What changes to make, for a driver?

[MaineShark]

So, I am collecting leads on Sharks, and am rapidly approaching the actual purchase.

What sort of things should I change, to make the car a better driver? I am not attempting to make a show car, so originality will take a back seat to quality.

For example, I have read about conversion parts to eliminate the points. I have also seen several people mention conversions to fuel injection, replacing the small-block radiator with a big-block radiator, replacing the mechanical fan with a pair of electric fans, replacing the brake components with stainless, etc.

What changes would be beneficial? What ones would not be worth the trouble? In what order would you make them?

Also, any price estimates and leads to suppliers would be helpful.

Thanks, Joe

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

Joe,
it is all about the wallet as far as mods go. if you are planning on buying and driving with the every now and then mod, i would most deffinately start with the suspension. at the least throw a poly bushing kit in. i replaced my suspension with the vette brakes performance plus kit, it works and rides great but costs about $2000.00. poly bushings and good shocks will run about $300. after that you can dable inthe world of horse power. this is were the big bucks can get away from you in a hurry. a nice easy cruzier set up with 350 hp can be had for around $2500-$3000. after you cross the 1 horse per cubic inch line the prices start going up exponentcialy. your stock car will easily handle 350 horse without any major side effects. C3's lack handling and power from all the other generations, but it can be regained. let us know what your intended use is, and we can narrow your choices and budget. best of luck shopping, brian

 

[ChuckG]

My best advice? I would get the car, drive it, and see how you like it Personally, a well prepared shark drives just fine "as is" in my opinion. SS brake calipers, etc. will likely have been done to any "old" shark. Modifications are a personal preference. You might be happy with your car "as it" Chuck

 

[Evolution1980]

Joe, ...let us know what your intended use is, and we can narrow your choices and budget.

...ditto...

 

[page62]

I agree. Ride it and drive it for a while -- work the bugs out.

Then (unless you're racing) put an overdrive transmission in it! Incredible bang for the buck -- and it even helps pay for itself with an incredible increase in gas mileage...

 

[Wamp]

74

I bought mine from a friend and thought I got a good deal. payed 6,000 for a complete stock 74. The car tilted to drivers side a little so first thing was poly body mounts. This didnt fix it, so next was vette brake products performance suspension kit. Hooker side pipes. I redid the interior myself. got paint job. new stock radiator. i'm up to 16,000, for my good deal and havent touched the engine or trans. ignition is my next project, converting it over. I woulda sold the car, but have corvette fever now and my friend passed away. If I had it to do over, I would start with suspension, brakes. engine and trans then go to interior.

wamp
74 coupe

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Wamp,

I think a lot of us in the rubber bumber C3 era have the same story. $5,000 - 7,000 to purchase it and $10,000 - $15,000 to fix it up. Now we are reading that the market is soft and they can't be sold for $10,000 and wondering what we did all the while knowing we love our cars.

I attacked mine with a safety and comfort first mentality. Suspension, brakes, a/c, etc. Cosmetics last.

If I hadn't spent the money here it would have gone to computers and other home electronics.

Keep your fingers crossed. They got to go up sometime.

Bob

 

[Evolution1980]

Don't buy the corvette as something you think you are going to make money on. There are very few cars out there anymore that allow for prospecting, and getting a solid return. Buy the Corvette as you would any other car you really want.

You used to be able to safely buy corvette and expect increasing value because of the times. Drop back to the mid-late 80's. ALL American cars were pretty much duds. Plain looking and little power to speak of. At that time, looking back at the late 60's, early 70's, you saw beautiful designs and monstrous power. Of course these cars were highly desirable. Now, as the power and refinements come back, the older cars aren't as attractive other than looks & nostalgia purposes.
Let's also add to this that leasing has had a tremendous negative impact on the collector market for corvettes. Why get an old one when you can just as easily lease a new one and then turn it in later?

Now, the plus side of all this, if any, is that we can get the cars cheaper (a second vette! yea!). Relatively speaking, Corvettes still hold their value better (or depreciate at a much slower rate) than just about any other car out there. So if you are going to own one, at least you know it's value hasn't decreased 45% the minute you drive it off the lot.

And a final note from me (in this post at least! )...let's say you buy a 1970 in just "Fair" condition. It will cost you more in the long run to make the car "Excellent" condition than to just buy an "Excellent" condition 1970. It's just a matter if you want it all now, or are willing to spread it out over time at the cost of it being a little more expensive.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

And a final note from me (in this post at least! )...let's say you buy a 1970 in just "Fair" condition. It will cost you more in the long run to make the car "Excellent" condition than to just buy an "Excellent" condition 1970. It's just a matter if you want it all now, or are willing to spread it out over time at the cost of it being a little more expensive.

