beary58

Hi all, I'm not really new because I been watching this forum for about a year knowing I will eventally get a Vett. I got a call from a friend who knew I was looking for a one and her neighbor is selling a 79 L82 auto. Actually I'm looking for a early 70s vert, but she didn't know that.

The body looks good, has a couple of deep scratches, but not to the glass. It has 115000 miles, give or take because the speedo doesn't work. I was told the engine was over hauled some years ago and the aluminum block was replaced with an iron one. 79s had aluminum? Hmmm. The owner passed away, so I can't ask why? But it runs good and has chrome long tubes on it. The interior is a pit, but everything seems to work. It's raining here so I had to turn on the lights, wipers and air just to see. Seat fabric and carpets are worn out from use and age and there is ton of dog hair in the right seat, but while the plastic looks aged, it's not cracked or broken that I can see. I think it's been kept up pretty good because there is a sticker in the engine compartment that shows the A/C converted to the new freon in 1994. I looked bu couldn't see any rust under the car except the exuast.

I'm told the owner wants $7000 but will consider $5000. Is this a good deal? The engine block is strange because she kept the same heads and intake. And the engine runs strong.

Tell me what you think and what I need to know about 79s. Thanks for any and all your help. I would rather have a 4peed vert, but I'm open if you guys think this is a good deal.

Possible new Vett Guy :cool:

marshrat99

The original '79 L82 is an iron block, not aluminum. The previous owner may have just the engine overhauled and not replaced. Check the VIN numbers to see if they still match. At 115K miles, me thinks $7K is too high for a 79. $5K would be more reasonable but I wouldn't go much higher unless it's a real cherry. I've got the '79 L82 auto and am happy with it. Because there were only a few million of them made that year, we don't have to worry too much about decreasing the resale value by making performance mods. :lol: I think the car you describe would be a good beginner model for someone who has not had the love & joy of owning a vette before. :cheers:

OHSIXX

Offer $4K and see what they say! :thumbs:

Alwyn678

Sounds good to me

beary58

Thanks all for your replies. I checked bluebook which was less that $3000 for an 84. That was the oldest year I could find. And I know that you shouldn't really use bluebook for classics like this, so I went to ebay for a quick reference and found there are some really nice 79s under $6000, so I think $4000 is a reasonable offer. I agree with marshrat, this may be a good beginner Vett and at the price, even my wife (also a CPA) might agree.

If it were a 4 speed, I would have offered by now. Nothing against automatics, but I've owned standards all my life and love the feel of a hurst T-shifter. But I'm still considering it.

Thanks again for your help. Any idea what new seats and carpet will set me back?

JB

You can count on a grand for seats and carpet, somewhat less if you go with the "leather-like" stuff for the seats. That's if you install them yourself.

JB

Corvette_fetish

I paid 7K for my '79 Vette a few months ago, but the previous owner had restored the interior and he had replaced all the weather stripping. Several Vette specialists told me I got a real good deal considering what they saw I got for my money, but if you need interior restoration, and who knows what else, I'd say offer 4 or 5K. Still, if a manual is really what you want, then think hard, because there are a lot of good Vettes out there, and with some patience and effort you may find exactly what you desire. Just think about it, and don't settle too much just because a car is setting right in front of you.

I guess it depends on how good you want the quality of the materials and installation to be, but you're probably looking between $900.00 & 2000.00 +. And do you want new springs and padding in those seats too? Some of the catalogs sell interior packages that include seat skins & carpets. Check with:

http://www.ecklers.com/
http://www.madvet.com/
http://www.corvettecentral.com/

Or you could ask some other local Vette owners who they recommend in your town to do quailty restoration interior work, and get a quote.

mayberg

Don't go it alone! There's loads of Corvette lovers in the OKC area. I highly recommend getting with someone that can help you get plugged in to the lifestyle (that's what you're buying, you know!) and help with the evaluation.

E-mail me for recommendations if you don't already have someone.

fauxrs

:rolleyes: unh....if they dont have a reciept for the rebuild then tell them that you cant consider that - especially if they tell you that the "Original Aluminum block" was replaced with an iron one - step up to within 2 inches of their face and call them a LIAR - period end of sentence.

I assume you mean sidepipes. is the car registered? What are the emissions requirments where you live? - side pipes are illegal on a 79 - if there is no testing for emissions then you can get away with it.

rust on the chrome? that is hard to fix....

offer not more than $4k, i'll bet he'll consider 5k because he knows its not worth near that.....The engine block isnt strange at all...dollars will get you donuts that engine has never been rebuilt and is bone stock....


[Modified by fauxrs, 1:08 PM 9/30/2003]

Crash Dummy

I agree with Corvette_fetish....

Don't buy a vette just because it is cheap. Some vette owners love automatics and some like to do the shifting. You'll probably end up getting another one if it's not what you really want. I've owned five C-3's and by far I can tell you that the two 4-speeds have been the most fun and gratifying. And add to it a big block in the '71 I have now and *TOUCHDOWN!* :cheers:

Brett K

It sounds like this car is gonna take alot of work, interior stuff alone can be real pricey. Do you really want to drop alot of coin if you really want an older vert. Don't settle for this car if it isn't what you really want unless you can get it under 4k and can feel confident you can turn around and dump it at a profit if you realize you are in too deep. Take it from someone who has been there.....Don't take it unless they beg you and accept your lowball offer.

