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.

 

Welcome to the site! Post some pics when you get a chance!

 

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!

 

Welcome to the madness.

 

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—

 

My 2nd Corvette was a 74, had a lot of fun owning that car. Welcome to CF.

 

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.

 

Welcome!
Have a 74 myself, enjoy it !

 

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?

 

That's OK, you're not alone. I had a 67 convertible, big block. It also rattled and buzzed, thought the doors would fall off when running over a bump. No garage to work in at that time so I sold it at Carlisle many years ago. I prefer the feel of the C3 anyway..

 

It's black now but it was tan from factory, fire away with questions

 

Hi Rob,

​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

 

WOW ! Thank you for that ! ! !

 

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.

 

And he's doing an awesome job if I may say so!

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

I think that I have this figured out, here are a few pics of my free barn find '74 just before we rolled it out and onto the trailer.

 

Wow that interior looks to be in great condition, maybe the paint is OK under all the dirt also

 

That looks like a GREAT find! You are going to have fun with this one!

 

Love those wheels!!