My dad gave me his 74 vette all original been in the family since new low miles always garage kept never been restored number matching engine n trans very good shape :)
This is the most informative C3 video I have ever seen......this coming from a man who has owned a dozen or so, sure wish TH-cam was around in 1977. Many hard lessons learned! Again, kudos to you for an excellent video on our beloved C3's
I already knew most of this when I bought my 80, after doing quite a bit of research on what to look for and where, when I started looking for one. Great video though, a real help to those who are looking for a C3 and don't know much about them. You pretty much covered all the major issue points in one summary video. Thanks for posting!
@@TCBGARAGE YES!! Thank you very much! Right now, I'm completely $ BROKE! $ 😢 😂 😅 😊 But, just like that "C3"-era 😊 1970s Commercial, in which the Black Caribbean Dude says: "One Never Knows--Do One???" 😊
NOT BAD REAR BEARINGS, the ends of your stub axles are worn (inside the diff). under hard cornering when the two wheels are turning at different speeds, the stub ends rub against the pinion gear shaft causing wear, because the stub ends are not hardened enough to handle the pressure, they actually mushroom slightly. anyone who autocrosses a C3 can probably attest to that
Thank you for doing this video. I own a 74 also. I rebuilt the whole car from the ground up. Mine was like yours, you could eat off the frame. It is super clean for the year. Thank you for putting this one up. I know a lot of people looking at vets. will enjoy this one.,
Great starting point for a C3 buyer. Really good and accurate information for the major mechanical components to look for. Thanks for taking the time to do a great job on this video.e
One problem is a repaint job of such a fibre glass body, in Germany there are only 4 companies able to paint GFK material in HQ, mainly they do this for Yachts and glider planes, those high end paintshops take 400-500 Euros per hour wage these days and that easily adds up to a 40.000 Euro invoice for full HW repaint of a Corvette!
Excellent video. Bird cage rust is the biggest issue because its so hidden and so expensive to fix. Rust free late 70's C3's are great resto-mod project cars. You can typically get them for way less than the earlier C3's and you're not hurting resale value if you do a motor swap because those engines are garbage anyway.
Hehe in Germany they install Mercedes 560SEC or 6.3 liter engines in the Corvette frame because the Small block sucks on Autobahn, we even have one guy here around with a 6.9 litre 450SEL OHC V8 engine. That is a fast corvette C3 its at least as quick as Ferrari Daytona !!!
@@Schlipperschlopper Years ago before my wife passed, we used to talk about making a trip to Germany see her tante and her cousins (her mother was from Bayern). I used to tell her that I wanted to rent a high performance car for one day and tear up the Autobahn LOL.
@@GTX1123Sadly due to the stupid greens here from 2027 on there will only be electric cars and a speed limit of 130 Km/H on Autobahn and 30 KM/H in all cities.
@@Schlipperschlopper Wow. Well there is still hope. Electric vehicles are a huge scam. They are the epitome of the other lies and propaganda the globalists gaslight the naive and gullable with. People here in the U.S., Europe and in Australia are starting to wake up from this nightmare and they're pushing back. A very near future of outrageous energy prices in Europe will eventually take its toll. When the people take back their govt's, there will be huge changes. They're already starting to realize the earth isn't going to burn up, electric cars expend more energy and their batteries are more of an environmental threat than petroleum powered cars. We went through one round of fuel shortages here in the states back in the mid 1970's through the late 1980's. But in the 90's powerful V8's made a comeback with SUV's all the rage and the Mustang and Camaro then eventually the Dodge Challenger being reintroduced. In Germany there should ALWAYS be all manner of high performance cars screaming down the Autobahn at high speed. One day I wanted to go there and rent a vintage 1980's Porche 911 one day and then a classic 928S the next and take them out on the Autobahn. Classic car people here in the states LOVE those classic 1980's Porches.
My first car was a 74 Firebird my second car I bought was a 70 Corvette years & years later bought me another 74 I like the body style of the 70s but when I seen that 74 I couldn't resist and I had to buy it
Some previous owner had forgotten to re install those radiator rubber insulators on supports and metal to metal put a hole in a brand new aluminum rad.
got mine in 2012 . 61k with a l-82, and looks like its almost never been driven. The horsepower off the line is unreal. Based off my other cars I would say its pushing 300 hp, Rebuilds for this engine exceed 390hp. All of this for under 9,000$. Best bang for the buck.Cheers!
I'm not much for a Vette, but my buddy wanted me to go look at one for him due to location. I told him I didn't know what I was looking for in a C3. He shared a link to this video, now I feel like I could not only buy with confidence, but I could open a shop specializing in C3 repairs.
Wow! I'm honored that your friend recommended my video. Please tell him thank you. Hopefully the vette you looked at for him was a good one. I'm so please my video was able to help you both that's exactly why I made it. 👍
Just now doing rear bearings. Was ready for a fight. Surprised at how easy it is. The special tools required come with the rebuild kit. Kit is 115 to 300. Takes about 2 hours a side. Also need a dial indicator for end play.
It's always a work in progress. I have a love & hate relationship with mine. Going on 21 years with it and each year I'm upgrading something on it. 76vette.
Too true!🤣 me and my 74 are still in our honeymoon phase. Since I've owned it for ten years but I've only been driving it for three years now. But they are always a work in progress. 😊
Nice i looked at 10 before this one. i have a 77 and totally love it everybody who see it tells me to paint it, the way i see it i can park it any ware with no worries of anyone hitting it with a door, besides it's the shape that makes you feel good not the paint. Mine was a flintstones car i had lots of work and still doing work,, numbers matching car. I have my diff on the bench rite now after this the rear end is new again waiting for summer can't wait. bird cage and frame in excellent shape.
