Hi everyone, Glad to be a part of this forum. Like a lot of people, I have always liked Stingray Corvettes. Especially blues ones. So having told my friends that I would like to own one some day, one of them told me they had a friend who had a friend that had a Stingray Corvette for sale, $2000, ask if I wanted to look at it, of course I said yes, so off we go, 50 miles later I get my first look at it, I can see that it was originally blue, (it's white now), Big smile, it's a 1974, pop the hood, check the engine pad, yeap, it's the original engine. Automatic, tilt-tele, pw a/c deluxe drk blue interior, and a luggage rack. So owner tells me the story, was a father son project that never happened, had bought some new parts, frt and rear TruFlex bumpers, new std door panels, complete carpet set, and a few other smaller items. Tells me they had the body off and pointed near the rear tire and says there's a crack in the frame. Me not knowing anything about C3's, probably just need a little welding and it will be fine, So he says I got $1900 in new parts, and I want $1900 for the car and the parts! Sounds to good to me, so we load it up with all the parts and back home we go. Long story short, the frame rusted so bad when I went jack it up in frt of the rear wheel, the car went up, but the tire stayed on the ground, i then realized how bad the frame really was, along with all 4 birdcage mounts. It all made sense now why it was so cheap. So I know where to look for rust now on a C3.
Not wanting to wait to till this thing is road worthy, I set out to find me a driver, I happen to see a ebay classified add for another 1974, this one was from California, and runs and drives. So I'm happy to say that I ended up with a true rust free California delivered L82 4 speed with Deluxe Silver Leather interior and A/C. It was Silver mist, it's now painted what I believe is 1977 light blue, and unfortunately the original L82 engine had been replaced with a 1975 L48. But the price was right and I now have a Stingray that I will be able cruise around in. I'm borrowing a few parts from the L48 car to make this one a little more complete, mainly the new bumper covers, and a few parts from the engine bay.
So just a few days ago I see a frame for sale on ebay, it's in Colorado, I message the guy and ask how much to ship it Iowa, He tells me he's driving through Iowa this coming weekend and he can bring it with him, so I call him work out the details, I happen to tell him about the L82 car and how it's missing the original engine, he says, you know what, I have a 1974 L82 sitting in the back room, was running when I pulled it years ago, $500 and I'll bring with me. So coming this Saturday, if everything works out, I'll have a real 1974 L82 engine to put back in my car! I would have never though that I would have ever found a L82, let alone one from 1974. I decided to not buy the frame at this time and concentrate on the L82. Hopefully by spring I'll have the new engine freshened up and installed, frt and rear bumper covers painted and it will be ready for the road.
FYI the 1975 L48 that's currently in the L82 Corvette came out of either serial # 1Z37J5S403644, or 1Z67J5S403644, the engine was assembled 10/29 1974. Probably would have been installed in this car back in California years ago. If anyone is looking for this engine, please let me know.<br />Thanks for all the great information here.

 

Welcome to the forum. Cool story and good luck with your C3.

As for the 1975 L48 motor, you might want to post about it in the C3 General section.

 

Interesting story!

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

 

Hello and welcome!

 

Congrats and welcome aboard

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome and congratulations on your work with your Vettes! Hopefully, you'll soon have both completely finished and a bookend pair of '74s.

 

Welcome to the forum!

Nice collection of C3's.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to the CF!

 

Thank you, looking forward to learning more about C3 Corvette's.