New guy introduction.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
New guy introduction.
Hi all, I've been watching this forum for a time and found it to be a really nice place for friends, help, and information. I hope that I can fit in with the group. I was just recently given a '74 Corvette Coupe, a genuine New Hampshire barn find. Bought used, driven for the Summer, then put up for the next twenty years. Everything works but needs work. After getting the engine running (barely) I've starting in on stripping out the interior, removing the rodent residue, and generally repairing, replacing, and resurrecting whatever is in sight. I know nothing at all about the C3 Corvette, or ANY VETTE honestly, I'm hoping that I can find a place here and find the help needed to put this back on the road once again. Thank you, Rob.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,755
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations on acquiring a 74!!!
C3's are the best!
Styling like never before or since!
Couple of thoughts:
1. This forum is the best, great folks happy to share and help, you came to the right place.
2. Go buy an 1974 Corvette AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual, OEM book) of how the St Louis factory put your Corvette together) off ebay or elsewhere. This is the best "paper" resource for working on your Corvette IMHO.
3. Also get a 1974 GM factory OEM Service Manual and Overhaul Manual, also ebay, great reference material.
4. Lots of other info available too, Haynes, Chilton, online, online, and more online help.
5. You might have a very original 74. Whether you decide to keep it all original or go full blown restromod, either way is great BTW, you might get a 74 NCRS manual (I am thinking this is the 73/74 National Corvette Restorers Society judging manual). This manual will tell you what is original and what has been changed which I always find interesting.
6. Go to some Corvette shows in your area, great place to check out other Corvettes and meet some great people.
Good luck and hope this helps as this is what references I like. Half the fun is fixing it up I always say!
C3's are the best!
Styling like never before or since!Couple of thoughts:
1. This forum is the best, great folks happy to share and help, you came to the right place.
2. Go buy an 1974 Corvette AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual, OEM book) of how the St Louis factory put your Corvette together) off ebay or elsewhere. This is the best "paper" resource for working on your Corvette IMHO.
3. Also get a 1974 GM factory OEM Service Manual and Overhaul Manual, also ebay, great reference material.
4. Lots of other info available too, Haynes, Chilton, online, online, and more online help.
5. You might have a very original 74. Whether you decide to keep it all original or go full blown restromod, either way is great BTW, you might get a 74 NCRS manual (I am thinking this is the 73/74 National Corvette Restorers Society judging manual). This manual will tell you what is original and what has been changed which I always find interesting.
6. Go to some Corvette shows in your area, great place to check out other Corvettes and meet some great people.
Good luck and hope this helps as this is what references I like. Half the fun is fixing it up I always say!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
Thank you for the terrific advice and the welcome ! My Photobucket account no longer allows third party posting, so the pics will have to wait until I find another host, but I'm taking photos as I go along, so nothing is getting lost. For now, I hope to keep the car as stock as I can, but I AM changing a few things that look "wrong" to my eye. It's unfortunate though that I have a bit of tunnel vision in that I look at each piece that I remove as an individual item rather than having the ability to see it as a part of a much greater whole. Those things that seem wrong to me would most likely blend right into the larger picture when re-assembled, but right now stand out as massive errors on the part of the GM styling department. Weird as can be, I know, but my cross to carry. Rob—
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
I'm now embarrassed to say that my first Corvette was a '67 Coupe, there wasn't a single piece of that car that didn't rattle or buzz. I traded my MG for it, owned it for a week or so, and traded it for a '64 409 Chevy convertible. I still AM an idiot, but I try not to show it as often these days.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 319
Likes: 27
I really hope to. Might direct a few specific questions towards you over the Winter and Spring as things progress if that's OK? The car in your avatar looks like the one that I was gifted with a week ago, except mine is a mess. Those side pipes look terrific, does your car have a tan or black interior?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I'm now embarrassed to say that my first Corvette was a '67 Coupe, there wasn't a single piece of that car that didn't rattle or buzz. I traded my MG for it, owned it for a week or so, and traded it for a '64 409 Chevy convertible. I still AM an idiot, but I try not to show it as often these days.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 71
From: Umeå Sweden
I really hope to. Might direct a few specific questions towards you over the Winter and Spring as things progress if that's OK? The car in your avatar looks like the one that I was gifted with a week ago, except mine is a mess. Those side pipes look terrific, does your car have a tan or black interior?
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 779
From: Persona Non Grata
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When you post, at the top of the page where there are all the symbols (not showing on my phone), there is 'paper clip' IIRC. Click on that and it will open a window which will allow you to browse thru your file. When you find a photo you want, click on it, and its address will show in the window. Further down is the button to click to load the photo into the forum.
Welcome! Ed
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,607
Likes: 7,053
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Welcome to the Forum and congrats! I knew NOTHING about Corvettes (except I wanted one all my life).
With the help from great Forum Members I am putting a "basket case" together.
With the help from great Forum Members I am putting a "basket case" together.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 212
From: Kissimmee Florida
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 180
Likes: 24
From: Jacksonville Florida
