77 Corvette? WWLat-gD - Lateral-g Forums

OLDFLM · #1 08-17-2011, 09:17 AM

Many of you know my Dad passed unexpectedly last November 17th... he was a car guy and loved this Forum and the FREEDOMBIRD. He left behind his 57 Woodill Wildfire that he'd had since the early 60s (Glaspar kit car / predecessor to Shelby's Corbra imo) and his 77 Corvette Stingray.

The Corvette is completely stock sans for the candy apple red paint that was done by ProTeam Corvettes in Napolean OH during a restoration by the previous owner who my Dad bought the car from 15+ years ago. The car has always been garage but seldom driven. So it's going to need all the mechanicals checked out before it goes on the road again.

Mom asked if I wanted the car and if not how much it was worth. I know 77's aren't worth much and they were down on power. And intially I wasn't interested since I already have the FREEDOMBIRD and prefer the chrome bumper 68-72 vettes. But today is the 9 month anniversay of his passing and I'm rethinking the car. I could get it, restomod it, and keep it as a memorial of him and his love of cars.

Again it's stock san the paint. And it's got a red leather interior that will have to go if the car stays red. I'm sure the paint has the usual fiberglass cracks and spiderwebs by now too so a repaint isn't out of the question.

Long post, sorry guys, just thinking out loud as I type this...

What would Lat-g do???

V/R,
Ty

Rick D · #2 08-17-2011, 09:52 AM

I say rebuild it, maybe lsx and 6sp auto nice wheels repaint, nothing over the top so if you ever HAD to sell you wouldn't be to far into it cash wise that you could get your money out. Try to think how your dad would have wanted to build if he going to do it, remember he will be there watching to make sure you build it right. But I say go for it

Another thought maybe look into how hard or if at all possible to change out the front and rear and put chrome bumpers on it??

69MyWay · #3 08-17-2011, 10:53 AM

If you want a memorial to him - then you need to do what you can to preserve and or build it into how he had or wanted it.

On the other hand, if you had the kind of relationship with him where he would have wanted you to do what you think best....Then I'd paint it back candy red...then go nuts with the rest of it so it will perform as good as it looks.

There are a ton of cool things you can do with a C3 and some awesome products on the market now to make it easy.

OLDFLM · #4 08-17-2011, 11:40 AM

VIN # is 1Z37L7S418648, just got that via text from Mom. Don't even know what it is or what it has really. It's just Dad's Corvette.

I see a driving restomod at first after getting it roadworthy again. He didn't drive or register it the last several years but before that he'd take it up to the square in Bryan OH for the local cruise nights etc. Fluids, brakes, waterpump etc will need checked.

He intially liked it orginal (even though it had the candy paint) but loved what we did with the FREEDOMBIRD and was talking with a local guy about aluminum heads and a cam for more power just before his passing. It'll definately need more power than stock!

I see a real world budget with updated suspension/shocks, wheels/tires, and better brakes over the long term. Nothing over the top though. I was very blessed with all the support recieved on the FREEDOMBIRD and Chad building it for nothing... I will be doing this myself on a post retirement budget in a 2-car garage.

Suggestions? WW

D?

69MyWay · #5 08-17-2011, 11:49 AM

Okay then,

You could do a Edelbrock type power package (heads, cam, intake, carb, dist) with headers and a ton of detail work under the hood.

You can contact www.vbandp.com and get their full performance plus suspension that will transfrom front and rear to fiberglass transverse springs and come with new control arms...etc so that you can rebuild the whole suspension at one time. This system lets you set ride height and stiffness.

Next, I'd get a rack and pinion conversion - the stock steering is drifty and weak in these things.

Wilwood and others now make nice bolt on brakes to upgrade - or at least go with an aluminum because the old cast ones are problematic at best.

Put a set of offset trailing arms on the rear so that you can stuff a ton of rubber in the back.

OLDFLM · #6 08-17-2011, 01:24 PM

Sounds like a good plan!! And something I can do in stages while still enjoying the car!

I'd love to do a chrome bumper swap and flares like your old car but that is just too over the top for my budget!

This will be a fun cruiser with updates for performance, handling and braking. It has AC so it may even turn into my sunny day driver while going thru the upgrades. Just don't want another 3 year down time while not having something fun to drive and work on.

What size tire will fit a C3 without fender flares btw? I kinda like the look of the C3 in the Digital Corvettes logo...

rwhite692 · #7 08-17-2011, 03:18 PM

Any emissions compliance issues for a 1977 vehicle, where you are?

OLDFLM · #8 08-17-2011, 04:31 PM

I don't think so... I'm in Orlando FL now.

Car is currently in NW Ohio so I need to figure out how to get it down here.

Anybody coming from Detroit/Chicago to PRI? LOL

**GregWeld** · #9 08-17-2011, 05:23 PM

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer.... but we are talking about a '77 Corvette...

There is nothing you can do to really make it cool -- especially on a budget... So if it was me -- and taking into account the "value" - there is NO monetary value to the car... only sentimental. Have it trailered down to you.... and set up in a nice garage space - and let it just be a nice reminder of your Dad.

The tires are rotted by now (after 6 years)... and the fluids all need to be changed.... Put some new tires on it - and service all the stuff and take it to the grocery store once in awhile... take it on a nice drive on Sunday... and park it again til the next time. I would not "invest" a dime in it other than to make it "serviceable".

If you want power and to go to a show - take the 'Bird....

70rs · #10 08-17-2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I don't want to be a Debbie Downer.... but we are talking about a '77 Corvette...

There is nothing you can do to really make it cool -- especially on a budget... So if it was me -- and taking into account the "value" - there is NO monetary value to the car... only sentimental. Have it trailered down to you.... and set up in a nice garage space - and let it just be a nice reminder of your Dad.

The tires are rotted by now (after 6 years)... and the fluids all need to be changed.... Put some new tires on it - and service all the stuff and take it to the grocery store once in awhile... take it on a nice drive on Sunday... and park it again til the next time. I would not "invest" a dime in it other than to make it "serviceable".

If you want power and to go to a show - take the 'Bird....

I agree with Greg. The value is in the memories. And those are priceless.
Make the car safe first, brakes, tires, steering/suspension, electrical. Then some minor upgrades to the existing engine, maybe an intake, carb, headers. Maybe even a cam.
Clean it up and drive it. Any car on the road is better than a car in various piles in the garage. The upgrades I mentioned can be done on a very small budget and each one done at home over a weekend.
I'm sure whatever you do will be nice. I am glad you decided to keep it in the family.