my ideas...your opinions...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,708
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From: North Carolina
my ideas...your opinions...
I have a little under 2 weeks to decide what I want to do as far as what kind of car I want to get. Im looking at something like a '74 roadster. I would look for one in decent condition. I would drop a ZZ430(a 430 HP crate engine from sallee-chevrolet), along with an O/D tranny. The rest of the projects I would do over time. What do you guys think of this? Should I expect to fill up(with gas) every other day? This car would be a daily driver at school, and used on the occasional trip home or....
I want something that'll get me through school, that will turn some heads, that will be fun to drive, and that I can take to the track and have lots of fun with.
Daniel
I want something that'll get me through school, that will turn some heads, that will be fun to drive, and that I can take to the track and have lots of fun with.
Daniel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
I hate to burst your bubble, but unless you are going to a tech school, you wont have the time or facilities to build a project like that. Keep it simple for now. When you graduate, get a good job, and you will be able to do it right, without cutting corners. Joe
PS - Get the convertible, but get one in good shape that you can depend upon as a daily driver. A little more money spent up front will pay dividends down the road. Put the $5000 - 6000 you will spend on the BB and tranny with the money you would spend for a ratty car and get a mint 350 model. It will still be a cool car, cooler because it is mint, and get 15MPG rather than 10MPG! :eek:
[Modified by joe73vette, 8:24 PM 4/3/2002]
PS - Get the convertible, but get one in good shape that you can depend upon as a daily driver. A little more money spent up front will pay dividends down the road. Put the $5000 - 6000 you will spend on the BB and tranny with the money you would spend for a ratty car and get a mint 350 model. It will still be a cool car, cooler because it is mint, and get 15MPG rather than 10MPG! :eek:
[Modified by joe73vette, 8:24 PM 4/3/2002]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: North Carolina
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (joe73vette)
that is true, but I had planned to do the big stuff before I went to school, but I guess that would lead to cutting corners. :cheers:
Daniel
Daniel
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,896
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Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
haha...I got a 74 a year ago thinking I'll just fix some things and I'll be cruising around with all the chicks from school (17 y/o)...well...umm..the car is sitting in the driveway because I can't afford some extremely important parts right now. After spending 5500$ on the car..and about 4000$ on the car. By something that's reliable...you'll enjoy it more. Especially if your still in school. Luckily I've got a 2001 Silverado to drive around.
When you replace parts in a 30 year old car...you point out other bad things. A GM430 would probably point our every bad thing on the suspension,drive line and steering. the car is a pain in the butt...but I love it.
[Modified by Aaron-74, 7:47 PM 4/3/2002]
When you replace parts in a 30 year old car...you point out other bad things. A GM430 would probably point our every bad thing on the suspension,drive line and steering. the car is a pain in the butt...but I love it.
[Modified by Aaron-74, 7:47 PM 4/3/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,241
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From: Okinawa Okinawa
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
Daniel,
I got my 74 about five months ago. I have done minor changes to it. It drives great but I still want to make changes to it when I get back but I love to drive it around with the top down. I paid 9000 for mine but it took me six months to find a good deal.
Go with the convertible, you won't be sorry.
Good Luck!
I got my 74 about five months ago. I have done minor changes to it. It drives great but I still want to make changes to it when I get back but I love to drive it around with the top down. I paid 9000 for mine but it took me six months to find a good deal.
Go with the convertible, you won't be sorry.
Good Luck!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,896
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Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
ohhhh...I love that color... :yesnod:
When I bought my Vette I was limitied to 5500$. I figure, the more you pay now, the less you'll end up paying. I see a lot of 8-9,000$ cars come and go in 30X's better condition than I bough my corvette for. But, I love working on cars. I just wish I could drive it in return for the money and time spent.. I got one of 3 74 Coupes from Galveston to Austin...but that was within a month period..Ebay has a lot of 74 verts come and go. There was one identical to mine, just a convert on E-bay about 3 weeks ago.
When I bought my Vette I was limitied to 5500$. I figure, the more you pay now, the less you'll end up paying. I see a lot of 8-9,000$ cars come and go in 30X's better condition than I bough my corvette for. But, I love working on cars. I just wish I could drive it in return for the money and time spent.. I got one of 3 74 Coupes from Galveston to Austin...but that was within a month period..Ebay has a lot of 74 verts come and go. There was one identical to mine, just a convert on E-bay about 3 weeks ago.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,049
Likes: 675
From: FL
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (Aaron-74)
The ZZ430 is a great motor but what a price. :sad: $4595 for a long block and $6495 for the complete engine.
Take a lot in some back issues of Chevy High Performance. They built a 420 HP 350 for about $3200. Recipe was a .030 over 350, 9:1 compression, GM HOT cam with 1.6 rockers, Vortec heads, and Edelbrock RPM manifold.
You can also hit about 400 hp with Vortec heads and an XE268 flat tappet cam which would save about $300 over the roller cam setup.
Just FYI.
BTW: This never ends. I am already have about $3000 in future mods in my sig and am thinking about adding fuel injection to the list. Then there is the new paint and top to do. By that time, I'll probably be ready for another engine build-up. :smash:
Also FYI: My cost this winter for a performance rebuild (see sig, only original part is the block), Tremec, clutch, assorted bits and pieces (CNC machined valve covers, driveshaft, new u-joints, tranny mount, etc) was right at $7000 give or take. Just a heads up on the cost. (About a $1000 was the miscellaneous that just keeps adding up) :crazy:
Take a lot in some back issues of Chevy High Performance. They built a 420 HP 350 for about $3200. Recipe was a .030 over 350, 9:1 compression, GM HOT cam with 1.6 rockers, Vortec heads, and Edelbrock RPM manifold.
