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Good Morning or at least that is what it is here in Medford Oregon.
I am looking forward to being a part of your group. My wife and I recently picked up a 1974 Stingray that had been in storage for most of it’s life. It has the original tires, all stock with a 350 and 4 speed stick. It only as 15,385 miles on it and that can be proven as correct.
I have a few projects I am undertaking and look forward to hearing from others on how best to proceed.
Welcome to the Forum, Scott, and congratulations on your great C3 find!
Lot of great members and helpful info in the C3 sections at: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-1968-1982-5/
First thing is new tires….your current tires are about 50 years old and even if the tread looks good they are seriously deteriorated on the inside.
Hope you have her up and running in time for summer cruising.
As requested, let me share more information on my C3 project.
I served on a non-profit board and got an email from a board member that they were moving and they had a car in storage they needed to get rid of, asking if anyone was interested.
I responded and bought it sight unseen but with pictures once I heard the story of it’s life. I have attached the pictures I saw.
In 1974 the owner of the Chevrolet dealership gave this Corvette to his daughter as a graduation present. She drove it off and on for 2 years and then went away to college. So the dealer put it in storage in his dealership garage. He had his shop go in the garage and start it every year to make sure it was ready for her when she wanted it. So it was in an enclosed garage from 1977 to 2005 when he sold the dealership and called his daughter in Ashland Oregon to come and get the car.
She drove to Seattle and brought it down to Ashland Oregon and then drove it for a couple years and then put it back in storage, but just under a car cover along side the house. There it sat until this past June when the email went out. That was from 2007 to 2022.
At the time of my picking it up with a trailer it has seen 42 years in storage of its 47 years!
I was told that it ran good when they put it in storage the second time, but I did not want to take a chance on it so I put it on a trailer and took it to a shop. There they replaced the gas tank, fuel pump, hoses and belts, changed out all fluids and gave it a tune up before they started it. The exhaust system from the headers back had to be replaced. That is when I picked it up from the shop and got to drive it for the first time.
This is what I have discovered since: it has had the front end nose replaced and the car repainted its original yellow. It also has had the rear bumper damaged and it was in pieces in a box. Also the right mirror just spins and won’t hold, so I replaced it. Also 3 of the hub caps were missing and I got new replicas from Eckers.
The light switch bezel was broken and I was able to repair it. I have the dash open part way and I noticed that the Tach is fluctuating and so I have ordered a new cable. Also the clock does not work and the radio is terrible. I have ordered a new center dash as I broke the bezel when trying to take out the left side dash, so I have added a new stereo and got new speakers up top and on the side kick plates to yet install. Of course I am keeping all the original parts as I go. That broken Bezel tells me I need to do more research learning before I go further with the dash, speakers, stereo, and clock. That broken bezel I caused is a stupid result of my failure and I don’t want that to happen again.
I also notice that on the passenger side the Capet has pulled away from the center tunnel and the interior cleaning will reveal how bad it is and I can get a plan on how to fix it. i don’t know if it ca be stretched or I ave to replace. All of the interior is like what it is, a 15k condition.
Hence, I joined this club and my local Corvette club to meet others and learn. I was able to locate a new 2 piece rear bumper, as 1974 was the only year the Corvette has a 2 piece bumper. I interviewed a shop for a repaint and found a classic car specialist that has agreed to repaint the exterior. He says he has to remove all the paint, do a thorough search for hair line cracks in the fiber glass and prime and paint. He come highly recommended and I am confident that he will do an excellent job; a job that this car deserves.
I have written testimony and a log book to reflect a written record of it’s history and this project. I hope that if you took the time to read this you have enjoyed the story and if others are interested, then once done, I will share photos.
I now need to learn how to take the entire dash apart to replace speakers, stereo, clock, center dash and tach cable. I am hoping I can find help in this project from this club.
That's such an amazing car Scott!! The car has an incredible history and you're only making it better and better. The car will look brand new after an exterior buff and the painting and installation of the rear bumper.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cool story.. When you tear into the dash or anything else start a thread. Lots of experience down in C3.
Also remember this: Around here the only dumb question is the one not asked....
That's such an amazing car Scott!! The car has an incredible history and you're only making it better and better. The car will look brand new after an exterior buff and the painting and installation of the rear bumper.
Lot's to learn and fun times ahead, with a few headaches and bruised knuckles.
New Member
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