thinking about trying to restore a C-3 corvette.

[minus1972]

hey-

I'm looking into trying to restore a C-3 corvette over the summer, and I was wondering first and foremost if anyone had any basic information on such a project. I'm thinking that I'm going to look for something that has a working transmission and doesn't need body work (due to the fiberglass body), but doesn't necessarily run. I'm trying to keep the initial cost under $1000, with much more to be put in as I work on it. I know more then the average person about cars, and although I'm by no means a gearhead I think I could RTFM. Can anyone suggest:

• the best place to look
  what kind of work would be involved
  would I be able to figure out most of what I need to do and be able to do it by myself

thanks.

EDIT: wow...bullets work great.

 

[notfred]

the more you spend on the car initially, the less the entire project will cost. It costs a lot more to restore something than it would have to buy a working one in the first place.

 

[Zim Hosein]

minus1972, I may be wrong, but finding a Vette that doesn't need body work under 1K isn't going to happen

 

[minus1972]

Originally posted by: Tyler
the more you spend on the car initially, the less the entire project will cost. It costs a lot more to restore soething than it would have tobuy a working one in the first place

yes, I'm trying to find a happy medium where I don't spend too much to start and don't have too much major work to do.

minus1972, I may be wrong, but finding a Vette that doesn't need body work under 1K isn't going to happen

Yeah, this is what I'm finding, but I'm willing to start with something that doesn't run and needs a lot more interior/engine work to start. Like I said...I'm not sure about finding the right balance.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Tyler
the more you spend on the car initially, the less the entire project will cost. It costs a lot more to restore soething than it would have tobuy a working one in the first place

Damn good advice. Find one with a solid body. Body parts are expensive to buy, expensive to repair and not everyone has a paint booth. However, an engine can be reasonably "easily" rebullt with mostly hand tools.

Someday, I hope to have a 1970-1972 Cuda or Challenger of my own. Unfortunately, Chrysler E-bodies are well-known to be rust magnets.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: minus1972
hey-

I'm looking into trying to restore a C-3 corvette over the summer, and I was wondering first and foremost if anyone had any basic information on such a project. I'm thinking that I'm going to look for something that has a working transmission and doesn't need body work (due to the fiberglass body), but doesn't necessarily run. I'm trying to keep the initial cost under $1000, with much more to be put in as I work on it. I know more then the average person about cars, and although I'm by no means a gearhead I think I could RTFM. Can anyone suggest:

• the best place to look
  what kind of work would be involved
  would I be able to figure out most of what I need to do and be able to do it by myself

thanks.

EDIT: wow...bullets work great.

The best place to start will be getting (free, mind you) a restoration kit from Chevrolet. It's basically 100 pages or something huge like that of things like original parts and how to replace them, etc. I'm still waiting for mine (they take a few weeks to arrive) for my '85 S-10 Blazer. Don't quote me on availability, but call 1-800-222-1020 (which is Chevrolet) and press the prompt for MARKETING SUPPORT. That will get you to the wrong department, but they can transfer you to Customer Assistance faster than you can wait 20 minutes for a Customer Assistance rep to get to you. 20 minutes is the average hold time for the C.A. department. Anyway, when Marketing Support calls C.A. Center, they get put into a priority queue and they're the next one answered. So your wait time goes from >20 minutes to <30 seconds.

Anyway, just ask for a Restoration Kit. They'll take over and you'll have it in a few weeks.

 

[minus1972]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Tyler
the more you spend on the car initially, the less the entire project will cost. It costs a lot more to restore soething than it would have tobuy a working one in the first place

Damn good advice. Find one with a solid body. Body parts are expensive to buy, expensive to repair and not everyone has a paint booth. However, an engine can be reasonably "easily" rebullt with mostly hand tools.

Someday, I hope to have a 1970-1972 Cuda or Challenger of my own. Unfortunately, Chrysler E-bodies are well-known to be rust magnets.

Where is the best place to look for these kinds of cars? Every online listing I've checked has restored cars that are thousands of dollars...

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: minus1972
hey-

I'm looking into trying to restore a C-3 corvette over the summer, and I was wondering first and foremost if anyone had any basic information on such a project. I'm thinking that I'm going to look for something that has a working transmission and doesn't need body work (due to the fiberglass body), but doesn't necessarily run. I'm trying to keep the initial cost under $1000, with much more to be put in as I work on it. I know more then the average person about cars, and although I'm by no means a gearhead I think I could RTFM. Can anyone suggest:

• the best place to look
  what kind of work would be involved
  would I be able to figure out most of what I need to do and be able to do it by myself

thanks.

EDIT: wow...bullets work great.

