Several weight-saving methods had been implemented to increase fuel efficiency. Whether its to drive themselves or to purchase as an investment, weve prepared a comprehensive guide to buy the perfect Chevrolet Corvette C3. Transmission problems were also common in some C3 models, like 1969 and 1982, where users noticed broken diaphragms causing transmission fluid loss. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Join The World's Best Iconic & Vintage Car Community >>, 2014 McLaren P1 With MSO Pacific Blue Paintwork Up For Sale, Car Of The Day: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO, Meet The Legendary 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible, The 2023 Goodwood Revival to honor Carroll Shelby. Common rust areas, wiring issues etc. In the case of the C3, one of the most commonly experienced problems is the dreaded "lazy eye" headlight syndrome. The earlier C3 Corvette's . Off comes the combination valve. It also had transmission issues which sometimes manifested with smoke and transmission fluid leaks. As such, it is unsurprising that the engine on most C3s was replaced. 9) Replace it. Showroom hours vary Monday-Saturday. Many people want to acquire the Chevrolet Corvette C3 as a classic car, loving its ease of driving with its power steering and power brakes. This design worked great for the most part, and was fairly easy to repair when it broke. Correct the problem. Classic corvettes are no different in this instance. According to most consumers reviews, this model comes in beautiful color combinations, great power, acceleration, reliability, and smooth drivability yet in an affordable range. Get it on our website with free shipping in the USA. If you are seeking an excellent car, keep in mind to stay away from the following worst Corvette years: 1969 C3 Corvette, 1971 C3 Corvette, 1977 C3 Corvette, 1982 C3 Corvette. There was also insufficient horsepower, and the car was jerking when driving at a constant speed or accelerating. Starting in 2008, Audi began building a line, Read More Which Audi Q5 Years To Avoid and Why? It also adds a larger hood panel. The 1969 model year was prone to developing engine problems, giving drivers a lot of technical difficulties. This included the addition of a standard quartz timepiece and digital tuning for all aftermarket radios. The most important thing is to balance the many available features and make sure that you get as much of the best and as little of the potentially problematic. A huge red flag is a wet carpet which could indicate corrosion in the floorpan. When test driving the car, make sure it starts easily and all operating components like headlights, windscreen washers, and instrument panels are working. The value of the Corvette C3 varies depending on whether you are looking at a classic corvette like the L88, a collector edition C3, or just a daily driver. Back in my high school days in the 1980s, my friends and I would sit outside the school after football practice, waiting for our parents to pick us up. TAILLIGHTS. It also had the best performance and fuel efficiency. Before shopping around, determine from the onset what type of C3 Corvette and model year you would like to own. What Does TBC Fault Mean On A Ford Truck? On this 1968 C3, you can see corrosion at the lift arm at the rear corner, and it's a serious structural problem for the car. It is easy to see why C3s hold their value and are growing in popularity. (Explained), 6.0 Powerstroke Towing Capacity | Everything You Should Know, 7 Easy Solutions For Hydra Tuner Problems On 7.3 Powerstroke, 6.0L Powerstroke Injection Control Pressure Problems Troubleshooting. Chevy Corvette had made several modifications while bringing its 1982 C3 Corvette model. The cockpit was lower and positioned further back, as were the Corvette's engine and transmission. Here are some areas you should check out: To sum up, what c3 Corvette years to avoid? I'm thinking of buying a 1975-80 C3 and knowing nothing about these cars, what should I be on the look out for? We built the car as a fun car for me and my partner to drive and promote the shop, but weve had some pretty serious offers to purchase it. Corvettes are widely identified as the American sports car, and the C3 is a great example. Seventies Corvettes are very iconic vehicles, and people are really drawn to clean examples, Brunan says. As a result, these years have been placed on the avoid list. If you seek a vehicle for everyday use, you may want to explore other options. Run a 160 degree thermostat. The machines themselves must have had a manufacturing defect as most drivers opted to change it quite early into its usage. The 1982 version also appears in the list of the worst year for Corvette. Brakes are common, most guys have replaced with stainless sleeves. Rear Window Defogger - In the early C3's, GM used a blower motor and hose to blow air on the back window. Thanks guys, I have a 1983 Olds 98 Regency 2 door that's my daily driver. Rust may be all around the chassis, some will be minor rust, some not so minor. A common misnomer is that the C3 Corvette consists of a fiberglass body that doesnt rust. I have had great luck with Seat Belts Plus. If youre handy, for $5600$6300 you can find a solid #4 car that needs a little mechanical or cosmetic love. 1977-1982 Corvette steering columns have several advantages over the 1968-1976 units, the most notorious being the overall length of the assembly. Engine. A variety of transmissions were offered during third-generation Corvette production, including 3-speed and 4-speed manual transmission as well as 3-speed and 4-speed automatic transmission. Tried to bleed again with no success. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Also, the PCV grommets should be adequately sealed to maintain the proper pressures. I ran a B&M 144 on my '75 with an L82 engine for a number of years. Wheel wells are prone to rust on any car or truck, so check there first. C3 Corvette Forums. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, racing, restoration, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! They also all came with automatic transmissions, but four speeds don't necessarily command a premium. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Drivers often experience irregular or complete taillight and turn signal light failures, caused mainly by bad ground in the taillight circuit. So few days ago I for some reason connected the brown wire of the alarm . (Explained)Continue, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Inspect the headlight and ensure they are in working order. Your best bet at prolonging the hinge life on a C3 is to lubricate the hinges regularly. The Nissan Sentra is a line of vehicles, Read More Which Nissan Sentra Years to Avoid and Why? This was a very common thing for owners to unhook because it often failed and could not be shut off without disconnecting it, making it more of a nuisance than anything else. According to The Best Corvettes Ever Made by JEFFREY HARPER article published on the Hotcars.com website, following years models have been considered safe by most consumers and auto experts-. 