What do you have in mind for your C3 this winter?

Projects?

Storage?

Driving?

-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry 
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry

My first Vette, now owned by JB79:

After spending over three years getting everything right on my '75, I plan on getting some driving enjoyment out of it -- until something else goes south. . .

My 73 is going to be sleeping the winter away 5 feet in the air.

Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Mine is already asleep for the winter, but only 2 feet in the air. We had our first snow mid October, Once the salt is applied to the roadway it's put away until the rain washes off the salt in the spring.  😭

Finish rebuilding/restoring the front suspension so I can put the engine back in.

1973 L-82 4 spd

Yup, The five feet in the air, and salt are my sentiments as well! 

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I'll be driving mine.  About once a week.

Goes to figure -- went out to the garage today, and all the water/antifreeze is all over the floor!  I pressure checked it, and it indicated just a small leak.  I'm sure this will be fun trying to find the leak. . .

Try Bar's Stop Leak.  I've had good luck with it. 

1973 L-82 4 spd

The first thing I had to do once I got the C3 home from the dealer this fall is replace the radiator because the previous owner used Bars Leak and it plugged the radiator up beyond repair. Bars Leak is a very good band aid but it doesn't solve the problem in the long run.

I have a ton planned for mine. I’m having a custom 383 stroker built for it, cleaning and painting the engine bay, upgrading to a Frostbite rad, replacing the ps pump as it’s leaking and putting in a chrome one, putting Rocket Attack 18” wheels on with new tires, adding new Brawler carb, replacing severely bent and rusty Hooker headers, and putting on some heat shields for my headers. After all this I will consider some new paint.  Trying to get this done in time for a lot of spring driving. 

Oh....and upgrading the suspension to a Ridetech streetgrip kit. 

Got under the car today to find the leak -- the lower radiator hose was leaking; I don't understand how it can take pressure for weeks, then suddenly leak just sitting there.  I also found a heater hose had a hole rubbed in it by the AC bracket.  I had slit a piece of hose to protect it, but it slipped around and still got cut.  The new one will get routed differently. . .

Bill don't feel alone. Not a Corvette, but when I went into the garage yesterday my 1961 Norton ES2 motorcycle had a large puddle of oil under it. I did not notice the puddle before yesterday and it was oil tight all summer. The only difference was  that we had below zero temperature two days ago and the garage is not heated. I have no idea why that would cause it to leak the oil. I'll need to wait til spring to check it out. 

Nortons are what I had for many years.  a 68 Commando 750 Fastback which I put over 75,000 miles on, 67 G15, and a 74 850 (which is now in a museum in Pennsylvania).  Great bikes, but I now ride Harleys.

I hear you about the Harley's, I'm a lifetime member of HOG.

Is there a chance that there was some water in the oil, and freezing caused it to push the case apart a bit?

I just got mine, and it needs a few things to get it ready for inspection, so it's going to have to sit for now.  My other active project is a 1957 Chevy Panel Truck, and I'm trying to finish that out for inspection before diving into the 'Vette.

Wish I still had one to do something on it...!!!  As it is I'll be spending some time working on 'BLKBRRD' replacing the drivers seat cushion, taking the dash apart to replace the temperature gauge and probably pulling the FITECH TBFI system off (just have never gotten it to work quite right).  There's a carb guru down in BV and will see about getting him to rebuild the original Q-Jet over the snowy months.  Oh, and pulling the radiator to have it checked out (been running too hot towards the end of the summer). 

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

I put Holly's Sniper EFI on mine and love it.  I could never get the Holly Double Pumper working right.
I just finished repainting mine and everything else works -- for now. . .

At the time the FITECH system was the "sweet heart" of the bunch.  The Holley system came out after I bought so missed it by a bit.  I've been told by some folks that the "self-learning" systems have a bit of trouble figuring things out at higher altitudes (I live at 9,200 feet ASL) but I haven't totally bought into that theory.  I should probably buy a "TBFI For Dummies" book and put it under my pillow for a few nights to absorb some stuff, maybe that will help some.

Interesting color choice Bill.  Looks good with the color fade on the hood.

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Right about TBFI For Dummies!  When I bought this '75 five years ago, I didn't want one with a computer, but since then I've put the TBFI and Holley's electronic ignition box in along with Vintage Air air conditioning, all of which have computers in them.

