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Well after some searching, crowd sourcing some info from you all, searching again, doing research, and you guessed it searching some more I finally found a 1974 Corvette that I can now call my own. Its definitely rough around the edges but I feel like it will be a good project car to start out on. I paid for the car and got the parts I need to get it running plus some extras as well as a tune up and I'm still well under $10k. So right now I am pretty happy with it all. Motor seems good to go, just has some bad gas (smells bad) from sitting a little too long, frame has some surface rust from my lookings but no rust through that I could see anywhere. Let me know what you guys think. Please be kind lol.
1974 Corvette Coupe L48 w/ 4 speed manual I have to say I really like the color paint has some imperfections but overall not too bad for a car that's been sitting around for years this looks bad but I can get to the gas tank and antenna delete real quick before putting the bumper back on that came with it I definitely am not going back with the "rubber" front bumper. Don't hate me lol I am really impressed with the interior, haven't found any huge issues besides the carpet is worn out the doors close nicely and solidly the gaps are a little wide at the top by the handles but I've kinda heard that was somewhat normal it looks dirty but hopefully it will clean up nicely with some TLC Im so glad I found one with a 4 speed in it Im actually glad its a manual window car, less electric to go wrong engine is a little dirty but dont see any major issues fan shroud is torn up, may be a loose motor mount? don't know if these are original or not. I presume not however.
I'm jealous.......you are at the beginning of a long journey, and one in which I enjoyed immensely. I know every square inch of my 77, and understand how it was put together, because I did it. For some, these cars are just toys to play with a couple times a month. For me, it was and is a big part of my life, and enjoy the passion I have in it, and the relationship I have with it. Its a great hobby....try to enjoy all of it.
I'm jealous.......you are at the beginning of a long journey, and one in which I enjoyed immensely. I know every square inch of my 77, and understand how it was put together, because I did it. For some, these cars are just toys to play with a couple times a month. For me, it was and is a big part of my life, and enjoy the passion I have in it, and the relationship I have with it. Its a great hobby....try to enjoy all of it.
I am definitely very excited. I've worked on other people's cars and trucks but never had a chance to have one to call my own and do what I want with it. My son is about to turn 5 too so I'm excited to share working on it with him and his little sister. I almost love working on stuff than driving it. And knowing I did the work to get it running just feels awesome
Very nice car. You should purchase a 74 Chevrolet Service Manual along with the Assembly Installation Manual. You can find them on eBay or from One of the vendors that advertise on the Forum. I also think it’s helpful to obtain catalogs from all the parts suppliers, as they have good illustrations showing how parts go together. Good Luck, and enjoy yourself.
Very nice car. You should purchase a 74 Chevrolet Service Manual along with the Assembly Installation Manual. You can find them on eBay or from One of the vendors that advertise on the Forum. I also think it’s helpful to obtain catalogs from all the parts suppliers, as they have good illustrations showing how parts go together. Good Luck, and enjoy yourself.
thanks for the advise! When I bought some parts from a website (rock auto) i came across the service manual, I'll have to look into the assembly one. I ordered a catalog from Ecklers hopefully they have some good illustrations. I am gonna try to document and take pictures with everything I do. I plan on having a lot of fun. Glad to have a forum to share anand gain knowledge from!
I'm jealous.......you are at the beginning of a long journey, and one in which I enjoyed immensely. I know every square inch of my 77, and understand how it was put together, because I did it. For some, these cars are just toys to play with a couple times a month. For me, it was and is a big part of my life, and enjoy the passion I have in it, and the relationship I have with it. Its a great hobby....try to enjoy all of it.
Congrats man on getting a real decent project at what sounds like a great price! SInce it looks close to being able to go down the road, be sure you enjoy it! I am sure there will be lots of things that come up and will demand money and attention. As somebody said, Make it go, make it stop, make it safe, make it pretty, make it go faster! IT can be a long journey. But have the kids around to learn and have fun with it is priceless, and it can become a family treasure! Keep the important and big picture in sight. Keep feeding us pictures and stories!
first unkind thing. GET THAT **** OFF THE LEATHER SEAT!!! your bumpers leave a little to be desired. actually a good thing. those are the orig bumpers which started to disintegrate when Madonna was singing Lucky Star on MTV. that car has sat unmolested for a long time. bumpers. rigid fiberglass. not flexi. and consider the 80-82 style rear bumper. it took them 5 years to realize how stupid the 74-79 rear bumper looked. your 74 is a nicer looking front bumper than 75-9. sat unmolested. except for time. time heals all wounds. except in rubber and plastic. one guy here put it pretty well. every piece of rubber or plastic that fluid passes through-including T-top seals!! i think the 75 tail light mounts work. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-re...9318d3b72a772a cheaper and easier to find than the 74-only ones. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Or...8AAOSwYvde7NVA
Last edited by derekderek; Jul 2, 2020 at 07:08 AM.
Welcome to the 74 club, hope you enjoy your endeavor. By the way , the rear split bumper sets of this year. Good luck. You will gain a lot of knowledge from this forum, most good some not so good..
Congrats!! Looks like a solid car to start with. I am sure you checked for frame rust. Engine looks like it may be original. The fact that you scored a '74 with a manual tranny is a great starting point!
First thing I would do is take the stuff off the seats and if they are leather, get some leather cleaner, they will be very dry and will crack if you sit on them.
You have decent Premium door panels, try not to bang them up.
I could go on and on....step one is to clean it up inside and out.
See what you really have.
Congrats!! Looks like a solid car to start with. I am sure you checked for frame rust. Engine looks like it may be original. The fact that you scored a '74 with a manual tranny is a great starting point!
That was probably the hardest thing about finding a Corvette. You can find automatics out there all day but if it isn't a manual whats the fun in that lol. Theres nothing like driving a manual to me, its just so much more fun, especially when its a drive for fun car and not just a daily driver.
First thing I would do is take the stuff off the seats and if they are leather, get some leather cleaner, they will be very dry and will crack if you sit on them.
You have decent Premium door panels, try not to bang them up.
I could go on and on....step one is to clean it up inside and out.
See what you really have.
then start making lists. They never end.
Ken
I plan on doing a deep clean today, and getting some good leather conditioner put on those seats, want to keep them looking good (they seem in decent shape for a 45 y/o car). Yeah I've already started on the list lol. Its gonna be like christmas at my house here pretty soon with all these parts coming in hahaha
I love that color on your car BTW. Very nice!
Last edited by J_Seebeck; Jul 2, 2020 at 03:19 PM.
I plan on doing a deep clean today, and getting some good leather conditioner put on those seats, want to keep them looking good (they seem in decent shape for a 45 y/o car). Yeah I've already started on the list lol. Its gonna be like christmas at my house here pretty soon with all these parts coming in hahaha
I love that color on your car BTW. Very nice!
FYI...keep an inventory list/notebook of all the parts you purchase.....there is nothing like findig a box of unopened weatherstrip that you ordered a Year Ago that you accidently REORDERED last week...
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 J_Seebeck
That was probably the hardest thing about finding a Corvette. You can find automatics out there all day but if it isn't a manual whats the fun in that lol. Theres nothing like driving a manual to me, its just so much more fun, especially when its a drive for fun car and not just a daily driver.
My 71 is an automatic and I always manage to have a good time when I get in and drive it. More foot room too...😎
Last edited by Daveinspain; Jul 2, 2020 at 06:01 PM.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
So...... here we go!
