pigfarmer

I had a Nova with a TH350 + shift kit + Hurst slap shifter (or whatever the hell it was called) and that thing was just plain fun to cruise around in.
You know what you want so don't settle. 'vette needs a stick.

Don't know where you are located but this morning in this thread "Buying first Corvette. What to look for?" I just saw that KingRat posted a few links for someone else.
Just thought this one looked clean https://racine.craigslist.org/cto/d/...625476996.html

On the unlikely chance that you're ever in Racine looking at Corvettes do yourself a favor and go to Oh Dennis' on Douglas Ave. Best rib & steak place on the planet. Unobtrusive little shack. God I'm drooling right now thinking about ribs ....

C3w4sp

This

c3_dk

Nice setup, my 69 Coupe has a sbc 427 and TH2004R with 3.70 rear.
The car is not on the street yet, so I don't know how it drives :- (

But my 69 convertible has a sbc 355 with T5WC 5 speed transmission (1352-176)
This car has EFI, AFR heads, G-Team intake, Be cool, hydr roller cam/lifter, 1.6 rocker arms, headers and 2½ exhaust ec ec ec
BUT THE BEST UPGRADE OF THEM ALL...….. IS MY 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION !!!!

terrys6t8roadster

I've been following your builds, always look forward to your posts. My 69 has 3.08 with EFI. The 6t8 roadster has a 5-speed with 3.73s 355 with a Vortec S/C. Wouldn't be able to drive the highways without the 5-SPEED. T

Bikespace

The 3.08 rear with a 4-speed is a fine solution. Plenty quick, and tolerable on the highway. If I were to swap it out, I'd consider a modern wide-ratio M22 clone, keep the 4-speed originality, and add the gear whine coolness.

c3_dk

Hi,

What 5 speed do you have?
Agree, with 3.73 or 4.11 "you" need a 5 speed.
My 5 speed has a nice 0.63 in 5th gear, that is very nice. 60mph @ 1650rpm...…...with factory 3.70 rear.

Thx,
John

Iceaxe

If you're still looking for a 1980 4-speed this just showed up near me.

https://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/4842482?ad_cid=13

From description and pictures it looks like a nice car at a reasonable price.

terrys6t8roadster

Tremic T500, lousiest shifting tranny I ever drove. Will not shift over 6000 rpm and the 2-3 shift is horrible, no such thing as speed shifting like the old Muncies with a Hurst Comp+ shifter. The old top loader in my 67 ****** CJ5 Jeep shifted better. T

cagotzmann

I would purchase a 80-81 auto car as it is a easier conversion to a modern 6 speed . Why 6 speed, because you get everything you need for performance and highway driving. Then add in hydraulic clutch with a twin disc, you get the feel of the modern C6 corvette in a C3.

As for the conversion manual to manual 6 speed ( Cross member needs to be converted to removable )
auto to manual ( Requires a clutch pedal installed )

both are a pain to complete, but if you don't have fabrication tools the auto to manual is just time and no fabrication.

So before deciding test drive a C6 corvette manual and see if you like the shifting vs a C3 4 speed. That is what helped me. After driving a few C3 4 speeds you couldn't get me to buy a C3 factory manual car.

As for 5 speed options (cheaper) but the 2nd-3rd upshift at higher rpm (Unless modified by the vendor) don't shift like the T56 6 speed.
My car being a 78 with a 6 speed for track days.

Bikespace

The 80-81 manual cars have a bolt-in crossmember, just like the automatics, so no fab required there if you are fortunate enough to find one. I am looking forward to bolting in a replacement as part of a true dual exhaust improvement, but I'm trying to avoid scope-creep with my rear-end rebuild right now.

Otherwise, I agree with everything. If you can find a nice Auto, and a 5 or 6-speed manual is your upgrade path anyway, you don't need to mess around with the 4-speed first. My 4-speed is a notchy mess, but I love it. The Hurst Competition Plus makes 2-3 shifts a lot easier, but good luck finding an install kit for 80-81.

cagotzmann

Thanks I didn't know that, Then find a 80-81 manual car and convert to a modern transmission. But still test drive a C3 4 speed vs a c5-c6 manual 6 speed. They are day and night difference.

A modern transmission with a twin disc (light pedal feel ) is great for us seniors as we age.

694speed350

.I'm past retirement age and love manual 4 and 5 speeds. Age 78 what's not comfortable about them? I can drive my '69 4 speed with out using the clutch 2-3-4 shifts except starting out from a stand still start..

Priya

caskiguy

CorvetteMikeB

"Last week, the National Corvette Museum published a detailed breakdown of 2016-model-year Corvette production, and it revealed that only 9249 of the 40,689 built came with manual transmissions. That works out to be a little under 23 percent of production."

Even the super car Ferrari now come with automatic transmissions. This was unheard of a decade ago. "Gotta change with the times"

Priya

That strikes me as a pretty high percentage of production to be manuals. If I remember correctly late C3 production (78/79) only about 10% of cars produced were manuals.

Iceaxe

FWIW - Less than 3% of the new cars now sold in the US are manuals. Over 50% of new cars sold don't even come with the option of a manual.

69Vett

in the last week I have seen 3 listings for corvettes for sale, "specifically stating selling due to health issues".
and no longer able to drive them, i looked each of them, not automatics.
like it or not as your body ages, your clutch days are numbered.

Priya

Its not that hard or expensive to convert a manual to an automatic, so I wonder how much of that is problems with pushing in the clutch.

Oldriceguy