Required upkeep on C3's
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Required upkeep on C3's
The below is a quote from M22's response to What's your predictions of the future price of the c3
"Comparing the C3 Corvette to it's Bowtie siblings, like the Camaro and Chevelle, while not apples to oranges, certainly more people are finding the Camaro/Chevelle cars are in demand. They don't have a complex rear suspension that rusts likes nobody's business just from sitting, versus a solid rear axle, that hardly has to get touched or even messed with. The interiors are tough, with the door panels a bitch to get to fit back, forming themselves into potato chips after decades, versus the flat cardboard backed Camaro/Chevelle panels and we won't even go into the four piece dash, nor the tough job of finding anywhere to put anything aftermarket into these cars. And I've never seen so many door lock and latch troubles with any Chevelle, Camaro, Impala or Nova, like I see with the C3".
M22, I'm not taking issue with your experiences, but I do question if they're the norm of most owners. I have owned two C3's, I admit that was 35 years ago... they weren't fifty years old. I currently own a 1959 British "sportscar" (my second), a C6, and I've had a handful of 60's muscle cars. All of these cars carry a reputation of potential gremlins and failures. To me that's not been reason for not enjoying them. I don't mind maintaining them. In fact' that's part of the enjoyment. That being said, I've chosen my cars well.
If one finds the "complexity" of a 50 year old Corvette overwhelming, then I agree, a Camaro my be a better choice.
"Comparing the C3 Corvette to it's Bowtie siblings, like the Camaro and Chevelle, while not apples to oranges, certainly more people are finding the Camaro/Chevelle cars are in demand. They don't have a complex rear suspension that rusts likes nobody's business just from sitting, versus a solid rear axle, that hardly has to get touched or even messed with. The interiors are tough, with the door panels a bitch to get to fit back, forming themselves into potato chips after decades, versus the flat cardboard backed Camaro/Chevelle panels and we won't even go into the four piece dash, nor the tough job of finding anywhere to put anything aftermarket into these cars. And I've never seen so many door lock and latch troubles with any Chevelle, Camaro, Impala or Nova, like I see with the C3".
M22, I'm not taking issue with your experiences, but I do question if they're the norm of most owners. I have owned two C3's, I admit that was 35 years ago... they weren't fifty years old. I currently own a 1959 British "sportscar" (my second), a C6, and I've had a handful of 60's muscle cars. All of these cars carry a reputation of potential gremlins and failures. To me that's not been reason for not enjoying them. I don't mind maintaining them. In fact' that's part of the enjoyment. That being said, I've chosen my cars well.
If one finds the "complexity" of a 50 year old Corvette overwhelming, then I agree, a Camaro my be a better choice.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
I had a 66 GTO and a 69 Camaro and they required upkeep also. As cars get older parts fail, stuff wears out, interiors get ratty, etc.
I also owned a 60 MGA Twiin Cam with Lucas electrics that was a nightmare and always needed fixing.
Maybe he should just get on with life and get whatever he thinks is somewhat maintenance free.
I also owned a 60 MGA Twiin Cam with Lucas electrics that was a nightmare and always needed fixing.
Maybe he should just get on with life and get whatever he thinks is somewhat maintenance free.
Last edited by KenSny; Jun 23, 2019 at 03:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
I had a 66 GTO and a 69 Camaro and they required upkeep also. As cars get older parts fail, stuff wears out, interiors get ratty, etc.
I also owned a 60 MGA Twiin Cam with Lucas electrics that was a nightmare and always needed fixing.
Maybe he should just get on with life and get whatever he thinks is somewhat maintenance free.
I also owned a 60 MGA Twiin Cam with Lucas electrics that was a nightmare and always needed fixing.
Maybe he should just get on with life and get whatever he thinks is somewhat maintenance free.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Well, maybe you're not whinng, but you are on a rant.
BTW, I think most of us that care to own a C3 just plain like the car and take care of whatever needs fixing, even though some of it is a PITA.
At any rate I'm done here. Have fun!
BTW, I think most of us that care to own a C3 just plain like the car and take care of whatever needs fixing, even though some of it is a PITA.
At any rate I'm done here. Have fun!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I sold my C3 some years ago to pay for a 996 Porsche, and I'd like to offer some observations...
The Porsche doesn't really break, I've driven it pretty much 10,000 trouble-free miles, but I live in mortal fear of the day that it does. I didn't have that feeling with a C3, and even though I kept telling myself that I didn't have an attachment to that car, when I saw it roll away to its new owner, I missed it...
I think prices have stayed down, because (unlike nearly all other musclecars) the lack of a backseat limits what you can do with them, ESPECIALLY taking the whole family to a car show. The most problematic part of maintaining one IS getting the rearend sorted out, especially changing bearings. Chevrolet did not build these things to last, so putting one right can be a challenge. But it is VERY satisfying once you get it there. Once everything has been troubleshot and works like it should, from the brakes to the Quadrajet to the wipers and the headlights...there is nothing cooler-looking than a nicely-restored chrome-bumper C3 Vette. The single biggest difference I've noticed between driving my C3 and my 911 is this-in the Porsche, I get the finger. People just think I'm a rich ***** because I'm driving THAT car. In the C3, I get a thumbs-up or a wave from other Vette owners...
The Porsche doesn't really break, I've driven it pretty much 10,000 trouble-free miles, but I live in mortal fear of the day that it does. I didn't have that feeling with a C3, and even though I kept telling myself that I didn't have an attachment to that car, when I saw it roll away to its new owner, I missed it...
