New Member
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
New Member
Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I just purchased my first Corvette this fall it's a 1979. This forum has been a great help in the past as I was buying some tires for my dads 63 coupe. I finally got to a point in life where I can justify the expense of a fun car. It's nice to be on the inside looking out for a change.
Let me ask you guys something... GM produced over half a million of these cars from 1968-82. There is still a fair amount of them available. I don't see to many 1979 anythings driving around. You would think part suppliers would take this into account rather than marking up everything over 500%. Where have you found a good parts supplier for C3's? Are the few corvette salvage yards even worth it?
Thanks
Dave
Just wanted to introduce myself. I just purchased my first Corvette this fall it's a 1979. This forum has been a great help in the past as I was buying some tires for my dads 63 coupe. I finally got to a point in life where I can justify the expense of a fun car. It's nice to be on the inside looking out for a change.
Let me ask you guys something... GM produced over half a million of these cars from 1968-82. There is still a fair amount of them available. I don't see to many 1979 anythings driving around. You would think part suppliers would take this into account rather than marking up everything over 500%. Where have you found a good parts supplier for C3's? Are the few corvette salvage yards even worth it?
Thanks
Dave
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: SF East Bay CA
Let me ask you guys something... GM produced over half a million of these cars from 1968-82. There is still a fair amount of them available. I don't see to many 1979 anythings driving around.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 9
From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
Canadian Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by super320
Timbo,
You got it. I think out of all the C3's are values are probably the lowest. That's why I want to be smart about putting in the right $$$ into the right areas.
You got it. I think out of all the C3's are values are probably the lowest. That's why I want to be smart about putting in the right $$$ into the right areas.
Just make yourself happy, don't follow the trends and what everyone else has done to their Vettes.
You'll be better off in the long run...
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero Ca
Originally Posted by super320
Timbo,
You got it. I think out of all the C3's are values are probably the lowest. That's why I want to be smart about putting in the right $$$ into the right areas.
You got it. I think out of all the C3's are values are probably the lowest. That's why I want to be smart about putting in the right $$$ into the right areas.
lol, the following is a breif list of the right areas in no particular order...
Motor
Transmission
Rear End
Body
Paint
Suspension
Carpet
Seats
Brakes
Door Panels
Frame
Steering
Wheels and Tires
It all depends on what you like. If you like to be shoved back in the seat, spend the money on the drivetrain, if you like the looks part of it, spend it on paint interior wheels tires, if you like to turn and stop spend it on the suspension. That's what makes these things so fun you can customize it to the way you like to drive. A dollar spent on a vette will be worth 2$ in a few years, so don't really worry about pouring money into it, it will soon be a very worthwhile investment.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I paid $4K for the car, motor is pushing around 350hp, the trans is a th350 w/a shift kit. Both are original and have 5k miles since rebuild. The body has a new paint job that is basically a 5 footer. Int is worn but all there.
Even with all that done, I can still get in over invested very easily. Car needs door panels, carpet, stereo, tach, heater control, ext emblems, (forget the a/c) and a front end alignment which will probably finish with me upgrading the suspension. Damn corvettes they are just like hot women, I can never say no.
Even with all that done, I can still get in over invested very easily. Car needs door panels, carpet, stereo, tach, heater control, ext emblems, (forget the a/c) and a front end alignment which will probably finish with me upgrading the suspension. Damn corvettes they are just like hot women, I can never say no.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: SF East Bay CA
lol, the following is a breif list of the right areas in no particular order...
Motor
Transmission
Rear End
Body
Paint
Suspension
Carpet
Seats
Brakes
Door Panels
Frame
Steering
Wheels and Tires
Motor
Transmission
Rear End
Body
Paint
Suspension
Carpet
Seats
Brakes
Door Panels
Frame
Steering
Wheels and Tires
Alot of us have more dollars than sense... Once you get going on these, you don't want to stop. Always something else to do... You can easily top 20k if you want to change "everything" and that is doing most of the wpoprk yourself.
My order was
Engine
Transmission
Suspension
Brakes
Interior
Gauges
Steering
Wheels/Tires
Engine (AGAIN, New f/i setup)
Fuel lines
Engine (AGAIN, new exhaust)
Oh AND no 1... willingness to write checks
AND, no expectation of return!! (nt counting, of course, the pleasure of driving and owning)
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
I've bought parts from all over the place.....Here on the Forum, Most of the Catalogers, Vette specific wrecking yards and even e-bay. The best advice I can give you is to shop around. If you are looking for a product that is not corvette specific (like Chev 350 engine stuff) then hit places like Summit and Jegs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Originally Posted by Stewart's74
I've bought parts from all over the place.....Here on the Forum, Most of the Catalogers, Vette specific wrecking yards and even e-bay. The best advice I can give you is to shop around. If you are looking for a product that is not corvette specific (like Chev 350 engine stuff) then hit places like Summit and Jegs.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 728
Likes: 1
From: Patchogue New York
welcome,
I got a bunch of different catalogs, go to all kinds of web sites, b4 I buy anything. If you look around and compare you can save a buck or to for your next purchase. I have dumpped about $2000.00 in mine and I have only owned it a year. I can forsee spending another $2000.00 this year, but it's worth it to me everytime I open the garage door and take it for a spin.
I got a bunch of different catalogs, go to all kinds of web sites, b4 I buy anything. If you look around and compare you can save a buck or to for your next purchase. I have dumpped about $2000.00 in mine and I have only owned it a year. I can forsee spending another $2000.00 this year, but it's worth it to me everytime I open the garage door and take it for a spin.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Welcome Super320. Just saw three '79's around town this week. Two were for sale. All 3 were nice. Two blacks, one red. One price I saw was $11.5K. You did good at $4K. Get all the essentials taken care of and have fun driving your cool ole Vette.