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If you bought it, you're already into it. You can go in most any direction from here.
Just remember - it is just a machine with stuff bolted to it. Everything is ultimately repairable - it is just a matter of determination. Set priorities: safety, reliability, looks. Will you be buying reconditioned parts, or reproduced, or NOS - three levels of financial commitment. Ask questions, seek help if needed
Don't get discouraged by the enormity or complexity of the whole thing... but take it in small, manageable steps.
Good luck.
I'm assuming you're building this car for yourself, and your own enjoyment. If you are dont let "recovering your investment" enter your mind. It's not a contest, repair it to the point that you will be happy with. I know what I am talking about because my 73 is probably the worst starting point I have seen here. I'm not worried about it for two reasons.
1. I'm having fun
2. All the help and info I need is right here on this forum
good luck with your project and thanks for pulling one out of the ashes
With the expertise and guidance of the forum, anything is possible. Check the frame and cage, this is the foundation of the car. Thanks for saving another one.
Like doorgunner said concentrate on one project at a time other wise it is to overwhelming . Did you change the front wheel bearings when you did the brakes ? .When you do the parking brakes there is a lot to do while you have it apart like rear Wheel bearings, half shaft ujoints , trailing arm bushes ,shocks ,brake shields, and brake lines .Do you want to have to rip it apart again probably not .I think we have all done it and thought while I am at it might as well do that as well .
Yes I did change the front wheel bearings, actually a lot easier than I was anticipating it to be. I've heard that the rear wheel bearings can be a pain, especially if you don't have the right equipment. Do you have experience doing all of that yourself? Should I find someone to bring it to? I was planning on just doing the emergency brake so I could get the system put back together.
I see you have done the front brakes and installed new rotors and calipers.
Did you index the front rotors with a dial indicator...or just put them on???
Reason being....simply installing new rotor and NOT checking the run-out of the rotor can possibly cause for brake issues in a few hundred miles.
Checking the rotor run-out is clearly outlined in GM's service manual and this is due to the caliper does not float or slide on pins like about 98+% of all the other disc brake calipers out on the road today.
So...it is important that the rotor runs as true a possible so the pistons of the caliper do not move in and out while the rotor turns....and it does not matter if you have the original lipped seal design calipers or the aftermarket O-ring design.
And this also means that the wheel bearings need to be well within specs also. Because it is pointless indexing a rotor if the bearings are all out of whack.
A video link below is worth watching for those who care. Cleanliness of the surfaces of the hub and inside the rotor where they contact is CRITICAL if someone is indexing rotors as the video shows. Keep in mind I make my own shims and can dial-in the rotor and not buy those plates...which is why many people do not do this or many shops do not do it due they just want to get the car out of the shop and hope for the best. And I have lost count on the number of Corvettes with brake issues (brake warning light coming on in a couple hundred miles) that were done by another shop and when I check them out. The rotors are out of whack and need to be indexed. And EVERY time I do this...and I mean every time...the brake problem went away.
Yes I did change the front wheel bearings, actually a lot easier than I was anticipating it to be. I've heard that the rear wheel bearings can be a pain, especially if you don't have the right equipment. Do you have experience doing all of that yourself? Should I find someone to bring it to? I was planning on just doing the emergency brake so I could get the system put back together.
I do them...and I have the correct tools and an extensive supply of the shims so I can dial them in really good... and would advise that either get the correct tools or find someone in your area that you can send them to.
Keep in mind you DO NOT want to follow GM specs in this area. The 0.008" maximum run out on the bearing is way to much...as many who do this will hopefully agree.
If the rear wheel bearings are being done and the spindle is obvious removed. I install the parking brake kit when it is out due to it takes very little to no time.
Your project isn't much different from mine ! Check out my thread " 77 Build , Stage One ! If you can do the brakes there's not much else you can't do or learn to do !
Take a look at RVZIO 's build thread or Doorgunner's build thread or Painfully Slow's and there are countless others !