I got a 82 vet from my brother in law and he got it like 15 years ago and wanted years later to do rugs and fix some dash lights and that's were it died it sat for 8 years I tried for so long to get him to bring it down to my house to get it done and back up running but it sat then he want it out so I got it cheap but it's got some problems now that I got to deal with but it was a running car when he parked it so it's not crazy bad but I got more then I thought to do but it be a great weekend car it's in great shape but needs love to be back to were it should be. Shame it sat for so long but I'll get it done lol ty for your vid
Nice and informative video. I'm a seasoned corvette owner and when I'm not working on my 68 restoration project, I'm watching videos and researching the forums. Keep putting out content like this and I'm sure your channel will grow!
Great video! I imported a 1969 L68 4 speed a few years back, to here in Australia. Your video was very good highlighting all the critical areas to inspect before buying. Unfortunately for me, I had to rely on a 3rd party to do the pre-purchase inspection for me...all good though, they had the car up on a hoist and took around 200 photos for me to 'view' the car, and from those decide if I wanted to buy. 6 months later it arrived in my driveway. Love it! Only surface rust found so far, but I will re-visit the critical areas you have shown us, with a more critical eye. Many thanks!
Hey thanks mate I'm in Australia and thinking of buying my 1st 74 Corvette . your video helps me out heaps I wouldn't have thought to look into those areas that you pointed out . well done 👍
One thing you may want to tell people is if you are taller than 6 feet you will not fit in one comfortably, worse if you have long legs like 32 inch inseam. Your legs will be hitting the door panels and steering column. The C2 Mid Years were worse for room for the driver. C4's are made with taller guys in mind and a C5 is a dream for tall people. Lots of room even for pushing in the clutch pedal. Your right, Save the Wave! something that is not done as much as it was in the old days 1970s-80s-90s. I have had 5 C-3s overs the years and one C5. Yeah I'm 56 years old. Still have a C3 but its a bear to get in and out of. But it looks like nothing else on the road these days! If you can, buy one that's pretty much done, otherwise you will be working on it more than driving it. like what you did, that's very clean under there. Enjoy its a Very Cool Car.
Just had new Trailing arms and bushings installed on my '72 Restomod. Offset arms to allow for 17" wider tires. After watching a video on this operation I decided to let a pro do it. $1,800.00...
What a top level job you've done on this video and showing the important areas. I plan to get a C3 once I sell my British Triumph TR6. Lov the C3's and will enjoy it once I get it. Thanks
Forgot to check ear on rear end cover for cracks, that hold the spring, need heavy duty cover. Check rear end pinion clip is still attached inside rear end on each side. Great video I will be checking my birdcage on my 74.
I took a walking tour of the plant back in 1979. They glue the fenders onto the part that holds the hood. They put them in a jig and squirted the epoxy between the seams with what looked like a cake decorator's piping bag. The guy let us feel the bag, it was HOT! Also, if you look about 1/2" down from the top of the fender, you can see the seam. They did not come perfectly smooth from the factory (no surprise) and some of them have little divots where the filler didn't cover it. That's a way you can tell if the car has had repairs, factory flaws.
And back in the day many body shops simply did not believe that these body panels were glued together and we'd find cars full of little screws where they screwed the panels together! Unbelievable but true!! Don't see it much any more thankfully, I guess after 60 years they've finally caught on. 😀
Thank you for posting this. The video is very helpful. My only recommendation is perhaps a "pointer" rod could have been used to touch or tap the areas of discussion. As a beginner on these cars, I sometimes wasn't sure which part you were commenting on. Thanks again!
Great Video. I got really lucky when I purchased my 77 C3, had no clue what to look for and I was so scared when I saw videos like this one. But I checked everything and frame and birdcage are in good condition. Calipers were leaking though, but that's an easy and cheap fix. Got the o ring seals and pistons and now there's no leaks since 2015
Awesome vid, very helpful. Keeping an eye out for a late 70's Vette and now I can make a good list on things to check before purchase. I knew a few things but think your vid was the most in depth. More vids on this Vette you got. Got yourself a subscriber.
Great video. I may buy a 76 vette from a guy who brought the car in 1989. At that time i brought a 1976 Datsun 280 Z from him and he brought the vette. I may end of buying his 76 because he picked up a 1981 C3. I will check the birdcage. Your car is clean...
Thanks for the information Mitchell. I didn't drive it after the video and rebuilt the trailing arms a couple weeks later. I also made a video on that rebuild if you'd like to check it out. Thanks for watching. 👍
@@TCBGARAGE You can pull bearing housing off trailing. Remove the stub axel and bearings. If they are original bearings from factory take it to Chevy dealer or good shop, need torched out. Really doubt that in your car. Do it yourself will need a shim kit set bearing end play. .001-.003 I believe is the spec. That job is a pain in ass. May find rebuilt bearing case on line. I broke right rear axel driving away from a Stop sign. Buy quality parts to rebuild. If I remember right the the driver side bearings wear out first, Vette Mystery. Urethane bushings on front sway bar makes whole world of difference in handling.
@@roadglide1745 thanks for all the info but I rebuilt the assemblies about a month after the video was made. I was able to purchase a kit off Ebay that included everything needed included tools I already have a press & dail indicator. It's really not to hard if anybody wants to try it themselves. I got a video on the rebuild on the channel.
Great video! I also got a 74 a few years ago, it had a bit of rust but not bad...... It's getting more difficult to find these cars "rust free" at a decent price, a very fun car that gets a lotta looks! :)
Great informative video here. Looking at an ‘82 which will be my first corvette purchase. Kind of scary the things that can be wrong with the C3’s. Might even reconsider the purchase after watching this video. Thank you for sharing this pertinent information with regards to this car.
