73 engine date stamp confusion
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Sounds like your a happy dude with your new corvette.
Congrats on your purchase .
Doesn't really matter what anyone feels about it your purchase. Some are just busy bodies and Pitas and jerks .....
I can sense your excitement .
Dig in to your new hobby and have fun learning.
Congrats on your purchase .
Doesn't really matter what anyone feels about it your purchase. Some are just busy bodies and Pitas and jerks .....
I can sense your excitement .
Dig in to your new hobby and have fun learning.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Yea I'm pumped! I had to trade in my 78 IH Scout Terra that I restored a couple years ago, that was my first mechanicing experience. Turned out great for an amateur, actually made money (wasn't at all the point) for the trade on the corvette, have a good start to saving for the frame off in a few years. In the meantime, get to know the car and pick away one little project at a time. Thanks for the encouragement!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 276
Likes: 31
From: Brant County Ontario
So despite your good advice, I bought this car anyways. Luckily for me, closer inspection in my garage, it's not nearly as bad as I thought. E windshield frame up by the T-bar roof will need to be replaced, but other than that, everything is solid enough to drive today and restore tomorrow. The issue in front of the rear wheels is limited to drivers side, no rust through frame, a few flakes on the outer rail.
The windshield frame where the T joins is rotted out? Are you SURE the rest of the birdcage is intact?
The rocker channels are usually the FIRST to go - and if you've got water in the windshield frame, then you've got rot in other places too. Guaranteed. These cars leaked from the FACTORY- the rot you're describing warrants a much more detailed inspection- by pulling out the dash, kick panels, the access panels in the rear wheel wells and the windshield pillars.
At this point, I would care a LOT less about what motor is actually in the car, and worry a LOT more about the rust issues.
My windshield header was toast- I knew that. When I pulled the interior trim I found this:
My frame rails also had a little bit of rusty flakes on them. This is what lay beneath:
I'm now replacing the frame, and I'm about to get into replacing the rocker channels from the #1 mount to #3.
Now, my 73 is probably a bit of an extreme case, but it's still worthwhile to check your car out CRITICALLY and making it safe before you do anything else.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Thanks! I pulled the sills off, the rockers were solid. Nothing sounded hollow on the kick panels, floors, etc. there is some flex behind the storage compartments. The reason I'm on the engine first, I need to get a new air cleaner, PS pump, idler pulley, etc. Besides, it's paid for and in the garage. If it disintegrates on me, I want to go out in a stylish high speed cloud of rust. 
