76 vette wheels

[Altered]

Hello all,
My first post here I am going to pick up my first Vette this Saturday. (If all goes well.) I had a question about the wheels on it. ;help I have looked online but cannot find any like these. I was told they were a option on the 76. Can anyone tell me :

1. Are they original 76 Vette wheels?
2. What center caps belong in these ? (they are missing)​

Thanks

 

[bmotojoe]

The link below shows the correct wheel and center cap for 76 & 77 models.
Brian
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf_id=34471&dept_id=257

 

[KANE]

Rally wheels and aluminum wheels available in '76-

I've seen your wheels on many Vettes before. I think I have heard them called turbo slots.

Greenwood Turbo Vettes had something similar-

Hope that helps!

 

[Altered]

So there is no chance that these wheels are what came on this car?

Where is the best place to try and get a value of what a 76 Vettes value is online? I have seen several places but many differences in dollar value. I guess most of it is the difference in not actually seeing the car. I am going to try and get this car Saturday and really was just trying to see what I needed to be aware of and look for when I see it for real. Im driving 11hrs 1 way to see it hope its worth it. :confused

Thanks fellas.

 

[Vette79]

Welcome to CAC. The wheels look like they came off a Trans Am or Firebird. FYI: The rear end of the Vette is incorrect as well.

 

[White75]

Those look like a discontinued American Racing wheel (think Dukes of Hazzard Gen Lee) I forget the name though.

 

[minifridge1138]

Yeah, the car has some parts that it did not come with.

1) the wheels are not original
2) the rear of the car is wrong. A 1976 Corvette had exposed bumpers (like what you see on the front of the car). In 1980 they added a plastic panel to hide the bumpers. The car your looking at has the plastic piece from a 1980-1982 Corvette. Honestly, not a very big deal. I've seen quite a few corvettes with that.

You are obviously looking at a car that has been modified. That is not necessarily a bad thing. The car is 31 years old, so it is normal to find non-original parts.

Basically, when you buy a classic Corvette (or any car) you are buying a used car. Do everything you would normally do when buying a used car. Test drive the car, ask lots questions, take the car to a mechanic and have it inspected.

Unfortunately, anytime you buy a used car there is potential for problems. I drove 11 hours for my Corvette. Drove it home no problem. 2 weeks later the timing chain slipped and I was rebuilding parts of the engine. Nobody lied to me. I had done my homework. The part was just old.

Good Luck. I hope everything works out. And if this car falls through, there are plenty of 1976 Corvettes out there. Don't give up!

 

[Altered]

Those look like a discontinued American Racing wheel (think Dukes of Hazzard Gen Lee) I forget the name though.

LOL OMG I agree now that i looked at a pic of the Gen Lee car. They claim to be Vector(sp) wheels.

minifridge1138 I hear ya man. I have talked to the fella several times and he told me the front and rear pieces were fiberglass after market pieces. He said the rear had a "whale tail". I cannot see it that good in the picture though. I see the front and like the idea it was fiberglass instead of plastic and resembled the original. I am at a loss on the rear so far. I figure if I don't like it I can hunt down the correct parts and swap it back. As far as the car being a used car I understand. What I meant to ask was more specific to Corvette. For example on the mid 80s Camaro they were known for stress cracks in the corners of the roof at the top back of the side windows. But anything specific to Vettes that I should look out for would be appreciated.

Vette79 you mean the rear of the car or the rearend ? He said has told me all about the rearend as he had many many $s and time in it. He says it is a GM Corvette rear. He has 4.10s in it but I will put back something close to a 3.50 gear if the deal goes through.

Since you guys all deal with Vettes so much what is a decent price for a set of used rally wheels and aluminum wheels that were available in '76. I do not have to have absolute date correct but want a Vette wheel. I kind of think I might like the Rally look better but I am not rich obviously so whats the best bang for the buck on a set.

Oh and many many thanks for all the help. ;worship

 

[Koop]

Those look like old US racing or American Racing wheels. If they are nice, get a set of centers and keep them. I find period correct mods to be more interesting than vanilla correct cars. Besides, the original Rallye Wheels blow, at least get a set of alloys for it so the trim rings don't come off everytime you decide to drive your Corvette like a Corvette.

I like old mag wheels, very cool.

