New Guy, Old 'Vette
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Snyder TX
New Guy, Old 'Vette
Hello all,
I just bought my first Corvette about a week ago. It's a black '81 coupe and, though she's a little rough, I LOVE IT!!!!
I drove it the hour and a half home and it only took 4 hours! Less than five miles and I had my first breakdown. The thermostat housing had a hole in it. Luckily there was an O'Reily's close enough to limp into. After that, I spat and sputtered and chugged my way home. The more I drove, the worse she complained. And the steering and suspension is so loose and sloppy that 60 mph was all I dared! It sat in a garage for the last ten years or so. A lot of work ahead, but good frame, good 'glass, and decent drive train.
That night I searched Corvette Tech Advice and found this forum. I already had an Edelbrock 1406 square bore waiting at home in the box and thanks to this awesome forum I didn't just throw it on and go. After reading some posts it was apparent that the electronic HEI would have to be buried in the back yard right next to the electronic Quadrajunk. Really, whoever thought adding electronics to a Quadrajet was a good idea should be drug into the street and shot (with paintball of course, c'mon I'm not that sadistic!). So I bought an Accel HEI and spent the next day turning wrenches and busting knuckles, and man what a difference! Almost wrecked it doing burnouts! She purrs now, and screams when you step on her tail!
But seriously, just an hour on here reading posts and replies and my whole outlook has changed. Thankfully I won't be jumping in all *****-nilly and screwing up a good car.
I'm not positive but I think it was this forum that saved me from buying a problem car too. A while back, I found a sexy red '80 'Vette with a shiny new paint job and was about to buy it, but patience prevailed and I researched what to look for when buying a C3. I believe it was on this site that I found a great post about the top ten problem areas, and the next day one look at the frame was all I needed to know that it was not the right car for me. Random bits and pieces of scrap metal poorly welded over rust holes and even a huge crack held together with a piece of angle iron.
I've seen swiss cheese that was more structurally sound!
Well there's a little taste of my long-windedness. I look forward to chatting and sharing with, and learning from all you fellow 'Vette Heads.
Thanks,
Po' Boy
I just bought my first Corvette about a week ago. It's a black '81 coupe and, though she's a little rough, I LOVE IT!!!!
I drove it the hour and a half home and it only took 4 hours! Less than five miles and I had my first breakdown. The thermostat housing had a hole in it. Luckily there was an O'Reily's close enough to limp into. After that, I spat and sputtered and chugged my way home. The more I drove, the worse she complained. And the steering and suspension is so loose and sloppy that 60 mph was all I dared! It sat in a garage for the last ten years or so. A lot of work ahead, but good frame, good 'glass, and decent drive train.
That night I searched Corvette Tech Advice and found this forum. I already had an Edelbrock 1406 square bore waiting at home in the box and thanks to this awesome forum I didn't just throw it on and go. After reading some posts it was apparent that the electronic HEI would have to be buried in the back yard right next to the electronic Quadrajunk. Really, whoever thought adding electronics to a Quadrajet was a good idea should be drug into the street and shot (with paintball of course, c'mon I'm not that sadistic!). So I bought an Accel HEI and spent the next day turning wrenches and busting knuckles, and man what a difference! Almost wrecked it doing burnouts! She purrs now, and screams when you step on her tail!
But seriously, just an hour on here reading posts and replies and my whole outlook has changed. Thankfully I won't be jumping in all *****-nilly and screwing up a good car.
I'm not positive but I think it was this forum that saved me from buying a problem car too. A while back, I found a sexy red '80 'Vette with a shiny new paint job and was about to buy it, but patience prevailed and I researched what to look for when buying a C3. I believe it was on this site that I found a great post about the top ten problem areas, and the next day one look at the frame was all I needed to know that it was not the right car for me. Random bits and pieces of scrap metal poorly welded over rust holes and even a huge crack held together with a piece of angle iron.
I've seen swiss cheese that was more structurally sound!Well there's a little taste of my long-windedness. I look forward to chatting and sharing with, and learning from all you fellow 'Vette Heads.
Thanks,
Po' Boy
Enjoy while you can.
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Great story, nice corvette, welcome aboard and enjoy 
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