I think prices have stayed down, because (unlike nearly all other musclecars) the lack of a backseat limits what you can do with them, ESPECIALLY taking the whole family to a car show. The most problematic part of maintaining one IS getting the rearend sorted out, especially changing bearings. Chevrolet did not build these things to last, so putting one right can be a challenge. But it is VERY satisfying once you get it there. Once everything has been troubleshot and works like it should, from the brakes to the Quadrajet to the wipers and the headlights...there is nothing cooler-looking than a nicely-restored chrome-bumper C3 Vette. The single biggest difference I've noticed between driving my C3 and my 911 is this-in the Porsche, I get the finger. People just think I'm a rich ***** because I'm driving THAT car. In the C3, I get a thumbs-up or a wave from other Vette owners...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 779
From: Persona Non Grata
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Hysterical re finger in a Porsche. A party I know, who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, sold his because of tickets. 😲. He drove my Corvette once and got just a wave from a cop when we went by. He was pissed!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Hysterical re finger in a Porsche. A party I know, who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, sold his because of tickets. 😲. He drove my Corvette once and got just a wave from a cop when we went by. He was pissed!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Hysterical re finger in a Porsche. A party I know, who doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut, sold his because of tickets. 😲. He drove my Corvette once and got just a wave from a cop when we went by. He was pissed!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
An MGA TWIN CAM!!! The nearest thing to a hand granade with the pin pulled!
I broke the timing chain twice. It was a long one and kept the overhead cams in sync. That was always fun replacing any valves that got trashed. Finally got fed up with taking the engine out and fixing it. I got to use the auto pool shop on base, so it was mainly time consuming. Had the car from new until about 1964. But it was fun. Wish I had stored that car just for the $$ it would bring today.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 779
From: Persona Non Grata
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My Brother had two Twin Cams. One came with regular A engine. The other he found in a field, circa 1971... To give the devil his due, damn thing started. First thing he did when he got it home was to put a B engine in it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
My mistake on red line it was 7000-7500. Getting senile, I guess.
I was going to put a 1600 with dual Webers in the car but that deal fell through, so I sold it.
I was going to put a 1600 with dual Webers in the car but that deal fell through, so I sold it.
Last edited by KenSny; Jun 25, 2019 at 12:59 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 417
From: Central Texas
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 706
Likes: 294
From: New Jersey
I sold my C3 some years ago to pay for a 996 Porsche, and I'd like to offer some observations...
The Porsche doesn't really break, I've driven it pretty much 10,000 trouble-free miles, but I live in mortal fear of the day that it does. I didn't have that feeling with a C3, and even though I kept telling myself that I didn't have an attachment to that car, when I saw it roll away to its new owner, I missed it...
I think prices have stayed down, because (unlike nearly all other musclecars) the lack of a backseat limits what you can do with them, ESPECIALLY taking the whole family to a car show. The most problematic part of maintaining one IS getting the rearend sorted out, especially changing bearings. Chevrolet did not build these things to last, so putting one right can be a challenge. But it is VERY satisfying once you get it there. Once everything has been troubleshot and works like it should, from the brakes to the Quadrajet to the wipers and the headlights...there is nothing cooler-looking than a nicely-restored chrome-bumper C3 Vette. The single biggest difference I've noticed between driving my C3 and my 911 is this-in the Porsche, I get the finger. People just think I'm a rich ***** because I'm driving THAT car. In the C3, I get a thumbs-up or a wave from other Vette owners...
The Porsche doesn't really break, I've driven it pretty much 10,000 trouble-free miles, but I live in mortal fear of the day that it does. I didn't have that feeling with a C3, and even though I kept telling myself that I didn't have an attachment to that car, when I saw it roll away to its new owner, I missed it...
I think prices have stayed down, because (unlike nearly all other musclecars) the lack of a backseat limits what you can do with them, ESPECIALLY taking the whole family to a car show. The most problematic part of maintaining one IS getting the rearend sorted out, especially changing bearings. Chevrolet did not build these things to last, so putting one right can be a challenge. But it is VERY satisfying once you get it there. Once everything has been troubleshot and works like it should, from the brakes to the Quadrajet to the wipers and the headlights...there is nothing cooler-looking than a nicely-restored chrome-bumper C3 Vette. The single biggest difference I've noticed between driving my C3 and my 911 is this-in the Porsche, I get the finger. People just think I'm a rich ***** because I'm driving THAT car. In the C3, I get a thumbs-up or a wave from other Vette owners...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 486
From: Loud, Raw and Dangerous 1968 327 4S in Southern California
I agree...I have had Porsches and new Corvettes but my 68 C3 gets much more attention. People talk to me at the gas stations, stores and restaurants and even give me a thumbs up passing me by even if they aren't driving a Corvette. Sometimes even the motorcyclist wave. Because it is not considered an expensive car I think people can identify with the owner being down to earth and not being some uppity rich guy.
Let's all drive what we enjoy and not worry about the investment value or what other people think.
Redvette2
Let's all drive what we enjoy and not worry about the investment value or what other people think.
Redvette2
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I agree...I have had Porsches and new Corvettes but my 68 C3 gets much more attention. People talk to me at the gas stations, stores and restaurants and even give me a thumbs up passing me by even if they aren't driving a Corvette. Sometimes even the motorcyclist wave. Because it is not considered an expensive car I think people can identify with the owner being down to earth and not being some uppity rich guy.
Let's all drive what we enjoy and not worry about the investment value or what other people think.
Redvette2
Let's all drive what we enjoy and not worry about the investment value or what other people think.
Redvette2