The best place to start will be getting (free, mind you) a restoration kit from Chevrolet. It's basically 100 pages or something huge like that of things like original parts and how to replace them, etc. I'm still waiting for mine (they take a few weeks to arrive) for my '85 S-10 Blazer. Don't quote me on availability, but call 1-800-222-1020 (which is Chevrolet) and press the prompt for MARKETING SUPPORT. That will get you to the wrong department, but they can transfer you to Customer Assistance faster than you can wait 20 minutes for a Customer Assistance rep to get to you. 20 minutes is the average hold time for the C.A. department. Anyway, when Marketing Support calls C.A. Center, they get put into a priority queue and they're the next one answered. So your wait time goes from >20 minutes to <30 seconds.

Anyway, just ask for a Restoration Kit. They'll take over and you'll have it in a few weeks.

 

[minus1972]

Originally posted by: FFMCobalt

Originally posted by: minus1972
hey-

I'm looking into trying to restore a C-3 corvette over the summer, and I was wondering first and foremost if anyone had any basic information on such a project. I'm thinking that I'm going to look for something that has a working transmission and doesn't need body work (due to the fiberglass body), but doesn't necessarily run. I'm trying to keep the initial cost under $1000, with much more to be put in as I work on it. I know more then the average person about cars, and although I'm by no means a gearhead I think I could RTFM. Can anyone suggest:

• the best place to look
  what kind of work would be involved
  would I be able to figure out most of what I need to do and be able to do it by myself

thanks.

EDIT: wow...bullets work great.

The best place to start will be getting (free, mind you) a restoration kit from Chevrolet. It's basically 100 pages or something huge like that of things like original parts and how to replace them, etc. I'm still waiting for mine (they take a few weeks to arrive) for my '85 S-10 Blazer. Don't quote me on availability, but call 1-800-222-1020 (which is Chevrolet) and press the prompt for MARKETING SUPPORT. That will get you to the wrong department, but they can transfer you to Customer Assistance faster than you can wait 20 minutes for a Customer Assistance rep to get to you. 20 minutes is the average hold time for the C.A. department. Anyway, when Marketing Support calls C.A. Center, they get put into a priority queue and they're the next one answered. So your wait time goes from >20 minutes to <30 seconds.

Anyway, just ask for a Restoration Kit. They'll take over and you'll have it in a few weeks.

Sweet. Thanks!

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: minus1972

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Tyler
the more you spend on the car initially, the less the entire project will cost. It costs a lot more to restore soething than it would have tobuy a working one in the first place

Damn good advice. Find one with a solid body. Body parts are expensive to buy, expensive to repair and not everyone has a paint booth. However, an engine can be reasonably "easily" rebullt with mostly hand tools.

Someday, I hope to have a 1970-1972 Cuda or Challenger of my own. Unfortunately, Chrysler E-bodies are well-known to be rust magnets.

Where is the best place to look for these kinds of cars? Every online listing I've checked has restored cars that are thousands of dollars...

Well, Vettes have mostly fiberglass bodies, so rust isn't usually a problem. I just remembered that!

Try to find one that has some miles on it, but no wrecks. Run the VIN thru Carfax.

 

[minus1972]

bump for more help.

 

[BigRigDriver]

Just a sugestion & it might have been presented before: JUNKYARDS you'll find good deals there too

 

[notfred]

Just an example of what these cost:
This car on ebay requires some bodywork, has three days left of bidding, and is already over $2700

Even this car is over $3000 with 4 days left.

 

[minus1972]

well, that's depressing

 

[Vette73]

I am restoring a 1975 Chevy Monza with factory V8 and 4 speed.

It sounds like you are kinda new to this and a corvette is not the place to start. To REALLY restore a vette you need to take it off the frame.

Start easy like a Camaro, Nova, etc... Much easier and cheaper to find parts. And the first outlay of cash will be less also.

 

[TerryMathews]

If you're dead-set on a C3, good luck. They're coming back into demand. OTOH, if you just want a Vette, the C4 market is so saturated that their prices are hitting rock bottom.

Some friendly advice. Unless you're going for original, an LS1 crate motor will mount almost perfectly into 73-82 C3s. This will give you complete engine, ECU, and transmission. In other words, just add drivetrain/mufflers/cats and you'll pass emissions (if applicable). Not to mention that there is a glut of LS1/6 aftermarket parts available. Including kits to bore it out to 396.

Or, go original and get a 427. Don't look at C3s after 69. Be prepared to pay some big bucks tho.

 

[minus1972]

hmm...what about a 67ish mustang then...sounds like it might be simpler to find. The one thing I liked about the vette was that it was small and looks more like a sports car as opposed to a muscle car. Are there any other kind of project cars anyone would suggest that fit along those lines?

 

[nan0bug]

Originally posted by: minus1972
hmm...what about a 67ish mustang then...sounds like it might be simpler to find. The one thing I liked about the vette was that it was small and looks more like a sports car as opposed to a muscle car. Are there any other kind of project cars anyone would suggest that fit along those lines?

Well, if you're looking for small and sports car look, go for an MGB or a Triumph. Power will leave something to be desired, but you can pick them up pretty cheap and they shouldnt be as hard to restore.