Chevyguy

Hello all, been reading the forum for about 3 weeks now, and the wealth of knowledge here is awesome! It's like having the perfect troubleshooting guide.
Currently 'vetteless', but looking. I had a '62 way back in '65, and still remember how much fun it was.
Looking at a '79 now that seems to be a pretty good deal, but I have one concern that maybe someone here can help with. It's a L48 auto, seller is the second owner and had the car since 84. Had it up on the rack, and the frame is clean and straight with no evidence of a collision. Control arm bushings are shot, wheel bearings need to be replaced. New springs, shocks and sway bar. The problem is when the wheel is turned to the left 20 degrees or so, the tire comes very close to the fender. I can barely get my index finger between, and there are signs of slight rubbing on the fender. Could this be an alignment problem, or something I should be more concerned with? The car seems to drive straight, but then again, I havn't driven one in 30+ years. Any ideas?
Sorry for the long first post, but great to be here.

Chris Fowler

Welcome :cheers:

What size tires? I think the '79s can rub if you put too large of tires on the front.

Someone with a '79 correct me if I'm wrong, but if they're 255/60R15s, I think '79s will rub in sharp turns.

jerryp58

Welcome :seeya

Did it have stock wheels on it?
What size tires?
Do you know if it has shorter springs installed?

FWIW, I have 245/60-15's on my stock rallyes (with stock springs as far as I know) and while it's a bit tight near the frame I have plenty of clearance at the outer fender.

Chevyguy

The wheels are stock, the tires are 255/60-15's, the springs are supposedly the same size. The rub only happens on the left side, the right has plenty of clearance.

Ben Taylor

I would check the door sticker, some cars were made for 255/60-15 some weren't.

Paul L

All 1978-1982 Corvettes were equipped with P225/70R15 Goodyear tires as standard. Available as an extra cost option was a P255/60R15 (RPO QBS) raised letter "Goodyear GT Radial." In 1978 and 1979 these larger tires necessitated trimming the front and rear lower edges of the front fenders for clearance. This was done at the factory for the QBS option. Unfortunately I do not have a pic for you as my car is in storage. I do suspect that most of the QBS-equipped cars were L-82s although I have no data to confirm. You may wish to check the tire size on the L48 and the inner fender lips to see if oversized tires are the problem.

67HEAVEN

Welcome vetteless.....hope you have to change your name soon! :seeya

paso

Welcome :seeya

Chevyguy

Thanks all, going back to look at it again in a couple hours. Maybe a name change today :D

Mac

Remember, purchase with your head, not your heart, or else you might end up changing your name to "Penniless in Paradise."

By the way, where on Kona is there enough roadway to open up a Vette?

Paul L

Just a last thought. These are BFG 255/60R15s. And they do not rub. The pic (from my archives) might give you a reference point as to the spacing from tire to fender.

Chevyguy

Mac
"penniless in paradise", that's pretty good :lol: If this one doesn't work out, I've got plane reservations for Calif next week, 4-5 to look at there, so not jumping into anything.
The Big Island here is the size of the state of Connecticut, long winding roads with lots of nothing in between. Nice driving.

Chevyguy

Thanks for the pic Paul79, yours appears to have considerably more clearance. Could there be any other reason for tire rub besides springs or tire size?

Paul L

Sorry. I am mechanically inclined but by no means an expert. This car was treated to a complete Muskegon Brake front end kit, AC Delco Reactek shocks, and stabilizer bar bushings last summer but the springs are original from 1979. The tire/fender spacing was not altered by these repairs. I would ask others to help out. Could the new springs on your prospective purchase have been cut/shortened? To lower the car? Perhaps wrong springs installed?

Maurice

Welcome to the forum. Did you pick up the 79? I flew over to Kona several months ago to look at a 69 red convertible. They guy was asking 10,500 for it and it was in very good shape for that price. If you are interested let me know and I can forward you his info, I don't know if he sold it or not, but he told me that if he didn't get 10.5 for it he was going to keep it and at the point I looked at it, he had been trying to sell for about a month and maybe a month later he called me to meet someone else on Oahu to show all the pics I took of the car.

Chevyguy

Maurice
Thanks for the welcome. No, didn't get the 79. Windshield pillars were really rusted, and with all the other work it needed, was more of a project than I'm looking for. Thanks for the tip on the 69, but I'm not really looking for a convertible. Are you still looking? A gal over here has a 79 with a new (4-5 years) ZZ4. Really clean, she wants $11,500, but might come down some, still a bit out of my range. I've got 7-8 cars in So Cal I was going to look at this week, but airfares right now are outrageous, so if I don't find anything here first, I'm going over on the 26th. Been hearing some ugly stories about Matson though.

ScubaJKD

Welcome Vettless soon to be BadNewVette. Sounds like you are on the right track. There are alot of quality C3's out there and its easier to walk away and find another one than it is to pay to much and end up over your head with a never ending project. I am speaking from experience :lol: There are some great buyers guides and checklists out there to help you make a selection in a meathodical calculated way. I recommend you buy this book. It has been invaluable to me. Welcome to the forum.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?d...&pf%5Fid=31950

Lt1er

Welcome! I would go with the vote of what tire size. I use V rated BFG's

Chevyguy

Thanks guys, just ordered the book.

Maxd_out

Welcome to the forum. At one point I had slightly larger tires on my 79 and they would rub a little when I turned the steering wheel all the way left or right. However, I don't recall the size that did that.