New member, new owner...
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Montreal Quebec
New member, new owner...
Hi guys, I just got a hold of a 72 'vette that was parked in a garage for 22 years. It was my fathers ride when he was younger and he put it there a year after I was born. It has 72000 miles and the interior still smells like new. It is not the original motor in it but it's still a 350 LT1 (the first motor seized after the oilpan met a nice little rock :( ) I wanted to know what to check for to put it back on the road. I know the gas tank is leaking, it needs brakes and tires. I will need seatbelts too and Hooker sidepipes (the ones on there have holes in them). What else would I need to change?
I'm sooooo happy to get that car, it's like a dream come true. I remember when I was a kid, I'd pass hours sitting in the car pretending I was driving. PLus , it means so much to me to have that car since it was my father's car.
I'm sooooo happy to get that car, it's like a dream come true. I remember when I was a kid, I'd pass hours sitting in the car pretending I was driving. PLus , it means so much to me to have that car since it was my father's car.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 10,073
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Re: New member, new owner... (Math72)
First off, congratulations. '72 is a beautiful car and the fact that it was your dads makes it 100 time more so.
Second, check the obvious - brakes, belts, hoses, tires and then DRIVE THAT BEAST!!!!! The rest of what needs to be replaced will fail along the way. I had a '76 that sat for 3 or 4 years and over the course of 4 months or 15,000 miles (!!!!) I had to replace a lot. But it is way better than guessing right off the bat.
Good Luck. :cheers:
Second, check the obvious - brakes, belts, hoses, tires and then DRIVE THAT BEAST!!!!! The rest of what needs to be replaced will fail along the way. I had a '76 that sat for 3 or 4 years and over the course of 4 months or 15,000 miles (!!!!) I had to replace a lot. But it is way better than guessing right off the bat.
Good Luck. :cheers:
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Re: New member, new owner... (Math72)
Welcome to the forum from another Canadian brother!!! To get the car back on the road, you will most likely, but not absolutely, need new brake and gas lines, new gas tank, and the motor rebuilt due to dried out seals and gaskets. You might also need new calipers due to corrosion in the bores. Hope it turns out well, keep us posted on your progress, and what good choice in year ofCorvette you and your father have!! :cool:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 26,555
Likes: 257
From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: New member, new owner... (GrandSportC3)
That is nice that you are able to get what was probably your Dads pride and joy. Good luck with it. :)
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: STLMO31Fo
Re: New member, new owner... (PrarieShark)
Welcome! :seeya Even tho you do have quite a bit of work ahead of you but you're still a lucky f-er... wish my dad was into cars... :lol:
Congrats on the find! Its a long but fun road!!!
Congrats on the find! Its a long but fun road!!!
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 11,485
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From: Far side of the Moon
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-16-'17
Re: New member, new owner... (Math72)
Congrats and welcome. :cheers:
As for the car, I'd do a good visual on everything, replace all the fluids (including brake fluid), and then start 'er up. You should let it idle long enough to heat up to operating temperature and keep doing visual and listen inspections.
If nothing falls off or blows up, then take 'er for a slow test drive. Follow up the test drive with a good tuneup.
Good luck. :cheers:
As for the car, I'd do a good visual on everything, replace all the fluids (including brake fluid), and then start 'er up. You should let it idle long enough to heat up to operating temperature and keep doing visual and listen inspections.
If nothing falls off or blows up, then take 'er for a slow test drive. Follow up the test drive with a good tuneup.
Good luck. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Re: New member, new owner... (QuickVet)
Hey how lucky can you be. Imagine driving that corvette while you were a kid and now finally getting to do it. It is a dream come true. Like someone said above start with changing ALL the fluids.
Let us know how it goes. We all want to see it soon too so take some pics and post. Pics, pics, pics.
Let us know how it goes. We all want to see it soon too so take some pics and post. Pics, pics, pics.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Montreal Quebec
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,556
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From: Seattle WA
Re: New member, new owner... (Math72)
Great looking vette! that green is the only green i like on C3s :cool: you have defineatly some to the right place for getting the corvette back on the road. tons of experts and vette gurus. you will probably have to redo the entire brake system. i would look at doing upgrades while your at it. unless you want to keep it stock of course. my vette only sat for 3 years before i bought it and the entire brake system was shot. LT-1s are great motors, that is gonna be a fun car when its ready.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: New member, new owner... (Math72)
Welcome to the forum. The first thing I suggest is picking up some part vendor magazine's (Mid America, Zip, Corvette Central, etc.), these have some nice illustrations to look at when working on you new vette. Also pick up a C3 Corvette assembly manual. These will help you out when you've got everything apart :yesnod: .
You have a very nice car that your starting out with :cool: . It's not cheap to keep these cars up, but once you get things straightened around, you'll love all the work & $$$ that you put into it (well maybe not all the $$ ;) ).
There's a lot of great info here, so your already heading in the right direction. Welcome :cheers: !
You have a very nice car that your starting out with :cool: . It's not cheap to keep these cars up, but once you get things straightened around, you'll love all the work & $$$ that you put into it (well maybe not all the $$ ;) ).
There's a lot of great info here, so your already heading in the right direction. Welcome :cheers: !