I bought a '77 C3 back in February. My brother had a 73 or 74 when I was a kid and I loved that car and always wanted one. I got a good deal on this '77 and I couldn't pass it up. I knew nothing about C3's other than I rode in one as a kid and love the body style. I thought mine was an L-82 based on that's what was on the hood, and what the previous owner said, but that's what he was told when he bought it. After I bought it I learned the 'L' in the VIN ISN'T for 'L-82', but I still like it.

First thing I had to do was get the rear differential seal replaced at the driveshaft yoke, it was leaking pretty bad. Actually the car has a lot of leaks. Well more like some leaks and a lot of seeping. I replaced the oil sending/pressure unit because there was a slight leak there and my oil pressure seems low to me. Leak there is gone but oil pressure still seems low to me- around 20 idling and it goes to around 25-30 when driving. There was some leaking/seeping from the driver's valve cover and when I removed them to replace the gaskets, the bolts were barely finger tight at best. Now all that's left leak wise is the power steering pump is leaking at the shaft. THEN there are the brakes! It pulled to the left when I did hard braking, enough it was a bit scary! The drivers caliper didn't seem to be working and I found the flex line was plugged or collapsed. Bleeding the brakes on this thing was a nightmare! I NEVER had a problem with brakes like I did with this thing!

Now it developed a 'ticking' when I drive it and give it gas, but I don't really hear it (or not as bad) at idle. I'm hoping it's the radiator fan clipping the shroud because the shroud popped up on the passenger side and caused the fan to bind... luckily I had it in the garage and the hood was off and I saw it immediately. We got the shroud out of the way, but the clip is long gone and we couldn't get it all the way in place. If it's not that, I'm hoping it's just a rocker arm that needs adjusted. It just started this though. So the hate is it seems as soon as I fix one thing something else comes up!

 

Love/hate are exactly the right feelings. Never forget that you're talking about a 40 year old machine; there was a time that it probably didn't get the care and maintenance it deserved and now you're in the process of catching up on those things. They were never comparable on quality and reliability to modern cars.

 

Mm,
That is just the nature of the beast. When these cars have sat for any length of time they tend to start leaking. No worries, just deal with them as show up. 1977 was a great looking year, keep it and enjoy it.
How 'bout a few pics?
Greg

 

They are ALL project cars. It is a project to keep up on all the things that can or need to be fixed. Especialy "good deal cars". I think the nature of the beast. Yours is 10 years newer than mine..... Got to love to be a fix it guy.

 

What you are going thru is exactly what I when thru when I first got my car. These are old cars and it takes a while to get things sorted out. Eventually you will get thru this stage and feel proud to have a safe, reliable and good looking car that will get attention everywhere you go. Hang in there!

 

This is my '77

 

Beautiful car there Mad. She has had a few aftermarket additions put on, but things like the electric fan will be a help to you in the long run. Just think of her as supermodel girlfriend - high maintenance and gonna cost ya but worth the expense! Keep the pics coming!

 

Thanks Andy, and I'd rather have this gal than a high maintenance girlfriend! I'm all done with the wive's and demanding gal types!

The previous owner was a back yard mechanic with a garage that rivals a lot of local shops! He ripped out all the emissions and did a few things, but I now tend to question things seeing the valve covers were only finger tight (if that) and there are leaks in easy to fix areas like the oil pan gasket and power steering pump. I'm not sure why he never fixed those, but I do understand why he didn't want to tackle that rear differential seal. That required the entire rear end to be taken apart just to drop the diff and get to that seal! I took it to the shop for that one. I have a new power steering pump for it, new door handles (already replaced the drivers side) and just did the brakes. After I get all the leaks fixed, I'll be redoing all the bushings and it needs new door pins and bushings, which I have. Then it's getting a new paint job! I think it was originally silver but not sure. The red definitely isn't the original color, but I am probably going to keep it red.

 

I've had my 77 for over 30 years now. And I'm constantly fixing and upgrading things. Seems even more now that the car is getting older.
as per the finger tight rocker cover bolts.
Put in new gaskets, torque them to spec. Put a 100 miles on it over say 3 or 4 drives. Then check them. You'll find they WILL be loose. Thats why so many put T bolts on them. Constantly tightening them.
and everytime I take it out, people are taking pictures of her. It's just that kind of car.
Easy to be proud of. But it's a Hobby. On going Hobby. There never finished.

 

Your car knows you care and it’s trying to tell you something with it’s noises. Check that the fan bolts are all tight. I had a buddy that had a ticking then his fan flew through the radiator. You are also correct to think it could be a valve, but don’t let that get too far ahead of you. It’s ticking would mean it’s out of adjustment an you could be mushrooming the lifter or valve. It could also be the beginning of the cam letting go..... just listen to your baby and give her what she wants and you’ll both be happy

 

Buy a pair of L-82 valve covers......tighten them down and be done with it. Metal covers bend pretty badly. I run the L-82/LT-1 on my 406....they look the part and seal up tight.
I have found over 30 years that gravity bleeding the brakes is the way to go......foolproof.....but takes longer.
Get a P/S pump from Billy at Gulf Coast Corvette.....they are rebuilt by a member here (Whose name I can't remember) and are top notch. About $100.....
If it's ticking under a load.....tighten the exhaust manifold gaskets......seen it many times.
Be sure to check that your heat riser valve in the passenger side manifold is wide open.....this is important. If I were you I would get the delete spacer and be done with it......

Jebby

 

Mechanic confirmed it's an exhaust manifold gasket leak.

 

L82 valve covers also add 50 hp...

 

I like to use Fel Pro 1404 header gaskets on the factory manifolds........the silver cheapy individual gaskets are garbage and should never be installed on anything unless that is the last resort.

Jebby

 

I was told once the only way to stop all the oil leaks is to drain the oil out of it. Try lucas stop leak in the p\s pump, did wonders for mine

 

Originally there was no gasket between the manifold and the head. My 77 was also this way, no exhaust leak.

if the valve cover gasket is cork, those always compress and cook which leaves the bolts loose unless you come back and retorque them, same with the pan if cork was used.

 

I have a 52 year old C3 with it's 427, 4 speed and convertible top. These cars require a full time maintenance person to keep them in tip top shape! I fixed things 28 years ago that I am back fixing again. I am now getting ready to replace the convertible top for the first time.

Leaks are just part of the game. My 1968 had the oil pumped swapped after having the engine installed. I had used a High Volume Melling pump when I should have spoken to somebody first. My startup pressures went off the gauge and it was putting pressure on parts that were not designed for it. Having it done by a professional Corvette shop they put it together with no leaks even after 20 plus years. My 427 stays dry now only because I replaced any gasket that even looked like it was leaking.

Lucas Power Steering Stop-Leak does work and works well. just be sure to get the stop leak as they make power steering fluid as well. On my exhaust manifolds I use the newer Soft aluminum or Copper gaskets. I have headers on my engine in the C3 and I have Never had an exhaust leak at or near the headers.

 

The HV oil pump....so many of us have put them in when they are a minus really
A stock oil pump with a Z/28 spring is all you need unless you built it loose, have a solid lifter cam and run the wee out of it. Fwiw they eat a bit of HP too...BB pumps, haha

 

This is true....but I could not get my 45 year old rams horns on the 66' L-79 to seal as they weren't flat.....so I threw a header gasket in them....hardly noticeable and fool proof.
If you have issues.....use header gaskets and not those silver pieces of **** that they sell for manifolds.

Jebby

 

Damn, wonder if I could run 2 pairs?