79VetteMike

Hey Dude- I live in OKC-give me a call and I'll go look at it with you. I also have a '79 and can tell you what the car will need. I agree with the advice about the price you'd want to give for this car. If you are interested in me helping you out, email me and I'll give you my number....Mike


thereskos@***.net


[Modified by 79VetteMike, 5:32 PM 9/30/2003]


[Modified by 79VetteMike, 5:33 PM 9/30/2003]

beary58

Wow, you guys are great. Yes, I'm debating on the standard and will probably wait. But I thinking of taking Mike up on his offer to help and if nothing else, learn more about vetts.

What I ment about long tubes was long tube headers, not sidepipes. The exaust pipe at the muffler is rusting. But there are no leaks that I can hear. I was looking at the frame under the rear wheelwell because I've read here on the forum that is where rust can be a problem. But that looked OK as far as I can tell. It's hard to learn about the car because the previous owner died three years ago and the family just left it in the garage. I think it must have been where the dog like to sleep because there is ton of hair in the right seat. I drove it in the hard rain and there were no leaks, so the T Tops seem OK. I wanted to feel the suspension but I was pressed for time and didn't get out of the neighborhood.

Still, even while breathing the dog hair, I had fun. Do I have the fever?
:steering:

Crash Dummy

It's not hard to do(catch the fever) it if that was your first time being in a C-3. The fender & hood lines looking through the windshield is quite unique. I had *Shark Attack* from the forum come over to my house last Saturday and he had never been in one. We went through things to look at when buying one of these vettes and then we went for a ride. It wasn't a couple of minutes into it that he said he had to have one.

The '79's are nice looking vettes and alot more comfort was built in compared to the earlier C-3's. I still think my '80 was the best vette I ever owned, but that was also a different time of my life where I had different priorities of what I wanted. I have to admit that when I start this one though it's all :D

Take the time and drive a few well taken care of vettes of different years to see what you really like. And then buy a chrome bumper 4 speed vette. Nothing like being objective, huh? :cheers:

78pace

dont forget to look at the rear end that can run into money if it needs repairs
bearing , half-shafts etc. I know I didnt look before buying

Ben's75

go to nadaguides.com for a valuation. Don't get to discouraged about the interior - sometime I'm going to get around to showing pics of my $40 interior restoration... (6 cans of spray dye :-))

You'll be surprised what cleaning and some dye can do. Carpet can be had for cheap - http://www.yankeelady.com/willcox/willcox2.htm#carpet - and it is not at all hard to install.

Enjoy the fever.

Stoge

Dood, I used to live in Edmond... got my degree at UCO. As someone said above there are tons of vettes in OKC, so look around and find the one thats right for you. There's a place around NW 39th & Meridian ( I think) that has a lot of classic cars from time to time. You've got a chance of finding a good chrome bumpers car there.

As far as getting the '79 L-82, I love mine. If I were looking for a chrome bumpers car, I don't think I would be as happy with the '79 though. Its a great car for a first vette though. Still loads of restoration parts around for the '79 cars. Main drawback is the fact they are smogger cars.. the emissions controls really choked the late sharks down a lot. Of course, if you're not concerned with originality, that can be fixed.

I will say if you are looking at late sharks... look for one with an overdrive tranny if you go automatic. My car does about 3k rpm at 65 - 70mph. I'm afraid to take it on the Turner Turnpike because I don't want to run my engine that hard for 100 miles.

LAvetteman

From what you have described the car has been abused IMO. $7k is rediculous and $5k is still a joke. I am always a vette buyer if the price is right, but if its not exactly what you are looking for thats just one more reason to pass it up.

79 was the most produced year of the 3rd generation. L82's are always good, but if the original block is gone its worth no more than an L48.

Here is a link to 79 specs: http://www.alarid.com/history/specs/79.htm

Gary79

as a 79 owner who has invested $7k in 7 yrs with me doing most of the labor and I still have new bumpers and paint left on my restoral list, i would say look for a different car. but regardless of that, always check the frame in front of the rear wheels for rust. if this is way messed up and rusted away you're in for a lot of heartache. if the trailing arm "sockets' are rusted up you're in for big trouble, big$$$$. also be prepared to rebuild the suspension, brakes and differential because nobody else ever rebuilds this stuff. the ends of your axle shafts inside the differential have probably beat themselves into mushrooms by now, remember GM did not heat treat those ends from 76 thru 79. good luck!

adamdinat

Have someone get it on a lift and check out the chassis. You can spend a lot of money on suspension related gear. Does the emergency brake work? How are the ball joints and rubber bushings? Does the PS leak. Check the brakes for weepage around the seals. At this milage a lot of these things could need replacment.

Did you remove the kick plates inside and check the pillars for rust?