Please don't let my video discourage you on purchasing a c3. If you're looking to get into classic car hobby they're truly the best value out there. Thank you for watching and good luck on your search for a c3 if you're still looking.👍
@@TCBGARAGE I got it! And it's like it rolled out of the showroom yesterday, the only rust was on the bottom of the radiator support. And it was surface rust only It only leaks a bit of diff fluid, a new gasket and it's fixed I think/hope
@@TCBGARAGE 1978 L82 25th anniversary, I live in europe so nice classic US cars are a bit rare.. It was originally delivered white and has been repainted white about 2 or 3 years ago, and it has a new interior! Sorry for the late response for some reason i don't get notifications for some reason...
Don’t test the rear bearings at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions. Otherwise, you’ll just feel the endplay of the side yokes in the differential (not the play in the bearings). A small amount of side yoke endplay is normal, however, if it’s significant then you should open up your differential and inspect the side yoke ends for wear (or worn clutches or improper carrier shimming etc...). To test wheel bearings on a c2 or c3 corvette hold the tire at the 3 and 9 o’clock position and wiggle it. If you observe bearing play that’s greater than .008” than you have a problem with your wheel bearings. If you don’t have much play, and you don’t hear or feel anything while driving, than your bearings are ok. Another good test that I’ve used to diagnose bad wheel bearings is to spin the tire with one hand and hold the spring with the other hand. If the bearing is bad you can sometimes feel the bearing “grit” through the spring. You’re right about the rear wheel bearings tools being expensive.
Matthew thank you for the info. Upon further inspection of my trailing arms I did find my bearings were in need of replacement. I was able to find a kit including all bearings, shims, spacers & tools on Ebay for less that $400. The rebuild was a lot easier than I had expected. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Great buy! Talking about luck I found a great shape 68 C3 coupe for $6000, basic 327 automatic tho numbers matching with about 80,000 original miles. It has zero body rot but it sat for a few years in a hot garage so I’m having all the vacuum hoses replaced, full tune up, and little things like the seatbelts are gone and there are no wipers or wiper motors. She’s a year one C3 all original no mods and I love her. The C3 is without a doubt the sexiest Vette out there and I wasn’t even looking for one.
Update: Well great shape turned into just good but anyway initial inspection only found 52year old surface rust and anything that looked bad underneath I can replace later but thankfully no frame rot and the birdcage is ok. So I got the full tune up but I had to replace the carburetor, master cylinder, gas tank, brake calipers, rotors, modernized distributor and rebuilt differential, and got new exhaust. Next is interior and paint correction.
Hey Bro, I'm a fellow corvette owner. I have a 73. Just wanted to let you know that its not real difficult to change out the rear wheel bearings. I found out the hard way by letting someone who claimed to have experience. Long story short the old bearings have to be pressed off and the new bearings have to be pressed on. Hope this information helps.
Thanks for the info Steve. You are right the bearings weren't that hard but you do need to know what you're doing. If you like you can check out my rebuild video on the bearings. Enjoy that 73, save the wave & thanks for watching. 👍
If you haven't already changed your t-arms and your bushings are in good shape, you can just change the bearing assembly. This isn't a huge job, but it isn't fun. I get mine from Bairs corvette in linesville pa.
Thanks for the info kevin. I was able to rebuild both of the bearing assemblies about a month after making this video. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Just need a few specialized tools to complete them.
Have had 3 C3's ... great car... but be patient and wait for a solid one. Should be able to get a very nice one for less than the price of a new Honda Civic.
Terry you are 100% correct! Buy the best car you can afford. One with a solid frame & birdcage is very important. I got lucky with mine. Thanks for watching. 👍
THANKS FOR THE TIPS ON THE C3 , I'VE GOT A 79 L - 82 THAT NEEDS SOME TLC , CALIFORNIA CAR , THEY WERE 20k IN THOSE DAYS , UP TO 200k FOR A NEW ONE TODAY !!!
Hello great video I’m looking at a 71 shortly Sir something I noticed 12:28 one of your axle stands was not level please please be really careful locating and levelling them thanks for the informative vid
Great Video I just got a 1980 Vette and I wish I saw your video a week ago not that there's anyth in ng wrong with mine but I could've been more informed on the money pit I purchased lol
Thanks for the video. Have my 76 corvette stingray since 2013. It runs but I still need a few things fixed on it. bearings I think the last owner told me needed to be changed. I will do what you just did. Thanks again. I definitely subscribed. looking forward to new C3 videos from you. thanks brother. Appreciate it from New York....
Might do a side by side video with yours to check out my rust bucket. I have a feeling it will fail on all accounts, haha. Not sure if I'll do that on PyroJason or TrashProp but that's just some notes for myself so I can find this later. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the advice. I haven’t heard a lot of good about the crossfire injection but I would most likely just do a LS swap for the reliability and piece of mind. Thanks again, beautiful car, and the video was very informative.
Thanks for posting this video. I have been looking at a body just the windshield back and then everything has been gutted from it. I wanted to turn it into a open wheel buggy. I have seen a video that a truck frame will work under a C3 corvette with a few mods. Just waiting to hear back on which frame he used. All of the glass has been removed so I will probably have to replace the complete bird cage in it, but it will on be a buggy. I just think it would be cool to save the body and turn it into a cool ride instead of letting the guy let it sit on the ground where it is at. At least the door shells are still there.
There's really nothing to avoid such as anything troublesome. Anything with a big block and a four speed is the most desirable. After 74 it was small block only. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
I've got a '70, lucked out with many of these issues, but my trailing arms also need swapping - Ecklers has them 495.00 per side, rebuilt, stiff core charge! Take care
Glad you enjoyed the video. I've also made one on my trailing arms rebuild. It might be helpful if you decide to rebuild them yourself. All In i I had about$400 in both of mine. Good luck and thanks for watching. 👍
That part of the video at the number 2 mount at 8:38 is never what you will find unless someone had been through the car and restored it. Typically you will see surface rust and adhesive. What you look for is if that bolt is rusted away or fused to the lower birdcage. Most all original cars will have some rust. My 69 had some but just a light layer on the surface.
