81 - where to start
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 226
From: PA
I bought my 80 L82 new and have been doing repairs/rebuilds/upgrades for 6 or 7 years now with a little driving in between. I'm currently replacing the 350 TH with a 4L60E mainly because having swapped the 3.07 gears for 3.54 I now would like to get the upper end back and knock the cruise rpm's to something reasonable. But the start of all this was redoing the brakes and brake lines - figured I wanted to be sure it would stop if nothing else.
Three things I've figured out from all this:
1. As someone from 11 years ago said, pull the body off the frame and start there. I didn't and as a result I continue to do a lot of work that is very hard to do with the body on. In fact, for what I'll eventually spend doing all the suspension fixes and upgrades myself, I could have turned the frame/suspension/brake and fuel lines, over to van steel or the like and had it all done for less and come out of it with a powder coated frame.
2. It is by far cheaper to buy someone else's completed project than to do your own. Reasons for ding this yourself include:
For what it's worth.
Three things I've figured out from all this:
1. As someone from 11 years ago said, pull the body off the frame and start there. I didn't and as a result I continue to do a lot of work that is very hard to do with the body on. In fact, for what I'll eventually spend doing all the suspension fixes and upgrades myself, I could have turned the frame/suspension/brake and fuel lines, over to van steel or the like and had it all done for less and come out of it with a powder coated frame.
2. It is by far cheaper to buy someone else's completed project than to do your own. Reasons for ding this yourself include:
- You enjoy it
- To avoid the cost escalation that is guaranteed to occur as a result of surprises always found when working on older vehicles
- In my case being the original owner, you have a sentimental attachment to the car.
For what it's worth.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 500
Likes: 27
I bought my 80 L82 new and have been doing repairs/rebuilds/upgrades for 6 or 7 years now with a little driving in between. I'm currently replacing the 350 TH with a 4L60E mainly because having swapped the 3.07 gears for 3.54 I now would like to get the upper end back and knock the cruise rpm's to something reasonable. But the start of all this was redoing the brakes and brake lines - figured I wanted to be sure it would stop if nothing else.
Three things I've figured out from all this:
1. As someone from 11 years ago said, pull the body off the frame and start there. I didn't and as a result I continue to do a lot of work that is very hard to do with the body on. In fact, for what I'll eventually spend doing all the suspension fixes and upgrades myself, I could have turned the frame/suspension/brake and fuel lines, over to van steel or the like and had it all done for less and come out of it with a powder coated frame.
2. It is by far cheaper to buy someone else's completed project than to do your own. Reasons for ding this yourself include:
For what it's worth.
Three things I've figured out from all this:
1. As someone from 11 years ago said, pull the body off the frame and start there. I didn't and as a result I continue to do a lot of work that is very hard to do with the body on. In fact, for what I'll eventually spend doing all the suspension fixes and upgrades myself, I could have turned the frame/suspension/brake and fuel lines, over to van steel or the like and had it all done for less and come out of it with a powder coated frame.
2. It is by far cheaper to buy someone else's completed project than to do your own. Reasons for ding this yourself include:
- You enjoy it
- To avoid the cost escalation that is guaranteed to occur as a result of surprises always found when working on older vehicles
- In my case being the original owner, you have a sentimental attachment to the car.
For what it's worth.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 226
From: PA
Yes, that was the issue. I was cruising at about 2600 rpm at 60 mph and now with the 3.54 rear it's closer to 3000. But I knew that would be the case going in, so when I put in the 3.54's I already was planning to drop in an OD transmission. The 0.70 OD in the 4L60E will drop the 60 cruise down to 2100 rpm.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 52
Likes: 18
From: South Texas
the back story -
I wanted something fun this summer, was going to buy a street bike (Ninja). Ended up with an 81 vette.
The car -
1981 Repoed vette (yes someone had it as collateral on something). Nothing is perfect on it, everything is “fair”.
The Good –
The paint is pretty good shape, some scratches but ok for now
The engine seems alright (It spits oil from somewhere when I jump on it)
It has an Eldebrock carb and intake
It has an Excel ignition
It has headers (they need paint, but they are solid)
It runs out pretty well (other then the bad below)
The interior, while a little rough around the edges is in decent shape
The not so good –
It has what looks / acts like stock exhaust
It has an Auto trans (its tight, but not for me)
The rear spring is WAY soft
Did I mention the oil leak, it leaves spots on the driveway.
I think the rest of the engine is basically stock.
