1973 advice
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
1973 advice
I'm going to look at a 1973 convertible 350/4 spd in a few days. Car came from Ohio but who knows before that.
Pictures and description sound great but I've been down that road before...
Is there anything particular to this model I need to look for?
Pictures and description sound great but I've been down that road before...
Is there anything particular to this model I need to look for?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
read this ,
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
It explains a lot .
Have a look at the car and post some pics here , guys on here will help look at it for you .
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
It explains a lot .
Have a look at the car and post some pics here , guys on here will help look at it for you .
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,301
Likes: 4,391
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi RP,
I don't think there's anything specific to 73 cars that you need to be aware of.
The FIRST thing to look at is for any signs of rust.
Look through the windshield at the parts of the a-pillars that can seen.
Except for the windshield sealer the area should be quite smooth and painted black.
Then look in the door jambs in the area above the top hinge. This area can be quite sloppy but there shouldn't be any signs of rust or rust stains.
Try to get your head in the passenger's side foot well and look up behind the lower dash pad. You can see part of the cowl and the connection between the a-pillar and cowl from there. Again, look for rust and rust stains.
Take a look at the frame in the area just ahead of the rear wheels.
Look at the pocket the trailing arm mounts in, and also the area where the frame begins to kick-up over the rear wheel.
This are can be quite rusty.
Once you're confident that the car isn't rusty you can begin to look at the rest of it.
Remember, there's NO reason to buy a rusty car!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I don't think there's anything specific to 73 cars that you need to be aware of.
The FIRST thing to look at is for any signs of rust.
Look through the windshield at the parts of the a-pillars that can seen.
Except for the windshield sealer the area should be quite smooth and painted black.
Then look in the door jambs in the area above the top hinge. This area can be quite sloppy but there shouldn't be any signs of rust or rust stains.
Try to get your head in the passenger's side foot well and look up behind the lower dash pad. You can see part of the cowl and the connection between the a-pillar and cowl from there. Again, look for rust and rust stains.
Take a look at the frame in the area just ahead of the rear wheels.
Look at the pocket the trailing arm mounts in, and also the area where the frame begins to kick-up over the rear wheel.
This are can be quite rusty.
Once you're confident that the car isn't rusty you can begin to look at the rest of it.
Remember, there's NO reason to buy a rusty car!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Dec 1, 2017 at 05:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
Hi RP,
I don't think there's anything specific to 73 cars that you need to be aware of.
The FIRST thing to look at is for any signs of rust.
Look through the windshield at the parts of the a-pillars that can seen.
Except for the windshield sealer the area should be quite smooth and painted black.
Then look in the door jambs in the area above the top hinge. This area can be quite sloppy but there shouldn't be any signs of rust or rust stains.
Try to get your head in the passenger's side foot well and look up behind the lower dash pad. You can see part of the cowl and the connection between the a-pillar and cowl from there. Again, look for rust and rust stains.
Take a look at the frame in the area just ahead of the rear wheels.
Look at the pocket the trailing arm mounts in, and also the area where the frame begins to kick-up over the rear wheel.
This are can be quite rusty.
Once you're confident that the car isn't rusty you can begin to look at the rest of it.
Remember, there's NO reason to buy a rusty car!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I don't think there's anything specific to 73 cars that you need to be aware of.
The FIRST thing to look at is for any signs of rust.
Look through the windshield at the parts of the a-pillars that can seen.
Except for the windshield sealer the area should be quite smooth and painted black.
Then look in the door jambs in the area above the top hinge. This area can be quite sloppy but there shouldn't be any signs of rust or rust stains.
Try to get your head in the passenger's side foot well and look up behind the lower dash pad. You can see part of the cowl and the connection between the a-pillar and cowl from there. Again, look for rust and rust stains.
Take a look at the frame in the area just ahead of the rear wheels.
Look at the pocket the trailing arm mounts in, and also the area where the frame begins to kick-up over the rear wheel.
This are can be quite rusty.
Once you're confident that the car isn't rusty you can begin to look at the rest of it.
Remember, there's NO reason to buy a rusty car!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
BTW..the video was really good. Basic, but plenty of meat on the bone.
This forum is an excellent place to get these types of questions answered. I've done 4 vettes of various years, over the years but the expertise here is exceptional. Sort of like building an engine...you know what to do but unless you do it every day it's best to talk to an expert.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 520
From: McClellandtown, Pa.