Good video...nice car! I have an '81 that I've had for 29 years. Make a video of your trailing arm swap-out. That, to me, seems like a very specialized skill that the mechanics who know and do that job well are getting few, and far between. I'm looking for shops who specialize in working on old corvettes (trailing arm replacement, specifically) and so far the closest one is about 200 miles from my house!
On the radiator support, I wonder if it would cause any issues if two drain holes were drilled in it. Of course then sealing off the bare metal edges so rust doesn’t propagate from there.
@@TCBGARAGE hopefully people see this comment and do that. Almost two years ago I picked up an Ontario orange 1972 T-top for my wife for our 20th anniversary,I hope $15 was a decent price. It runs pretty good though very VERY hot, any suggestions?The other day the gear shift boot melted from its base.
@@RazorCustoms 15k is a good price for a 72 especially if it's in good shape. Check out my video I made of my cooling system, it may be helpful. th-cam.com/video/64imPJzx9tI/w-d-xo.html
Just drove over 6 hours to Scotland from London to see a high end price 69. Your video has saved us a fortune thank you so much!
Love hearing that! Glad the video helped.thanks for watching!🙂
My dad gave me his 74 vette all original been in the family since new low miles always garage kept never been restored number matching engine n trans very good shape :)
Sounds really nice! Good job keeping it in the family.👍
Nope
This is the most informative C3 video I have ever seen......this coming from a man who has owned a dozen or so, sure wish TH-cam was around in 1977. Many hard lessons learned!
Again, kudos to you for an excellent video on our beloved C3's
Thank you.
I already knew most of this when I bought my 80, after doing quite a bit of research on what to look for and where, when I started looking for one. Great video though, a real help to those who are looking for a C3 and don't know much about them. You pretty much covered all the major issue points in one summary video. Thanks for posting!
Thanks! That's exactly what I was hoping to do with this video. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.
@@TCBGARAGE
YES!! Thank you very much!
Right now, I'm completely $ BROKE! $ 😢 😂 😅 😊
But, just like that "C3"-era 😊 1970s Commercial, in which the Black Caribbean Dude says: "One Never Knows--Do One???" 😊
This is a great video! I can't wait to show it to my dad! He's looking for a c3.
That's great! Good luck to your dad. Thanks for watching.
NOT BAD REAR BEARINGS, the ends of your stub axles are worn (inside the diff). under hard cornering when the two wheels are turning at different speeds, the stub ends rub against the pinion gear shaft causing wear, because the stub ends are not hardened enough to handle the pressure, they actually mushroom slightly. anyone who autocrosses a C3 can probably attest to that
Thank you for doing this video. I own a 74 also. I rebuilt the whole car from the ground up. Mine was like yours, you could eat off the frame. It is super clean for the year. Thank you for putting this one up. I know a lot of people looking at vets. will enjoy this one.,
Thank you very much, Glad you enjoyed the video.
Great starting point for a C3 buyer. Really good and accurate information for the major mechanical components to look for. Thanks for taking the time to do a great job on this video.e
Thank you very much Donald! That's exactly why I made this video. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching. 👍
One problem is a repaint job of such a fibre glass body, in Germany there are only 4 companies able to paint GFK material in HQ, mainly they do this for Yachts and glider planes, those high end paintshops take 400-500 Euros per hour wage these days and that easily adds up to a 40.000 Euro invoice for full HW repaint of a Corvette!
Excellent video. Bird cage rust is the biggest issue because its so hidden and so expensive to fix. Rust free late 70's C3's are great resto-mod project cars. You can typically get them for way less than the earlier C3's and you're not hurting resale value if you do a motor swap because those engines are garbage anyway.
All true. Thanks for watching.
Hehe in Germany they install Mercedes 560SEC or 6.3 liter engines in the Corvette frame because the Small block sucks on Autobahn, we even have one guy here around with a 6.9 litre 450SEL OHC V8 engine. That is a fast corvette C3 its at least as quick as Ferrari Daytona !!!
@@Schlipperschlopper Years ago before my wife passed, we used to talk about making a trip to Germany see her tante and her cousins (her mother was from Bayern). I used to tell her that I wanted to rent a high performance car for one day and tear up the Autobahn LOL.
@@GTX1123Sadly due to the stupid greens here from 2027 on there will only be electric cars and a speed limit of 130 Km/H on Autobahn and 30 KM/H in all cities.
@@Schlipperschlopper Wow. Well there is still hope. Electric vehicles are a huge scam. They are the epitome of the other lies and propaganda the globalists gaslight the naive and gullable with. People here in the U.S., Europe and in Australia are starting to wake up from this nightmare and they're pushing back. A very near future of outrageous energy prices in Europe will eventually take its toll. When the people take back their govt's, there will be huge changes. They're already starting to realize the earth isn't going to burn up, electric cars expend more energy and their batteries are more of an environmental threat than petroleum powered cars. We went through one round of fuel shortages here in the states back in the mid 1970's through the late 1980's. But in the 90's powerful V8's made a comeback with SUV's all the rage and the Mustang and Camaro then eventually the Dodge Challenger being reintroduced. In Germany there should ALWAYS be all manner of high performance cars screaming down the Autobahn at high speed. One day I wanted to go there and rent a vintage 1980's Porche 911 one day and then a classic 928S the next and take them out on the Autobahn. Classic car people here in the states LOVE those classic 1980's Porches.
Good video, nice to see what a C3 in good shape looks like and important places to look when inspecting one for purchase
40 years old is a factor
I'm looking at a C3, this video came up in my search and HOLY COW am I glad it did! Thank you so much for the camera angles and footage!!!
