1971 Vette

[tjtucker]

Hi

I found a 1971 black convt for sale for 14,000.00
I took a look at it today and it not bad a Texas car with rockcrusher 4 speed. Not a show car but presentable better than avg paint and interior. Mileage is 125K
I was thinking about doing a Pro Touring.

What do you think Pros & Cons?

TJ

[compos mentis]

I like the idea but I run Vettes by these guys if you haven't already

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zeroforum?id=56

[WS6]

pros are the cars handle very well with the correct aftermarket parts. Their value is good since it's a chrome bumper car. Look great. Can handle wide rims as compared to the 63-67 cars. Can hold any engine you want under the hood. The list goes on and on.

Cons: You're changing a vette. This will tick off the purists. Frames rot fairly easily. Bird cage(this is the metal support under the fiberglass body) can be rotted as well. The frame can be replaced easily and for not a lot of money all things considered. The bird cage can be a nightmare to redo since the body must be literally torn off and rebuilt onto the bird cage. They are small inside with little to no extra room. They are hot and noisy even with the tops in and windows rolled up. They are hard to see out of when driving. A "simple" brake job is anything but simple on a C2/3 if you do it right. Aftermarket brakes are readily available that remedy some of the issues. Frames are not rigid even if in good condition(braces that fix these issues are easily available). The wiring harness that is in the car has fiber optics running through it. If you choose to keep the fiber optics, a complete harness, actually harnesses, will not be cheap. American Autowire makes fantastic replacement harnesses with the fiber optics in there. The popup headlights and windshield wiper door all work on vacuum. This can be a pain to trouble shoot and make work correctly. There's more just like with the pros.

Really, it's a great car to be involved in. You just have to learn the quirks of a C3 corvette or you could end up in serious trouble before even beginning. You must look the car over carefully before buying. This includes removing the dash panels(easy) to inspect the birdcage. Check the frame kickups in the rear.

[compos mentis]

These frames go for $6800 bare.




The car was a $1000 basket case...I saw it.

There's a deal on the Corvette Forum for a 69 roadster with one of these frames and a LS1.

[tjtucker]

Thanks for the replies.

I also have a link on 81 model with 78,000 miles for 7800.00 which is very reasonable.

If possible can you give me a link on the frame you posted a photo of? I would like more info on it.

Thanks TJ

[compos mentis]

You're welcome.
Here you go...

http://www.sriiimotorsports.com/196382corvette.html

[Lowend]

I've done a ton of Vette stuff and the shark-body is a great platform for pretty much anything but drag racing.

They have overly complicated vacuum based movement systems; but most of that is stuff you can change. There are full vacuum system rebuild kits for pretty cheap.

Brakes... the factory brakes are awful from a reliability standpoint. But there are several good aftermarket kits. SS Brakes is not one of them.

There are some suspension components that are not so great... but that's the point of pro-touring isn't it...

Overall - good platform the hell with the purists

[JV69z/28]

pros are the cars handle very well with the correct aftermarket parts. Their value is good since it's a chrome bumper car. Look great. Can handle wide rims as compared to the 63-67 cars. Can hold any engine you want under the hood. The list goes on and on.

Cons: You're changing a vette. This will tick off the purists. Frames rot fairly easily. Bird cage(this is the metal support under the fiberglass body) can be rotted as well. The frame can be replaced easily and for not a lot of money all things considered. The bird cage can be a nightmare to redo since the body must be literally torn off and rebuilt onto the bird cage. They are small inside with little to no extra room. They are hot and noisy even with the tops in and windows rolled up. They are hard to see out of when driving. A "simple" brake job is anything but simple on a C2/3 if you do it right. Aftermarket brakes are readily available that remedy some of the issues. Frames are not rigid even if in good condition(braces that fix these issues are easily available). The wiring harness that is in the car has fiber optics running through it. If you choose to keep the fiber optics, a complete harness, actually harnesses, will not be cheap. American Autowire makes fantastic replacement harnesses with the fiber optics in there. The popup headlights and windshield wiper door all work on vacuum. This can be a pain to trouble shoot and make work correctly. There's more just like with the pros.

