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I'm about to begin the journey of resurrecting a '69 Stingray that's been sitting in a barn for 25 years. It has a full tank of gas (which I know I need to drain) and I need to purchase a new carburetor (got that underway already - Holley PART # 0-80459SA). I've spoken to a local Chevrolet dealership that specializes in Vette's that can possibly get it in their shop late winter so I can drive it over the summer. They've mentioned that it will at least need a new fuel sending unit and who knows what else. I plan to give them the carb to install. What else should I be expecting?
Please don’t take it to a dealership. You are asking for a lot of trouble and they will rape you on cost. 25 years is a long time to sit. This is going to require a lot more than some fuel and a carb to make it road worthy. Make it safe first. The brakes will need a total rebuild. I’ll bet that steering system will leak like a strainer after a few miles. At best take it to a shop that specializes in older Corvettes. Most of the guys at dealerships have never even seen a C3 or worked on one. I’m not an expert but I have worked on many older C3 cars and as you can see I have been here for a longtime. There are nightmare stories about dealerships and even some specialty shops. Get involved in a local club and talk to owners of older Vettes. If you can’t do the work yourself find a good shop or person who is trustworthy and will spend your hard earned dollars wisely.
Figure anything rubber under the hood needs to be replaced. Hoses, check the rubber bushings, vacuum hoses(headlight & wiper). Then the bear, A-arms upper & lower, steering linkage. Brake lines to calipers.
Please don’t take it to a dealership. You are asking for a lot of trouble and they will rape you on cost. 25 years is a long time to sit. This is going to require a lot more than some fuel and a carb to make it road worthy. Make it safe first. The brakes will need a total rebuild. I’ll bet that steering system will leak like a strainer after a few miles. At best take it to a shop that specializes in older Corvettes. Most of the guys at dealerships have never even seen a C3 or worked on one. I’m not an expert but I have worked on many older C3 cars and as you can see I have been here for a longtime. There are nightmare stories about dealerships and even some specialty shops. Get involved in a local club and talk to owners of older Vettes. If you can’t do the work yourself find a good shop or person who is trustworthy and will spend your hard earned dollars wisely.
Virtually everything rubber will be suspect. If it’s been sitting for 25 years, many bushings could be original.
Despite your report of a full tank of gas, water still sinks to the bottom. Carefully examine the lowest points on the tank why taking a small ball peen hammer and tap lightly, but firmly. If you dent the tank, it’s likely toast.
Drain the oil and refill. Mark and pull the distributor and read up on how to prime the oil system before you attempt to fire it.
Welcome to the forum!
Well, what else can you expect you ask?
How about not getting your hopes up to have it running by this summer…..unless you spend a whole lot of cash. By the time you’re done getting it running you will spend as much as buying a finished car, maybe more. Especially if you are not doing it yourself. Of course, you could get lucky. Very lucky maybe and only spend a few thousand getting it drivable. As stated above the brake system will likely need a rebuild. I know you can get engines to run that have been sitting but they very rarely run well and for very long. And who knows why it sat for so long in the first place.
Chevy dealership will charge you more to get it safe (they wont release it I bet if its not) than you could ever sell it for.
And thats just the beginning.
Post your location, maybe some members could help you out or refer you to someone who wont soak you.
Youll have to do everything these guys posted and a lot more once you start driving it.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you seriously believe that the 20 something year old kids are going to know what to do with a carburetor? Sorry but you need a mechanic in his 50's or older at a shop that isnt going to give you some serious prison lovin when you get the bill. You never go to the dealership for anything unless your dad owns it or it has a bumper to bumper warranty
And why do you need to replace the origianl carb? If its original and a Holley call the Holley custom shop and have them do a factory restoration. THey have my tri power setup as we speak. If its a quadrajet send it to Lars.
WHat state are you in, ask for a reputable muscle car mechanic or restoration company to get her rolling. And get an estimate so you know how much to take out of your 401K to give to the Chevy Dealer
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
And get pics of all your numbered parts or you will end up with aftermarket clones and they will have the original stuff. If anything has to be replaced tell them you want all the original parts. Now a days everything can be rebuilt and it will probably be better than the chinese stuff they will replace your OEM stuff with
I'm about to begin the journey of resurrecting a '69 Stingray that's been sitting in a barn for 25 years. It has a full tank of gas (which I know I need to drain) and I need to purchase a new carburetor (got that underway already - Holley PART # 0-80459SA). I've spoken to a local Chevrolet dealership that specializes in Vette's that can possibly get it in their shop late winter so I can drive it over the summer. They've mentioned that it will at least need a new fuel sending unit and who knows what else. I plan to give them the carb to install. What else should I be expecting?
Thanks.