1971 C3 Corvette users also complained about leaks coming from the headlight actuator vacuum system and directly affecting the engine idling. Another spot that is vulnerable to rust is the kickup area just forward of the rear wheels. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 8) No electricity up to idle sole-noid, or no ground. We have often been able to sell well-maintained/restored examples above retail, and weve even sold a couple to other dealers at retail, and theyve sold them at a profit. While actual results may vary, it is fairly safe to predict that you should be able to own a C3, drive it for a few years while keeping it well maintained, and at least break even at resale. Many C3 users also claimed to notice improper or damaged PCV valves. Examine for any cracks where the body mounts to the frame in the wheel wells. Drivers reported sagging doors, broken door seals, road noise, water leaks and other alignment issues. According to most consumers reports, the 1969 C3 Corvette seemed to have this issue as the most highlighted one. The 1969 model users claimed that the driver and passenger windows of the vehicle were prone to fail. But by 1967, the automaker had already been planning the C3 generation for the 1968 model year and had allowed the supply of the big tanks to dwindle. According to the 1977 Chevrolet Corvette Recall NHTSA 115000 report, some models have steering wheel center hubs, which are prone to fail. As such, checking if the fuse was the problem is essential before digging in to check the motor. After that, they might move on to improving performance or perfecting cosmetics, but small odds and ends tend to get left behind. GOOD LUCK either way. Video Transcript: thanks for joining me I'm Steve from c&s . Transmission fluid leaking into the engine was a prevalent transmission problem. The entire rear kick-up may be substantially weakened and it could potentially fail, particularly after a couple of hard launches. C3 Tech/Performance - Anyone seen a quadrajet fuel filter twisted? This means the grease gets hard and gummy and does not allow the doors to lock or unlock. And like most vehicles of its time, it has issues we classify as severe problems today. The primary electrical faults C3 suffered from are rooted in taillight and turn signal failure. The operation of taillights and turn signal lights may experience intermittent or total failure. We then placed a highly aerodynamic 1982 body on the upgraded frame, made it a convertible, and added factory side pipes. Little back story unsure if it has anything to do with the issue. If the leak is a major one, loss of transmission fluid would be more noticeable and followed by smoke at the tailpipe. Simply put, these cars are fun to drive, and theyre often greeted with cheers and thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard. A forum community dedicated to Chevy Corvette owners and enthusiasts. The 1971 C3 model is best known for its braking issues. The nice thing about corvettes is parts are plentyful, however some private individuals are very proud of thier parts and want to retire early, shop around. The current vehicle could be what you are searching for if these unusual varieties arent your style. The major complaint against the 1977 C3 was that it was almost unchanged, and the manufacturer had not included any major modifications to make it better than the previously released model. Take it apart and find it shifted to the front brakes. This was such a great option that I locked myself in my fathers pace car as a young kid back in the 80s! Thus, if you are eager to know more about C3 Corvettes infamous models, keep reading the following article-. The interior features were famously durable however areas prone to wear include the drivers and passenger seats, cracking in the center stack, and dashboard (due to prolonged sunlight exposure or significant changes in temperature). When he pulled. In many cases, drivers had to remove their dashboard speedometer cluster so they could replace the upper hinge pin for the door to stop sagging. Starting in 1978, the tachometer comes out through the front, so its very easy to replace the circuit board. Unfortunately, some C3 Corvettes were reported for issues like the vehicle engine tends to turn over but fail to start again, the engine runs rough, or stopped running, displacement engine alternative only cranked out at 180 HP, and even four-speed transmission is no longer available for emission Corvette. the most common problem with neglected cars is rust in the windshield frame area and hinge pillar ..everything else is just as any other classic car..most anything you need for them is still available from several vendorslet us know if you buy one, we will be glad to assist . Finally was presented with an opportunity to work on the 76 Orange Flame winter beater after it broke down on the road the a few weeks back. Once youve decided which is the best for you, you should think about how confident you are performing the C3 Corvette. Rare Corvette models like the L88 (of which only 216 were produced) and the ZL1 are adored by enthusiasts. If you experience such a problem, youd have to gear up for expensive repairs to the window regulator gear or power window motor. When you mention modified Corvettes, many restorers cringe at the thought of overly customized rigs like the one featured in the 1978 movie Corvette Summer, with Mark Hamill at the wheel. Power and manual door locks Lets face it- most classic vettes these days sit in garages and only go out for cruise-ins and car shows, which generally do not require locking the car. Big City Corvettes, a Corvette restoration and parts dealer in Livermore, California, created just such a vehicle. The 1981 Corvettes interior control panel had been updated to make it more contemporary and approachable. In fact, GM actually put drain holes in the floors of the C3s so the water could run out and not get trapped on the floor. I keep plastic under all of my cars and Pig Mat on top of that. It is one Corvette that cannot be forgotten in a hurry because of its great value and fun. If youre getting an automatic, then ensure that the gears are shifting smoothly with no lag or drag. Make sure you know what you are buying and its within your mechanical ability to restore. Also a good fast burn head is a lot better than any of those '70's stockers. The most common mechanical troubleshooting issues reported against this years C3 Corvette were engine overheating, improperly operating or damaged PCV valve, and PCV grommets not being sealed properly. Keep the resto-modification tasteful and you have a subtly modified car that, while unique, is easily desirable to others when it comes time to resell. Given the vacuum lines are produced from rubber, with time, they can become brittle and crack, leading to vacuum leaks. Shipping in the 80s thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard added factory side pipes problem is essential before in... American sports car, and people are really drawn to clean examples Brunan. 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