This was my first older car. I am learning this the hard way. Am I unhappy. Not really. I know what I fix or have fixed is done right. You can get the restored one, and I think this is common, that some of the repairs are good enough for the prior owner or "bubbaed".

Now that I know the prices of things I can go look at a car at one of the yards with great paint and a good interior and know by looking closer at the door panel or dash that it needs a couple of $300 - 400 pieces that the last owner thought was acceptable. I guess what I am saying is that even the good condition cars selling for top dollar will surprise you what they will cost when you try to do some of the final items. But then again I tend to be a little of a perfectionist.

Last Winter, before prices dropped, I looked at a 77 with beautiful paint, a good interior and represented to be in good mechanical condition. I had just replaced several of the interior panels in mine. I sat in the car and withing 2 minutes I had a mental check list of $1,000 in parts. Nothing substantial, mind you, but just weatherstripping, a panel with a crack, etc.

And God know what the Bubba repair will cost you when you pull a panel off and are surprised with what they did to keep repairs down.

Bob

 

[Wamp]

was i complaining?

Didnt mean to give the impression that I was complaining about the dollas $$$$$ in my vette. I regret not parking the car and starting from the ground up, instead I started from the top down (lol). After having my vette a little over two years I wouldent sell her for 30,000 (maybe 35,000). Every dollar I stick in that car is money well spent. I do homecoming parades with the local vette club, when the kids pick my 30 year old car over a brand new 50,000 car, every dime was well spent.

wamp
74

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Wamp,

I didn't take it you were complaining. Just the reality of the situation.

Bob

 

[gooney0]

Corvette Cliche

Buy the best you can afford. Then be prepard to fix it anyway. Evo1980's is right. I bought a 72 in fair condition for $8,800. its now in fair condition and i've spent $20,000 in repairs over 4 years!

I could have bought one hell of show car for $28,000.....

But... I don't regret it. I've owned a classic Corvette for 4 years and its unlikely i'd have ever piled up $28,000.

The car is now worth 10 - 12,000. :-( and i just got done spending $13,600

You'll enjoy it though. You only live once.

-Gooney0

 

[page62]

Bingo! It's all about passion, not about money. How many opportunities will we get to own something as fun as this?

 

[MaineShark]

Guess I should have been more specific. Performance modifications will come later. Safety and reliability come first - the car will be a daily driver, so these are the most important.

And I definitely don't plan to make money on it - I plan to own a Corvette, and enjoy it

Joe

 

[Evolution1980]

I'll leave this up to the people that drive their car on a daily basis. Mine's only a seasonal driver (being up here in Cleveland). I know what I've done to mine over the years, but priority of things wasn't a major issue...

 

[smurfvet]

I bought a 74 t top for 6500 three years ago. Lo hp engine, but with the Muncie 4 speed and posi. The car was original, right down to the bad foam in the seats and original dated door panels. The only missing things were the AIR system and the upper chrome shrouds.

I was fortunate enough to get a car that already had a bunch of massaging done to it- new master cylinder, 4 sleeved calipers, stainless brake hoses and emergency brake parts, all new rear end bushings, mounts, etc. I had to do the front end bushings, ball joints and tie rod ends. I found out early on that the bushings were shot- poor handling and "movement" when none should have been there.

Safety on a 20-something year old car that sits a few months in a garage is most important (at least in upstate NY). Bite off small pieces as you go, rather than jumping in to get everything done at once.. Better yet, learn how to do it yourself- it keeps you off the streets! I used seat covers and floor mats for a couple of years.

Since then, more work- new interior, clean up, etc,etc. Looks and drives like a million bucks.

 

[Wamp]

Air

Please Explain missing AIR system. I am confused.... Are you talking vacume system, airconditioning or smog air system?

wamp
74 coupe

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Air Injection Reactor, basically the smog pump.

 

[Wamp]

AIR

My 74 did not ever have it. Thought that was a 75 option. When I ordered my Hooker headers they sent me ones with the inlets, I just plugged them. Are you sure it was once on there?

Wamp
74

 

[Ala75Vette]

I have the 1974 GM Service Manual, and it describes in detail the Air Injection Reactor (AIR) system, in section 6T-19, Emission Control Systems, with pictures of it and how it hooks up (along with all the great 'theory' behind it).... I have a '75 vette, so I also have the '75 shop manual supplement, but it's the '74 service manual that describes it (A.I.R.)....