Going to be working on your C3 this spring/summer?

What types of things are you going to be doing?

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

My first Vette, now owned by JB79:

replacing electric wiring harness,  for now probably only in the engine bay since i might not have the time to take dash out this year.

i will come back with questions about this later on :) 

 art-corvette

Not this Summer, but in the fall I plan on pulling the engine & transmission (again for the 5th time).  After going into the 4-speed transmission twice, Joel provided information that should finally fix it from jumping out of 2nd gear.  I have already purchased two syncro sliders that have tapered teeth to keep them in gear.

I also have a oil leak that is probably coming from around the rear main bearing cap -- I usually put a bit of silicon in the joint under the cap, but I forgot when I rebuilt the engine last year.

That, hopefully, will be the last major thing I need to do on this car.  It now has fuel-injection, air conditioning, tilt steering, rebuilt power steering and brakes, etc., etc.

Plan on putting the dash back in and getting it back to driver status. Then will probably put it on the market.

Every year I just try to keep up with regular maintenance, as my '76 is a one owner survivor (now)

The parking brake needs some attention, and maybe some carb cleaning.

Novelty has kinda worn off after doing this for forty-five years!

I look at that as a "rite-of-passage" into the fun of the upcoming driving season...!!!  And in these times of Shelter-in-Place some "quality alone time" in the garage may save a marriage...!!!   😷   🤣

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

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

It might be time to hand the baton to someone else who will carry on your `76's legacy.  Pretty amazing being the original owner of a vehicle that turned most heads that you drove by back then - especially young teens who drooled as you drove by. (that's why I bought a C3 after seeing a guy's white `76 in the body shop after a mishap when I was a very impressionable lad).

On the other hand, you and your wife, and grown kids/grandkids if applicable - might enter a state of depression if not for the reassuring/beloved C3 under the cover in your garage.  And, if you let the kids/grand kids drive it a little more often and allow it to be in a show or parade or two it will make it even harder for them to let go and look at that empty spot that it has been parked in for years!  And, I imagine that there are some fantastic family stories about the car that you might be willing to share, including pics.

A tough decision that all of us will one day face.  But, wanted to congratulate you for carrying the  torch for our beloved C3 hobby for so many years.

Dave V. (lakeside49)

voglewedes@gmail.com

p.s. I happened to work for a fellow (Barry Engle) at Ford Motor Company - who is the President of General Motors for the time being (leaving to be an investment banker) and had lunch with him last week, allowed him to drive my `82.  He loved driving his first C3.  I'll try to attach a picture.  But, know that the top GM brass acknowledge and envy your C3 experience, even compared to the C8. 

Lakeside 49

Bumpers. Replaced the rear with a fiberglass 80's style, currently fiberglassing the seam on it. The front bumper, i used the original (i may regret it). I drilled a bunch of holes in it for the fiberglass to adhere better to, and basically put a layer of fiberglass over the entire bumper. It is a slow tedious process, and i probably will have more into it then if i replaced it with a fiberglass one, but im gonna see it through to the end now. I learned that duraglass just doesnt stick to that rubber/urethene, whatever its made of. My goal is to get the car in black primer at least so maybe my wife will tske a ride in it with me. I need to get speedometer working, the horn working, and still need to figure out the vaccuum issue for headlamps to pop up. After all thats done i can start prettying it up. I have the interior door panels, they arent in the greatest shape, but a little tlc im hopimg to bring them back to life. On a side note, i think it would be so cool to take the rear window out, and come up with a way to hinge it so it opens. 

Frame off restoration. This is my 1976 that I bought new in 76 sold after 2 years. Then I found it and bought it back after 41 years. Now it is at a restoration shop where they have removed the body from the frame. The frame was then stripped and media blasted and then the frame and all suspension components have been powder coated. It is getting a Borgeson steering box, all new springs and other suspension parts. Also getting a Tremec 5 speed trans and the engine is getting rebuilt. The entire bottom end is getting balanced, the block has been bored .20 over with new ICON domed pistons and a new cam shaft. The heads will be ported, polished and a new aluminum intake with the original Rochester carb rebuilt. They say they are getting me about 420hp. The paint is in great shape so that will not be needed and I will be doing the interior myself. Hopefully getting back from the shop this spring. The car is a White 76 with black leather interior. It has the L-82 engine, M41 close ratio trans, 3:70 rear end and gymkhana suspension. No air or power locks or windows. According to the Vette Black Book it is 1 of 3 built this way.

I thought all the production records for St. Louis were lost in a fire!

I am the original owner of my '76. I have always wondered how unique mine is.

Could someone check their Vette Black Book to find out how many were made like mine:

Replace body mount bushings. Any advice?

How did you come to 1 of 3?  Just curious.

Mine is 1 of about 6 using the 240 a/c LT-1s, it's a convertible, and it was white.  Just using the percentages of each.

According to my Black Book, only 2088 M21 trannys if you have that.
Also, 6253 came with aluminum wheels.
What do you mean by air conditioner delete?  A/C was an option not standard.

Bright Blue was 3268.

My spring project?  Sell it.

Before I can get to spring projects I have to finish the winter projects!

A failed master cylinder finally got me to tackle some behind the dash wiring problems (I’m replacing the booster and master as a set, so the dash must come out).

Since the dash is out, I’m going to finally recalibrate the speedo that reads 15mph low… 

And as long as I’m tearing into the interior I’m putting my original radio back in since it looks right for the car. Can’t hear music anyway when driving so who cares what it sounds like. 

And it seems like a good time to finally reinforce the seat frames. Some Neanderthal bent the heck out the them when I was getting it aligned, and they have never been the same since. 

When all that’s done I’ll start on my list of Spring projects lol. 

I hear you on not hearing the radio!  I replaced mine with a nice bluetooth radio because the backlight on mine did not work so I couldn't see what station it was on.  But I seldom listen to it.  The new radio has so many features/functions that it's hard to get to what I want to play -- and it is still hard to hear anyway.

My speedometer is very accurate, but the tachometer is off by about 30%.  The '75 was the first year of the electronic tach, mine did not work so I replaced the circuit board.  There is no calibration other than setting the needle to zero as per the instructions, so I really don't know why this one is off.  It's such a pain to remove the dash anyway so I haven't been very interested in getting back into it.