Thread: Picking a Corvette

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Wow that vette looks fantastic! The side pipes are vintage for the era of the car! Hopefully a simple ignition switch replacement will fix the not shutting off part! Glad you had such a great trip. Know what you mean about expensive meals. Took a buddy out to lunch at a brew pub and ended up paying 60 bucks for 2 beers each, and a cheese buger a piece. Mind that included the tip. But can't afford doing that too often! I think you chose very well on your vette, and hope when you get out in it, you have fond memories of your friend! Steve.

For what it is worth I purchased a used 1976 L48 350 that was taken out of a '76 Vette and replaced by a 383 stroker. I was unaware of the low 180 HP rating of the stock L48 and my goal has been to reach a 300 HP 350 in a fiberglass '29 Ford roadster. The 76-77 had the Rochester four barrel carb which will probably need to be rebuilt or replaced. It was a good carbeurator when new with two small venturies and two very large "hog-holes" so economy is possible as long as you don't punch the accelerator. More recent four barrel carbeurators are available and the cam is easily improved for more power. My L48 is only a two-bolt main block so 300 HP is reasonable but if you replace the engine it might be good to look for a four-bolt main block if you want higher HP. I too like the looks of the 77 among the three you show and the new paint is enticing but I think you may be surprised at how detuned the engine is. Just for conversation you need to realize that an upgrade to 300 HP is probably easy with an Edelbrock RPM manifold, headers and some port cleaning of the 882 heads or other aftermarket heads. Just my two cents but I would take the 77 with the idea of adding some engine improvements.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

For now I'd like to make it movable. Doesn't run to good due to a fuel problem so I'm in process of removing the fuel pump. I believe he put a kit in the carb. If the fuel pump doesn't make a difference, then I have an Edelbrock that I'll slap onto it. It's the typical 010 engine.
I'm not one for getting a tear in the eye. Came close, but I could see that happening sometime soon.

I've been working on the Vette alittle. At first it would only run when I put alittle gas in the carb so I put a fuel pump on it. Then it was pouring gas into the motor bigtime. Took the carb apart and noticed the spring on the acc pump was on the wrong side. Still wouldn't run right so I put a different intake and carb on it. Runs good now. The damper must have slipped on the harmonic balancer because the slot on it doesn't line up with the #1 piston up.
I also put the newer gauges in it with the new circut board. The lights work for those gauges, but none of the gauges work. I did get a new circut board for the tach and that works now. Still tinkering on it. This is alot different to work on then the GTO was.

Post some pics when you get a chance. It's a great car, with a great story!

A little cramped on space to work on them. Yes pictures would be great

The door panels are in Florida yet. He'll be moving so I'm sure he'll find them. It wasn't to fun changing the ignition switch on the column. The bracket that mounts to the right lower control arm for the stabilizer bar was missing. Strange. I found a guy who cut one off so I can weld that on pretty easy. He also had trany work done which was a plus.

Body looks to be in nice shape Terry!!! Definitely worth fixing all those little things to have a nice driver, for sure!!!!!

Wow that is one nice car! Even the tires look new! I like the seats too, they look freshly redone!

I thought maybe the seats were redone, but the passengerside has a nasty stain on the front lower part. I did weld the bracket on for the stabilizer bar today. I also looked at a 76 down the street a few blocks in a lot for sale. What a difference in shape. Probably never touched before. Both bumper cover are completely shot. This will be fun. It'll bring back some memories burning down the highway.
Happy B-day Tech!!!

So yesterday I thought I'd get the gauges working. Messed with it most of the day. Then After changing the temp sending unit and nothing changing, I'd thought I'd have acouple of beers and do some more pondering on the problem. During the night I'd thought.....hey!! I got it figured out. So early this morning I took the system apart (gauges) oil, water, fuel and temp. Put it back together and BAMB...everything but the fuel gauge works. It was missing the insulators for the Volt meter. It sure pays to sleep on it. Ground problem. I think it was the beer, but who's to argue.

I love it when it comes to you and boom it works.

Me too. Usually it's "Nope, that didn't work". LOL!