restoring a 77
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
restoring a 77
I just bought a 77 vette, that was garaged and not started for 16 years, in Long Island. I syphoned the fuel, new battery, cranked engine until old gas was gone, and believe it or not, started right up. I did oil change, and in process of replacing rotors, calipers, brakes, and rubber lines. What else should I worry about in a car that has been sitting for 16 years? I pushed the car into my drive, so I'm sure tranny and rear will be ok (shouldnt use tranny and rear in the same sentence), but a friend said I should change all the "rubber". What did he mean? Seals or bushings? Any help much appreciated. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
By rubber he's probably talking about things like hoses, belts, bushings, and tires.
If the tires are horribly old then replacing them is a must for safety reasons...even if they still hold air. The hoses and belts might be okay if they are not cracking. Bend them to look for cracks.
Get under the car and inspect the engine mounts, transmission mount, and suspension bushings. If any are cracked and in rough shape plan on replacing them.
Same goes for the soft brake lines at each wheel...those swell on the inside causing all kinds of brake problems.
If the tires are horribly old then replacing them is a must for safety reasons...even if they still hold air. The hoses and belts might be okay if they are not cracking. Bend them to look for cracks.
Get under the car and inspect the engine mounts, transmission mount, and suspension bushings. If any are cracked and in rough shape plan on replacing them.
Same goes for the soft brake lines at each wheel...those swell on the inside causing all kinds of brake problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
Change the oil in the rear end and the transmission. If anything it will get rid of moisture from sitting.
Check the exhaust. Old exhaust can rust and leaks can occur...very dangerous.
Check the floors...again, rust can occur and if there is an exhaust leak then it may come through the floor from the exhaust.
Check the fuel pump for leaks. If it is leaking then fix it. Leaks at the fuel pump end up on hot exhaust when driving resulting in complete destruction.
These are some of the important ones to check asside from the brakes.
Check the exhaust. Old exhaust can rust and leaks can occur...very dangerous.
Check the floors...again, rust can occur and if there is an exhaust leak then it may come through the floor from the exhaust.
Check the fuel pump for leaks. If it is leaking then fix it. Leaks at the fuel pump end up on hot exhaust when driving resulting in complete destruction.
These are some of the important ones to check asside from the brakes.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
There are rubber fuel lines at the gas tank end of the steel fuel lines that should be replaced also. 2 hoses for the feed and return lines on the passenger side and 2 hoses for the evap system on the driver side. You might have to drop the fuel tank to get to the hoses but the effort is less than trying to extiguish a fire.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Were the nylon coated gears stock in '77? I have only found them as replacement parts from the early '70's and figured most of them were removed not long after when people started finding chunks of the nylon in their oil and clogging the oil pickup.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Nylon gears were stock on '77 models, at least on L48's anyway, not sure about L82's. I replaced mine, it was original and nylon. I replaced it with a Cloyes Street True Roller timing chain. I think I paid about $40.00 for it, it was good move as the original chain had alot of slack in it.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Nylon gears were stock on '77 models, at least on L48's anyway, not sure about L82's. I replaced mine, it was original and nylon. I replaced it with a Cloyes Street True Roller timing chain. I think I paid about $40.00 for it, it was good move as the original chain had alot of slack in it.
I know I have seen plenty being removed but I guess I always thought it was a factory replacement part that they used if someone went in for work in the early '70's and needed a timing chain. I also didn't know they used them as long as they did or why. I have cleaned the nylon crumbs out of a lot of oil pickups and oil pans.