Hey everyone, newbie here, and just want to say hi first. Well, i am purchasing a 1978 CAnAm corvette in about 4 days, i already dropped the depoist. The car has a very good condition body, but there is alot of work to be done. It looks sweet as hell and i can not wait till i am done resotring her, but first i have some questions; does anyone have any info on these cars, and does anyone know shops/people in the Longisland, Ny area that can do resoration/reapir. Thanks for your time, Mike. :cool:

 

I have never heard of a "Can-Am" Corvette.

Perhaps if you posted some pictures it would help?

 

I know its the can-am is a body mod that was available in the 70's.
Thats about all I know though :)
I'm pretty sure it's the wide body type with the three tail lights on each side.
I'm sure someone can give a better description :)

edit: actually I just remembered, I could be totally off, canam was racing, I just remembered that. so... you got a canam race car ?
Ok...I'll just shut my mouth now.. :)


[Modified by Anar76, 4:58 PM 2/18/2002]

 

Its got a very wide body, but only two tailights a side, but i think it used to be a race car, actaully i know it was, i spoke to the original owner who lives around the block for me.

 

Ok good , so I wasn't that far off :)
Least I don't sound like that much of an idiot :p:
Some pics of your soon-to-be would really nice :)

 

I seem to remember the CanAm series as a set of races in the '60s and/or '70s for sports/racers like the Jim Hall Chapparel. That was the car with the large fan on top and the skirts on the bottom that created a suction to help hold it on the track.

I don't ever remember seeing any reasonably stock vehicles in those races.

CanAm = Canadian American race series.

Any help from any other old farts that remember that far back would be welcome.

 

I've fried a lot of brain cells since the sixties, but my memory's about the same. I think they raced three or four classes in the same race. The cars varied from highly modified sports cars to prototype racers. I remember being impressed by how low they were... The drivers acted like it was nothing to scrape the chassis on the pavement...

 

 

There were 60's AND 70's !? Wow... What else did I miss out on??

 

The Can Am Corvettes were wide body versions for street Corvettes, they were modeled after the Greenwood wide body racing cars. The Can-Am Racing Series was a series for unlimited sports racers that ran from 66(usrrc) to 74. There were no Corvettes that ever ran in this series. They were all McLarens, Chaparrals, Lola, UOP, Porchs, etc. Big difference. If the car did race in road racing it would be interersting to know who raced it, when, and where.

 

It sat around the block from me for about 9 years, then last year a freind bought it, then i bought it. Alll i know is that come summer time, shes going to be mint. I am getting all the suspension and such redone, and am serisously thinking of dropping a 383 with a 4/5/6 speed tranni, and maybe a nice rear end, 3:73, if thats even possible. I want it to be able to take any stock prdoctuion car, but also want it as a cruiser, i was wondering what suggestions woul be on engine, tranni, rear end, and anything else. I am new to the domesitc scene, so if anything i said is contrdicotry please correct me. Also, i am leaning towards black paint w/o the sidepipes, they make the car look stubby and have burned everyone. Poroably just running some nice headers (suggestions please) to high flow cats to staright pipes, i can take the noise, but i want the looks. Also the clear plastic covers for the headlights area are being made of smoked glass, as to give it a fluid image when it is repainted. It needs a new interior, new bushings, prob some other suspension goodies, and a full electrical overhaul. Well, in the end i will have a nice L82 and a th350 in my garage, maybe if they can be reused i will buy another vette and drop em in, lol. ANyway, please give me suggestions for engine/tranni/suspension/perfomace, the works. Thanks, mike :chevy

 

:p: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

DamnthatCANAM,
bjm has hit the nail on the head ! You have a street car with some Eckler panels (known as) Can-Am panels NOT a Can-Am car.
....redvetracr

 

DamnthatCANAM,
I have an idea for you, go over to Kevin Mackay`s shop it is in Valley Stream and it`s called Corvette repair. He will tell you EXACTLY what you have.he is a VERY well respected Corvette race car restorer.
...redvetracr

 

Ya that's not the Can-Am I was thinking of, in the early seventies those cars were reallly nice, pushing 1000 HP I believe the UOP Shadow still holds the track record at Mosport and Indy cars ,Formula 1 and the most exotic new US Lemans cars run there.


[Modified by MotorHead, 9:34 PM 2/19/2002]

 

What kind of racing did it do? I cannot imagine road racing with an automatic transmission.

 

It's like I've been saying... If you can remember the 60's, you weren't there. :yesnod:

 

guys I really do not know its history, and thanks for the info, whether its a canam racer or just has the body kit, its still great looking, and in my book thats all ythat counts. ANy suggestions on what kinda poopie i shoudl get? Mike

 

I suggest driving it awhile before making any plans for improvements!

You may find that it already performs at a satisfactory level. Also, you don't know (yet) what has been done to it already for mods.

 

Well, first off it needs some major work in some areas, the interior is being complety redone, same witht he electrical sysetm. I might lower it, but for now suspension parts that need fix/repair and ebign done, along with brakes. I also plan to swtich to manual, a 4/5/6 speed. A 383 will also be nestled underneath. I was wondering wher ei cna look for engines, trannis, suspsnion piece, headers, cats, and anything else. More then places to look i want suggestions. Its my persoanl beliefe that no corvette, or any sports car shoudl ever be a auto, it defeats the purpose, so i deifnlty wanna chnage trannis and add the thrid pedal.