr windows all work great..New original leather oyster white upholstery, interior..Top shelf near show quality SA paint and pinstriping. (most expensive single part of project of 2 yrs).new front/rear bumper covers, all new lamps from front to rear including dash and sundry lamps..ALL new fuses..and the vent screens for the black holes on the front fenders..only 59k original miles on engine, (documentd, Have factory invoice, window sticker, all manuals, sales literature..t top bags, Corvette leather original SA jacket, etc.etc..
think we have close to 20 k total in the old gal but it runs..starts, stops and drives better than it did when brand new..(sold in Oregon by dealer still in business down in Junction City..)
I did quite a bit of the work myself..but found very qualified knowlegeable folks to help/DO the things beyond my time/tools/expertise...Folks on these forums helped a lot along the way...so we thank you....Car's insured thru NCM ..agreed value 22k..
quite reasonable..Very helpful people..My wife and I really enjoy driving it...NO it's not as fast as a Crosstrek Szoobaru..or blown big block..but starts and goes quicker than the law allows..(or my common sense)..At my age..I have no need to prove anything to anyone..let alone do burnouts or 8 second quarter mile runs..Jim &Mary Ellen..
.jim