Thot I'd offer up this fairly simple bit of advice for those who have or have newly acquired C3 Corvettes.
Reason for this is that many operations, repairs, upgrades should best be done when the parts..areas are most accessible..

Any who have done even some simple fixes know that there is an order of assembly & Disassembly the quite often makes the repair of even a simple part impossible or arduous if attempted at the wrong Time and sequence..Worse, often one needs to take stuff apart AGAIN..because he wasn't focused on that area of functional feathrures last time he pulled the parts and components off.

SO.plan what needs to be fixed-restored-repaired and investigate what's involved to GET to the issue and prioritize your work so you need not do the same disassembly 3 times..Inclkuding tools, parts, and specialized pro help when the task is beyond your real competencies..

That means finding out HOW you particular car's systems worked when they were proper and new.Then run thru every system and see which items need attention/fixing..adjusting..
I could offer dozens of experiences I have had on my pretty vintage '78 SA..
But one specifically comes to mind..
I did the entire brake system including the m cylinder and booster..
Several months later I was going thru the less critical stuff and found my windshield washer wasn't working..Power was fine and connections and little hoses were good..LITTLE inexpensive pump-filter w/nut were all that needed replacement.
Problem was the plastic bucket for the washer solution that the little pump mounted to had that entry on the bottom of the plastic washw waser jug.
I couldn't remove the washer jug without removing the brake master cylinder and booster..
I could disconnect it..reaching thru fender opening to disconnect electrical and water line.but with the pump going in the jug bottom..and secured by the filter nut from topside of the jug LONG 7/8 SOCKET W/EXTENSION)was tricky..
I managed it after a couple of hours to replace a pump that should have taken 20 minutes IF I had access to the washer jug and it was removed..
Anyhow.FWIW plan the work to be done and do your best to do the task when the area is most accessable. Don't get me started on removing-reinstalling the
carpeted console side boards to access all the vacuum components etc beneath the console..Jim

 

Hi jio,
What you post makes a LOT of sense!
I find that the Assembly Instruction Manual can be a help in understanding assembly sequence.
Sometimes part of the drawing on the sheet may give hints as to what was in place and what wasn't when a particular part or assembly was installed.
Going through the AIM (when it's not an emergency) to get a sense of the way the car was assembled can alert you to the kind of thing you discovered with your wsw pump!
Regards,
Alan

 

thx..and yes i have the AIM for my 78..UNfortunately, I need to be able to navigate thru it better..and there's plenty of things about the old C3 that are not covered in the AIM..IT's helpfull for the various ASSEMBLIES but how they went together before the production line isn't there.I've found some interesting items in old Chevy Service bulletins..issued after the car was done..for dealers who couldn't figger out how stuff was adjusted or fixed..The S" shaped door hinge spring is one of those critters.Unless you have or made the special long blade flat blade screwdriver with 2" bent to a 45 degree..AND know how to use it..you can take waay too much of the door apart..or damage the door glass by trying to install it improperly..With the tool 10 seconds..and it's done right..Jim

 

Thanks Jim........and we should make sure we are vaccinated for the "While-I'm-at-it" virus before we start a repair.

 

yep..You can make a note of something else..it's criticallity etc..But like I was taught from farm thru combat, LEO.. and thru life.

."You fail to plan..Plan on failing"..Jim

sometimes the best plans get modified..enlarged..Jim.dramatically changed or canned...that's my disclaimer..adapt improvise etc..")

 

It also happens that when you plan to fix something, when pulling appart components, many times you find extra problems or bubba works in your way and something planned to be a 2 hours work become 6.

 

Correct. AIMs show only assembly line installation because that was their intent. Workers did not need to know what it took to assemble an engine, tranny, differential, power window motor, etc. Shop and chassis service manuals show those details.