So I picked up another vette last week. A '75 L48 car. It had been sitting in dry storage since 1993.

I have not done an older, carbed car since the mid '90s myself. I'm an EFI guy, but I want to keep this somewhat period correct.

Frame is. amazing. No rust, good shape. Birdcage (from what I can see with missing kick panels) is amazing. Floors are mint. Body in good shape, no cracks or anything. Will respray.

Weatherstrip is junk.

Anyhow, spent the last few days tinkering with the stock engine trying to get it fired up so I can move it around. My firebird is still on the lift so I'm working outside in the hot sun.

Anyway, so I've got basically a ZZ4 on the stand that will go in the car. It's a 4 bolt main roller block, bored .030 over, 10.25:1 compression with zz4 cam and zz4 heads. I'll do a low profile dual plane intake.

What's the feeling on using the stock quadrajet ??

I like the design of the 'ram horn' manifolds. Now I can get 1 5/8 stainless block hugger headers for short money, but would I be better off with some aftermarket ram horn manifolds? Do they flow well?


Next, steering column. The car has a fixed column.. Getting in and out of this thing is a nightmare. This car is not fluffy people friendly. Actually, even my wife had trouble getting out. I heard a rumor that 78+ columns where 3" shorter (in addition to the tilt). Is this correct?


Finally. What mad scientist designed the power steering on this thing? What are most of you guys doing? I know 'something' is off on the steering based on tire wear. Tie rod or something. I also notice it's rear-steer. Is there a reason guys can't swap to a normal power box?
Rack and pinion?


I love the lines on these cars (C3). I'm glad I finally picked one up. I used to have a C4.

-- Joe

 

Quadrajets are good but can be troublesome. I have 2 so I always have a spare. You can get a very good rebuild kit from Cliff Ruggles.
For the exhaust, if you're concerned about performance, put long tube headers on it, 1 5/8 primaries are OK. Put a 2 1/2" full dual exhaust system on it, like from Corvette Central. Get the pipes for a '74, therefore no cat. You'll have to get the front pipes cut and welded to your header collector adapter.
Tilt & telescopic colums were optional in these cars and are a vast improvement over the fixed column.
I've replaced everything in my power steering several times. Its tough to keep it leak-free.

 

General Motors. It's a power assist setup, not full integral power. Underhood space limitations precluded the full power setup other GM makes received.

Tire wear is more likely to be an alignment issue and not necessarily steering.

 

An alignment with new sneakers (tires) would be best but check all the bushings and rear control arm bushings. Most likely your car will need a full going over after all these years. I had a 75 that the PO ran it up on a concrete jersey barrier. The ramp sections of one anyway, she bent the lower control arm a little bit and even thought the car would align it would still wear out the one front tire. I tell you this story for 2 reasons. Always take your time and look carefully and don't let women drive your vette when you finish!

 

Do you have any thoughts on the aftermarket system based on a Delco 600 power box? (Borgeson for example). It appears for around $700 I can get a new power box, and related parts to remove my power assist setup.

I'm sorry, I meant part of the steering system, i.e an outter tie rod. It could be just a poor alignment, I have not had a chance to check it. (I have a full digital alignment rig in the shop).


Anyhow. I got the car running. Need to work on the brakes next, then I can test the steering and th400. For some reason all the power steering fluid was missing yet no leaks are evident. I changed the master cuz it was rotted. Will bleed the brakes this week.

I gotta put together a list of goals for the car. I think we'll be doing the steering swap, maybe an aftermarket or other tilt column, side exhaust, the zz4 clone, and a nice red paint job. The front and rear bumper covers are junk so I'm thinking 81-82 style replacements from ecklers. Probably do glass rather than the flexible ones. The paint seems to run off the flexible ones if you look at them wrong.

I also want to get the a/c functional again.

Overall I'm really happy with the car. I can't find any hidden frame or birdcage damage. The body is pretty straight (for a vette). I'm gonna probably wash it down a few times with prosol and then 220 it and give it two coats of epoxy. Whatever surface is on there right now has been there for 22+ years without adheasion issues - I'd say it's a hell of a base!

-- Joe

 

The power steering assist is not bad for 50's tech - Google a pic of a 55-57 Chevy power assist and see if anything looks familiar.
You can get rack and pinion kits or the Borgeson. I have a Jeep power box - that the Borgeson is based off of and love it.