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I dunno if it's just me and my vette or you have simmilar experiences.
I'm a dad, a family man, working 9-17. My job got me a company car. Nothing special and for this part of the world kinda normal, 1.5 diesel Peugeot 308. I got it brand new 6 months ago. It has 8 speed automatic gearbox, android auto, apple car play, super soft seats, tri zone climate control etc. Goes 0-60 in 8 sec and Vmax is about 130mph.
And it's boooring AF. You can steer it with one finger, goes straight, it's quiet and you can surf, listen to podcast or even fiddle with youtube music videos while driving.
My vette'... I redid everything back to factory. Steering, suspension front and back, engine, carb, interior... you name it. It bump steers, diff is making noise, windows rattle while half way down, gas fumes are entering the cockpit during traffic stops, some parts squeak, other rattle and it's loud, very loud.
My Peugeot can drive circles around my Vette. Doing 40 in Peugeot, you can watch a carb rebuild video on YT. Vette doing 40 feels like 90 and I'm all engaged.
And I wouldn't trade it in a million years. Bob Segar, T-Tops down and a long stretch of back road makes me feel like home, in the 70's USA, country and time I was supposed to live in and been born in, but never visited, only day dreamed about.
My question is are your cars like that? Rattled old, tiresome pieces of shitty driving experiences that you fight and love more than any other thrill life has to offer? Besides DD cups OFC...
Concerning the steering, was the steering box rebuilt? How many psi do you have in the tires, cold?
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C7 of the Year Winner -- Modified
2020 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
All I can say about a C3 is after driving it, it takes a couple of minutes for the smile to disappear (and thats even after suffering sun burn and wind burn) 1974 Corvette 70mph
Last edited by walleyfisher; Feb 5, 2025 at 03:00 PM.
My '69 427 is sweetness to drive... all new suspension and brakes, no squeaks or rattles, added A/C and power steering, smaller steering wheel, and have never had the windows up, T-tops on, or back window in, in 18 years...
But I don't fit so it's not enjoyable. Driving in traffic scares me, there's no way I can do an emergency stop; get the clutch in and brake pressed quickly, no way! At 6'5" 270 with size 14 shoes, my feet pull the vacuum hoses out under the dash all the time too.
My '69 427 is sweetness to drive... all new suspension and brakes, no squeaks or rattles, added A/C and power steering, smaller steering wheel, and have never had the windows up, T-tops on, or back window in, in 18 years...
But I don't fit so it's not enjoyable. Driving in traffic scares me, there's no way I can do an emergency stop; get the clutch in and brake pressed quickly, no way! At 6'5" 270 with size 14 shoes, my feet pull the vacuum hoses out under the dash all the time too.
But my kids would disown me if I sold it..
When windows are down and t tops are of I have no rattles as well
My 82 had the Gymkhana steel leaf spring. It rode a little stiff, and I felt every bump.
My 75 has a new fiberglass leaf, new seat foam/leather, carpet with sound deadener layer and it rides smooth and comfortable. I still have wind noise with the convertible top up but not bad.
Do you have a steel leaf spring and 50 year old seat foam?
I completely agree with some of the comments about alignment.
I'm on my second C3 Corvette. My first was a 1971 coupe. It was advertised as completely restored by the two previous owners. It was downright frightening to drive on the highway. Very nervous handling. Required every ounce of attention doing more than 60 mph. I thought that's just the way Corvette C3s handled.
My current C3 is a 1972 that was also partially restored by the previous owner. Even worse driving experience when I first got it. After installing a Borgeson steering box, replacing the front coil springs that were completely shot and all new shocks, I performed a basic string alignment in my driveway. What a difference! Not modern car handling, but I could do 70 on the highway and still have a conversation with the passenger.
At this point I have completely replaced all of the suspension and steering components with more modern aftermarket upgrades. Also lowered the front end slightly, which reduces front and lift at higher speeds and causes very light steering. I dialed in as much caster as possible, which increases high speed stability.. Almost modern car handling.
I think there are two main differences at this point. The power steering is not speed sensitive like modern cars, Modern cars use less power steering as the speed increases, giving you a tighter more precise steering feeling at any speed. So at higher speeds the Corvette steering is still very light. The other issue is the tires. I'm still running 15-in wheels with 255 60 R15 tires. The taller sidewall and balloon shape of the tire give it much more vague handling. Converting to modern a diameter wheel and tire combination will improve handling tremendously.
It''s still a 50-year-old car. But I've had others drive it that are amazed at how well it handles for its age.
so it's not enjoyable. Driving in traffic scares me, there's no way I can do an emergency stop; get the clutch in and brake pressed quickly, no way! At 6'5" 270 with size 14 shoes, my feet pull the vacuum hoses out under the dash all the time too. 
