Sorry if this post is a little fucky, this is my first ever reddit post, but I wanted to share a quick story about my current and first ever project car. I am 17 and live in a relatively small town in michigan, for my 16th birthday I got my step brothers old impala (2007, reliable, and all round good car). I love my impala but I always wanted something more, I learned quickly that I have a love for cars, and wanted to build my own.
After a few months of working full time durring covid at a pizza place, I had saved up a few thousand and decided, this is it im buying my car. After a little looking online and careful research I found it, about 2 hours away, in my price range, and needed just the right ammount of work to be a fun project. I drove down with a friend. And I bought the car, it's a yellow 1979 corvette L82. It's not perfect, the paint is old faded and chipping, it needs some interior work, and the engine bay is kind of a mess. But I got it, and I love it.
From what I know a previous owner of the car put the big block 350 engine in the car, but didnt do a super good job, and kept a lot of the parts from the smaller block. So needless to say it needs work. After about 2 months of me throwing in any money I can scrape up I got it running (and no longer leaking lol). I have long term plans for this car, it's going to be both fun and a learning experience, and in the end I will have a classic muscle that I can show off and appreciate knowing that I did all the work myself.
Not quite sure how to wrap this story up, but I plan to keep working on and adding to that car for years to come and putting all the extra money I get into it, I'm considering starting some type of video blog of my cars journey (possibly through youtube, but I know that platform is starting to go to ****) and if anyone has made it this far and is curious I have a few pictures of the car on my personal Instagram.
@gabe.amey
I plan to try and keep everyone who is interested up to date on the car, and anyone who is familiar with the c3 I am open to suggestions. Thanks for your time and the read lol.

 

I’m not sure what “fucky” means, but did you mean to post on Reddit?

 

Hey Gabe, bit a strange intro post, but I'm another teen with a vette (also 17!) so I get it. Bit more civil here than on reddit though, can't wait to see your car and the adventures with it! This forum is a great place to learn and get guidance, as well as help others later on.
I'll check out your insta, mine's @1972corvettestingray.

 

Congrats on your new project.

There's no such thing as a 350 cubic inch big block. All 350s are small block. The L82 variant of the 350 featured improved internal components and heads that gave a higher compression ratio and higher "red line" RPM

Do a little reading about the engine block number, find it, post it here and someone will give you a good idea of what engine is in your car.

Also know that working on a '79 Corvette is NOTHING like working on a 2007 Impala!

 

Gabe...welcome to the C3 (sub)forum. If you decide to stay (since this is not reddit), You can keep adding to this original thread. Just post any questions in this thread to keep things organized.

By the way, I knew absolutely nothing about Corvettes, but the Members of this Forum have guidded me while I completely rebuild my 1968 project car.

Be sure to post pictures of your project in this thread to get faster replies when you need advice.

 

Wow, some new blood coming to the forum. Let's try not to scare him off. Welcome aboard and there is no such thing as a silly question, unless you ask it a second time. Lots of good info here. And we all love to look at pics.

 

That's quite the first post. I think based on your knowledge of big and small blocks you may be over your head. Find someone that knows about these things and get some help or you may find out you've bought a money pit. Use the guys here, pretty helpful group and post some pictures. Good luck!

 

first brakes. second age of tires. 3rd cooling system. 4th suspension and steering. now you are allowed to worry about cosmetics.

 

Welcome, young fella. Glad to hear that some younger folks still like C3's. You will find that they are a bit challenging, but it is still a Chevy and parts are readily available and are reasonably priced. Yeah, a 350 is still a small block (SB): 265, 283, 327, 350 and 400 chevy blocks are SB; 396, 427, and 454 blocks are BB. No biggie....

Take some time to decide how you will be using your car: normal street, strip, road course, car shows, etc. How you wish to use your car will be the deciding factor on 'which' parts to buy, when you need them. Once you make that decision, make a list of the major items that need work; don't sweat the details, just yet. If you intend to paint in, leave that for last, as most of the work on the car offers "risk" to the paint when dealing with tools and constantly being around the vehicle.

