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My friend is not mechanically inclined and is throwing money like crazy at '79 L82 because he has to take to a shop for everything. I thought a decent c6 would work for him better. He basically wants to get in once a week, go for a joy ride, park, do it again next week, No excessive performance needed. Will a c6 do this for him reliably? TIA
If he buys a well maintained one and doesn't get one that has problems. I bought my 2012 Centennial Grand Sport in 2014 and the only thing I have needed is a new battery. I do my own work so it has had fluid changes as scheduled - coolant, brake fluid flush, oil & filter changes, and rear differential because I wanted to. Just expect, as when any car ages, to occasionally have something that needs attention.
I have a C3 and a C6 and the problem for your friend is they are two completely different cars. We bought the C6 for pretty much the same reasons you mention for your friend. We wanted a fun and exciting car that was reliable enough and comfortable enough to road trip in without breaking the bank. What your friend will miss about the C3 is the attention it grabs everywhere it goes. It's almost impossible to go anywhere in a C3 without attracting a small crowd of admirers, but it is really high maintenance. It seems like almost every time we drive the 52 year old C3 the to-do list of items needing attention grows longer. As far as performance, comfort and ease of ownership it's no contest and the C6 wins hands down. The C3 is like dating a pornstar, while the C6 is like dating the pretty girl next door. Both are a lot of fun, but totally different experiences.
My 2006 Convertible is my daily driver and is extremely reliable. Fluid, filter and tire changes, that's all so far at 63K miles. I have had C3's years ago when they were newer and had no issues daily driving them then.
I was actually thinking of adding a nice C3 for a project car. The newest C3 is 40 years old. Unless it has recently been completely restored, expect it to be a project car no matter how nice it looks. I would recommend a nicely maintained late model C6 with a clear title and a documented maintenance schedule for your friend. If you buy any old car, it will be a project car. Best bet is to find an older car with zero options and an abundance of aftermarket parts supply and support and join a forum dedicated to that car and purchase a lot of tools.
I agree with what others have said and would first do some research on exactly what type of optioned car he would be most happy with. I fall into the same category as your buddy in that mine is a toy and not a daily driver. I did a ton of research on documenting what I wanted and came up with a very specific punch list. In my case based on budget I was looking at year models 2006-2010 so the car having a LS2 or LS3 engine was not a deal breaker for me. It took me a considerable amount of time to find a car that checked ever single box. Got a 2006 3LT Z51 M6 Convertible in Monterey Red with 25K on the clock. Only issue I have had since owning the car is a door lock actuator went bad within the first 2 weeks of ownership.
If your friend decides on a C6, before he pulls the trigger, get a VIS report from any GM dealer and get the car thoroughly inspected by a knowledgeable mechanic. There’s some issues like harmonic balancer wobble and cracked fuel tank fittings that will cost $$$$$ to get repaired. And tires have a shelf life of 5 to 6 years before they get hard and slippery like hockey pucks. Tires for these cars are not cheap. Also, already a number of C6 components are MD’d and difficult to obtain. Don’t know how different the ‘79s are from the ‘64 I owned a lifetime ago, but there wasn’t much if anything that could break that couldn’t be easily sourced and replaced that would keep it immobilized for months, unlike some of the horror stories that are posted here. I think my C6 is great, but at this point I’ve got a good sense of what the potential issues are.
I agree with the above and will add and have both a 1981 and a 2005. Really TWO different Corvettes. If he is not mechanically inclined, then a C6 is far more of a space shuttle than the minor electronics on a 79 C3.
Tires are a big factor as run flats can be noisy, TPMS sensors and a remotes.... Yes a Chevy dealer can do a C6 repairs but a well maintained C6 short of something breaking should prove reliable enough that with routine service, tires and other wear items may be the ticket (hopefully he will avoid any of those).
Good luck.
Don't be afraid of a base car....one without a bunch of options. I love my 2008 which I have had since new. Only options were automatic transmission and NCM delivery. Has been super reliable (other than the issue with the automatic shifter locking up/out). I had it out today for a couple of hundred miles. Smooth as silk. No need for a C8 with this.
Don't be afraid of a base car....one without a bunch of options. I love my 2008 which I have had since new. Only options were automatic transmission and NCM delivery. Has been super reliable (other than the issue with the automatic shifter locking up/out). I had it out today for a couple of hundred miles. Smooth as silk. No need for a C8 with this.
What kind of spoiler is that? How much and where is it available from?
Thanks for your help and suggestions. Much to my surprise, before selling the '79, he got a nice C6 roadster! Can't wait for him to come by and give me a ride!
I really doubt that there is any other car that provides the combination of Performance and Reliability that the C6 Corvettes do.
A lot of cars provide the performance and reliability of the C6. But where the C6 shines is only a handful of cars provide the performance and reliability at such a reasonable price point.
Downside to the C6, is the electrical system that does not do a full shut down when you turn the car off, but modules go into sleep mode.
So on that note, if you are not going to drive the car for a few days at a time, get the car of a battery tender. Hence without tender and car sitting long terms, takes about 3 weeks before the battery ends up too drained to start the car instead.
As for L82 to LS motor, world apart in the amount of horse power. Hence the L82 was just a 350 truck motor really that Gm threw in the Vets after 72 when they dropped the 427 and 454 big blocks in the car, so only 226HP in stock form.
The LS2 puts out 411hp, LS3 puts out 430 in stock forms, and although the ls7 (427, yet in a small block all aluminum form) only puts out 505hp in stock from, its putting out 470lbs of torque as well in stock form.
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Side note, since the C3 does have the room in the engine bay for a big block motor in the first place (since it did come with a big block to start with up to 1972), The ZZ632 drops into the car without having to use a shoe horn. Plus, with the age of the car, don't run to smog problems running that motor in the car as well. The GM crate motor is not cheap at $26K (figure $30K with fuel injection and electronics), but when your talking about a N/A crate motor right from GM with warrenty that is making over 1KHP/876 torque on pump fuel, ( over 15KHP with light boost), it's the ticket for any one screaming that they don't have enough HP, or better yet, not enough torque when it comes to the later C3 vets that you could not get with a big block to start with.
And the kicker, the ZZ632 all aluminum big block is a lot lighter than the all steel L82 motor for a win/win not mater how you look at it.
03-02-2022, 04:43 AM
Moving from a c3 to c6: Recommendations?
