frankcfalco

This maybe a big open ended question but... I am looking at possibly buying a C3 corvette. I LOVE the body style (1986-1972). BUT the car has to handle as well as my 2011 GT500 and has to be as fast. No I KNOW this is going to require big mods. But what would those Mods be? power to weight needs to be in the mid to low 6 number. Current GT500 is 625 crank and 3900 weight. That means about 550hp for a C3. I know it's going to be a big task, but curious about what it would take to do.

Thanks,
Frank

MelWff

Gee, where to start? Basically everything from the front suspension working your way back through the engine, transmission and rear suspension.
Front suspension, Bilstein shocks, aftermarket A arms, aftermarket springs, spreader bar, larger sway bar, wider tires and wheels.
Highly modified engine.
Modern 5 or 6 speed transmission.
Rebuilt differential with appropriate gearing.
Upgraded half-shafts.
Rear suspension, offset trailing arms, aftermarket spring, larger sway bar, install aluminum plates to mount rear cross member to frame, aftermarket strut rods,wider tires and wheels.
This is just a general idea. Others will probably go into greater detail.
Maybe getting the car first and seeing whether you like it as is would be a good place to start.

fishslayer143

Start at your BANK.. Take out a very LARGE Loan...

jim2527

Either forget it or.....

Suspension: VanSteel, Ridetech, Detroit Speed. Pick a budget...
Engine: 427 small block Have fun.

Getting an old car to handle and accelerate like a newer-ish car is not impossible but almost impossible.

Just my opinion….

Fast81

Tube frame with components from newer Corvette Generation.............................. ............and yeah, a BIG bank account

frankcfalco

Hmmm yes in doing the research it is seeming like it will not be possible. Or at least for my $30k budget. Which leaves me to either re-set expectations and just get a nice C3 and enjoy it, and forget about performance. Or keep the Shelby. I think for now it will be keep the Shelby and maybe buy a C3 as a toy once the kids are done with college.

Eric P

C3's are fun , cool , great looking and were decent performers in their time period , you could easily get 400 hp reliable crankshaft power coupled to a 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic along with some simple upgrades to the suspension and enjoy it for what it is . , Trying to build it to keep up with a new 80K muscle car will require 90K or more

jim2527

$30K

$10k car
$10k suspension
$10K engine

73racevette

It is entirely possible within a $30k budget, but it depends a lot on what you do yourself. If you do it all yourself, you won't spend that much. But if you drop it off at the local speedshop and give them your wish list, it is likely to be over $100k.

Jebbysan

I have the VB&P monoleaf front suspension and the monoleaf spring in the rear with adjustable links.....and a older pair of Carrera shocks....this along with the Nitto 555's and the front/rear alignment I had done will put it pretty close to a new Challenger in cornering but like a new Stang or 1LE Camaro? Forget it.......too far outside the cars design window......BUT.....quite a few autocross these cars and when dialed in proper on sticky's they will surprise you......
Look up Danny Popp......as good of handling C3 as you will ever see......and not terribly exotic.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/auto...ingray-hustle/

Jebby

Jstan2014

Fast81

WASNT trying to discourage you other than to manage your expectations.

NOW if you found a C3 parts car with a nice body for $1-2K, you could come in under $30K doing the work yourself.

Rusted frame = good for you as you didnt need it anyway
missing motor/trans = again good as you'll want an LS drop in or crate motor etc.

It CAN be done

Kacyc3

Id love to see a cost coparison of adding the aftermarket upgrades for handling and brakes vs the cost of a frame with C5 parts, oh then turbo ls.

Metalhead140

Depends how you define handling. If you mean absolute speed / capability then yes it can be done, doesn't require anything too trick in the suspension either really. If you mean capability plus easy driveability then it will be more expensive / difficult. Here are two time sheets from events I have run my daily driven 1979 Corvette in in the past week. The only cars that have beaten me have been outright race cars on slicks, and I have beaten many dedicated race cars as well.

cv67

C3 can be made to handle very well...make the most of whats there then put some power to it you can do this for 30k easy. Dont waste $ on bling

Guys get too caugth up in dyno sheets, internet stats and get a little too confident. If it werent for the nannys in new cars the gov wouldnt allow them to be built. Thats part of the fun, you drive a C3 newer cars not so much. You just clicka mode and hit the gas. Boring.

ignatz

Sounds like you've bailed which is a little too easily done based on the good advice here. I would add one thing nobody's mentioned and that is brakes. A key part of handling, in addition to turning the car, is control of velocity and that means smooth control of acceleration and deceleration.

Do your own price analysis, not everything mentioned here is absolutely necessary but accelerating and decelerating are definitely needed.

And don't forget that an early C3 is going to be about 500#'s lighter. A lot different feel, although I've never driven a new Mustang hard.

leigh1322

I'd say you need about $40k
$15-20k nice car
$12k C5 or C7 tube frame chassis
$10k engine, etc.

I'm kind of budgeting mine that way, minus the fancy frame.

nyciti

Yeah...if that's all it takes for you to bail then you ain't ready for that kind of build. It can be done, I've done it....aside from the tube frame or the crazy ridetech rear kit my car has it. However I did all my work minus the custom upholstery and rear center rebuild. I bought someone's else project. I knew I would gut it and drop in all my goodies.

Sound advice on here and don't get caught up in bench racing and internet stats. But I am over 30k easily including cost of the car.

7T1vette

The easiest (and maybe the least expensive) way to get what you want is to put a C3 body on a C5/6 chassis....then beef-up the engine.

69427

You are correct. You need a fat wallet, or a decent amount of fabricating skills.

My '69 is 2720#, factory interior (no gutting), C4 suspension, aluminum BB, and a bunch of lighter/aluminum parts.

No fat wallet was seen anywhere near this car.