To get the most use out of it, focus on correcting the "Safety" items first...before you actually begin driving it. Once you get those things accomplished and get the major systems operational, you can drive/use it. Completing work on the "Operating" systems comes next: brakes, steering, suspension, engine, trans, accessories, etc. Last, but certainly not least, is the "Appearance" stuff: paint, glass, chrome (oops...it's a '79). wheels, interior, and the other 'features' of the car...radio, lights, HVAC system, etc.

You MUST have a copy of the Assembly Instruction Manual (commonly known as the AIM) for your model year, the Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual, and an Owner's Manual....as a minimum....if you are going to do your own work. If you want to dig into the engine, transmission, rear axle, and the other accessories, you also need a copy of the Chevrolet Chassis Overhaul Manual. Some of those may not be in print; but you can find them for your model year on eBay and other such sites or at Corvette parts swap meets.

Great to have you here. Good luck with your new "love".

 

yes it was originally a reddit post actually, still kinda new to this so dont clown me too much lol. Anyway clearly I have a lot to learn still, hoping i can get help from this forum, and I will be sure to show off its progress

 

Hey @Gabe Amey

Cos you're in Michigan, I'm gonna give you some bad news - Corvettes RUST. There's a steel structure under the fibreglass in the passenger compartment that will disintegrate. The frames are also steel. Before you drop another nickel in to this car you'll wanna check that the structure is solid. From there, I'd suggest going over the brakes and making sure she can STOP. ( @7T1vette 's advice is 100 % spot on )

Because you're a noobie at this- If you want - I can send you a zoom link we can go over the car together in real time (using your phone). I'm also a Redditor and I'll see if I can track down your post (haven't been able to find it yet). I've just followed you on insta too.

Good luck. Post pics here. Keep everyone up to date!

 

Welcome aboard Gabe. You are in THE right place for all things Corvette. This (sub) forum is hands down the most helpful and civil group here. Best of luck with your project. I’m eager to see pictures of your ‘79!

 

welcome aboard Gabe. Yes the frame can rot as well as the windshield. If your not planning on keeping this particular vette forever I wouldn't bee too concerned. I remember going though cars petty fast as a kid. The windshield could be rotten as well as the body mounts but again, its not going to fall off the car. Just let us know what your intentions are and we can guide you through the tough parts. Stay in the General forum as a newby as the Tech section has a lot of A holes who will just trah on you for not knowing things or highack your thred and argue about stupid stuff thatis unrelated without giving you the answer you came for.

As for general suspension and motor parts Napa can be a good source for local parts as well as places like Summit or Jegs for more performance oriented stuff. Electrical stuff like swithces ma come from China and some or most really done work well or last to long.. I would look at Willcox site and his tech site as they answer a lot of questions about gauges and switches. They will also help a bit over the phone guiding you on part on purchases.

when I first got my the advice was make it go, make it stop, make it go faster...

as fo rthe big block small block. The previoius owner may have wither bored out the block making the piston cylinder hole bigger requiring a bigger piston. Or stroked it which puts in a longer connecting rod or rod and bigger crank. that would make a 350 into a 383 while boing out the cylinder which is done when it gets worn out and egg shaped will add 5cc to a 350 if its bored .030 over size. Dont take not knowing personal, some guys cant explain things easily, never mind how it sounds over the internet so they may not be ******* on you intentionally, it could read that way. We've got trolls like everywere else. On youtube I just dont read the negative comments

Good luck and post pics. Stick with us and you will learn a few things and have some fun....can you car do any burnouts yet???

remember its all about having fun

 

ok, you spent 2 months on it and got it running. means you know your way around an engine to a certain extent. no burnouts until you make it stop well. and, once again the age of your tires. these cars spent most of the last 40 years sitting in a garage or yard. tires look new. but can explode at highway speed. find the date code on all 4. over 8 years they are highly suspect. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...orvette-6.html this link is to post 101. roll down to post 107. read. then inspect your car.it could be it is too rusty to justify any time and money. it could also be a nice solid car. either way, as the guy in dirty harry said... "I gots ta know!" only to paraphrase, you gots to know.

 

Ya, the tires are a big deal....a blow out could rip the fenders right off the car,,,there’s pics on here of it and it’s pretty ugly when it happens