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Figured I would give an update to the project. Ran all new SS brake lines and put new calipers and brake pads on. I planned to restore the calipers, but they were in super rough shape.
still need to tie in the front calipers to the brake lines. Also put a new master cylinder on.
Just to get an idea of the shape of your engine I would do a compression test and check the color of the spark plugs. If it has a lot of miles it might need valve guides and a bore.
I had good compression on my 82 but the heads were shot so I opted for a Blueprint crate motor.
Wouldn’t start today and found the battery drained. Must have something on somewhere, but hard to tell with so much torn apart, but made some really good progress today.
Brakes are bled and ready to go.
found out the engine temp gauge doesn’t work and found a leaking radiator hose.
I did get some new tires and rims off FB marketplace to replace the set that was on it. Installed in 1984
Headlights were the only bulbs not blown, so picked those up this evening.
Getting really close to getting it back on the road.
Welcome to the forum! Should be a fun project, I like the wheels.
I see it has the two tone light/dark buckskin interior. I have the same one in a ‘76, but decided to change it all to the lighter buckskin color. If you’re curious they do make carpet in the lighter color.
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by jlawn
Drove it around the subdivision today. First time moving under its own power.
resulted in a laundry list of small stuff I need to do.
I'm thinking maybe the understatement of the year, decade?lol I was going to chime in earlier on this post, but it looked like you were excited and having some fun. I am just going to come out and say it (coming from 30yrs of C3 ownership). Pls do yourself a favour, unless you are an expert C3 restorer, it will cost you 3X as much to get that "vette" to the point where it would be comparable to a good C3 "driver" you can buy anywhere. They are still relatively inexpensive and I have seen this same scenario play out many times. Believe me when I say I am just trying to help.
As for C3 motors and their "valve guides" ---
ALL OE C3 IRON heads (sbc & BBC) have Integral Valve Guides (cast in during casting pour).
Replacing guides in those heads is expensive; although the parts are reasonable, the labor is crazy expensive (entire guide has to be milled away) AND there's great risk of cracking head as new guide is driven-in.
In lieu of guide replacement; today's bronze "Guide Liners" are typically preferred. They're even better than new and their purchase & labor are much more reasonable.
Top names in Guide Liners are K-Liner and Golden Bullet. Not ALL shops have the tooling for Guide Liners; call ahead. Installing Guide-Liners is NOT for DIYers.
I'm thinking maybe the understatement of the year, decade?lol I was going to chime in earlier on this post, but it looked like you were excited and having some fun. I am just going to come out and say it (coming from 30yrs of C3 ownership). Pls do yourself a favour, unless you are an expert C3 restorer, it will cost you 3X as much to get that "vette" to the point where it would be comparable to a good C3 "driver" you can buy anywhere. They are still relatively inexpensive and I have seen this same scenario play out many times. Believe me when I say I am just trying to help.
Totally agree. I am having a ton of fun doing it and if it wasn't my dad's corvette I never would have taken on the project. My dad also enjoys seeing the progress when he comes into town and it gives me something to do in my down time. Especially during Michigan winters (Heated garage!).
My comfort zone has always been plug and play parts on my other modern vehicles. Shocks, brakes, spark plugs, etc. So doing the research and figuring out this stuff has been frustrating but great.
I do have an expert restorer that is willing to do the body work for free when I get to that point and teach me how to do it at the same time. I just need to pay materials. That will be the very last piece of my project. Easily a couple years down the road.
You cannot get the satisfaction of restoring your father's car buy writing a check and buying a different car and letting someone else deal with your father's real car.
My best friend was the original owner of my 79. We were getting it road ready after 30 or so years in storage.
He was killed in a car accident coming to pick me up to go to a car show. I inherited the car and have continued to do things to it. Money isn't everything.
Listen to david ball sing. Riding with private malone.
Best of luck, make your dad proud
My 74 was almost this rough when I bought it for $2700 back in 2012.... I enjoyed rebuilding the car how I want it as much as driving it. I decided I wanted some changes and I took this week off to get the new 406 I built and overdrive trans buttoned up and get the aces TBI installed. Hoping to fire it up tomorrow but still coming across the "while im at it" situations...
I lerned how to do body work on this car as well as the interior... and paint , build a couple engines, redo the brakes , suspension (coil overs and tubular a arms with borgeson steering. It can get addicting and I will say if you do plan on keeping it dont rush things just to get it on the road of you will find yourself redoing things.
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Last edited by augiedoggy; May 20, 2026 at 11:31 PM.