That's great, I'm glad you found it useful! Good luck on your search.
I’ve owned vetted all my life. It’s a beautiful car. Thank you for the information. Take care
Thank you and thanks for watching.
Excellent tutorial on the C3 ...
Thank you.
My first car was a 74 Firebird my second car I bought was a 70 Corvette years & years later bought me another 74 I like the body style of the 70s but when I seen that 74 I couldn't resist and I had to buy it
Some previous owner had forgotten to re install those radiator rubber insulators on supports and metal to metal put a hole in a brand new aluminum rad.
got mine in 2012 . 61k with a l-82, and looks like its almost never been driven. The horsepower off the line is unreal. Based off my other cars I would say its pushing 300 hp, Rebuilds for this engine exceed 390hp. All of this for under 9,000$. Best bang for the buck.Cheers!
George sounds like you got a nice one! Thanks for watching. 👍
I'm not much for a Vette, but my buddy wanted me to go look at one for him due to location. I told him I didn't know what I was looking for in a C3. He shared a link to this video, now I feel like I could not only buy with confidence, but I could open a shop specializing in C3 repairs.
Wow! I'm honored that your friend recommended my video. Please tell him thank you. Hopefully the vette you looked at for him was a good one. I'm so please my video was able to help you both that's exactly why I made it. 👍
Just now doing rear bearings. Was ready for a fight. Surprised at how easy it is. The special tools required come with the rebuild kit. Kit is 115 to 300. Takes about 2 hours a side. Also need a dial indicator for end play.
Read endless forums about this. Should’ve searched TH-cam first. Very helpful video, thanks 👍🏻
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video.
It's always a work in progress. I have a love & hate relationship with mine. Going on 21 years with it and each year I'm upgrading something on it. 76vette.
Too true!🤣 me and my 74 are still in our honeymoon phase. Since I've owned it for ten years but I've only been driving it for three years now. But they are always a work in progress. 😊
I got lucky. I got a 75 I didn't know anything. I restored it my car was in great shape. I put a a crate engine front summit. Supention & mount new.
Great looking Vette thanks for making the video definitely appreciate it
Nice i looked at 10 before this one. i have a 77 and totally love it everybody who see it tells me to paint it, the way i see it i can park it any ware with no worries of anyone hitting it with a door, besides it's the shape that makes you feel good not the paint. Mine was a flintstones car i had lots of work and still doing work,, numbers matching car. I have my diff on the bench rite now after this the rear end is new again waiting for summer can't wait. bird cage and frame in excellent shape.
Give it to the migrants.
Great video! I just bought a 76 C3 and was happy to see no rust other than minor spots with surface rust and I have one leaking brake caliper
It sounds like you're off to a good start. Good luck on the project & thanks for watching.
I got a 82 vet from my brother in law and he got it like 15 years ago and wanted years later to do rugs and fix some dash lights and that's were it died it sat for 8 years I tried for so long to get him to bring it down to my house to get it done and back up running but it sat then he want it out so I got it cheap but it's got some problems now that I got to deal with but it was a running car when he parked it so it's not crazy bad but I got more then I thought to do but it be a great weekend car it's in great shape but needs love to be back to were it should be. Shame it sat for so long but I'll get it done lol ty for your vid
I also have a 1977 C3 white, red leather int. Love the car after just getting it last October. Lucky to have found it.
That's awesome! Glad you found a good one.
Nice and informative video. I'm a seasoned corvette owner and when I'm not working on my 68 restoration project, I'm watching videos and researching the forums. Keep putting out content like this and I'm sure your channel will grow!
Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Best of luck on the 68. 👍
Great video! I imported a 1969 L68 4 speed a few years back, to here in Australia. Your video was very good highlighting all the critical areas to inspect before buying. Unfortunately for me, I had to rely on a 3rd party to do the pre-purchase inspection for me...all good though, they had the car up on a hoist and took around 200 photos for me to 'view' the car, and from those decide if I wanted to buy. 6 months later it arrived in my driveway. Love it! Only surface rust found so far, but I will re-visit the critical areas you have shown us, with a more critical eye. Many thanks!
Thanks Bruce! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that it will help you further inspect your 69. Welcome to the vette family. 👍
Hey thanks mate I'm in Australia and thinking of buying my 1st 74 Corvette . your video helps me out heaps I wouldn't have thought to look into those areas that you pointed out . well done 👍
That's awesome! It's cool to think my video has reached Australia. Good luck on your search and thanks for watching. 👍
One thing you may want to tell people is if you are taller than 6 feet you will not fit in one comfortably, worse if you have long legs like 32 inch inseam. Your legs will be hitting the door panels and steering column. The C2 Mid Years were worse for room for the driver. C4's are made with taller guys in mind and a C5 is a dream for tall people. Lots of room even for pushing in the clutch pedal.
Your right, Save the Wave! something that is not done as much as it was in the old days 1970s-80s-90s. I have had 5 C-3s overs the years and one C5. Yeah I'm 56 years old. Still have a C3 but its a bear to get in and out of. But it looks like nothing else on the road these days! If you can, buy one that's pretty much done, otherwise you will be working on it more than driving it. like what you did, that's very clean under there. Enjoy its a Very Cool Car.
Thanks for the information. You're right vettes are definitely a tight fit. Thanks for watching and definitely save the wave. 👍
I’m 6 1” and I own a C2 and a C3. The C2 has more room but the C3 is a little tight but I fit in both fine.
Just had new Trailing arms and bushings installed on my '72 Restomod. Offset arms to allow for 17" wider tires. After watching a video on this operation I decided to let a pro do it. $1,800.00...
That's not a bad price for offset arms.
