Hey guys, i need some advice. as a 2nd gen lover i don't want to see my 81 go but i would love to have a vette. my 81 currently has a 305 4brrl and a th350, the floors/frames are solid, needs a paint job soon, needs all new weather stripping, driver seat is badly ripped, everything is functional except the e-brake, new tires, heres some pics











Now the vette is a 75 stingray L82, he has a new bumper cover for it but the frame under the driverside is rotted, is it fixable? would it be worth trading? it has 150,000 original km's on it also.

heres a couple pics of the vette, he's supposed to send more and i will call him tonight and talk some more.





Oh yeah, heres a link to the guys ad for the vette

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...AdIdZ205656019

any advice would be appreciated

joe

 

Now you're getting smart, I'm really a Vette guy at heart (and garage)! How much is he looking to get for it vs. what is your car worth? I sold my 79 last year and got $7400 (U.S.) for it, with a brand new paint job. When I bought it (paid $3k), it had right side frame rot, needed paint, but had a cherry interior, and a good engine/running gear. I formed a right angled piece of steel (I believe I used 14 ga.) to run down the whole side of the frame so it would cover the face and underside. Then welded it (rosettes) to the existing frame where it was still solid, and also made an angle piece in the rear corner (the flat underneath) out of 1/8" to tie the side and rear rail together. Even though it might be a lot of work, it can be fixable if it isn't too far gone.

 

Around my area a really nice Corvette is selling in the $5,000-$8,000 range without any rot. A mid 70's Camaro in similar shape is going around the same price if it's also solid. I'd say the Corvette with rotted frames is not worth what a solid mid 70's Camaro is worth, but it's your car and your decision.

 

thanks guys, he is supposed to send me more pics tomorrow to save me a 2 hr trip to look at it, but i never asked him what he was looking for cash wise but my car i would say (this is just what i see them go for in that shape) $4000 as is would be a reasonable price? I'm still not sure with it being a 2 seater though, i just like the looks of them.

but i'll post up the new pics i get tomorrow and we'll see how far gone it is.

thanks again

joe

 

Not until it's fixed, as long as it's fixable.
Joe, I basically sistered a new frame rail over the original one that was every bit as thick as the original solid portion. When I was done, I would defy anybody, short of a purist, to know that it was repaired. Doing a project like this is not a slap patch job though, so know that going into it. I'm not trying to blow my own horn, but I've restored a few C3 Vettes, so I know what I'm looking at. If you can get some good close-up pics of the rusted part of the frame from a couple different angles, post them and I can let you know if it's good or bad news.
Other than the front bumper, the paint looks quite decent, is it that good? One more thing, if you get it and don't want to keep those front wheels, let me know.

 

If you trade, keep your wheels and tires.

 

No, he should keep the wheels as they are, and then sell the front ones off the Vette to me for a smokin hot deal.

 

^lol, still waitin on the pics

 

Well i received some pics today and i decided NOT to trade, alot was left out. He has a replacement front bumper cover but not the back, interior is in tereble shape, frame rot was patch welded before and rotted again, exhaust looks pretty bad, just to much to fix up (also having my 80 im building). but right away after seeing the pics i said no, would have been cool if it was in a bit better shape

here's the pics