corv58

i'm helping a friend look at a '81 next week. it's been garaged (unheated) for about 8 yrs. is there anything special to be aware of ? i think it hasen't been run in the same amount of time either. thx, jim

NHvette

I see you're in CT - so gotta check for rust, even though it's been garaged lately.
Check out the old pics of my 75 in my web site (in sig below) for an extreme view of vette rot.

Pull the front kick panels .. check for rot at the #2 body mount here.
Pull the access panels in the front of rear wheel well and check #3 mount for rot.
Examine around the edge of the windshield frame for rust.
The frame rusts notoriously at the side rail end cap just in front of the rear wheels.
Also, check around the front of the lower control arm mounts at the front crossmember.

I don't know 81 specifics, but all that stuff applies to all C3s.

Good luck :seeya

camaroneil

nhvette,
was much of the rot visible before you took the body off????
neil

19Shark69

If the car has sat for those 8 years, look at the wiring under the dash. Mice love the taste of Vette wiring for some reason. Field mice like to put nest in the A/C ducts as well. Dang things ate a big chunk out of my leather seats.

lostpatrolman

before you try starting the engine, either take out the distributor and get the special tool that connects to the oil pump and prime the oil system.. or disconnect the coil and crank the engine for a while to get oil circulating the engine. My vette sat for years in storage, and when the engine was finally started a lobe on the cam was rounded off. Also check the bushings for the A-arms, and the trailing arms.


[Modified by lostpatrolman, 4:11 AM 3/12/2004]

corv58

thx for the info,,,,i'll post the condition of the '81 next week, thx again,jim