Carburated C5?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
Carburated C5?
Hi, everybody--
Recently I posted a note regarding my frustrating search for a driveable C5. Now I have a lead on another car that I'd like to get some input on.
A buddy at a local Chevrolet dealer has an '04 that was recently traded, but, in his words, "it's been abused." As of now it has bald rear tires and peeling paint. The dealer isn't sure what to do with it. I want to take a peek to see how bad the car really is, if it is indeed that bad. I was wondering: if I could get it for the right price, say what that dealer paid for it, is it possible to strip the car down to the frane and rebuild it with, say, a carburated 350 and new tranny? I'd like to eliminate the traction and ASR and all the electronic nannies Corvettes seem to have nowadays and have something that runs like one of the classics.
With money as no object, is something like this doable, or is there something in how the cars are built that would prevent this? --B--
Recently I posted a note regarding my frustrating search for a driveable C5. Now I have a lead on another car that I'd like to get some input on.
A buddy at a local Chevrolet dealer has an '04 that was recently traded, but, in his words, "it's been abused." As of now it has bald rear tires and peeling paint. The dealer isn't sure what to do with it. I want to take a peek to see how bad the car really is, if it is indeed that bad. I was wondering: if I could get it for the right price, say what that dealer paid for it, is it possible to strip the car down to the frane and rebuild it with, say, a carburated 350 and new tranny? I'd like to eliminate the traction and ASR and all the electronic nannies Corvettes seem to have nowadays and have something that runs like one of the classics.
With money as no object, is something like this doable, or is there something in how the cars are built that would prevent this? --B--
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
It's doable if it's strictly for a race car...not for the street though (especially in CA).
If you want a "classic" Corvette, why not find a true "classic" carbureted (sp?) Corvette. Then add a fuel injected LSx motor or a carbureted LSx motor.
If you want a "classic" Corvette, why not find a true "classic" carbureted (sp?) Corvette. Then add a fuel injected LSx motor or a carbureted LSx motor.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Anything is possible if money is no object. A carburator.......old technology and I can't understand why anyone would want it. Have you given any thought as to how you would pass the strictest emissions standards in the U.S.(California)?
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Hi, everybody--
Recently I posted a note regarding my frustrating search for a driveable C5. Now I have a lead on another car that I'd like to get some input on.
A buddy at a local Chevrolet dealer has an '04 that was recently traded, but, in his words, "it's been abused." As of now it has bald rear tires and peeling paint. The dealer isn't sure what to do with it. I want to take a peek to see how bad the car really is, if it is indeed that bad. I was wondering: if I could get it for the right price, say what that dealer paid for it, is it possible to strip the car down to the frane and rebuild it with, say, a carburated 350 and new tranny? I'd like to eliminate the traction and ASR and all the electronic nannies Corvettes seem to have nowadays and have something that runs like one of the classics.
With money as no object, is something like this doable, or is there something in how the cars are built that would prevent this? --B--
Recently I posted a note regarding my frustrating search for a driveable C5. Now I have a lead on another car that I'd like to get some input on.
A buddy at a local Chevrolet dealer has an '04 that was recently traded, but, in his words, "it's been abused." As of now it has bald rear tires and peeling paint. The dealer isn't sure what to do with it. I want to take a peek to see how bad the car really is, if it is indeed that bad. I was wondering: if I could get it for the right price, say what that dealer paid for it, is it possible to strip the car down to the frane and rebuild it with, say, a carburated 350 and new tranny? I'd like to eliminate the traction and ASR and all the electronic nannies Corvettes seem to have nowadays and have something that runs like one of the classics.
With money as no object, is something like this doable, or is there something in how the cars are built that would prevent this? --B--
Last edited by dwjz06; Dec 7, 2007 at 09:54 AM. Reason: Typo
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,541
Likes: 24,830
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Sure you could do it, would just take a lot of work to rid the car of the modern stuff.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 34
From: St. Louis Missouri
You would be taking away most of the modern technology that has been built into the car, along with the efficiency of the car. A carbed small block is not going to get no where near the MPG. It would be fairly simple task of just removing most of the current electronics. Some hurdles with the conversion would be operating the electronics in the Transmission if it was an A4 car, and figuring out how to get the instrument cluster to work, you could just remove the instrument cluster all together and go with mechanical gauges.
I had a friend who put a BBC in a C4 back in the 80's. It was a monster.
I had a friend who put a BBC in a C4 back in the 80's. It was a monster.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
Why not just put a Ford flathead or a steam engine in it? Now THOSE were the good old days. No electric nannies like electric chokes, vacuum secondaries, or crazy, unnecissary, new fangled overhead valves. Tearing a car down and completely rebuilding it because you could get it cheaper than one in nice condition also sounds like a really, really good idea. 
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Pleasanton California
Thanks, guys. It's a moot point now. Turns out my buddy was mistaken and the car in question already belongs to somebody who's having the dealership fix it up. 
Oh, well. The search continues..... I have my eye on a '99 with HUD and 80,000 miles for $19k but it's a two owner car so I'm being cautious. --B--
Oh, well. The search continues..... I have my eye on a '99 with HUD and 80,000 miles for $19k but it's a two owner car so I'm being cautious. --B--
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Tri-Valley(East Bay) CA
I dont think I would want a carb in my vettes, but in the words of my buddy Tim "Fuel Injected??? It should be more like fuel INFECTED!"
But he's kinda old school and crazy (@25yrs old)
It might be a cool idea for some, but not for all
But he's kinda old school and crazy (@25yrs old)
It might be a cool idea for some, but not for all
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,431
Likes: 3
From: Iowa City Iowa
And I sold my 1929 model A street rod when i bought my 2000 vert! Little did I know that I could have just found a C5 body and dropped that beauty onto the boxed 29 frame and had a really cool rod. Oh well, live and learn. ( Oh, now I remember why-- it had a 350 EFI ram jet in it and no carb!!!!)
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
If money is no object, just buy a nice c5. Why would you want to put a carb. on a c5...... especially if money is no object? If money is no object you can do anything to that c5 that you want...... even strap a rocket engine to it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I love the classic vettes esp pro touring C1's and C2's, but ask any of them who are driving period correct ones and they'll tell you they drive like a POS truck compared to a C5 or C6.
The more you learn about these cars you'll learn that the "electronic nannies" are a good thing and you can work around/with them to make the car have a ton of power and incredible drivability to.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: Braidwood Il.
Anything is possible if you have the money, but after all the work you would have done to get it to that point, what would you have other then a very expensive piece of junk not worth what you have invested in it. And with a carb. on the engine your going backwards. Bottom line is don't waste your time or money.