She Might Be The One!!!!....lil help here

[Macgyver]

OK all you lucky Vette owners, ;help I might just become a real member this weekend if all goes well. Im looking at 80' that has a great exterior and a decent interior. Here are my concerns:

1. The guy told me it most def needs a tune up. I think the parts are going to be somewhere @75$ for the plugs, wires, rotor, and the distrib. How hard is it to do yurself. Ive never done anything under the hood before. Just tires, exhaust, shocks and a rear main seal on a Jeep. Maybe someone can help me out w/ that if you wouldnt mind.

2. Should a Vette smoke much after not starting for about 4-5months? It had a little smoke around the rear exhaust after idling for about 5 minutes but not much at all. I gave the engine compartment a good look after it had been idling for a good while and there was none from there.

3. If the car had been sitting for a year and only driven about once avery 3months during that time, is that necessarily bad. What probs should I look for if thats the case?

Other than that she looks great and sounds unreal!!! He already installed true duals w/ flowmasters and removed the cats. How much of an HP increase is that? about 20-30?

White, Ttops, 80k miles, for a grand total of $5700. Sound good? I will be getting it looked at by a great mechanic this week who does restorations before I buy it though. I just wanted some real Vette owners opinions'.... and for ya'll to wish me luck.
Ive been looking forever in all the right places and Im getting lonely .

Thanks,
Steve'O

 

[Jacko]

Price is ok but not great.
Get under the car and inspect it real close for rust.
Check closely around the windows for rust.
I don't like the idea that AFTER 5 minutes, it smokes.
That's not valve seals. Valve seals typically puff a bit of blue smoke for the 1st. minute or less.
I'd have a concern here, maybe it is a beat motor.
Take your time and use common sense, and take along a good mechanic.
Good luck to you.

 

[cruzer99]

Do you have a reason to believe everything the seller is saying about only starting it every 3-4 months?
If what he says is true, it's not a bad price. The tune up is the easy part. Having your guy check it out is a good idea. The big item is compression check both dry and wet (oil the cylinders). It would be tempting to see if he blinks with an 5K offer....
if it checks out OK.
Good luck

 

[Ken]

Texas Baby? Where in Texas? :confused

Ya might wanna try to hook up with Mike (Stingray6974) or Grunch, aka (robert kirk) if you're in their area. That is, if Mike hasn't hurt himself again. :L

 

[Macgyver]

Good stuff good stuff. Thank you. He has a newer truck that has a nice lift. Also one of the calipers on the Vette is shot and has the brake wrapped tightly around the wheel. Aint going anywhere but to check the mail w/ that kinda problem.

Hmm beat motor!? Thats not good at all. Im wanting to drop in a 383 in a while once I get used to the car and am ready to really role w/ it but Id like the car to be able to go at least 2 years w/o needing any real work over 150$ ya know. If thats the case then I guess Im going to have to keep looking unless he knocks off a grand.

 

[Macgyver]

whoops sorry, in good ol' San Antone' home of the NBA champs.

 

[red70vette]

If you waant a car that will only cost you $250 in repairs over the next 2 years you need to look for something else.

There are no 20+ year old cars in existance that can meet that standard. If you can averge $1500 per year you are well ahead of the game and that would be on the most pristine vette you can find.

20+ year old cars have 20+year old parts and if they are used regularly even under the most careful considerations there are parts that are going to fail. Judging on the description of your mechanical experience you will not be able to handle most of the repairs yourself. If you need to go to a mechanic that tune up is going to cost $250.

If you want to drive old vettes on a regular basis you need money to spend for parts, the time and expertise to work on them, and a backup means of transportation. Make sure you have the means and ability to do this and you will have less regrets later.

I don't mean to burst your bubble but if you get a serious repair you can't afford like an engine or a transmission that $5700 vette will be worth virtually nothing to you or anyone else. It sounds like this car has some issues and that is why it is being sold. The owner either can't afford or doesn't want to be bothered making the repairs.

Why do you think so many of these cars appear after many years in storage. Someone couldn't afford to fix them 10-15 years ago.

 

[crause]

How true the above post is. I bought my 75 from a guy who's father bought it in 1978 and drove it for a while then put it in storage from 1979 until 1997 which is when the son bought it from the dad. I wish I had checked further into how it was stored. It only had 39k miles. I am finding a lot of things that need attention. I still think it is a good car but not the cream puff it sounded like with that kind of mileage. I spent 14,500 on mine and since Sept. have spent another 1000 just trying to get it in dependable shape. I would suggest that you learn how to work on it yourself because the cost of bringing it to a mechanic is out of sight. Corvettes are kind of like boats in that respect, everything is more expensive if it says "Corvette or Marine". Buy some repair books and talk to mechanics and by all means keep current on CAC. I can't tell you all the great advise I have gotten here.

Good luck

Andy

 

[Macgyver]

Time, money, and back up vehicle I have. I just dont want to have to be forced into putting a new engine in. I would rather it be whne Im ready like in 3months. I plan on putting quite a bit into this vehicle so repairs and money are in mind when Im buying.