What a top level job you've done on this video and showing the important areas. I plan to get a C3 once I sell my British Triumph TR6. Lov the C3's and will enjoy it once I get it. Thanks
Good luck with your search.
Forgot to check ear on rear end cover for cracks, that hold the spring, need heavy duty cover. Check rear end pinion clip is still attached inside rear end on each side. Great video I will be checking my birdcage on my 74.
Thanks Lee those are all good points to inspect. Hope everything looks good on your 74! Thanks for watching and save the wave. 👍
Great video dude
I have a 75 thats mint
matching numbers engine and manuel engine.
I took a walking tour of the plant back in 1979. They glue the fenders onto the part that holds the hood. They put them in a jig and squirted the epoxy between the seams with what looked like a cake decorator's piping bag. The guy let us feel the bag, it was HOT! Also, if you look about 1/2" down from the top of the fender, you can see the seam. They did not come perfectly smooth from the factory (no surprise) and some of them have little divots where the filler didn't cover it. That's a way you can tell if the car has had repairs, factory flaws.
Great information and awesome story Jeff! I would have loved to see C3'S actually being made. Thanks for sharing and watching. 👍
And back in the day many body shops simply did not believe that these body panels were glued together and we'd find cars full of little screws where they screwed the panels together! Unbelievable but true!! Don't see it much any more thankfully, I guess after 60 years they've finally caught on. 😀
Thank you for posting this. The video is very helpful. My only recommendation is perhaps a "pointer" rod could have been used to touch or tap the areas of discussion. As a beginner on these cars, I sometimes wasn't sure which part you were commenting on. Thanks again!
You are 100% correct. I've learned to point in my recent videos.. thanks for watching.
Great Video. I got really lucky when I purchased my 77 C3, had no clue what to look for and I was so scared when I saw videos like this one. But I checked everything and frame and birdcage are in good condition. Calipers were leaking though, but that's an easy and cheap fix. Got the o ring seals and pistons and now there's no leaks since 2015
Max music that's exactly why I made this video. Glad you got lucky like myself when you purchased your 77. Thanks for watching. Save the wave.👍
Thanks for the tips. I'm looking for one now. Doing as much research as possible.
Awesome vid, very helpful. Keeping an eye out for a late 70's Vette and now I can make a good list on things to check before purchase. I knew a few things but think your vid was the most in depth. More vids on this Vette you got. Got yourself a subscriber.
Thank you very much joey! I'm really happy you found my video helpful and I'll definitely have more videos on the vette. Good luck on your search! 👍🏽
Great info. I was aware of half the information such as the key rust spots, but you provided a good amount of helpful info. Thank you.
You're very welcome! Thanks for watching and welcome to the channel. 👍
Great video. I may buy a 76 vette from a guy who brought the car in 1989. At that time i brought a 1976 Datsun 280 Z from him and he brought the vette. I may end of buying his 76 because he picked up a 1981 C3. I will check the birdcage.
Your car is clean...
Thanks, good luck on your purchase.
Gotta be a elvis fan
Great vid
TCB BABY👍👍
Thanks for all your tips , you really explained everything in detail and it’s going to help on my hunt
You're very welcome. Good luck on your search.👍
Good information I’ve owned corvettes for a long time currently have a 68 roadster and restoring a74 coupe keep it up
Thank you! Thanks for watching.
When you have loose bearings on a car, you must get it fixed before your brakes wear out because of the play in the wheel.
Thanks for the information Mitchell. I didn't drive it after the video and rebuilt the trailing arms a couple weeks later. I also made a video on that rebuild if you'd like to check it out. Thanks for watching. 👍
@@TCBGARAGE You can pull bearing housing off trailing. Remove the stub axel and bearings. If they are original bearings from factory take it to Chevy dealer or good shop, need torched out. Really doubt that in your car. Do it yourself will need a shim kit set bearing end play. .001-.003 I believe is the spec. That job is a pain in ass. May find rebuilt bearing case on line. I broke right rear axel driving away from a Stop sign. Buy quality parts to rebuild. If I remember right the the driver side bearings wear out first, Vette Mystery. Urethane bushings on front sway bar makes whole world of difference in handling.
@@roadglide1745 thanks for all the info but I rebuilt the assemblies about a month after the video was made. I was able to purchase a kit off Ebay that included everything needed included tools I already have a press & dail indicator. It's really not to hard if anybody wants to try it themselves. I got a video on the rebuild on the channel.
Great video! I also got a 74 a few years ago, it had a bit of rust but not bad...... It's getting more difficult to find these cars "rust free" at a decent price, a very fun car that gets a lotta looks! :)
I totally agree! I always wanted a 74 (Same years as my birth) they are definitely attention getters! Thanks for watching. 👍
Invaluable advice cheers from the UK 🇬🇧 ( to get one of these before I pop it is getting nearer and nearer)
Cheers to you as well! Thanks for watching from across the pond!👍
I'm going next week to look at a 78 pace car. This was super helpful. Thanks so much!
How did it go
Lots of helpful information. Check the differential for excess play. It might not me your rear bearings.
Thanks for the info but it did end up being the bearings. Thanks for watching!👍
Nice car! I grew up with these my brother had a brand new 76 with red leather and a 4 spd. Great tips thanks new sub!😊
Thank you, great video - looking at one here in Australia.
Thanks Mick! Hope My video helps you find a good c3 & good luck. Thanks for watching. 👍
Awesome video, thank you! It will help me a lot
Thanks! glad it will help. Good luck 👍
Great informative video here. Looking at an ‘82 which will be my first corvette purchase. Kind of scary the things that can be wrong with the C3’s. Might even reconsider the purchase after watching this video. Thank you for sharing this pertinent information with regards to this car.