I'd like to get the system tuned on a dyno, but the closest one is a few hours away.  I set the timing and fuel ratio in the computers, but I'm sure a professional could fine-tune it much better.  On a cold day it is a bit cold-natured in the first mile -- not like an EFI system should be.

Probably put mine up for sale.  😲

NO! Don't do it. A lot of life left in it yet. Gas is still available, electric cars are not what they claim to be! You can still keep it and buy a newer one, VETTE, that is! 

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I wish I had room for 2 Vettes.  You know, the new C8 ZO6 is 80 inches wide.  I measured where my C3 sits and if I parked that ZO6 in my garage, I wouldn't be able to open the door to get out. 

Wouldn't mind having a C6 ZO6.

I have no use for an electric car.

ELECTRIC HEADLIGHT DOOR ACTUATORS.

NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Hi Bill,

Better late than never, I didn't see your response until today, go figure.

The engined wet stumped and the oil came out of the weep hole for the main bearing on the drive side of the engine. I drained the oil tank this winter so it won't happen again. Thanks for your idea on the subject.

This winter I'm having the interior renewed along with body mounts and the suspension rubbers replaced. I'm having a restoration shop near me do the work because I don't have the ability to lift the body for the body mount replacement. The rest of the work will save me time next summer so I can drive it more. Besides it is in a climate controlled environment for this winter.

Did you check the fuel regulator, many of the fitech's were sent out with 3 bar instead of 4 bar regulators, I had to change two units to get them to work correctly as the injectors are 4 bar. Good luck

Lee Webb
My Email

I plan to get the parking brake working. Of course, first I have to get under it and see what parts I need to order. Real soon now...

I'm new to this site/club.  My mostly original 327/4sp convertible '68 made a noise and quit running.  So I might be doing a lot to it this winter.  I have it at the shop where they will advise whether it just needs a bit of attention or maybe I am looking at some bigger decisions.  I always thought if the original engine went kerplunk (that's what it sounded like) I would consider my options.  I am considering what to do when I get the diagnosis...rebuild the orig 327/300 and keep it as much of a survivor as possible (never been graded), follow my teenager still in me (part of the reason we all play with these things) and go with a 383 stroker/new 5 spd gearbox, drive axle etc and throttle body fuel injection, go with that same line of thinking but add significantly more to the budget and go with an LS conversion, new 5 spd gearbox, etc etc etc.  I can help but hope a little bit that the oig therw a rod, cracked the block and I am forced to make some "more power" decisions.  Has anyone got any feelings/experience about the Holley throttle body injection system vs full on LS conversion???

Signed...torn between my budget and more power

I had new parking brake shoes, drums, and cables replaced on mine, and it still does not hold on just a slight hill.  I use both the parking brake along with putting it in 1st or reverse gear to keep her from running away. . .

I wonder if there is something else I should be looking at in order to make the parking brake more solid.  It is adjusted so the handle is only about half-way up when pulled hard.

I don't know about the 300 hp 327, but I had a factory crate 327/360 hp in a 62 Chevy Nova, and that was an awesome motor -- high RPM, gobs of power.  I'd take something like that over a 350 -- at least in a light car like the Nova.  On the other hand, the LS is a powerful and robust motor.

My understanding of the 5 speed trannys is that they are quite a bit larger than a 4-speed, and probably require some cutting of the trans tunnel. . .

If you didn't replace both cables (main cable and crossover cable) then you need to verify that they're not frozen inside their housing. That was a problem in the rust belt when people didn't use their parking brake regularly.

Did you use a stainless steel parking brake shoe and hardware kit?

1973 L-82 4 spd

As a possibility, cables stretch,  so they may need to be adjusted underneath the car. Very easy to get to. If the inside handle comes all the way up with little resistance, that may be your next project. 

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I did get the all stainless kit for the brake shoes.  The washers that hold the springs down in the kit I got were not machined right and would not hold onto the little rod that they twist onto, so I had to get those at a parts store.  You'd think for the price they charge they would at least work correctly. . .

I wonder if I need to adjust the slack adjusters at the brake shoes?

New front carpet and install new leather seat covers, (Corvette Americas) 

After having done this back in 1994 when I first got the car, I thought it was time for a refresh. 

I bought the seat covers and carpet from our friends at Willcox.

Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System