JT
If your intending on having a shop do all the work let us know where your located. There are lots of good shops in the country. I would take it to them before a dealer. Gm parts support ended for these 25+ years ago.
Except for the tank and brakes and maybe the carb, there is probably little difference between a car that sat for 25 years and one that merely has low mileage. A-arm bushing with external cracks are probably still serviceable because the only rubber that matters is internal. The rubber fuel hoses are simple to replace and important for safety. The carb will probably be fine with a simple rebuild. Unless the calipers were already stainless steel sleeved, they will be so corroded that they will need replacement. Even if sleeved they will need rebuilding with new rubber. The master cylinder may need to be replaced because of corrosion.
Thanks, everyone. As this was literally my first post ever - I guess I know how to get people's attention! And I truly appreciate your thoughts.
To answer some of your questions:
I'm in the Rochester, New York area - about 90 minutes East of Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills
The shop (dealership) I'm looking to take this to is Van Bortel Corvette in Macedon, NY - and yes, there are old guys working there (Link: https://www.vanbortelcorvettes.net/v...ettes-service/ ). I believe Van Bortel purchased Turner Automotive Corvettes that was in Victor, NY. It's also my understanding that in their shop now is at least one if not two '63's they're rebuilding along with a few others. So it's not a generic dealership with the kid right out of high school. Although I am totally open to other suggestions.
The car was driven to its current location (It was my father's car) and parked in an enclosed barn and has been covered for a long time so it's a bit dusty. Prior to that, he had done a ton of work on it - I have the repair records going back to 1974 (includes "motor mounts, upper/lower and in/out ball joints, control arm bumpers, power steering hoses, power steering pump", and a ton of other updates literally 1,900 miles ago - although it was 1991)
The carb was removed after it was parked and is missing - hence the need for a new unit
The brakes have been completely worked over (calipers, pads, Master Cylinder rebuilt) once in its lifetime
I suspect new belts, and probably hoses as well as spark plug wires, spark plugs, and maybe the distributor, possibly the brake and fuel lines at least will need to be checked over as mentioned. Not to mention 4 new tires.
I understand that this is going to be a process and I'm literally at the beginning. I could probably do some of the work myself - as I might do because I have better than basic skills, but I'm like the older version of that "20 something-year-old kid" that @Rescue Rogers mentioned. After sitting for so long I want someone who knows what to do to look at it to first make it safe to drive.
Thanks again and have a great day.
Here's the car as it sits now - I had to do a photoshop tweak to remove some items from the background. It needs some TLC. @Gixxerman
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Id try to do as much work as possible and it will seem endless, however there is NOTHING you will encounter that has not been discussed at length on this forum.
Welcome to the forum. What an awesome car - and your father's!! Very cool.
Some really good advice so far. I suggest re-reading Rescue's posts, and others of the same direction.
Even though you mention that the brakes have been gone thru, it has been sitting for a long time and I would plan on replacing the calipers, rebuilding the master, etc.
Goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: new tires for sure.
I think you mention it's been sitting in a barn for all those years - I hope rodents didn't wreak havoc with wiring, interior, etc. For some reason, they like wires.
If it was running well when parked, you might be surprised that you can get it running pretty quickly after taking care of fuel, lubrication, etc. But also don't be real surprised if a few things show after it's been running for a bit. I had an Olds that had been sitting for 15 years. Took care of fuel and lube, put a battery in it, and that 455 started right up. Ran it for an hour or so and a few lifters went and bent a few push rods. Not a biggie - replaced the lifters, pivot arms, and push rods, and it's still running well after another 15 years.
Hoses, belts, etc. - just replace them. Check radiator closely. Make sure you have a good fan clutch, etc.
You will become intimately familiar with every aspect of the car. Enjoy the journey. Don't be in a hurry. Do as much as you can yourself. Have fun.
As suggested, you should start a 'journey' thread. With pics and info. Others will find it very helpful. Best! Paul
I am 15 minutes west of Rochester. a very good place for service is Staub's Auto on ridge rd just east of mt. read blvd. Joe is the owner and i have known him for about 20 years and the previous owners my whole life. he knows how to fix everything on your car. i bring my car to him when i can't do it myself. he has 3 race cars of his own and one of his mechanics has a race car. he charges fair shop rates and most of all he will not rip you off in anyway.
If this is a 427/390 with the Q-Jet spread bore manifold.....DO NOT adapt a Square Bore Holley 750 to it......what intake is on this car?
If you adapt a Holley square bore to a spread bore intake you will never get it tuned properly.
Buy a spread bore Holley replacement or find a nice Q-Jet core that can be refurbished for it.
If someone tells you that doing this is not a big deal....take your car somewhere else.
Engine pics?
'69 - 427 Sitting for 25 Years