Please don't let my video discourage you on purchasing a c3. If you're looking to get into classic car hobby they're truly the best value out there. Thank you for watching and good luck on your search for a c3 if you're still looking.👍
This is going to help me a lot!
I'm getting one tomorrow🎉
That's great Davy! I'm glad it helped. 👍
@@TCBGARAGE I got it! And it's like it rolled out of the showroom yesterday, the only rust was on the bottom of the radiator support. And it was surface rust only
It only leaks a bit of diff fluid, a new gasket and it's fixed I think/hope
@@davyh.8471 that's awesome!!! I'm really happy for you. What year vette did you get.😊
@@TCBGARAGE 1978 L82 25th anniversary, I live in europe so nice classic US cars are a bit rare..
It was originally delivered white and has been repainted white about 2 or 3 years ago, and it has a new interior!
Sorry for the late response for some reason i don't get notifications for some reason...
@@davyh.8471 it sounds really nice! I'm happy for you! Enjoy that vette!!!👍
Shopping now, so I appreciate you video.
That's great! Good luck on your search and thanks for watching.
Thank you I got a 1974 Stingray black 2
That's awesome! Enjoy your 74. I know I enjoy mine.
Excellent review of what to look for. Great job.
Thank you very much!
Don’t test the rear bearings at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions. Otherwise, you’ll just feel the endplay of the side yokes in the differential (not the play in the bearings). A small amount of side yoke endplay is normal, however, if it’s significant then you should open up your differential and inspect the side yoke ends for wear (or worn clutches or improper carrier shimming etc...). To test wheel bearings on a c2 or c3 corvette hold the tire at the 3 and 9 o’clock position and wiggle it. If you observe bearing play that’s greater than .008” than you have a problem with your wheel bearings. If you don’t have much play, and you don’t hear or feel anything while driving, than your bearings are ok. Another good test that I’ve used to diagnose bad wheel bearings is to spin the tire with one hand and hold the spring with the other hand. If the bearing is bad you can sometimes feel the bearing “grit” through the spring. You’re right about the rear wheel bearings tools being expensive.
Matthew thank you for the info. Upon further inspection of my trailing arms I did find my bearings were in need of replacement. I was able to find a kit including all bearings, shims, spacers & tools on Ebay for less that $400. The rebuild was a lot easier than I had expected. 😊 Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the info!
@@TCBGARAGE Thank you for the great video and for posting this update! You've got a good looking car there.
You're welcome Philippe. Thanks for watching. Welcome to the channel. 😊
Nice clean Vette👍
Thank you and thanks for watching.
getting one this weekend thank you.
That's awesome! Hopefully my video helped. What year are you getting?
That's a beautiful example of a C3! Love the Black on Black combo. Thanks for the info.
Thank you Michael. Thanks for watching!
That black on black is sweet
I would suggest a Wix oil filter instead of the base model Fram. They are notorious for having holes in their filter element.
Thanks for the suggestion, I've used Fram for years with no problems but I'll look into Wix. Thanks for watching.
Man you have a beautiful car.. she's a keeper 🇺🇸👍
Thank you, she's definitely not going anywhere. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Brother- Great look at some important features.
You're very welcome, glad you enjoyed the video. 😊
great video. helped me pick a clean 76 orange..
no rusty bird cages guys.. lol
Thanks for sharing very helpful!!
I've always liked Corvettes and look at them in the classic car section..you never know I may get one too!!
Glad you enjoyed the video! Hopefully it helps if you ever decide to get one.👍
great info and presentation!!
Thanks!!!!
Thanks and thanks for watching.
Great buy! Talking about luck I found a great shape 68 C3 coupe for $6000, basic 327 automatic tho numbers matching with about 80,000 original miles. It has zero body rot but it sat for a few years in a hot garage so I’m having all the vacuum hoses replaced, full tune up, and little things like the seatbelts are gone and there are no wipers or wiper motors. She’s a year one C3 all original no mods and I love her. The C3 is without a doubt the sexiest Vette out there and I wasn’t even looking for one.
Wow! Congratulations that sounds like a great buy. Good luck on your project, thanks for watching & save the wave. ✋
Update: Well great shape turned into just good but anyway initial inspection only found 52year old surface rust and anything that looked bad underneath I can replace later but thankfully no frame rot and the birdcage is ok. So I got the full tune up but I had to replace the carburetor, master cylinder, gas tank, brake calipers, rotors, modernized distributor and rebuilt differential, and got new exhaust. Next is interior and paint correction.
Sounds like you're getting a lot done on your 68. Good luck and enjoy the project. 👍
Nice vid. Most of what you covered also applies to the C2.
Rick you're correct the c2 does share some similarity to the c3. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
Hey Bro, I'm a fellow corvette owner. I have a 73. Just wanted to let you know that its not real difficult to change out the rear wheel bearings. I found out the hard way by letting someone who claimed to have experience. Long story short the old bearings have to be pressed off and the new bearings have to be pressed on. Hope this information helps.
Thanks for the info Steve. You are right the bearings weren't that hard but you do need to know what you're doing. If you like you can check out my rebuild video on the bearings. Enjoy that 73, save the wave & thanks for watching. 👍
Great vid my man.
Thank you
Thank you, we are all hunting information for the cars we love. Very insightful and helpful.
You very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!👍
Looks like a great paint job. Nice!! 🏴☠️
Thanks John! Painted myself in the garage. Thanks for watching. 👍
Thank You for excellent video.
You are very welcome Stephen! Thanks for watching.
Great video and timing.
If you haven't already changed your t-arms and your bushings are in good shape, you can just change the bearing assembly. This isn't a huge job, but it isn't fun. I get mine from Bairs corvette in linesville pa.
Thanks for the info kevin. I was able to rebuild both of the bearing assemblies about a month after making this video. It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Just need a few specialized tools to complete them.
Great advice and detailed information!