Really, it's a great car to be involved in. You just have to learn the quirks of a C3 corvette or you could end up in serious trouble before even beginning. You must look the car over carefully before buying. This includes removing the dash panels(easy) to inspect the birdcage. Check the frame kickups in the rear.

What he said. These cars are great platforms for pro-tourer's. If you don't know these cars you need to have someone who does look at it for you even if you have to pay them. If the birdcage is rustly it will be a budget breaker no matter how much the budget is.
Speaking of budgets you need to decide before you buy anything what your total budget is (add 25% to that) and buy your parts accordingly. If your total budget is 30K you can forget that real trick SRIII frame. You can do a lot with what's there since there is such a large aftermarket for these cars. You can get from very complete Hi/Perf suspension rebuild kits to mono leaf springs front and rear to coil overs front and rear all for the factory frame. As stated above ANY engine and trans can be made to fit it just depends on what you want to spend. If you don't want to mess around with the vacuum lights and wipers you can do a way with them. The aftermarket has '73 up type long hoods to do a way with the vacuum operated wiper door. Ditto for the headlights. L88 fixed lights can do a way with the pop up lights and take weight off the front or you can convert to electric motors to operate the head lights. Again where do you want to take the project and how much do you want to spend? A 255 tire will fit in the front and a 275 tire will fit in the rear under stock fenders or you can install flares and fit up to 285s in the front and 335s in the rear. C5 seats are a fairly easy upgrade. It all depends on how far you want to go and how much money you want to tie up in the project. C3s are great platforms - good luck with what ever you decide.

[jeff s]

I like the idea of PT C3's.
Here's a 1968 Corvette we just finished.
3rd in the Goodguys Chicagoland Vendor autocross first time out.

[jeff s]

Here's the new Baer brakes we just added.

[cmraman]

I like the idea of PT C3's.
Here's a 1968 Corvette we just finished.
3rd in the Goodguys Chicagoland Vendor autocross first time out.

Nice drift shot, who's the guy that took that?

[compos mentis]

I agree C3's make great platforms for pro-touring.

Here's a birdcage primer for those looking to buy a C3

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1969171

$16500 for this '69 w/an LS1 and T56 already in it.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2051724

[vintageracer]

Just so you will know, I "doubt" the car has a "Rockcrusher". Possible but not probable. Only 130 Corvettes in 1971 had the M22 installed at the factory.

All I am saying is make sure that if you are buying the car AND paying a premium or putting any value on the possibility that a M22 Rockcrusher 4 speed really is in the car, take time to really make SURE that the 4 speed in the car really IS a M22 Rockcrusher!

[protour73]

I like the idea of PT C3's.
Here's a 1968 Corvette we just finished.
3rd in the Goodguys Chicagoland Vendor autocross first time out.

Jeff, that car was one of my favorites at the Good Guys show.........the wheels, although they look great, were a bit too tall for my taste on that particular car.....but I watched you rip it up on the autocross course and was very impressed!!

[tjtucker]

Thanks for all of the replies. I have not made up my mind yet on the Vette. I might go for a Camaro. I been looking for some for sale and I really like the red 67 for sale in the sales forum. However, condition wise it might be better than I need.
Do you think he would take a pile of custom pistols for it?

TJ

[corvettekid1973]

I like the idea of PT C3's.
Here's a 1968 Corvette we just finished.
3rd in the Goodguys Chicagoland Vendor autocross first time out.

Do you plan on offering a full replacement frame for the C3 like you offer for other cars. I love your concept and cars you build. My perfect C3 would have one of your frames with a complete 6speed C6 Z06 or ZR1 drive line and suspension

[WS6]

The modern frame market for Corvettes is saturated. There is Street Shop Inc, SRIII Motorsports, Jameson, Collier, and Newman Car Creation and I bet I'm missing one or two. Street Shop is my choice if I'm buying.

[AM.MSCL]

If it Harwell motors outside of Dallas area I would be very scared.

[corvettekid1973]

Well I suppose that's a good reason why he doesn't offer one.. thanks for the info

[JV69z/28]

Well I suppose that's a good reason why he doesn't offer one.. thanks for the info

For what it's worth Jeff's car is on a stock frame with all "bolt ons". Take a look. http://www.schwartzperformance.com/p...x?projectid=12