 

[Vette79]

Vette79 you mean the rear of the car or the rearend ? He said has told me all about the rearend as he had many many $s and time in it. He says it is a GM Corvette rear. He has 4.10s in it but I will put back something close to a 3.50 gear if the deal goes through.

Sorry. I meant the rear of the car. Looks like it is off of an 81. I could be wrong but if there are 4.10's for the rearend then that would not be the correct stock differential for that year.

 

[Altered]

Those look like old US racing or American Racing wheels. If they are nice, get a set of centers and keep them. I find period correct mods to be more interesting than vanilla correct cars. Besides, the original Rallye Wheels blow, at least get a set of alloys for it so the trim rings don't come off everytime you decide to drive your Corvette like a Corvette.

I like old mag wheels, very cool.

Good point maybe I will reconsider at least for now since there are other things I want to clean up on the car.

I could be wrong but if there are 4.10's for the rearend then that would not be the correct stock differential for that year.

Oh yeah he said he put the gears in but I meant like he didn't swap in a 9" Ford or something. It was my bad misunderstanding your first response about the rear not being correct.

 

[XS-Style]

if you did decide to go with a set of orriginal rallys, Id say you could get a good set from local sales papers (we have Iwannas here). Theyd run around 200 bucks more or less from what I see. I have a friend who deals in secondhand c3 parts as well, if youd like to check with him, I can send ya his email. Shipping on wheels from NC to TX might bite though lol. Hope it works out for you getting this car, it seems ya really like it. It may not be all orriginal, but hey, its orriginally yours. Combine different stuff and see what you like.

I personally think the 80s tail was an improvement

 

[bmotojoe]

I looked for over two years before purchasing my Corvette. Just keep an open mind so your first Corvette experience will be a happy one.
If you do purchase this car and decide on a set of wheels that you like be it rally’s or aluminum make sure the offset is correct for the Corvette. The standard GM lug bolt pattern is the same for theses C3’s but the offset must be correct so wheel has clearance for the F/R calipers. Also, the combination of oversized wheels & tires in the rear will come in contact with the emergency brake cable and bracket that is welded to the trailing arm, and IMO this just looks funky anyway. I run the stock aluminum wheels and T/A 255/60/15 all the way around and that’s as wide as you can go without problems. I have seen the period correct used aluminum wheels in decent shape go for around $100.00 each. In most cases the wheels will need some cleaning and polishing and new center caps and lug nuts for them to look good, but these are available.
Good luck,
Brian

 

[Altered]

Well I know when repainted it will look a whole lot better. I really think if we painted XS-Style car black we would know more. Seriously nice car you have there. I dont have the patience to do try and make it all original. I am a dragracer at heart but have gotten old and the kid has taken to fast pitch softball so my summers are now taken with that. I want to put my 427 in the Vette anyway possibly a 6 spd later on so hopefully no one will see much of the car except from way behind it. :crazy

Here is pictures of my last 2 cars.

not very good with a camera phone LOL

 

[bmotojoe]

Now, with that kind of HP with the big block, then I suggest replacing all the u-joints with solids and install safety loop straps around half shafts and main drive shaft. If you don’t and one blows apart you’re going to have massive underbody fiberglass damage. Also the NHRA requires safety straps on all cars 13.99 and quicker with the exception of cars running 13.00 with street tires.
Dragvette Products have them: http://www.dragvette.com/links.html
Brian

 

[minifridge1138]

I think what he meant by "whale tail" is the spoiler. The original rear plastic wouldn't have a spoiler. That became an option in 1978, and it was bolted on. In 1980 they changed the plastic cover so that the spoiler was molded to it.

The 4.10 gears are not original (my 1982 has 2.7 gears).

I've seen a set of aluminum rally wheels go for $200-$250 at swap meets. A lot of catalogs have wheels, but it is closer to $900 for a set.

Corvette Specific Problems:
1) over heating. The front of the car does not allow much air flow.
2) Stress cracks in the fiberglass. I seem to recall the area behind the rear wheels seems to crack, but someone may know more.
3) Vacuum leaks. The headlights use vacuum to open and close. There is a rat's nest of vacuum line running from the intake to the headlights. They are notorious for leaking.

If you're planning on putting in a 427 and a 6-speed, then you may not care much about the quality of the engine. You may even find a good deal on a Corvette that needs an engine.

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!