It would be nice for it to only cost 250 a year in repairs but I do plan on putting far more than that in mods each year. I def would not buy this car w/o my mechanic taking a look at it and telling me what s going to be involved if I buy it.

Basically Im planning on replacing most inner-workings like the oil pump, water pump, radiator.... all w/in a year but I just would like to have the most dependable Vette to start out w/ that I can afford.

 

[Flared69]

bring a torch on next inspection. rear wheel wells - look under the fenders and look for rust. ALL over it.

also check just under the rear for scratch marks which could be bottom outs on a gutter or something.

the rest is in this thread

 

[Macgyver]

Wouldnt anything this old have some rust?

How much is allowable?

 

[firedawg]

Another thing to keep in mind, I noticed under your picture, it said "Desperately Seeking an '81" and you're looking at an '80 although not much difference, keep in mind your reasons for wanting an '81 in the first place, whatever you do, don't settle! if you want an '81, wait for one to become available, there are all kinds of web sites where they list 'vettes for sale, so the resources are there. I made the mistake of setteling in the past with my camaro, I wanted an IROC and setteled for a newer one, ended up trading it in after a year. And you will regret it even more if you've put money into adding on alot of mods. Just another thing to think about

 

[Macgyver]

The reason for wanting the 81 was just basically the body style. The nose turns down a little more than the late 70's models so 79' or 80' would be just fine. I also wanted the power options. Ive lloked around quite a bit and all I found for the money Im willing to spend was junk. The Ttops are a must so that narrows it down a bit too. This one is the best Ive seen yet and it looks great. Just hope the Doc says the ticker on her aint a bum one. If so I wouldnt mind paying 1200 less for it to just replace the engine anyways.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

SteveO

 

[red70vette]

RUST! RUST! RUST!

Surface rust is inevitable and acceptable. Take a wire brush and see how much it takes to remove the rust down to clean steel.

Take a screw driver and poke it into parts of the frame especially in front of the rear wheel. Poke in the bottom,side, and back of the frame. If the screw driver pokes thru run do not walk home.

Corvettes rust first in the rear kick ups and in the windshield frame. If it has cancer there it is terminal without a whole lot of money and work. The frames can rust anywhere so check it thoroughly.

If it is solid and your mechanic feels that the engine is OK go for it. Just make sure you have the $$$$ to keep it going.

 

[Macgyver]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats it!!! Done ...and Done!

Im am now a Corvette Guy! Althouhg I shouldnt celebrate yet becaus its not in my drive way yet. The way things go for me it will get smashed on the way home so.... But its a done deal as far as it goes!

Shes so beautiful and I think she likes me already. I think I already hav a name for her

THank you very much for all the help guys and girls. THe engines in great shape it just needs the valve seals replaced kinda. It blows a slight amount of smoke when you accelerate hard, which they told me was caused by that. No rust, frame looks good, and the exhaust they told me looks great. NOW the fun begins!

 

[crause]

Welcome to the life of a Vette owner:cool :cool Now the fun begins. I know how you feel about wanting it in your driveway. I had to wait two weeks and then take a train trip to Wisconsin to get mine. Get to know her and learn as much as you can so that you can keep her in tip top shape. My kids named mine "e-vette" since I found her on the internet. I am getting a personalized plate "mydrm75". Congrats. again

Andy

 

[Macgyver]

Looks like I wont have it till monday afternoon or Tuesday but damn it feels good. It feels funny to refer to a car as "my corvette" !!!! Maybe Im just being a dork?

 

[Brack]

Congrats on your new find........I hope you have a little better luck than what I had.....I ( after 17 years ) finally bought my new toy.....an '82 with only 80k on it....it had been put for awhile...and soon after I got it home....lifter stuck , timing chain broke , broke a push rod , bent a valve.......motors out right now.....Kinda makes me wish I would have bought a daily driver instead...who knows

Good luck with your project

 

[Macgyver]

Aww come on bro dont be scaren me like that! The way things always go w/me something will happen pretty soon that will make me regret what I just did btu hopefully it wont be too bad. I have another car so whats the worst that can happen? Motor burns out. Iam prepared to get rebuild another one very soon. I already ran into another road block and had to jump through hoops and say the ABCs backwards just to get it inspected which made me start worry if it was a sign of many bad things to come. Im not going to worry and what ever happens happens. Iam prepared. Wouldnt want to ruin that First Cruise.

Youll see me wavin soon

 

[Brack]

not trying to scare ya......

Hope everything works out fine 4 ya..... Just thought I might share my little story with ya....

I know what you mean about the inspection problems....I had to adjust , change & clean alot of things ( sensors , etc ) to get mine to pass...I was suprised when it did on the first time......I was so worried about the emissions stuff that I forgot to check my horn...I had to fix the ground while he was doing the rest of the test on it......

Good luck....keep us posted