VetteKitty

Well, it looks like the 79 might have a few other issues besides the array of parts needed I already posted in the C3 parts forum...

The engine has been modified, not sure if thats good or not. It has headers of some form (no markings), Edelbrock Intake manifold, air cleaner is non-stock, someone spray-painted most of the freakin engine black, cats are gone, each header has a pipe going straight back to the muffler. Dual exhaust, basically. Alternator looks brand new, but the voltometer jumps around alot; might be the battery?

Looks like it has new plugs and wires too. No oil leakage-could be the stock engine. We dont know that yet either.

We haven't looked to see if the carb is stock or not, or if it still has the A/C it is supposed to have.

Also, the hood sticks up a bit on the passenger side-looks like one of the hoodlatch doesnt hold it down very well.

Of course we went to replace the driver's side exterior door handle and go to find out its the _wrong_ part.. grrr.. stupid dealer gave us the passenger side handle. Go fig.

Dash clock also doesnt work, and the carpet on the driver's side is pretty ripped up and was kinda wet. Going to put newspaper down to soak up the water.

It also appears that the car's original color was blue, as whoever painted it did not paint the inside of the door panels.

So hmm. I'm lost, at least til the repair manual gets here; bought an assembly manual earlier, thats helped a bit.

Anyone have any ideas?



[Modified by VetteKitty, 3:38 AM 1/13/2002]

daily_driver

hello

welcome to the forum!!

:cheers:

you stated u wanted to check if things are original or not..


well heres the numbers for a '79...

--fifth digit of VIN "8"=195 hp L48 "4"=225 HP L82
--engine code suffixes
ZAA:195 hp, mt,ep
ZAB:195 hp,at,ep
ZAC:195 hp,at,ce,ep
ZAD:195hp,at,ha
ZAF:195hp,mt
ZAH:195hp,at
ZAJ:195hp,at,ce
ZBA:225 hp,mt
ZBB:225hp,at
at= auto tranny
mt=manual
ce=kalifornian car crap
ep=early production
ha=high altitude

--blocks 3970010 or 14016379 "late production"
--heads all 462624 which are cracking prone!! :eek: :eek:

carb # should be one of the following::
17059202,"217:195 hp, at
"203:195 hp,mt
"210:225hp,at
"211:225hp,mt
"216:195hp,at,ac
"228:225hp,at,ac
"502:195hp,at,ce
"504,"507:195hp,at,ac,ce
"582:195hp,at,ha
"584:195hp,at,ac,ha

need any more numbers drop me a line!

:cheers:

Nomad78SA

Welcome to the forum. :seeya
Shoot, mine is not even close to be original and that suits me fine :)
So how does it run? Got to love them sharks for the looks...
Neil in Tenn

killain

Hello, and welcome. Your vette sounds somewhat like my 79 when i first got it. I would advise you go to a book store and pick up The 'Corvette Black Book' by Michael Antonick, It has a lot of correct equipment specs and numbers if your interested in going that route, I did. And then work on it a piece by piece operation. It took me a few years to finally straighten out my beige L-48 coupe, but I won two shows awards last year. Anyway good luck.

79er

Welcome to the forum. I you have questions just ask :jester

VetteKitty

It runs fine, haven't had a problem with it :) Just loud :)

Paul L

I think you will have many more specific questions as things move along. Feel free to post them. And welcome to the Forum!

Ganey

Modified - Great if you want it to run like a CORVETTE. :cool:
Duals - for quieter & more power, check for a crossover pipe if not add. If too loud, may need different mufflers.
Voltmeter jumps - check connections starting at the alt.
A/C - check for a second "rad." in front of rad., A/C comp. & hoses.
Clock - give it a shot of WD-40 & keep it running by tapping on it & soon it should run by itself.
Carpet wet - check rad. water level, heater core may be leaking.
Hood - could be normal - need pics.

These guys really like pics..

Guys
Sounds like she could use some A/C & stock carb. pics..

