Hello,
I am in the process of shopping for a project vette to purchase. I've been trolling this site about a year following many of the projects. There have been a lot of great ideas I have seen I want to incorporate into my vehicle. I want to marry the great style of the metal bumper vettes with newer technology. I have drawn a line in the sand on a few key areas.

• Carbureted LS2 aluminum engine
• No computer car beyond what is required for the LS2 ignition
• Upgraded 5/6 speed manual transmission
• Updated suspension (dual mount composite rear leaf); Coil springs in the front.
• Some sort of bigger brake kit as I will be running 16 or 17 inch wheels (wilwood maybe).
• Coupe rear deck – I love the vertical glass

I have been looking at 73-79 vettes as they are a lot cheaper to get started with since I want to spend money on modifications. My concern is how difficult it will be to convert these year corvettes to metal bumpers. First and foremost I want a car that is a driving machine. Obviously I am not concerned with keeping it all original but I do want it to look mostly factory minus the wheels. I am not into trying to make it look totally trick and custom so no big hoods or fender flares. I think the original design is timeless and if gm still made cars like this they would be 10 time stronger than they are now. I just want to bring the car up to date with better materials and technology. Any feedback on my idea is appreciated so if you think I am wrong about something let me know. My first step is getting a platform to work with. I just want to make sure I can get something that doesn’t look hacked up or fugly with metal bumpers on it.

 

Check the archieves. Your main question gets asked at least every-other week. Why do you want "bigger" brakes?

 

Mechanical upgrades are not a problem. Converting a rubber bumper car to steel, would be a monumental task and cost a ton of money. You would be better off finding a metal bumper car. It would be cheaper. Plus the frames are diffrent in the back.

 

If initial cost is a big issue, buy a 73. It has, at least, ONE chrome-bumpered end to start with. That said, if you must have both ends with chrome, buy a '72. You will be money ahead and it will hold [or gain] in value while you own it.

 

Most of the replies you will get for this question is too expensive to do, lots of work why do you want to do this?, just get a cb car, or sell your rb car, save and get a cb, blah, blah, blah... Last month, I gave the opinion that more people are becoming interested about doing this conversion and that it could prove to be a cheaper alternative and if enough of these are done, it could affect the value of the oem metal bumper cars. Some persons may not be able to afford a 68-72 car or they dont want to pay the price these classic vehicles command. I got comments like that this opinion is idiotic, and that if a person chooses to convert a rb car to a cb car at a cheaper price is dreaming, etc. Yes if you choose to do this it is labor intensive and expensive, but in your case maybe the cheaper alternative. I am going to do this within the next two years and have a web page charting my progress on WHAT and HOW I did it to answer this question instead of the "It's too expensive or lots of work" answers you always get on this subject. Also keep in mind if should you choose to sell it, the value of the conversion will be lower than the work and effort you put into it. A few members on the forum have done this or are undergoing the task. This subject is for some ungodly reason is frowned upon. Go for it, it will prove to be a great challenge.

 

I appreciate the replies. I sort of feared the bumper conversion would not be relatively simple or recommended.

As for the bigger brakes, it just goes along with theme of updating the car with newer/better stuff. I am on the binders a lot. Since I am upgrading the engine it seems wise to update the braking system as well. I might concider just getting drilled/slotted rotors with redone calipers but I imagine there is room for improvement.

 

Hello, welcome, fill out your profile!
If you've been trolling the site for a year, you'd know that the Guys are going to flame you at any moment.

 

As much as you wallet will allow you to.

 

It's really hard to beat the brakes that came on these cars. Get good calipers and do whatever you want with the rotors and your set.......

 

I hear ya on wanting a chrome bumper vette. My first vette was a 74 and I soon realized that the initial purchase price is really a small drop in the bucket.

I traded to a 71 vert and found that deals are out there. For you, all you really need is a clean body. I think you should get what you want to start. IMHO, those are some really heavy mods. Body & frame work is time consuming and expensive if you can't do it yourself.

I'd look for your steel bumper car and go from there.

 

Get a cb car and I would get rid of the big wheels,of course this is only my opion.I'd kind like to see one though.I used to see a red cb Vette with the big back window.It really looked good.No hack job.I haven't seen it in a couple of yrs.so it might be gone.That would be the best way to go if you like the rear window with the CB!!

 

Some 12 years ago I bought my '72 vert, basically as shown on site, I did the wheels, hood, interior, engine, 200 4r tranny, it has been a work in progress for 12 years....

for brakes, get a set of NAPA rotors, American made for 30 bux each I just did the fronts on my car for that price....also a set of O ring pistons/seals, toss the springs, and get a Hydroboost brake setup, your shark will stop on a dime with 9 cents change..., I would definately keep the DPFI on any LS engine, why do a carb?? the later computers I understand are much easier than the antiquated thing I have...
I put 17 inch '92 vette wheels on the car, keeping it all vette that way, and tire costs down, with a hell of a performance increase....I also put in my own rack/pinion steering about 5 years ago, it works wonders for handling...
Having worked on all sorts of vettes over the years, I would have to say converting to chrome bumpers is a super PIA....don't bother...money better spent on a good solid car to start with....

 

Anything can be done. It is at what cost, How hard and time consuming is it, What expense the parts are that you will need, What is the completed project value? If you start with a Chrome bumper car with a solid frame and birdcage it is a relativly straight forward project with good end value. Conversion is going to be a monumental job with lower end return. You will not make money on this job no matter how you approch it. You will lose less starting with a chrome bumper car to begin with. JMHO

 

Yeah. I'm not planning on selling it and do understand I will take a loss if I choose to sell it in the future. In in it for the challenge. Looking for a donor vehicle now.

 

That would be the only reason I could see for doing it. Looking for a challenge.