Hello all new to this forum. Backstory, father-in-law passed recently and was left this car. Have been with my wife for 14 years saw the taillights 1 time 10 years into our marriage when he opened the detached garage to get me some bar chain oil for a chainsaw. Story is my mother-in-law had hip replacement surgery and was told not to sit with her knees above her waist hubby took this to heart. Had new tires put on and a tune up pulled it in the garage and hasn't moved in 16 years. Last plated in 08. Got the door open today to take a look and see what I am dealing with. Opened the door still smelled like an air freshener. Tires still holding air. Pulled the hood pop and the handle just came off. So couldn't see any rodent damage if any. First part already on the way, new hood release cable. So I know this subject has more than likely been beat to death but bear with me....

I want to get this thing going. Here's what I have in mind, let me know if there is anything else I should be looking for or at that is problematic with these cars after sitting for 16 years.

1. Make sure engine is free and not locked up.
2. All fluids changed, oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, etc.
3. Fresh tune up? Just had done before it sat.
4. Brake job all around. Calipers, pads, rotors.
5. Drop gas tank and drain and inspect inside for rust.
6. Battery.
7. Drop oil pan and clean.

Now I am no master mechanic, but all of these tasks are within my wheelhouse. Any insight in the order I should tackle these would be helpful. Let me know if I am going overboard or not far enough. Thanks in advance. And it great to be here.

 

Think you are on the right track. Might as well do the fresh tune up, just one more thing you don’t have to go back to the parts store.

Good luck on your ‘77.

 

Thanks. I thought that would be a good jumping off point. Just not familiar with these cars and dont know of any problems specific to these cars I should be looking for.

 

Have an inkling more members will chime in with issues that could pop up.
Electrical would be one, just due to age.
Check the seals of the t-tops, if dry rotted, they will need replacing as it will cause corrosion issues if leaking.
Would recommend getting AIM, that is an assembly manual.

 

I also have a 77. Mine is the correct color however.
your list looks like a starting point.
Most commonly complained about issues on here? Steering and brakes I would think.

 

Not sure what you mean by "Mine is the correct color however". Could you elaborate?

 

4-Vettes may not be aware that black came back as a factory color in 77. If you look at the trim tag on the drivers door pillar and see paint code 19 it's an original black car.

 

There was no brown available in '77.

 

It's black right?

 

I thought it looked dark brown.....

 

Sounds like a good plan. Probably look a lot better once you get it cleaned off. Hold off on the rotors till you know what you have

(read up on C3 rotors/brakes ......watch some videos)

 

Yes. Black. Just 16 years of dust and dirt.

 

Be careful with the turn signal/wiper switch. One year only part and very hard to find and expensive if it breaks. There are some work arounds but those are hard to come by as well. Love my ‘77. Good luck and the folks around here are really knowledgeable and helpful. I was okay with a set of tools when I got mine and have rebuilt entire suspension, rewired parts of the car, and pulled motor last winter. I’m pretty good with a set of wrenches now and drive her almost everyday in the summer. Enjoy.

 

Blow the fuel line/s out.
Clean carburetor.

Hope you enjoy it!

Love the "sugar scoop" C3 coupes.

I bought a new 1977, 47 years ago. An L82 AT. MSRP was $10,900.00. Out the door after discount was $9,600.00

 

My comment on the correct color was tongue in cheek as they say.
"All Corvette's are Red"!

 

Nice car. In addition to the above, change out the tires. They are 6 years over their past due date. I know they are new, be safe and replace them. Good luck. Jerry

 

1 - send your Quadrajet to Lars for a rebuild! v8fastcars [at] msn [dot] com email him and inquire as to the process
2 - even though they have a ton of tread left, those tires are unsafe to roll at speed, replace immediately

I'm new to owning C3 but they don't seem to have so many "gotcha!" gremlins that are unique to the car mechanically. Fuel sending unit/pickup sock is in the bottom of the tank so you don't even need to drop the tank. You can drain/inspect easily from the top.
If you enjoy revival content, check out Vice Grip Garage on youtube and you can see the order he approaches on vehicles that have been sitting unused.

 

Quick reply, in a rush right now...................With modern cars your #4 is correct more or less regarding the rotors. But NOT for C3 Corvettes. Too many new owners of these cars trash the most likely perfectly good rotors because they are used to that with modern cars as that's usually the process. You should inspect both sides of each rotor for damage like grooves and the usual suspects. Surface rust and iron coloring is normal from sitting. Clean them. They weren't silver and shiny when new and won't be now so that isn't an indicator of them being "bad". Since it's probably above your skill level based on your own comment I won't suggest you check runout on the rotors but you MUST do that if you replace them. You will need to spend a lot of time carefully correcting runout with shims. In other words.......as a junior level mechanic leave the rotors alone IF they aren't damaged and you won't create LOTS of work for yourself AND you won't potentially be throwing away money tossing the old, buying new, buying more tools for the job, etc. You will need to flush the brake fluid, rebuild the calipers, and change the pads because of the long storage time.

 

6 years is a little extreme I think. But if they've sat flat, then I would agree. When they sit flat they get deep cracks in the sidewalls where the 'flat' was. That's the area they tend to blow.

There's a guy who comes to our local car shows...he's got some like very early 90's tires on his classic car! They might even be late 80's! And they look perfect. They look great. Not a single crack or dry rot on them. He drives it all over! I fully understand how tires go and delapidate..(I've had a few do that). I'm not advocating that at all. Just something he and I joke about. Some of those older tires they must have used a different compound on them that wasn't as prone to rot. You buy a new set of Michelins...and they'll be cracking in about 3 years.

I only ever put WD-40 to spiff up the shine on my C/Cars' tires (after cleaning the white walls with mild soap). No silicone products touch my cars anymore (been around that block!). The tires still look fantastic. So does the interior.

 

Uh......no....

"All Corvettes are WHITE."

red wasn't produced EVERY year model.

White was.