Green 79

Welcome, sound some what like mine when I first got it. Work on what you have to, to make it safe. Then the skies the limit. :crazy:

VetteKitty

Yeah anything that could help :) Pics would be great; I haven't had time to take any of my car, but I will As soon as possible. Just right now its being stored and covered, and we're in the middle of moving. That and when I did take it out for a drive, I was too busy enjoying the drive to remember to take a picture!

Its a really nice looking car, straight-runs good, just those little electrical and mechanical details which I know will drive up a wall before too long. Especially need that driver's side handle replaced-was quoted $110 from the corvette place here. Oof.

I think I am going to make an appointment for a full inspection done on it so I can at least get a list of everything I need to do.

Paul L

Ganey,
Thanks for the hint. Here are couple of pics of the stock set-up.







[Modified by paul79, 3:54 PM 1/13/2002]


[Modified by paul79, 3:56 PM 1/13/2002]

The_Dude

There are a few pics on the website in my sig. Things don't sound too bad...actually, about par for the course. My '79 is in very similiar condition, but also still very stock. I bought a bunch of stuff from the restoration store on this site. Prices seem to be very reasonable. :cheers:

bluevette

$110!!!! You can find them all day for about $25. Don't let them get ahold of you too bad. Ask your questions here first so that we can tell you if someone is trying to take you to the cleaners or not.

John

Captain Morgan

Paul,
Wow, I forgot that mine used to look like that. I have since installed a Performer RPM manifold so I had to remove the stock air cleaner. Since I pulled it off, I didn't see much point in having the piece over the radiator for the snorkels either. No more EGR or A.I.R. pump either so lots of vacuum hoses missing. Next thing to go will be the heat riser when I get headers. That will eliminate the need for the thermostat housing with the sensors so that will clean it up a bit too. Of course, you don't have A/C (who needs it in Canada?) so it makes your engine bay a little less crowded. Mine however, still has the working A/C, which is very good at times, but again, clutters up the engine bay.

Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane.

VetteKitty

That was $110 for the part + installation.

Anyone know of someplace I can get the part itself cheaper than $65?

Green 79

You check any of the parts dealers here? Changing the handle can be a PITA

daily_driver

i disagree on the PITA part....

changing a handle is pretty easy if you dont have large hands!! :lol: :lol:

you can get both door handles for $50 bux the cheap reproduction handles from just about any corvette parts supplier (ecklers, zip ,corvette america.)

now...heres the trick to doing it yourself!!!

1. remove door panel...
2. remove door glass
3. remove handle pushrod retaining clip, then pull pushrod offa the latch mechanism
4. now with a wrench you can slowly work the nuts off the handle......you might find the nuts arent even tightened and you can get em off with just your fingers...
5. pull it all out!!

dont forget to order new door handle gaskets also to make it a good installation!!

the door glass is easy to remove and install... only involves loosening ~2 bumpers and 1 stop block and 2 bolts on the follower channel.

the door panel is comprised of several screws... the hardest thing is the @#@# door lock **** retaining clip which always sucks....

:cheers:

VetteKitty

Now my hands were small enough to fit inside the door :)

The problems were.. a) we were given the wrong part, and b) the handle was stuck on something-we got all the bolts off and it still wouldnt come out!

Regardless... to make another attempt, I need to find the correct driver's side door piece.

ylose

Welcome
I have a '78
i just did both my outside door handles in summer....both were broke...he never closed the windows ! :eek:

when u remove the door panel....remove the linkages that run up to the bottom of the handle...then there are TWO nuts on the underside of the
door handle that need to be removed....after that...pry it up...it maybe a very
good seal...or the previous owner(or idiot) may have used a sticky substance to keep the handle in place.

note...remember how the mechanism works/connected to linkages....it is key to re-install

here is a link with instructions that should help you in various ares....
I didnt have them when I did mine.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/

GDaina

Call 440 748 1500 ask for Bob or Jim

Parts Express tell them u know George