You can also hit about 400 hp with Vortec heads and an XE268 flat tappet cam which would save about $300 over the roller cam setup.
Just FYI.
BTW: This never ends. I am already have about $3000 in future mods in my sig and am thinking about adding fuel injection to the list. Then there is the new paint and top to do. By that time, I'll probably be ready for another engine build-up. :smash:
Also FYI: My cost this winter for a performance rebuild (see sig, only original part is the block), Tremec, clutch, assorted bits and pieces (CNC machined valve covers, driveshaft, new u-joints, tranny mount, etc) was right at $7000 give or take. Just a heads up on the cost. (About a $1000 was the miscellaneous that just keeps adding up) :crazy:
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lake Villa IL
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Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
Here's a question: Where are you going to school? I went to Ohio State, and I was afraid to park my Mercury Tracer there, let alone a Vette. Even at most smaller schools, I wouldn't want to have a really cool car. There are too many a-holes out there, especially drunk ones, who would really enjoy messing with someone's Vette. I'd think twice about it, unless you have a really secure place to park. Otherwise, the cars are a lot of fun. Fuel economy won't be that much of an issue, because you probably won't be driving that much at school anyway. I mean, how far are beer runs going to be? You walk to class, you walk to the carryout store, you walk to the bars, you walk home, the next morning, from some girl's place. And then, by this point, you're going to be wondering why you really need a car in the first place. I ended up buying a motorcycle, then, I was able to drive up to my classes and park it next to the bicycles. And the women love bikes. So get a crappy car and a cool motorcycle. You'll score more. :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Thomson Georgia
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (Mack76)
i say go for it........But it is Hard to find 74 verts and Getting harder everyday....Especially to find one in decent condition that has not been bubbafied to death or abused....But deals are out there :cheers:
Team Owner
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From: Southbound
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Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
For my two cents' worth, if you want a daily driver, find a '74 convertible in the best shape you can. Buy as much car as you can afford, and buy as an original a car as you can find. It costs bucks to attempt to replace/repair someone else's modifications. Then, leave the car alone. Drive and enjoy it as it is. My '74 was a stone stock unmolested L-48; was completely reliable; and was my daily driver (120 miles per day round trip, five days a week, plus additional mileage as the job required) for the entire time I owned her. She would get 18 mpg at highway speed.
:)
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
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From: Lawrenceville PA
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
I take it you come from a wealthy family. By the sounds of it you're going to be dropping an awfully lot of money into a "college" car. Decent 74 roadsters aren't cheap and it's still a 30 year old car with 30 year old problems that are going to need constant attention. Also, with the price of super going for about $1.60 a gallon now you should be able to feed a small village for the amount of dough you're going to be pumping into the car. Don't get me wrong, if money is no object go for it. When I drove to college I had a chickmobile, a 1976 orange Gremlin but at least it got 30 mpg. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 8,656
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From: Brooklyn NY
Re: my ideas...your opinions...
While prices are low, buy the vert! Who knows what they will cost a few years from now. make sure the car is in decent condition and only do maintainance until you graduate. just my $0.02
by the way, do you happen to have larger pics of that beautiful blue 77?
can you email me one?
by the way, do you happen to have larger pics of that beautiful blue 77?
can you email me one?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: many sticks land of mountains
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (garagedweller2)
I believe that your thread on selling the C3 and buying a C4 or C5 started this way. You got all kinds of good and bad ideas there.
Make a decision that makes you happy and fly with it.
Make a decision that makes you happy and fly with it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
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St. Jude Contributor
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
God, that brings back memories from my senior year of college. I had just landed a good job and got a C4. I loved parking it in front of the college hangout. I didn't know what was better, picking up on a good lookin' lady, or seeing her expression when she realized she was getting into the vette! :cool:
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
Forget the car, go to school and concentrate on getting through. The car will take too much time away from school. YOu will need transportation but make it something economical.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: North Carolina
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (norvalwilhelm)
lemme see if I can answer the questions:
1) I have other pictures of my car, but none are bigger.
2) I cannot make up my mind. My biggest downfall is I never decide what I want until Im shelling out the money for it. Its a bad habbit I know. :blueangel:
3) I still have the car, but it will be sold soon because I want a convertible.
4) I have no fears of taking any car to school. I've only encountered vandilization once before, and found out who it was, after I got done talking to a few people, he lost his job, his girlfriend, and his friends turned on him too). But I still am not worried about anyone messing with my car, if they do, insurance should cover it, if not, its still only a car. Better then him keying ME.
I think I covered everything. :)
I'll let everyone know what I decide on.
Daniel
1) I have other pictures of my car, but none are bigger.
2) I cannot make up my mind. My biggest downfall is I never decide what I want until Im shelling out the money for it. Its a bad habbit I know. :blueangel:
3) I still have the car, but it will be sold soon because I want a convertible.
4) I have no fears of taking any car to school. I've only encountered vandilization once before, and found out who it was, after I got done talking to a few people, he lost his job, his girlfriend, and his friends turned on him too). But I still am not worried about anyone messing with my car, if they do, insurance should cover it, if not, its still only a car. Better then him keying ME.
I think I covered everything. :)
I'll let everyone know what I decide on.
Daniel
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,635
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From: Union Ontario
Re: my ideas...your opinions... (daniel77350)
You invested 3 years of your time, money and effort into your 77. WHy the sudden urge for a convertible......... just go for a ride with the T-tops out. You know what has been or needs to be done to your 77, the new one is going to be full of surprises.
I agree with Norval, concentrate on school. I think you should keep the 77 as you already have done so much work on it.
I agree with Norval, concentrate on school. I think you should keep the 77 as you already have done so much work on it.