Decisions decisions....request your opinion
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 139
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From: Austin Tx
Decisions decisions....request your opinion
First of all I love my Corvette, it's a 1976 4 speed with the L48 180HP motor. The pluses are 36,800 documented miles, extreamly clean leather interior, body in very good shape, runs like a top. BUT at a stop lite I am afraid of a Ford Taurus much less a Mustang. Since this is so close to original I hate to modify it (It was repainted a different color in 1980 due to the bad silver paint of that era, its red now) Some of my options are, sell it buy a cheaper one and put a big bad motor in it, buy one with a big motor already in it.
Or, I found this Corvette shop in town that has a brand new (built at the shop)383 with roller lifters and roller rockers, Holly carb ect. he estimates it at 425 HP. Anyway For $5000.00 he will remove my original motor and I will take it home with me and he will turn key the 383 into my car.
Now, would my car with a 383 motor in it be worth more than with the original motor? Of course it couldn't be worth $5000.00 more, but what do you guys think?
Or, I found this Corvette shop in town that has a brand new (built at the shop)383 with roller lifters and roller rockers, Holly carb ect. he estimates it at 425 HP. Anyway For $5000.00 he will remove my original motor and I will take it home with me and he will turn key the 383 into my car.
Now, would my car with a 383 motor in it be worth more than with the original motor? Of course it couldn't be worth $5000.00 more, but what do you guys think?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
"First of all I love my Corvette, it's a 1976 4 speed with the L48 180HP motor. The pluses are 36,800 documented miles, extreamly clean leather interior, body in very good shape, runs like a top."
IMO, should have stopped there. Sounds like a great car.
IMO, should have stopped there. Sounds like a great car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
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From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
76's arent the MOST desirable year of Vette, sory of the middle child syndrome, but a wonderful car nonetheless. Id say modify the **** out of it and have yourself a happy day...
FYI I think its worth a lot more than 5 grand all original and in good-excellent condition, think around 7500.
FYI I think its worth a lot more than 5 grand all original and in good-excellent condition, think around 7500.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Do the engine swap. You won't regret it. It's not the original color, so that's enough of an excuse right there.
All this "religion" about originality can go over the top sometimes. The '70s cars were STRANGLED by new-at-the-time smog and crash regulations. Who'd want to preserve THAT legacy???
And stop worrying about what your car is "worth."
You're keeping it anyway, right?
All this "religion" about originality can go over the top sometimes. The '70s cars were STRANGLED by new-at-the-time smog and crash regulations. Who'd want to preserve THAT legacy???
And stop worrying about what your car is "worth."
You're keeping it anyway, right?
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 108
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From: Pittsburgh Pa
Diablokid, don't forget that that new 450hp has to be tranferred to the ground thru your stock trans and rearend. You will probably have to beef those up to handle the new found power or you will be breaking things. Just my 02
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
76's arent the MOST desirable year of Vette, sory of the middle child syndrome, but a wonderful car nonetheless. Id say modify the **** out of it and have yourself a happy day...
FYI I think its worth a lot more than 5 grand all original and in good-excellent condition, think around 7500.
FYI I think its worth a lot more than 5 grand all original and in good-excellent condition, think around 7500.
i think $5,000 is the 383 engine swap figure..... i say go for it, i'm putting in a 350/350 700r4 and steroids in my 77. if you keep the old stuff you can alwys give it to the next guy, thats what i'm doing but really who is going to want it???? if you buy a second car you still will be only able to drive one at atime so i say go for it!!!!!!!!!!
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
If you are going to be getting your oringinal motor to take home with you, I see no problem in doing the swap. If you decide to sell the car in the future you will still have the original motor. IF the NOM is a problem with the next owner and they can reverse the swap.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
another alternative is to keep your numbers matching block and have the engine guy rebuild it for a little more excitement???
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg PA
I debated the same thing for the last ten years. And guess what...that is ten years of Fun I missed out on. I know where your coming from...I, like you, got wrapped up in the matching numbers thing going into the car...paid a premium for it...not fully recognizing the severity that all that smog stuff took out of the engine. Looking back I wish i paid $5,000 less for a nice non matching numbers car...then I could modify guilt free. However I have decided to hell with it and build the car the way I want it.
That means a stock look but all new suspension, steeroids, a motor almost exactly as your describing, and a keisler TKO 600 OD 5 speed. I am keeping all my parts for the next guy but I'm going to enjoy my car. My car is a loaded 75 convertable 4 speed L82...I thought I had a rare Gem with the last last of the stingray convertables but the truth is mid 70's rubber bumper vetts will never get over the smog reputation of caprice vettes.
If that $5000 for the 383 is installed and tuned, that is a hell of a deal. Get a build sheet and make sure he is using decent parts...you can post it here if you would like several informed openions.
That means a stock look but all new suspension, steeroids, a motor almost exactly as your describing, and a keisler TKO 600 OD 5 speed. I am keeping all my parts for the next guy but I'm going to enjoy my car. My car is a loaded 75 convertable 4 speed L82...I thought I had a rare Gem with the last last of the stingray convertables but the truth is mid 70's rubber bumper vetts will never get over the smog reputation of caprice vettes.
If that $5000 for the 383 is installed and tuned, that is a hell of a deal. Get a build sheet and make sure he is using decent parts...you can post it here if you would like several informed openions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,500
From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by joe73vette
just do it! you can make that 383 look like a stock motor, so nobody will know if you intend to show it. but the fun factor will be so much higher! joe
The roller cam and roller rockers make me want to ask more questions about what is in there. Blown roller lifters will ruin your day quickly and the less expensive ones will not last long. A flat tappet valvetrain would let me sleep better at night. Just a thought.
-Mark.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Go for it!! 76's make great cars to customize 
Of course I'm biased 
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
Of course I'm biased http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/greatwhite/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
Originally Posted by page62
Do the engine swap. You won't regret it. It's not the original color, so that's enough of an excuse right there.
All this "religion" about originality can go over the top sometimes. The '70s cars were STRANGLED by new-at-the-time smog and crash regulations. Who'd want to preserve THAT legacy???
And stop worrying about what your car is "worth." You're keeping it anyway, right?
All this "religion" about originality can go over the top sometimes. The '70s cars were STRANGLED by new-at-the-time smog and crash regulations. Who'd want to preserve THAT legacy???
And stop worrying about what your car is "worth."
You're keeping it anyway, right?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 2
From: Round Rock, Texas, USA Texas
By the time I got my '77 the previous (second) owner had taken it to a local Vette shop and had a better built motor installed ----- but also a 3.55 rear end gearset ------- I advise lower speed rearend gearing, you might even do this with the stock motor and see what you think.......
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
If you are going to be getting your oringinal motor to take home with you, I see no problem in doing the swap. If you decide to sell the car in the future you will still have the original motor. IF the NOM is a problem with the next owner and they can reverse the swap.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis Minnesota
Originally Posted by 75rag4sp
... However I have decided to hell with it and build the car the way I want it.
-Dan
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
You got it to DRIVE, right?! So make it fun to drive. My '71 was almost original, non-numbers-matching, and my theory is build the living daylights out of it, but cut no new holes. Save the old parts for the "next owner" that you're never gonna sell it to.
Have fun!!!
Have fun!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
[QUOTE=DropTopBigBlock]my theory is build the living daylights out of it, but cut no new holes. [QUOTE=DropTopBigBlock]
never heard put that way, but it really also sums up my feelings!!!!!!!!!!
never heard put that way, but it really also sums up my feelings!!!!!!!!!!