Need your valued opinion )

[ironmoo]

I'm a second owner (since 1986) of my 82 seen below. The past 19 years I've keep her taken car of, bone stock/records and receipts kept,etc etc.

Good think is I now have a little money to throw her way...(5k-ish). But also at this time, the car just became smog exempt where I've moved to. Temptation is setting in!


Thought has been: the 1982 factory stock crossfire could become a collectable in the future being the last C3. Then again, it may not.

My problem is what to do.

So should I brighten her up with minor restoration OR
... remove the smog and rebuild her engine to breath better. (again about 5k investment either way)

Any opinions would be greatly valued.

 

[6 Shooter]

From you signature pic she looks pretty good already.

How many ponies you think you could add for $5K?

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[Mac]

You've done all the right things so far, keeping records and making sure she's still stock. Now, remove that smog crap and package it all carefully. Take good notes because twenty years from now, if you decide to go the NCRS route, your memory might not be up to the job. Enjoy your Vette, your way and keep the parts so you can bolt 'em back on when/if the notion hits.

-Mac

 

[74bigblock]

I say leave it as is, and go buy another one cheap to monkey around with. That 82 will be worth something if its all original, with records.

 

[tomtom72]

I didn't vote but I have a comment. I would do what Mac said. My only question about the smog control removal is are you sure the law will stay like you say? I thought Ken posted about some changes comming regarding exempt cars. I know NYS is thinking of doing some amending of smog regs. for older cars but I don't think it's finalized. Maybe doing the mods with CARB stuff might save hassels down the road. JMHO Tom.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I wouldn't do anything to change the smog in California, particularly in one of the big cities like California. It's too tempting for big government out there to monkey with the laws and cities like LA, San Diego, SF and Sacramento will be their playground.

 

[RodsnRides]

On the fence

I'm not voting because I am undecided what I would do. You didn't say how many miles it has, nor if it is auto or 4-speed.

One part of me says take all the original gear, remove it, bag and tag, and put in a fresh crate engine (383 GMPP) and trans-if auto a 700R4, if stick, a 5-speed. Fresh new everything, with all the original equipment unmolested.

But, if I had the space (big garage, etc.), I would leave the '82 alone and perfectly original, get a C3 project and make a real fun rocket ship out of it. Maybe even another '82-maybe even black. Interesting contrast, y'know?

It's your budget and your decision, but ultimately, have fun in whatever you decide. That's what it's really all about.

Rick

 

[Glensgages]

ironmoo:

I'm in the same situation with my '82, a low-mileage (24K) model in excellent condition.

I got it 5 years ago with 11K miles, and I had every intention of keeping it bone-stock, and after a while, I tinkered with possibly swapping the 2.87 gears, maybe a true-dual exhaust,. etc., then I thought I'd see what I could do with the Cross-Fire, hoping to run 13s in the 1/4-mile, and lately, I'm thinking about a healthy, carbed 383, maybe a 502.

I haven't done anything yet (save for chroming the N90 wheels and swapping 3.73 gears), but I seriously-doubt that 20 years from now, ANYBODY will be upset with you building the motor/drive-train the way YOU want it:
WHEN I finally decide to 'get-started' on my '82, I'll 'tag-and-bag' all items for future reference,. but I'm 45+ years old currently, and I'm not keeping this 'pig' bone-stock for 'the next guy' all my life.....

 

[kingman]

Move on Young Man!

The 66 sounds awesome to me without any reservations. Your 82 which is a cool looking vette is a cool looking vette period. All show and no go and l would leave it as is or sell it and use it as a down payment on a 66 and don't look back.

Alan

 

[lnirenberg]

If your car is a low mileage garage queen by all means keep it original with a capital O. But if you actually enjoy driving your car clearly performance enhancements approach the realm of necessity for the vast majority (LT1s, LS6 and a few others the exceptions) of the post '70 sharks. Good advise above save all the parts that come out. My approach has been stock looking with the hood closed--all the sharks are too beautiful for major body mods ( my opinion). 5 grand hmmm, My list would included a little porting work on the heads, mildly upgraded cam and higher ratio roller rocker.s. I'm not a big crossfire fan but I've been told the breathing can be improved. I truly have no idea. I would go dual plane aluminum intake for low end grunt and a carburator, headers and true duals, a shift kit for the tranie (replacing these suckers gets to be major bucks and won't leave much for anything else) and a lower ratio rear end. My list only. There's always non-vette alternatives for burning through 5gs--jewelry for the misses, lost weekend in Vegas, that new furnace you been thinkin' about, the Eagles to cover the spread (on second thought send the money to me as that ain't gonna happen). The 66 isn't a bad idea though.

 

[Vinn]

It all depends how bad you want that '66, ironmoo. Picture your '82 all fixed up exactly how you'd want it.... Would you then say "I finally have my dream car", or "this is great, but now I want a '66". If it's the later, I'd save for the 66, since that money invested in mods will probably not be recoverable in the resale. But if you'd be ecstatic with the '82, then stick with that.... what a great treatment that would be for a car you've maintained so well over the past 19 years!


Best of luck,
Vince

I just wanted to add, if you modify it, I agree with the others here in making it completely reversable and well documented.

 

[Glensgages]

.....Good advise above, save all the parts that come out..... 5 grand hmmm, my list would included a little porting work on the heads, mildly upgraded cam and higher ratio roller rocker.s..... I would go dual plane aluminum intake for low end grunt and a carburator, headers and true duals, a shift kit for the tranie (replacing these suckers gets to be major bucks and won't leave much for anything else) and a lower ratio rear end. My list only.....

...and what a good list it is!!!!!


You've got 9:1 compression to begin with:
add 64cc aluminum heads to increase it to approx 10:1, a 'decent' hydraulic cam (.450"/.480" lift, 220*+ at .050" lift duration), intake, carb, ignition, headers, exahust, trans-kit, gears......


Running 1/4-mile times with LS1-equipped C5s shouldn't be impossible with the above mods, you'll STILL have the sexiest-looking car ever built (with the late-version's creature-comforts), and you can return it to 'original'-status anytime you want!


Sounds like a winning plan to me!!!

 

[ironmoo]

Thanks for all the comments! Keep them coming!

Just to clear up anything, currently Miss Evette (that's her name) is running the stock crossfire and auto 4 speed setup for that year. If I take the performance route, I want to wake up that 350 under the hood a little!

Would run at least true duals/headers and roller rockers, cam etc...Also take some of your suggestions of going a bit beyond that.

In all, a goal of visually looking stock, yet squeezing the horsepower from 200hp to hopefully 300hp. Something to keep up with those pesky new mustangs that are revving the engines at me these days!

Thanks again all.

-Mach