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After a few conversations with a couple people I am undecided on what direction to go on a recent purchase. I found the car in 1991, the owner pulled the engine for a rebuild. He dissembled the engine and put everything on a pallet. I finally talked him out of the car 3 weeks ago.
My question is do I put it back to original or resto-mod the car. The car is a 454 LS5 with a TH400 AC PW PS. The original radiator, shroud and carburetor are the only things that are missing. A friend said to sell this car and find another car to modify. My plans were to install one of my BBC 496 or my 540 change the hood, steering, brakes etc...
Any help would be appreciated.
After a few conversations with a couple people I am undecided on what direction to go on a recent purchase. I found the car in 1991, the owner pulled the engine for a rebuild. He dissembled the engine and put everything on a pallet. I finally talked him out of the car 3 weeks ago.
My question is do I put it back to original or resto-mod the car. The car is a 454 LS5 with a TH400 AC PW PS. The original radiator, shroud and carburetor are the only things that are missing. A friend said to sell this car and find another car to modify. My plans were to install one of my BBC 496 or my 540 change the hood, steering, brakes etc...
Any help would be appreciated.
If it has its original 454 it'd be a shame to resto-mod it as there are soooooo many cars that do not have its original engine to modify (especially a 454 car). I think you feel the same way deep down otherwise you wouldn't have any thought about asking first. But as others will undoubtably say, its your car...
A friend said to sell this car and find another car to modify.
That is just plain stupid, no car is gold plated, just make it the way you want.
There is not one type of buyer out there. Some wont come near a stock...or a modded one.
If you want to make a quick buck, put it back together and sell it.
If you want to enjoy the car, make it your own! Put the drivetrain in the corner, and put in whatever engine you want! Make sure it has the proper three-pedal arrangement before it leaves your garage.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
save all the original parts and make it your own. Unless you're cutting up the body, anything you bolt on can be removed and replaced. JUst dont get the motor decked.
stick the motor in a corner and get a crate or junk yard motor and go to town. Lives short, better start enjoying it.
LS5 is the bbc version of L48. Big block but not all that special. You wanted this car for a loooong time. Now you are gonna flip it and look for something else cuz you don't want to devalue it by improving it? I assume you also KNOW this car. Like you don't hafta x-ray the bird cage etc to know the condition it is in? Any mods that do not include a bucket of resin and-or a welder can be undone. You can even assuage your guilt by scaring up the correct intake and carb to put on the orig engine as it sits on the pallet. Make it yours, just no corvette summer-station wagon, etc.
My advice is to rebuild the car in original condition. You have all the parts....just put it together. Through that process of rebuilding, your appreciation of the car will either wane or grow stronger. If it wanes, then you can easily sell the car to someone who wants it....and MORE will want it if it's an all-original car. But, if your attachment to the car grows stronger, you might decide to hold onto the car for a while and enjoy the fruits of your labor. With time, you can decide if you will keep it or sell to get what you really want.
If you really like putting things together, this is a no-brainer: tinker with a nice BB C3 and get "paid" for your labor while doing it. The 'value' of that car will increase with the effort you are applying. When assembled, you have options, but all of them benefit you...either personally or financially.
Lastly, if it were me, I would NOT go to much expense to improve the condition of the car unless it is for repairing it to decent functional condition. You can go crazy [and broke] "fixing" every little flaw you find. You must make a choice very early in the process as to the quality of car you are going after. You could build it to your own standards so that you would be happy to keep the car for yourself, when done. However, if you are picky and strive for perfection, the 'basic' BB car you have in hand will NOT bring the BIG buck$ to justify all that extra expense and effort. Just be wise about how you proceed.
That is just plain stupid, no car is gold plated, just make it the way you want.
There is not one type of buyer out there. Some wont come near a stock...or a modded one.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
Originally Posted by 7T1vette
My advice is to rebuild the car in original condition. You have all the parts....just put it together. Through that process of rebuilding, your appreciation of the car will either wane or grow stronger. If it wanes, then you can easily sell the car to someone who wants it....and MORE will want it if it's an all-original car. But, if your attachment to the car grows stronger, you might decide to hold onto the car for a while and enjoy the fruits of your labor. With time, you can decide if you will keep it or sell to get what you really want.
If you really like putting things together, this is a no-brainer: tinker with a nice BB C3 and get "paid" for your labor while doing it. The 'value' of that car will increase with the effort you are applying. When assembled, you have options, but all of them benefit you...either personally or financially.
Lastly, if it were me, I would NOT go to much expense to improve the condition of the car unless it is for repairing it to decent functional condition. You can go crazy [and broke] "fixing" every little flaw you find. You must make a choice very early in the process as to the quality of car you are going after. You could build it to your own standards so that you would be happy to keep the car for yourself, when done. However, if you are picky and strive for perfection, the 'basic' BB car you have in hand will NOT bring the BIG buck$ to justify all that extra expense and effort. Just be wise about how you proceed.
This seems to be the best reasoning and way to go to me...
Last edited by Daveinspain; Sep 6, 2019 at 04:23 AM.
I'd like to thank you all for your input. Yes the car on the trailer is the car I purchased. It cleaned up pretty nice, put it on the lift and everything is in good condition except for a couple rubber bushings on the rear sway bar. I found all the numbers, letters and scripts wrapped in paper in the battery compartment and was happy about that. So it looks like i have a good foundation. I've decided to put a 496 and make it my own, except my wife wants it for herself so its her car now. Thanks again for your comments and suggestions.
White C3s are favorite. Hopefully this one is either restored or tastefully restomodded, with a manual transmission.
Although the 'Myth' about 'all Corvettes are red' actually applied to the C-4.....the most POPULAR color in the C-3 WAS WHITE....it's a nice color! Especially on a Sunny Day.
Decision on 71