Hello,
Everything mentioned above is true for the '73. FYI! However, the front bumper area is completely different as I'm sure you are aware. When you check out the car take a good look in the nose area in front of the radiator. That's where you'll see the vacuum storage tank for the headlights, with all the vacuum hoses attached to it. It is part of the front bumper system. I would also look up under the front end at the area at the "impact system" and front frame area. Its quite different on the 73. You'll see the special bolt pictured below. If the square nut isn't in this location (and is farther back on the bolt, that means the car had a front end impact and the bolt did its job. However, once it's used up once it must be replaced, or the next front end impact will cause major damage to the front of the car. This is all part of the 5mph federally required impact laws from back n the day. Many owners and mechanics not familiar with the 73 impact system wouldn't know this and they would not have replaced it. Just something to take a look at on the car.
Hope the car turns out to be a keeper and you get it. Share some pics if you do....
Hope this info is useful!
Tooch
Everything mentioned above is true for the '73. FYI! However, the front bumper area is completely different as I'm sure you are aware. When you check out the car take a good look in the nose area in front of the radiator. That's where you'll see the vacuum storage tank for the headlights, with all the vacuum hoses attached to it. It is part of the front bumper system. I would also look up under the front end at the area at the "impact system" and front frame area. Its quite different on the 73. You'll see the special bolt pictured below. If the square nut isn't in this location (and is farther back on the bolt, that means the car had a front end impact and the bolt did its job. However, once it's used up once it must be replaced, or the next front end impact will cause major damage to the front of the car. This is all part of the 5mph federally required impact laws from back n the day. Many owners and mechanics not familiar with the 73 impact system wouldn't know this and they would not have replaced it. Just something to take a look at on the car.
Hope the car turns out to be a keeper and you get it. Share some pics if you do....Hope this info is useful!
Tooch
Last edited by Tooch1; Dec 2, 2017 at 08:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
Hello,
Everything mentioned above is true for the '73. FYI! However, the front bumper area is completely different as I'm sure you are aware. When you check out the car take a good look in the nose area in front of the radiator. That's where you'll see the vacuum storage tank for the headlights, with all the vacuum hoses attached to it. It is part of the front bumper system. I would also look up under the front end at the area at the "impact system" and front frame area. Its quite different on the 73. You'll see the special bolt pictured below. If the square nut isn't in this location (and is farther back on the bolt, that means the car had a front end impact and the bolt did its job. However, once it's used up once it must be replaced, or the next front end impact will cause major damage to the front of the car. This is all part of the 5mph federally required impact laws from back n the day. Many owners and mechanics not familiar with the 73 impact system wouldn't know this and they would not have replaced it. Just something to take a look at on the car. Hope the car turns out to be a keeper and you get it. Share some pics if you do....
Hope this info is useful!
Tooch
Everything mentioned above is true for the '73. FYI! However, the front bumper area is completely different as I'm sure you are aware. When you check out the car take a good look in the nose area in front of the radiator. That's where you'll see the vacuum storage tank for the headlights, with all the vacuum hoses attached to it. It is part of the front bumper system. I would also look up under the front end at the area at the "impact system" and front frame area. Its quite different on the 73. You'll see the special bolt pictured below. If the square nut isn't in this location (and is farther back on the bolt, that means the car had a front end impact and the bolt did its job. However, once it's used up once it must be replaced, or the next front end impact will cause major damage to the front of the car. This is all part of the 5mph federally required impact laws from back n the day. Many owners and mechanics not familiar with the 73 impact system wouldn't know this and they would not have replaced it. Just something to take a look at on the car.
Hope the car turns out to be a keeper and you get it. Share some pics if you do....Hope this info is useful!
Tooch
Is this bolt in the center or on each side...ie: the frame rails?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 115
Likes: 3
From: Greensboro NC
UPDATE: I looked at the 73 yesterday and decided it was not the car for me. It was, all in all, not a bad car. 68,000 miles, nice interior and new top, but the body was a little rough and the entire suspension needed a rebuild. It drove hard, not sure how to describe it but it was not a good driver. So I decided to pass it by.....
Thanks for all your help!
Thanks for all your help!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 520
From: McClellandtown, Pa.
UPDATE: I looked at the 73 yesterday and decided it was not the car for me. It was, all in all, not a bad car. 68,000 miles, nice interior and new top, but the body was a little rough and the entire suspension needed a rebuild. It drove hard, not sure how to describe it but it was not a good driver. So I decided to pass it by.....
Thanks for all your help!
Thanks for all your help!
Good luck with your search and Happy Holidays!
Tooch