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Have had 3 C3's ... great car... but be patient and wait for a solid one. Should be able to get a very nice one for less than the price of a new Honda Civic.
Terry you are 100% correct! Buy the best car you can afford. One with a solid frame & birdcage is very important. I got lucky with mine. Thanks for watching. 👍
Good descriptions and explanantions, well done video. thank you
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
@Capt. Dfl sounds like a fun 79. C3'S are definitely a labor of love and never truly finished. Good luck with the build. 👍
Exellent, thanks for sharing !!!
You are very welcome, thanks for watching!
Dude, that was helpful info. Thank you
Thank you! Welcome to the channel.
Red lines would look good on that car.
Awesome video... tomorrow I will be checking one out. It is a 76 but I am sure this will help... thank you so much!
You're very welcome. Thanks for watching.
THANKS FOR THE TIPS ON THE C3 , I'VE GOT A 79 L - 82 THAT NEEDS SOME TLC , CALIFORNIA CAR , THEY WERE 20k IN THOSE DAYS , UP TO 200k FOR A NEW ONE TODAY !!!
Sorry for the delayed response. Haven't been getting my comments for some reason. Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Dope vid i hope to see this channel
grow
Hello great video I’m looking at a 71 shortly Sir something I noticed 12:28 one of your axle stands was not level please please be really careful locating and levelling them thanks for the informative vid
Great Video I just got a 1980 Vette and I wish I saw your video a week ago not that there's anyth in ng wrong with mine but I could've been more informed on the money pit I purchased lol
Well I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Congratulations on the purchase of your 80! Is this your first vette?
Thanks for the video. Have my 76 corvette stingray since 2013. It runs but I still need a few things fixed on it. bearings I think the last owner told me needed to be changed. I will do what you just did. Thanks again. I definitely subscribed. looking forward to new C3 videos from you. thanks brother. Appreciate it from New York....
That's awesome louie! I'm glad
My video will help you. Good luck on the 76 & save the wave brother!
First, check the frame near the rear wheels. 3/8 hole in front of the rear wheels but no drain hole underneath.
Might do a side by side video with yours to check out my rust bucket. I have a feeling it will fail on all accounts, haha. Not sure if I'll do that on PyroJason or TrashProp but that's just some notes for myself so I can find this later. Thanks for the video!
That sounds like a interesting video idea. I'm looking forward to seeing it.👍
Great video. Thanks!
Thank you!
Thanks for the advice. I haven’t heard a lot of good about the crossfire injection but I would most likely just do a LS swap for the reliability and piece of mind. Thanks again, beautiful car, and the video was very informative.
Quick question, what frame and subframe and drive train modifications would you need to perform to make sure the LS doesn’t warp the car to shreds?
@@juliuspreloznik7236 A 21 jewel roll cage and titanium muffler bearings
@@stevemadak6255 Ah, the infamous muffler bearings, of course
Thanks for posting this video. I have been looking at a body just the windshield back and then everything has been gutted from it. I wanted to turn it into a open wheel buggy. I have seen a video that a truck frame will work under a C3 corvette with a few mods. Just waiting to hear back on which frame he used. All of the glass has been removed so I will probably have to replace the complete bird cage in it, but it will on be a buggy. I just think it would be cool to save the body and turn it into a cool ride instead of letting the guy let it sit on the ground where it is at. At least the door shells are still there.
That's right save it and give it a second life. I hate seeing them sit and rot away too. 👍
Nice guide
Are there any engines or gearboxes to avoid ?
Wich one is the best ?
There's really nothing to avoid such as anything troublesome. Anything with a big block and a four speed is the most desirable. After 74 it was small block only. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
I've got a '70, lucked out with many of these issues, but my trailing arms also need swapping - Ecklers has them 495.00 per side, rebuilt, stiff core charge! Take care
Glad you enjoyed the video. I've also made one on my trailing arms rebuild. It might be helpful if you decide to rebuild them yourself. All In i I had about$400 in both of mine. Good luck and thanks for watching. 👍
That part of the video at the number 2 mount at 8:38 is never what you will find unless someone had been through the car and restored it. Typically you will see surface rust and adhesive. What you look for is if that bolt is rusted away or fused to the lower birdcage. Most all original cars will have some rust. My 69 had some but just a light layer on the surface.
Great points! Thanks for the helpful information.
Very nice work. Thanks.
Thanks john! Glad you liked it.
Good video...nice car! I have an '81 that I've had for 29 years. Make a video of your trailing arm swap-out. That, to me, seems like a very specialized skill that the mechanics who know and do that job well are getting few, and far between. I'm looking for shops who specialize in working on old corvettes (trailing arm replacement, specifically) and so far the closest one is about 200 miles from my house!
Thanks Rick! Glad you liked the video. Please check my channel I did post the trailing arm rebuild , Hope it is helpful. Thanks for watching.
I had a orange one drove it hard as I could never had any problems with it
Nice! Can't say I do the same with mine. It's definitely a rarity to not have problems with them. Thanks for watching.
On the radiator support, I wonder if it would cause any issues if two drain holes were drilled in it. Of course then sealing off the bare metal edges so rust doesn’t propagate from there.
it's a good idea.
It definitely wouldn't cause any issues, if it had been done at the factory they probably wouldn't have rusted out so easily.👍
@@TCBGARAGE hopefully people see this comment and do that.
Almost two years ago I picked up an Ontario orange 1972 T-top for my wife for our 20th anniversary,I hope $15 was a decent price.
It runs pretty good though very VERY hot, any suggestions?The other day the gear shift boot melted from its base.
@@RazorCustoms 15k is a good price for a 72 especially if it's in good shape. Check out my video I made of my cooling system, it may be helpful. th-cam.com/video/64imPJzx9tI/w-d-xo.html