newbie needs big help
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 452
Likes: 158
From: Newark, DE
Pull the spark plugs when you first spin it up. This will eliminate compression and make the motor much easier to spin until the oil starts flowing. Keep cranking it until your oil pressure comes up. Then pop the plugs in, spray some starter fluid in the carb, and see if it will fire. I just went through this with mine this spring. Mine sat for eight years. So far I've had to do:
carb
alternator
battery (twice - bad voltage regulator killed the first one)
eight alternator belts (finally figured out the pulley wasn't lined up, installed shims)
power steering control valve
power steering pump
four power steering lines
every damn suspension bushing on the car
shocks
clutch
multiple vacuum hoses
Still on the list are:
master cylinder
seat belt (replace lap belts with shoulder belts)
headers
valve cover gaskets
oil pan gasket
You're right about the headlights. They're vacuum operated, they won't go up or down without the motor running. The lights will still turn on though. Look through the front bumper and you can see them.
carb
alternator
battery (twice - bad voltage regulator killed the first one)
eight alternator belts (finally figured out the pulley wasn't lined up, installed shims)
power steering control valve
power steering pump
four power steering lines
every damn suspension bushing on the car
shocks
clutch
multiple vacuum hoses
Still on the list are:
master cylinder
seat belt (replace lap belts with shoulder belts)
headers
valve cover gaskets
oil pan gasket
You're right about the headlights. They're vacuum operated, they won't go up or down without the motor running. The lights will still turn on though. Look through the front bumper and you can see them.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg PA
Welcome to the club. A free vette is a pretty good deal...means it will probably be at least two years before you have more in it than its worth. You not really a vet owner until your hopelessly upside down in the car.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 0
From: Self-Governing
Pulling the plugs, what a great Idea! Why didn't I think of that? This will let me know if my starter is bad too. Thanks!
I will concede I did pay $70.00 to have it flat bedded to my drive.
So it wasn't totally free.
Wife returns this evening, so pics will be posted tomorrow eve.
I need a tutor for posting pics. I checked FAQ but no info.
I will concede I did pay $70.00 to have it flat bedded to my drive.
So it wasn't totally free.
Wife returns this evening, so pics will be posted tomorrow eve.
I need a tutor for posting pics. I checked FAQ but no info.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 6
From: Arizona
You're money ahead already!!!
Originally Posted by ignoramous1
I managed to acquire a 77' for $0. It has sat idol for the past 3 years. I was told by a very reliable source, the only things needed are a fresh tank of gas and a new battery. The body has some damage and it needs a new paint job, but I figured "a free Corvette, how could I go wrong?"
I have never touched a Corvette in my life, and know little if nothing about them, hence the name "Ignoramous".
I looked under the hood everything appears clean enough, but I couldn't seem to locate the battery. I don't know the layout of the engine compartment, could it(the battery) have been removed? I also need to know the best way to drain the gas tank.
If there are any other things I should check before attempting to turn the engine, let me know please! I need solid advice here.
Thank you...
I have never touched a Corvette in my life, and know little if nothing about them, hence the name "Ignoramous".
I looked under the hood everything appears clean enough, but I couldn't seem to locate the battery. I don't know the layout of the engine compartment, could it(the battery) have been removed? I also need to know the best way to drain the gas tank.
If there are any other things I should check before attempting to turn the engine, let me know please! I need solid advice here.
Thank you...
, But look at the bright side...You could be pouring money into a "K" car, or an ugly old rice burner
It's gonna be fun...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Goto the picture and right click inside it. Click "properties" in the popup menu. In the properties dialog box, highlight the text next to "URL". With your cursor over the highlighted text, right click again and select "copy" on the popup menu.
Come back here and start your reply. Right click somewhere in the text box you type your reply and select "paste". That alone will create a link. If you'd prefer to actually show the picture, once you've pasted the URL, simply type [img] before the URL and [/img] after it. Leave no spaces, and be sure the URL is complete.
Come back here and start your reply. Right click somewhere in the text box you type your reply and select "paste". That alone will create a link. If you'd prefer to actually show the picture, once you've pasted the URL, simply type [img] before the URL and [/img] after it. Leave no spaces, and be sure the URL is complete.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Congratulations, that's a good deal. I paid 5K for my 79 and had to put another 4-5K in since May, that is parts only without any labor. I also did not know anything about Corvettes, now almost five months later I still don't know everything but way more than I ever wanted to know... my project started with the brakes, then suddenly I had the suspension disassembled so I added new shocks and springs, then all bushings, and so on.... you will need the "shop manual", it's a red book, they sell re-prints for 59$ on Ebay (120$ elsewhere). Another book that is very interessiting is "how to restore and modify a corvette" , this one is for 1968-1982 only. Don't believe everything they say in this book, the long brake line CAN be replaced without pulling the body and 275 tires do fit...When you shop for parts check MidAmerica, Corvette Central and Ecklers, then compare prices at AutoZone. You'll be surprised how many parts are available at AutoZone for less $...
Everything else that you need to check before firing the engine has been said above.... good luck, hopefully your project is as successful as mine... I couldn't be happier with my Vette, all the work (and pain) will pay off...and again: welcome to the madness
Everything else that you need to check before firing the engine has been said above.... good luck, hopefully your project is as successful as mine... I couldn't be happier with my Vette, all the work (and pain) will pay off...and again: welcome to the madness
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 0
From: Self-Governing
Well, lets see if this works, I took several pics they are not of the best quality but good enough I guess.
No that is not faded paint is is just the late afternoon sun.
[IMG]
Did I mention she was a t-top?
Every rose has it's thorn eh?
comments and opnion welcome.
Whats with the valve covers? Not stock correct?
No that is not faded paint is is just the late afternoon sun.
[IMG]
Did I mention she was a t-top?
Every rose has it's thorn eh?
comments and opnion welcome.
Whats with the valve covers? Not stock correct?
Last edited by ignoramous1; Oct 8, 2004 at 07:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 213
From: Pittsburgh PA
Lot's of good advise in this thread. Buy the books and the tools, and it won't be long before you'll have to change your name from ignoramous.
Your hunch about the valve covers is right. Actually, I think you'll find a lot about this car that isn't stock as you dig into it. You might start with the engine codes and compare them against the vin to see if it's original. Whether you care or not, it's something you should know.
You could make this car look a lot better with 3 quick and easy things:
--jettison the aftermarket door mirrors and put stock ones on. When you throw away those mirrors, bury them deep in the trash so no one else could ever use them.
--clean and detail the engine compartment...consider a dress up kit from Summit or go to Zip for stock.
--fix the crack in the fender...even a basic driveway putty/touch up paint repair will look much better than that open wound. I had some small dings that I looked at for 2 years, and one day put some touch-up on them and it made a big difference. Should have done it the first week.
Your hunch about the valve covers is right. Actually, I think you'll find a lot about this car that isn't stock as you dig into it. You might start with the engine codes and compare them against the vin to see if it's original. Whether you care or not, it's something you should know.
You could make this car look a lot better with 3 quick and easy things:
--jettison the aftermarket door mirrors and put stock ones on. When you throw away those mirrors, bury them deep in the trash so no one else could ever use them.
--clean and detail the engine compartment...consider a dress up kit from Summit or go to Zip for stock.
--fix the crack in the fender...even a basic driveway putty/touch up paint repair will look much better than that open wound. I had some small dings that I looked at for 2 years, and one day put some touch-up on them and it made a big difference. Should have done it the first week.
