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OK. I think I found my C3. Found a 69 coupe. Local to me.
I went to look at it today and spent hours there. crawled around under it. looked behind the kick panels. I am going to find someone to go back with me that is knowledgeable of C3's to be sure. Anyway.. here goes!
1> The seat belts are missing. Can later model seat belts be installed with no major issues? I see the bolt in the back where the shoulder belt attaches. I want more modern seat belts.
2> How can I tell if the car came with factory side pipes? It now has new pipes going out of the back but it has old fiberglass side pipe covers on it and the side pipes themselves come with the car.
3> How do I get the old gray/silver fiberglass side pipe covers to look like chrome like I see in some pictures?
4>What is the widest wheel and tire I can run on the rear without offset T/As?
5> What are these things with the blue caps?
What is the key-lock above the C O R V E T T E on the back?
1> The seat belts are missing. Can later model seat belts be installed with no major issues? I see the bolt in the back where the shoulder belt attaches. I want more modern seat belts.
2> How can I tell if the car came with factory side pipes? It now has new pipes going out of the back but it has old fiberglass side pipe covers on it and the side pipes themselves come with the car.
3> How do I get the old gray/silver fiberglass side pipe covers to look like chrome like I see in some pictures?
#1 - Replacement seat belts are available from all the major Corvette part vendors. As long as all the original mounting locations are still there you shouldn't have a problem installing replacements. They won't look exactly like the originals but that doesn't sound like a priority to you.
#2 and #3 - Original side pipe covers are chromed metal. Fiberglass is a sure sign the originals have been replaced or they have been added. I would think most likely added. The side pipes in the picture have also been modified. The red part (glass pack muffler?) has been spliced into the system before the normal muffler.
While you are under the car check the seat belt brackets and make sure they are still there in good shape. No sense in having new belts attached to rusted out support brackets.
ZIO
Check all of those supports you are the one in the seat. Also you can take a look at the #4 body mount cup just to get a feel for how much of this car is in good shape.
Hi p,
Maybe a 69…. VERY nice.
#5, the picture shows the astro-ventilation dash outlet. Astro-ventilation was a fresh air system designed to replace the vent windows that cars typically had but Corvettes didn't beginning in 1968.
The duct was opened and closed by a chromed 'pull'. It looks like this pull was damaged or lost…. the proper part is available.
The "vent" which is in each kick panel, is controlled by 2 levers on the shifter console. The **** on the 69 vent looks a bit different than this one but still has VENT molded into it.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Astro Ventilation chrome pull ****.
The levers that control the kick panel mounted VENTS.
Hi p,
A picture of the configuration of the underside of the rear valance panel and quarter panels will often determine if a 69 is an original side exhaust car.
As John said side exhaust was added to many 69 (and other year) cars.
It would be a nice plus if the car you're looking at was a side-pipe car…. but from what you've posted… maybe it wasn't.
Regards,
Alan
An original side exhaust rear valance and quarter panel.
Hi Z,
Here's the location for the access to the bottom of the lock pillar.
You may not have seen it if the car's had heavy undercoating added to the wheel-wells at some point.
The small bolts can be reached using a 1/4" drive socket wrench with the wheels/tires in place.
Regards,
Alan
Hi p,
A picture of the configuration of the underside of the rear valance panel and quarter panels will often determine if a 69 is an original side exhaust car.
As John said side exhaust was added to many 69 (and other year) cars.
It would be a nice plus if the car you're looking at was a side-pipe car…. but from what you've posted… maybe it wasn't.
Regards,
Alan
An original side exhaust rear valance and quarter panel.
I had to look at that picture long and hard before I finally figures out what it was. This car is definitely not a factory side exhaust car.
Hi Z,
While having a side-pipe car is pretty terrific and desirable it can get expensive quite quickly doing a side-exhaust car 'justice'.
Lot's of cars with side-exhaust added that look quite nice!
Regards,
Alan
Hi Z,
While having a side-pipe car is pretty terrific and desirable it can get expensive quite quickly doing a side-exhaust car 'justice'.
Lot's of cars with side-exhaust added that look quite nice!
Regards,
Alan
As you can see in this picture, I don't think I will be needing to get new exhaust anytime soon so the side pipes will have to wait.
I'm not sure about the belts fitting a 69 mine is a 72 and the ones I put in came out of a 98 Firebird....I think they will fit from a 93-02. It's the rear belts you need.
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Several questions all in one post