Anyway part of the reason the car became the summer toy is that not only can I drive it over the next few years I can pretty much redo all of it. I am planning to do the vast majority of the Labor myself, I’m a pretty good wrench and have been known to paint a car or two, so I’m not worried about my skill set.
Which leads me to my question – Where to start?
The budget –
This year now through dec 31, I have around 3K to put into it, next year – I figure around 5K will go into it (maybe trans?). I would image that around 5K a year will be the target to completion.
The total to-do list, in no order.
-Do something with motor, want around 500HP.
- I’m open to removing / rebuilding the one that’s there, or a 427 SB or pretty much whatever. I’m looking for an effective way to get to around the 500HP mark.
- Could do this in stages, such as cam / lifters this year, and rebuild next
-Replace the trans with a Manual
- I think this is going to be the TKO with hyro clutch ( ?next summer? )
-Redo the interior, there are some pieces I want to do by hand, such a custom center console, maybe a built in GPS / computer deal (pretty cool) and who can forget the pair of 12” subs…..
-Re-paint it, The only thing My wife has asked is that when its done its cherry red, I’m ok with red so she will get here way on this one.
-New exhaust – should be planned for the future HP.
-Tub it out (maybe, depends on how crazy I get with the body work)
-Replace the rear spring with some thing better then stock.
I guess I’m looking for thoughts kind of “if it was me I would do this ______” type of thing. Also, a reality check if I’m out of my mind trying to get to 500HP in this car without going Big Block.
One thing I want to avoid is spending money and then tossing it out later, such as putting in a cam and lifters that “work” with this engine, but won’t work in the 500HP engine, or any money into this motor if a 383 or 427 is what I need to be gearing for.
Anyway, the forum so far has been good, I want to get something done on this thing yet this year, really at this point I just need to figure out where to start.
I wanted something fun this summer, was going to buy a street bike (Ninja). Ended up with an 81 vette.
The car -
1981 Repoed vette (yes someone had it as collateral on something). Nothing is perfect on it, everything is “fair”.
The Good –
The paint is pretty good shape, some scratches but ok for now
The engine seems alright (It spits oil from somewhere when I jump on it)
It has an Eldebrock carb and intake
It has an Excel ignition
It has headers (they need paint, but they are solid)
It runs out pretty well (other then the bad below)
The interior, while a little rough around the edges is in decent shape
The not so good –
It has what looks / acts like stock exhaust
It has an Auto trans (its tight, but not for me)
The rear spring is WAY soft
Did I mention the oil leak, it leaves spots on the driveway.
I think the rest of the engine is basically stock.
Anyway part of the reason the car became the summer toy is that not only can I drive it over the next few years I can pretty much redo all of it. I am planning to do the vast majority of the Labor myself, I’m a pretty good wrench and have been known to paint a car or two, so I’m not worried about my skill set.
Which leads me to my question – Where to start?
The budget –
This year now through dec 31, I have around 3K to put into it, next year – I figure around 5K will go into it (maybe trans?). I would image that around 5K a year will be the target to completion.
The total to-do list, in no order.
-Do something with motor, want around 500HP.
- I’m open to removing / rebuilding the one that’s there, or a 427 SB or pretty much whatever. I’m looking for an effective way to get to around the 500HP mark.
- Could do this in stages, such as cam / lifters this year, and rebuild next
-Replace the trans with a Manual
- I think this is going to be the TKO with hyro clutch ( ?next summer? )
-Redo the interior, there are some pieces I want to do by hand, such a custom center console, maybe a built in GPS / computer deal (pretty cool) and who can forget the pair of 12” subs…..
-Re-paint it, The only thing My wife has asked is that when its done its cherry red, I’m ok with red so she will get here way on this one.
-New exhaust – should be planned for the future HP.
-Tub it out (maybe, depends on how crazy I get with the body work)
-Replace the rear spring with some thing better then stock.
I guess I’m looking for thoughts kind of “if it was me I would do this ______” type of thing. Also, a reality check if I’m out of my mind trying to get to 500HP in this car without going Big Block.
One thing I want to avoid is spending money and then tossing it out later, such as putting in a cam and lifters that “work” with this engine, but won’t work in the 500HP engine, or any money into this motor if a 383 or 427 is what I need to be gearing for.
Anyway, the forum so far has been good, I want to get something done on this thing yet this year, really at this point I just need to figure out where to start.
Find the leak and fix it if it's gaskets replace them. If it is blow by rebuild the engine.
I've found a few places online to get suspension parts. Then decide on the rest as it comes to ya.
That's my opinion on the subject anyway.
