I'm going to start to try to post one question everyday. Here's the first one:
If money was no object and you could make ONE change to your C3, what would it be and why?
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79:
Paint is top of the list but I would love to put a new frame under the car first. I have done the body-off years ago to repair what I could and the paint is from 1985 when PO had the car stripped and painted by a body shop (not a very good one) Lots of work would be needed to repaint.
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
EFI.
Yikes! How many times have we uttered That Statement? For me, a 65' Super Sport keeps haunting me.
I would have to go along with others on paint and body work. I had an estimate to do it all and the cost was more than many say was way above the value the car
DanT
I would have to go along with others on paint and body work. I had an estimate to do it all and the cost was more than many say was way above the value the car
I'm already way, WAY upside down on my car :-). I have to remind myself it's a hobby, not an investment.
But yes, if money were no problem I'd have the bodywork and paint redone by a pro. The DIY approach didn't work out as well as I had hoped.
Fortunately, "Ole Blue" doesn't need anything major. Replacing the side exhaust would probably be the largest expense at this time.
Paint, would love to see it original color .Lemans Blue
I would take my car and the 700R4 I have to the trans shop and tell them to call me when it's finished. The RPM's at 70 MPH with the turbo 400 & 3.55's is too much.
I would have the under-dash rewired. Too many hands had been in there over the years, and while I have fixed many issues, it needs new wiring from the fuse box and out. (I'd love to have blade fuses instead of the old glass type ones as well.)
Mine would be to take the body off the frame and replace fuel and brake lines along with everything else I missed having not taken the body off the first go around.
Mel
Lifetime Member #90
My wife June would definitely say "paint"!
I tend to think of the slightly "aged" paint as showing 132k miles of "memories😄, but wouldn't say no to new paint.
But I'd probably prefer to have the chassis refreshed first, then the motor. We've pretty much done everything at the back, but I'd like the front ball joints and bushes etc looked at, an d I'm not sure I'm quite up to that! And I couldn't deal with the motor I don't think.....
If money was absolutely no object, then I ship the car to Carrs Corvettes in Texas and have them do a bit of :resto-modding" I saw a photos some years ago of a '78 Pace Car that they had done. Outwardly, indistinguishable from a stock car, but underneath a later (C4?) chassis and nice new LS engine and later trans. The perfect combo in a way for me.
I would like to get the interior back installed, the new stainless brakes installed, the fluids changed and readied for the road!
I'd say an aluminum 2013 427 engine
I would have an LS7, 427/570hp engine and 4L75 transmission installed in place of the original 190hp L81 and 350 transmission in my 1981 C3.
Every Corvette should have a 427!
My first choice probably would have been paint, however I had a nice low-budget/respectable paint job completed last summer. I guess that would leave the suspension now, I would like to upgrade the front/rear to one of the aftermarket coil-over/shock set-ups and add HD Brakes/rotors. I love to Autocross, and road course my cars, and who wouldn't love to see a C3 hanging w/the newer performance vehicles.
I would like to do a wrap on mine. I'm afraid with new paint I would just get the stone chips back. The wrap would offer some protection, I think.
I had a complete paint job last year so that is out. So it would be to install a 5 speed Tremec and get the engine rpm down.
finally arrived and rarin' to ride
- SAVE THE WAVE -
I would have an LS7, 427/570hp engine and 4L75 transmission installed in place of the original 190hp L81 and 350 transmission in my 1981 C3.
Every Corvette should have a 427!
What he said !!!👆