My car was missing almost all of the interior and plenty of opportunities to spend time on mechanical's and body work before paint !
Money wise I have done extremely well in getting things I need and at the same time will be able to offer up things when I get to that point at great prices to help others accomplish their build ! I even picked up a parts car for a Benjamin! And except for that car so far I've gotten everything from Forum members!
You can do it if you have the drive and you don't give up !
Biggest thing is to heed the advice that you can get here ! Those that offer advice have all been there themselves and want to see you succeed and bring another one of these beauties back to life !
Among others listen carefully to the things that DUB tells you ! He knows just about everything about these cars and the fastest and easiest way to go about fixing them !
Good luck with your project and I'll be looking in from time to time !
In all honesty, if you have to ask then yes, sounds like you're in over your head. In the best case I think you'll be way over your head dollar-wise. Have you priced out what it'll cost to restore? Do you know what a good '76 driver is worth?
Why does it matter if he gets upside down in it if he never plans to sell it?
From: Way too effing close to the city.......NRA Life Member!
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by oldgto
Yours is a lot better than what I started with! My wife & I have restored a few cars over the years, but this is our first Vette. It`s true that usually the cost of rebuilding one exceeds the value of the finished car, but most do it for the fun of saying "I turned this pile of crap.....
into this....
As already mentioned, this site has a wealth of friendly, helpful people, and you can find help with any part of your rebuild that you will need. So, as mentioned, take it one section at a time. If I can do it, ANYBODY can!
WOW, that is truly amazing what you did with a very needy car. Looks great!
Dub, wow a lot of great advise. To be honest I didn’t index the rotors because I thought I read if you switched to o-ring design you didn’t have to worry about it, but I just have been wrong. Now for a rookie that doesn’t have a pile of shins, what do you recommend for shims to use? I looked up the supplier from your video and looks like they don’t have shims for a ‘76.
Now for the rears wheel bearings, I wasn’t planning on touching them because I heard they are a bear. Should they be fine or should I work to get them replaced?
well your car need a lot of attention.
My opinion is, you will never learn anything if you don't have a go.
You have started with brakes , a wise decision, a lot start with the aesthetics not a good idea,
you should check out the chassis and make sure what condition that is in before you spend to much money. at some stage you will most likely need to change the body mounts.
The process is Chassis first which will take in to account frame , brakes mounts body and engine, you can do body work in between the work on the chassis , when its mostly labour you are putting into the project .
These car are a bottomless pit if you don't keep an eye on the costs.
ask question and learn as you go, if you find you can not do a particular job on the car get help.
joint a local vette club meet people with a common interest you will get there.
Good luck
Bfit
No......you're not over your head if you rebuilt the brake system. I never touched a Corvette until I bought a project car in similar shape as your car. Just pick ONE area at a time....read up about how to accomplish the work. POST pics so members can give accurate advice when you have a problem.
I think a very important question for you to ask yourself is WHY you wanted a C3 Corvette. If all you think about is driving it, its going to be very frustrating to bring this car back to life, and many many many people start this way and never finish.
On the other hand, if you love a C3 Corvette for it beauty and meaning in your life, and you want to rebuild this 76 Corvette,.....nothing is impossible. I don't care how much rust it has, or how upside down you will be moneywise, those things are irrelevant. Enjoying the process is THE reason for doing this. If you can't find a challenge and overcome it, you will not get out of the car what it offers. You need to make this YOUR Corvette, not just another version of what Chevrolet built on the assembly line. When you do this and get to the point of really driving it, it will be so much more valuable to you than buying a turn key car that someone else built.....cause with that, you miss out on a very significant part of this hobby.
It took me four and a half years to turn my car into my dream, and it was worth every penny and every minute.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Apr 10, 2018 at 06:43 AM.
Are you in over your head? You are supposed to be. In f you aren't challenged by the project-hobby you took on, it is just something to do to pass the time.
