Hey guys I currently have a C5 that I'm just wrapping up a complete teardown and rebuild into an ST2 track car. I've been totally immersed in this thing for months, and I think when I get done I'm going to be in withdrawl. I'm kicking around the idea of picking up a C3. I absolutely love the look, one of the coolest cars I've ever seen, but I've heard bad things about how they handle. I also hate the interiors. I'm not expecting supercar greatness, just something to cruise around town in. Mechanically I'm unstoppable, I have a full service shop with a lift, welders, mill/lathe.

So someone educate me, what are the good years, and what mods make a difference?

Thanks in advance!

 

Since you are planning on modding, go with a late year C3, they cost less. 80-82 are lighter. Not sure how crazy you want to go. You can go with a tube frame and C4 suspension. http://www.sriiimotorsports.com/196382corvette.html

I strengthened my stock frame and went with VBP Performance Plus full suspension with modern 275/40 ZR17 tires, 385 stroker, T56 6 speed, and 370 rear. There are many different options for brakes.

 

You hate both the early and late interiors? There's a great deal of difference between them, I can see hating one or the other, but not both.

 

if you are going to mod out the car pick one that is the best deal .you will pay a big price for the chrome bumper cars .

 

We will need to what you want to do with the car. Autocross? Time Trials? Vintage car races? Street? Go to car shows?

If the basics are there (brakes, suspension and engine) then pick the body you like. I always had a preference for the gill slits on the 68 and 69. Some the egg crates of later years and some the lines with the rubber bumpers.

Let us know some of your likes and dislike and what you plan to do with the car and you can get a more targeted reply.

 

Why not they are very similar?... I don't care much for most of the 70's interiors myself they just seem cheap and often gaudy ... the c3 dash is growing on me

 

You and I differ greatly on what "similar" means. I see precious little similarity between the early and late C3 interiors.

 

I guess, to my eyes I see Same layout, Gauges and controls are mostly in the same places and the materials are the same... a few cosmetic changes and a glove box which is a big deal but they still have the same basic styling... if I were to see pics of both interiors and not know anything else I would instantly guess that they are from the same car just different year's...they are all C3's after all...

I think you would want to drive both the earlier and later c3 before making a decision on which to buy.... I like the earlier style more vs the bubble window but the earlier style is full of blind spots which drives some people crazy. The later interiors are a bit more roomy... if I remember correctly the early 68-70? Interiors are the most cramped.

 

There's a lot you can do to make the C3s handle better. Check out this forum, there's a lot of mod information.

The '68s and '69s don't have the flares on the fenders the later models have. Not a deal killer but it does make them more prone to rock chips. The '68s have a lot of one of a kind parts.

Popular mods include:

DeWitts Aluminum Radiators w/ dual Spal electric fans
Spreader Bars
Upgraded springs and shocks
Better tires and wheels
Overdrive transmissions
Auto Meter Gauges
C4/C5/C6 seat swaps
Removable rear window conversion for '73s to '77s
Higher output alternators
LS engines

If you live in an area where emissions is a big deal, an earlier C3 might be a better choice. Catalytic converters started with '75s.

DC

 

The only part that I see that is similar is the console - the dash, door panels and seats look radically different to me. My favourite interiors are from the 70's and 80's (not that I like them all) with my all time favourite interior being the initial one in the C4. All the oval shapes in virtually ever new car since then make me want to

 

I have had my '72 vert, since '95, having sold my '87 vert after 3 years of ownership.....but this is about C3's.....

the one thing I hate about any plastic bumper car is the constant warpage of the silly 'urethane'? whatever these plastics are today....so to correct that, you need do a LOT of body work, runs prices up to the moon, or your T&E....take your pick....

So, I got lucky and bought an old show car, with rectangular tail lights from a '68 Olds.....and a totally gorgeous burgundy paint job that was about ~12 years old, this was in Maryland....

moved here in '97, and so the paint suffered....still does, suffice to say I not a painter, not even laytex on a wall.....

BUT, as to mechanical improvements, there is nothing stock about my car from wheels through roof.....NOTHING....

short form....'89 vette wheels, cheap, 275/50/17 rear, NItto only, 255/50/17 front....limited the steering radius, but still tighter than my '87 was, 2.5" VBP adapters....O ring stainless calipers, no springs, dot 5 fluid, and Hydroboost, aluminum master cyl...., 460 front springs, 360 Plastic from VBP once again, and Bilstein sports shocks, entire rear suspension was rebuilt up north 18 years ago....rear ~1/2" sway bar, front is about an inch, once again a cross support between shock towers....which is the second best handling improvement to the car, first being my own RACK & PINION install, done with my welder buddy assistance be ME, winter 01-02, using only two universal joints..on the input shaft....

Now to the engine, '89 roller block 4 bolt factory mains, 350 of course, #113 L98 aluminum heads.....but you note the L98 is DONE , and a highly modified LT1 induction with up/over air cleaners....Cam is a dead stock L98 with double roller Cloys chain set.... headers of course, 200 4r auto instead of the muncie, have a Hurst shift rod topped with a REAL 8 ball.....you just not cool unless you have a 8 ball on your shifter.....

I added power windows, I"m lazy, I stuck with the 336 gearset....

Dual Spal electric fans, behind a stock '89F body radiator, single row aluminum, I use a HUGE engine oil cooler for trans cooler....serp drive and have the a/c working with R134, the obvious interior changes are on the sites below, along with the obvious exterior changes....

 

Funny I really loved the interior in my 84... that's why I bought it over the c3 at the time... since then I have sold my 84 for a 74. But I did not care for the c4 body which was lacked in styling IMHO... The c3 has a lot of personality and its one of those cars that the styling aged well I think. But it also takes a lot of critisizm.