CorvetteCurious

I am in the market for a builder car but don't know exactly what yet. I have pretty good mechanical/body skills (vintage Ford, won't go into that here) and want a new rebuild project (engine and body). I have a budget (because I have women in my life with "plans"). Here are my questions:

1. Want a convertible but would also like the body style of the 76-81 models that did not include a convertible model. A forum search revealed a few posts where a convertible conversion of a 1980 model was referred to. But no particulars were given. Does anyone have experience with this? (T-tops are not enough; I am not a purist.)

2. Are there any engines/models/transmissions to avoid in the C3 class?

3. Is reparing fiberglass possible (I can weld and handle bondo, but that doesn't seem like it would work with fiberglass)?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Kevin
CorvetteCurious

Easy Mike

1. Buy a convertible and skip the coupe-to-convertible conversion. If that's too conventional, buy a 1968-75 Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) and compare the assembly illustrations for coupes and convertibles. The AIM will show you the differences in coupe/convertible construction and what you're up against when considering the conversion.
2. No.
3. There are several fiberglass repair reference works. Eckler's has his own (pretty good) and Glas-Ra has a two volume set for Sharks (good). Other stuff is out there. Buy some of the references and read up on what fiberglas repair requires. It isn't difficult but there are some basic tenets to know and understand.
:)

MikeC

Find 2npsire, he has an 80 convert, amazing looking car, he can probably tell how to do it.

I would say find a 75 convert rear clip and put it on a 80-82 body.