Kavinsky

I know that every car has its faults or trouble area's and I'm just wondering what are the corvette C3's?

I do already know of two something to do with switching over to stainless steel roters for the brakes and the parking brake:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...andalized.html

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the...ing-brake-kit/

possibily three with the seats (read something about how the 1978 - 1982 seats were supposedly more comfortable)

but what else did I miss?

and also when it comes to the engine note of the C3 is there any difference between an early C3 with a 350 V8 or a latter model one made in the late 70's early 80's with the 350? and how much of a difference would the kind carb make to the engine note, like say a 4 barrel Holly double pumper vs a rochester 2 barrel?

Tim H

Do you have any mechanical knowledge at all about cars?
Because this list could be 100 pages long comparing parts.

Easy Mike

Start here. Do your homework.


This is good if you can find a copy of it at a reasonable price. It's out of print.


Purchase three or four of the Corvette history coffee table books. All of them will you about the Corvette.

rdroe

I have 4 good books. Big, glossy pictures and a 1-2 page history of the cars. A LOT OF FUN knowing the different options and why each year is good AND bad. Not sure that there is any one year that you can say stay-away-from. Any part can be replaced with new in the C3 series although the early ones are getting a bit tough. And there are a lot of good friends here that can help.

anonymizer

My #4 spark plug gets gunk on it, causes the engine to do some weird things RPM-wise. (82)

builder

Might want to ask "What ISN'T and issue on the C3?" It might be a shorter list.

MelWff

Exactly how far away time wise are you from buying a C3?

wgarneau

Define 'issue'.

If you mean 'engineering faults that make it prone to having problems', that'll vary by year. T-tops like to leak though, and it's damn near impossible getting the windows aligned to them.

Also the rear windows on many of them leak.

The doors often had uneven spaces, and if the hood shuts evenly it's a fault by NCRS standards because stock that NEVER happens.

But overall they were well designed cars!

If you mean - what don't people LIKE about them.. Power I suppose. Lack of storage - particularly in the pre 78. Many years (pre 78 again) had small gas tanks and thus limited ranges. The 1975 was underpowered. The 1973-1981 had slightly less power than the 1971 and 1972, and the 1971-1972 had slightly less power than the pre-unleaded versions.

As for power.. The leaded cars got right around 220 net HP, the 1971-1972 got 200 net HP (as did the 1982), the 1973-1974 and the 1980-1981 got 190 HP, the 1975 got 160 HP, the 1976-1977 got 180 HP, the 1978 got 185 HP, and the 1979 got 195 HP.

Change the exhaust on any of them (to true duals without cats) and maybe tweak the air intake and they all get right around 220 HP. Torque will be at 300 base - roughly following HP up or down through the years.

wgarneau

Base models that is...

As for carbs - you might get better overall performance from a different carb, but you won't get more wide-open power. Really the Quadrajet is a good match for the engine.

Mike Ward

Reading his other posts, I'd say he'll need to wait a few years till he's old enough for a drivers license.

...Roger...

Alan 71

Hi K,
Since I'm familiar with the earlier cars, (68-72), I'll speak to the 'issues' with those.
The mechanical/ running gear/chassis areas of the cars were VERY dependable, and still are.
The frames began to rust and cause trouble as the cars aged, but certainly not on all cars.
The birdcage began to rust too because the cars definitely had water leak problems since new. But again, not all cars have birdcage rust.
What 'issues' a car may have now depends on how it was maintained, and if modified, how well the modifications were done.
Every car needs to be assessed on it's own merits.
Regards,
Alan

We're usually not such a 'tough' audience!

Dose11

Both books are 9.99 on Google Books

rdroe

And of course everyone is leaving out the 82. Hmmm.... The 82 with true duals puts out 200+ HP WITH the added benefit of Fuel Injection! It is the last of the Maco-Shark look & feel. The last of an era of the longest production model in the Corvette line, and IMHO, the best looking C series out of all of them. (Be kind to me) I do love the cross-fire.

wgarneau

I mentioned it (like this lol)!

rdroe

As you did.... And I thank you! :-)

Easy Mike

Wow! At 9.99 buy every copy of the Buyer's Guide they have.

Belgian1979vette

Let's begin with the biggest issue : they are money pits...

Easy Mike

Depends. All things considered, the overall expense of my two has been more than reasonable. I do my own work and I don't buy bling.

Nowhere Man

for one the newest one is 29 years old and the oldest one is 43 years old. the car is old and wore out.