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I've been a HUGE Corvette enthusiast since I was a teenager. I've previously owned two vettes. A C4 and a rubber bumper C3.
I've always loved the steel bumper C3's. I've been searching for a LS5 four speed for about a year. I finally found the car of my dreams and purchased it. It's a 1972 LS5 with a 4 speed. It's literally been in a barn since 1980-1981. It has original paint and no signs of any serious body damage. The bird cage appears to be great and the frame is near perfect though it does have some surface rusts from sitting.
I have the car home and have done a basic assessment. I've already replaced the battery, distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs. Still no spark. I'm going to replace the coil, points and condenser today and give it another try.
I've pulled the tank and found a partially intact tank sheet.
The goal for today is get it running, replace the tank and do a complete brake job on it. It still needs a lot of work to get it driving but I do have all the parts "I think I need" to get it driving again. Who knows what else I may find but will keep you posted.
My short-term plan is to get it running and drive it as-is a few times over the summer. I do want to start restoration on it this winter but haven't decided how deep I want to go down that rabbit hole quite yet.
I've been a HUGE Corvette enthusiast since I was a teenager. I've previously owned two vettes. A C4 and a rubber bumper C3.
I've always loved the steel bumper C3's. I've been searching for a LS5 four speed for about a year. I finally found the car of my dreams and purchased it. It's a 1972 LS5 with a 4 speed. It's literally been in a barn since 1980-1981. It has original paint and no signs of any serious body damage. The bird cage appears to be great and the frame is near perfect though it does have some surface rusts from sitting.
I have the car home and have done a basic assessment. I've already replaced the battery, distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs. Still no spark. I'm going to replace the coil, points and condenser today and give it another try.
I've pulled the tank and found a partially intact tank sheet.
The goal for today is get it running, replace the tank and do a complete brake job on it. It still needs a lot of work to get it driving but I do have all the parts "I think I need" to get it driving again. Who knows what else I may find but will keep you posted.
My short-term plan is to get it running and drive it as-is a few times over the summer. I do want to start restoration on it this winter but haven't decided how deep I want to go down that rabbit hole quite yet.
Cheers,
David
It's alive! Only ran it long enough to know it will run. Next on the list, install new gas tank, replace radiator hoses and all the belts. Radiator not looking so hot, fingers crossed it holds pressure.
Congrats on the find and welcome! It surprising that this was sitting since it was only 8 or 9 years old, it's great that you'll get to breathe new life into it.
Congrats on the find and welcome! It surprising that this was sitting since it was only 8 or 9 years old, it's great that you'll get to breathe new life into it.
It's a really sad story. In 1980 he owner took the water pump off to replace it and went to bed. The next morning he had a stroke that left him incapacitated. The fathers estate is now selling the house because the he's is getting too old to take care of himself. It still has the inspection sticker from 1980-1981. I also have the registration from 1980-1981. The body is in amazing condition, the interior is completely ruined except the seats. Most every piece of rubber on the car has dry rotted and needs to be replaced.
I managed to get it running but it's leaking water between the block and transmission. I'm almost positive one of the freeze plugs is missing or rusted out completely because water just pours out as fast as I can put it in. I'm hoping I can drop the tranny to replace the freeze plugs. I'm comfortable doing this but it looks like the trans is a tight fit to the tunnel. I'm searching to forum now to see how clutches are done.
05-28-2017, 08:29 AM
Hello from NH, Barn Find
Welcome! 
