78Vette-SA

Well, I guess I'm trying to ward off boredom. My 34 Ford I've been building for 3 years is almost done. Painted it last week. HAve some final work to do over teh next couple of months but won't be long now.

So, I've been thinging about taking my 78 SA and yanking the motor and tranny and storing them, and then dropping in some kinda crate engine and an overdrive transmission. Maybe some chrome sidepipes, and transverse leaf spring suspension front and back.

I know it's my car and I should do what I want, but was curious what you other folks might do? Tear it up, or leave it alone. I would do it in a way I could always put it back to stock later and I would keep everything I took off.

Thanks

groovyjay

Rip it up!!! Turn it into a Merlin II !!! :yesnod:

mrvette

There is nothing so valuable about a '78 no matter the original paint scheme, be ME, I"d make a great hotrod out of it, all that originality crap only applies to cars much much older and in shorter supply, and in fact prices/value are declining all the time, damn few if any cars/vettes included are going UP in value...the buying binge of the 90's is over, all the yuppies have their dream, had their dream, or are plainly not interested at this time....
the volume of any late sharks available for sale is very large, so.....???

GENE

Last Ride

:withstupid:

PatsLs1vette

i agree with the others,go for it ,you can always put it back later.

MassVette

I did the same thing with my "rare numbers-matching" '79 (over 50,000 produced).
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Bye Bye- 195 hp, auto trans sled
HELLO- 500+ hp, 6 speed o/d ROAD RIPPER!!
(see below)

Alwyn678

Rip it :yesnod:

Roadster71

Go ahead and do it, just save all the original parts in case the next person wants to bring it back to stock.

Metal Wulf

I'm going to mod the crap out of mine...

fauxrs

Its a 78 fer cryin' out loud.....dig in, make it a screamer, thats my plan on my 78. I've got the OD now and the sidepipes and the engine is on the stand, under contruction hopefully to be installed by december.

so I say, join in the fun.....

bloodvette80

drop in a 502 and rip the tires off the rims. :thumbs:

1slow78

leave it alone and get torn up by ricers at ever light or earn some street
respect???

rip it up !!!!! :auto:

Alwyn678

:lol:

rexx78

Rip it up :thumbs:

Mine won't be stock for long. :steering:
:cheers:

Robert N

Pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

68shark

It's just me....but seeing you have a number matching car....with good engine etc, I'd be inclined to sell it (sounds like it's a nice car with a good resale value) then take your cash and buy a "rough" car ( poor cosmetically and maybe missing drivetrain) and mod the hell out of that one!! Then you won't have any pangs of guilt that you "ruined" a perfectly good car, probably have saved some money and will have turned a beaten up old Vette into a "road warrior".....and....you won't have to find room to store any original components!!

mapman

:iagree:

pingdashf

:iagree:

Richard Cooper

Joe, your 78 is so beautiful I would not touch a thing, but thats just how I feel. Its one of the nicest vettes around here. :cool:

78Vette-SA

Man, most of you guys are brutal! :D Can't find a hoist fast enough. NCRS purist would be quaking in their penny loafers. Dayum.

To those who say it's only a 78, let me just say that in this area they are going for mucho dinero. A friends very similar 78 with 25k miles on it (also an L82 but a 4spd) sold for over 19k just a few weeks ago. I wouldn't expect to get anywhere near that if I sold it but there is definately some value there.

To those who think the world revolves around chrome bumpers, well, I can't argue much with that because I like em too. But rubber bumper sharks in decent shape are selling in this area for good bucks.

Thank you 68Shark for the reality check and some sound advice. I like the idea of not worrying about storing the original parts or having to put them back on. It would increase the cost of the overall project, but there are benefits. I could sell the 78, but I have a sentimental attachment to it.

It sure would be nice to have a sleeper looking 78 though that turned maybe mid 12's if I could get the rubber to the road.

Thanks everyone for the .02's.

Joe..