Mid-life crisis....?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Douglassville PA
Mid-life crisis....?
Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and just wanted to say that I enjoy reading and checking out everyones' rides.. they're all awsome. About me, I'm going to be 33 y/o this year and loved Corvettes like since I was 5 but never had the opportunity to purchase one. Recently I've been really thinking about taking the plunge and need some specifics on a certain year. Actually I need a pic of one.. I'm looking into getting a '73 coupe and definitely want side exhaust on it. From reading here, '74 was the last year these cars can be modified legally with side exhaust. Can someone post a pic of a '73 with sidepipes if they can find any, I've come up short so far.. I've only found '69-72 model years. Also, is there any negative things about the '73 model that I should avoid and maybe go for a '72 besides the different front..
Hopefully I can finally join the 'Vette world soon...!
Thanks!
Ken
Hopefully I can finally join the 'Vette world soon...!
Thanks!
Ken
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Douglassville PA
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (MNJack)
Didn't they start the new emissions crap with the smog pump and cat in '75? All cars that are pre-1975 (I think) are exempt from emissions here in NY..
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
OHV6, You need to get in touch with your local Vette club (s), and get to know the club ghuru a bit, pay him to look at any purchase....before you buy....
RUST is your biggest enemy, look around windshield area, vin tag...for rust stains...and look around glass edges and base of windshield....check inside the kickpanels...look for rust on door sill screws....check frame in front of rear wheels....and radiator support is allmost allways rusted out....but VERY hard to see....check frame from underneath for accident damage and straightening, these box frames don't take kindly to a whole lot of straightening after a serious accident....check the rear suspension too....lotsa money there....
GENE
RUST is your biggest enemy, look around windshield area, vin tag...for rust stains...and look around glass edges and base of windshield....check inside the kickpanels...look for rust on door sill screws....check frame in front of rear wheels....and radiator support is allmost allways rusted out....but VERY hard to see....check frame from underneath for accident damage and straightening, these box frames don't take kindly to a whole lot of straightening after a serious accident....check the rear suspension too....lotsa money there....
GENE
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
If you suddenly decided you needed a vette that would be a mid-life crises. But if you have always wanted one then its just a fullfillment of a dream. I always wonder what people think when they see (and hear :)) me drive by. But then I hit the gas and it just doesn't matter. :yesnod: Good luck and since you have a GNX to play with, take you time and find the right one for you.
BTW I am 35 and got mine when I was 31.
BTW I am 35 and got mine when I was 31.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
... Also, is there any negative things about the '73 model that I should avoid and maybe go for a '72 besides the different front..
Hopefully I can finally join the 'Vette world soon...!
Thanks!
Ken
Hopefully I can finally join the 'Vette world soon...!
Thanks!
Ken
The idea was to improve each year so there are advantages to 73. All C3 had emissions equip.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 2
From: Moro IL
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
I looked through my vette pics and couldn't find any 73's with sidepipes, I at one time thought of going that route myself.
Nothing really particular to look out for on a 73, pretty much like any other C3 around that old.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Nothing really particular to look out for on a 73, pretty much like any other C3 around that old.
:cheers:
Pat Kunz
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
I'm only familiar with '69s and can vouch for these cars. I've owned mine since 1970 and will keep it forever. These cars have the fiber optics, the removeable rear window, the chrome bumpers and some even have big block engines. Who could ask for more?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Douglassville PA
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (fontking1a)
Thanks for all the replies... I was kidding about the mid-life crisis, everyone who doesn't own one thinks that when someone buys one it's a crisis. For me, it would be living a dream. :D
Yea, my 87 GN would probably wax the 'Vette, but speed isn't everything.. at least for me.
Ken
Yea, my 87 GN would probably wax the 'Vette, but speed isn't everything.. at least for me.
Ken
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Kenmore Washington
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (Larry82)
Please, for us "old folks"...33 is not mid life. :lol:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Alvarado TX
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (Fevre)
Yeah, it's a lifetime dream fullfillment for me too. The ex-wife is the one that gave it the "midlife crisis" name! :jester I believe the "crisis" began after I got the car. I never cared anything about HOT RODS. Just Corvettes.Now I'm obsessed with making the Corvette a HOT ROD! :D
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (woodenichols)
I never cared anything about HOT RODS. Just Corvettes.Now I'm obsessed with making the Corvette a HOT ROD! :D
[Modified by Fevre, 1:36 PM 7/8/2002]
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: miami fl
73 with side pipes
It just so happens that i have a '73 yellow coupe with side pipes. They are factory pipes like those youll find in an ecklers magazine however i found them somewhere else from a different manufacturer for about 100-200 less. I bought the fiberglass covers and painted them yellow (body-color) and painted black stripes within the grooves of the covers and also painted the part which rests against the door jam black (where the screws are) so the car wouldnt look fat. I have headders so i went to this custom muffler shop and he did a sweet job connecting the pipes for about 250 bucks with no kinks perfect 2 1/2 inch exhaust. I wrapped the pipes with the heat wraps so it would reduce the heat but in trips over an hour long your feet start to cook. hehe. Anyhow ill try to take a photo and post it, but i love the pipes and highly recommed it. Best 1300 i spent for that car no doubt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (OneHotV6)
Go '74! :D Here is a pic of mine from the 4th...sorry no sidepipes,
but i think it looks pretty sharp :cool: :cheers:
Going to post all my 4th pics as soon as scanned :yesnod: :smash:
if anyone wants to see that is :) :crazy:
but i think it looks pretty sharp :cool: :cheers:
Going to post all my 4th pics as soon as scanned :yesnod: :smash:
if anyone wants to see that is :) :crazy:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 34,253
Likes: 0
From: Medford, OR
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (VETDRMS)
Going to post all my 4th pics as soon as scanned :yesnod: :smash:
if anyone wants to see that is :) :crazy:
if anyone wants to see that is :) :crazy:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,025
Likes: 1
From: Billings MT
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (paul79)
(paul79) Thanks! that picture is the result of 6 hours of polishing, waxing and cleaning :D I used Meguires Mirror Glaze pure polish and High Tech Yellow wax with a spray detailer....turned out very good :)
i also had it painted a few months ago...so that helps :)
The rims are American Racing Torq Thrust II's in a 17x8.
(Vfastboy 73) unposties ok?.... :lol: I think i'd get killed, but yeah i have
more....must use scanner when she is out of the room... :jester
i also had it painted a few months ago...so that helps :)
The rims are American Racing Torq Thrust II's in a 17x8.
(Vfastboy 73) unposties ok?.... :lol: I think i'd get killed, but yeah i have
more....must use scanner when she is out of the room... :jester
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 25,778
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From: Zionsville, PA NRA Life Member
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Re: Mid-life crisis....? (72LT1Steve)
Welcome!! :seeya I bought my '77 for my 37th B-day. If you like chrome bumpers '68-'72 is the way to go. '73 gives you soft front and chrome rear and '74-'77 is soft bumpers front and rear. '78-'82 gets you a bubble rear window.
For my 40th B-day my wife got me the Nascar Experience at Pocono Raceway. 600 hp cars and I did 175mph (8400 rpm) on the track. :cool: I enjoyed it so much I did it the next year too.
:seeya
Please, for us "old folks"...33 is not mid life. :lol:
Hear hear to that! Since I'm turning the big "40" in Sept., and since I'm planning on being around til I'm "120 YOA". Mid Life is "60". Still got twenty to go :D
Hear hear to that! Since I'm turning the big "40" in Sept., and since I'm planning on being around til I'm "120 YOA". Mid Life is "60". Still got twenty to go :D
:seeya