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...if you're going to replace the rubber water/heater hoses, be very, very careful in cutting and NOT pulling them off of the heater core outlets. I know many people who weren't careful and DID NOT take their time and broke off the heater core outlets. If this is(or was)an A/C to begin with, you'll really regret the outcome if you break one of both of these off!!!
After a couple of months of research here, PMing a few members for info and watching ads, I found a Corvette in CA and brought it home yesterday.
1976 coupe, L-48/auto, tilt/tele column and the AC needs repaired. Recent paint applied by the PO, who paints his own hotrods. It has new carpeting, seat covers, dash and a few other interior components.
The frame and rear body mounts looked so good during my flash light inspection that I figured the birdcage is probably good.
I have a few pictures, I'll get more as time goes by.
I pulled the wheels off to inspect the brakes and suspension. It's getting tires, brake hoses and a brake flush, everything else looked and felt good.
I was happy to see how good the #2 passenger side body mount looked.
And there was a surprise waiting for me in the right rear wheel well.
It has the original engine, that I suspect has been rebuilt. I was told the car has 142K miles on it, the engine runs awfully good.
Going by the engine # it's an original CA car.
I originally wanted a 4 speed but after a couple of short drives in this I don't know if I would have the leg room to get my foot onto a clutch pedal.
Before I do a conversion I'll find a manual equipped car and see how I fit.
I've been tinkering a bit while waiting for my brake lines to come in the mail.
Today I took a look at the left #3 mount, it looked better than the right #2 mount that I checked previously,
I also removed the trim tag so I could soak it to remove the paint. The paint was so thick I couldn't make out it's birthday.
Tidying the engine up will be a work in progress, I made an EGR port cover and removed the AIR line and heat riser controller in the pic. I need to come up with something to plug the hole in the exhaust that the AIR line was plumbed into and wire the heat riser valve open until I can fix it properly.
Thanks for the links, and the info on removing heater hoses.
The AIR pipe on this car goes into the exhaust pipe below the heat riser valve, it isn't tied into the manifolds.
I haven't seen a system like this before. I'll make a plug for the hole and clamp it on the pipe.
This is the end of the AIR pipe, the ball goes into a socket on the pipe and there is a bolt that secures it to a bracket on the pipe.
I have an electric choke kit on order and Lars papers have been book marked for a few weeks.
I'm looking forward to doing some tuning after I get the brakes flushed.
That's an aftermarket radiator overflow. I'm pretty sure it belongs on the right side of the engine compartment but haven't studied it too closely, yet.
I'm not sure yet how much work I'm going to put into making it factory correct, as long as it runs good, is easy to work on and looks good, in that order.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Someone sure took the long way around! It should go under the right fender.
A new correct tank is only around $25. You can see where mine is in this pic...
I was looking at it last night while flushing the brakes. I like how the factory unit is tucked out of the way.
It didn't bother me until you mentioned it
Those body mounts do look in great shape for a '76. The brake pedal wear seems to confirm the 140,000+ miles on the car, but what a nice ride. Enjoy it.
The picture in post #24 is the only line that was going from the pump to the exhaust on the passenger side.
There was nothing going to the drivers side.
While laying under the car I did see plugs in the drivers side manifold, the passenger manifold doesn't even have holes tapped in it.
Was it your first time driving a 'Vette? I bet it was fun! Did you have a hard time bleeding the brakes?
That was the longest I've driven it, I did test drove this one, and took it around the block when I got it home three weeks back.
Currently having a throttle problem, I suspect it's not getting full travel. I increased my leg room by trimming the new carpet that the PO installed, I can probably do the same for the throttle.
Looking forward to more driving while I test-n-tune.
I picked up a pressure bleeder when I got the car. I've used a mity-vac for years but after hearing about the caliper seals on these I decided to buy the pressure bleeder.
I installed new o-ringed rear calipers and rear hoses. The front got flushed, when my lift shows up I will replace or rebuild the master cylinder and replace the front hard lines, hoses and calipers.
It will also get the power steering valve rebuilt, headers, dual exhaust, timing set, cooling system service... I'll have to consult my list.
I took the C5 out in the morning and then the C3 this afternoon. It's 71 degrees out right now!
I've had the C3 for a year now and today was the first day I really drove it. I test drove it when I bought it and then loaded it up on my trailer and towed it home. Parked it in one of my garages and it has sat ever since. I did trade off the glass T-tops for solid fiberglass ones.
I was surprised as to how much fun this car is to drive. I had a big smile on my face the whole time. I expected it to be much slower. It's not like my C5 but can feel the torque. It has a shift kit in it too as the shifts are very solid. Now I'm thinking I'm going to go with some aluminum heads, cam, intake, carb and ignition. It has shorty smog headers (came from CA) and nice exhaust but it also came with a set of Hooker header / side pipes which I'll install when I do the other stuff. That should really wake it up.
Anyway, don't mean to highjack your thread but it was such a nice day I had to post!
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