Category Archives: C3

#SR76 Video To Do List Part 1

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I begin discussing ALL the work that has to be done to #ProjectSR76 1976 Stingray.  There’s a lot!!   Spreadsheets are being created and mini projects planned out.

Of course, everything is subject to funding.   As you know, Average Guys have Average Budgets.  There is no magic number, but no corners are cut for safety.

I created an Eckler’s project and started adding my NEEDS for #SR76.  The entire carpet package is $430.00.  Which isn’t bad.  But the roll of the looped black carpet was only about $30.   Can I make it work?   Well, you’ll be the second to know.

If you have an idea or have a comment make it here or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLWYRoUPd_SANVjRj77cwkw) or our FaceBook page.

Here is part of my discussion (with myself) on my To Do List:

 


Thanks for checking in!!!!

Tim

#SR76  
SR=Stingray  76 -1976

 

#ProjectSR76 Is The Stingray Numbers Matching?

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Numbers matching means that a part (or parts) have a number that matches the VIN or a portion of the VIN. Often it only refers to the engine, in some cases other parts as well.

Watch a Barrett Jackson or Mecum Auction and many of these “Numbers Matching” cars bring higher prices. It is a unique attribute especially muscle and sports cars that were often modified over the years.  For example there were just over 46k 1976 Stingray produced and having the original engine adds it to a much smaller number. 

Since the L48 for #SR76 is the lower performance of the engine available in 1976, one might guess that they were replaced for more horse power over the years. 

For #SR76 my intentions are not to create a contours level restoration, so it really isn’t that much of benefit but would be cool to know.

So is the L48 original to #ProjectSR76?

See what you think.

 


Thanks for checking.

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjecySR76 – 1976 Stingray – This Just In – Car Parts 1

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Who doesn’t love coming home and finding new car parts waiting at the door???!!!   OK  probably my wife…but who else?

New Carpet (Black) New E-Hand Brake console.

The plan for the interior -at this moment is to replace all the ugly carpet (what’s left of it) with Black.

There is no carpet in the front. You see remnants of the underlayment and some surface rust in the front.

And this “no idea what color that is’ carpet in the back.

At this point the seat belts and the seats will be black (or maybe red — Thoughts?)

I don’t know what to do with the rest of the car that has this off-white (without the details from an invoice or window sticker, I have no idea what the carpet color options were in 1976) – I don’t think this is going to come clean enough to suit me.  I had luck painting some parts of my 1970 Mustang’s interior, I might consider that again.

I have already pulled off one of the kick panels, and I’ve scrubbed it pretty well. It did not clean up well. See —>

Maybe more elbow grease on the hard plastic but I don’t know about the fake leather.

Share your thoughts.

Tim

#ProjectSR76 – 1976 Stingray Add-Ons

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It’s clear that the build sheet/inventory sheet is not available for #ProjectSR76.

With some inquiries on FaceBook I found free downloads of Corvette Brochure for 1976. 

Thanks to:

GM Heritage Center

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com

For providing the downloads.

 

There’s a section called “What You Can Add” which list all the option available.

Here’s a screen shot:

 

I put together a list as the car exists now.  Here are the Add-Ons:

Power breaks
Power Steering
Power Windows
Four Season A/c
Tilt-Telescoping steering
AM/FM (two types – don’t know which one- there’s an old Walmart AM/FM cassette crammed in it’s place)
Two rear speakers
Fixed Height Antenna
4 Speed Wide Ratio Trans*
wheels are 15″x8″
Anti-theft alarm
Luggage carrier
Dual Horns

I don’t know how identify the Gymkhana suspension. The description is above, but that’s really no help. I’m assuming it was the forerunner to the Z51 but that’s just a guess.

I know it started out with the L48 – which has been modified.  I can check for numbers matching – if that was a thing for Corvette.

The wheels, if original, are steel with wide chrome rings and center caps.

I’ll continue looking for a supplier of the window sticker/build sheet.

Coming up next will be a engine inspection then I start building the list of restoration/issues to fix – THAT’S WHEN THE FUN BEGINS

Thanks for checking in!

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjectSR76 – Naming Projects

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Welcome back the Average Guys Car Restoration.  

I started this blog, many years ago. First it started out as just sharing some car information, like Parking Lot Spotlight, pic of cars I’d see parked and AutoFactoids – usually facts on a specific car and even did a serices that give the development of the different engines.  You might still see these pop up from time to time.

But  about 15 years ago I started recording some of the work I was doing as I restored my 1970 Mustang.  You can still see those here on these pages (some of the videos have disappeared).  I kept it going with work I did on my 1984 C4 Corvette and some work I did on my C6 Corvette.  Then I went all out  with the restoration of my 1973 Mustang – #ProjectSportsRoof (#ProjectSR73).  It was tough in the beginning because YouTube was a not really thing yet and storing videos somewhere and retrieving them for display was not as smooth as it is today.

My  naming conventions (at least for the last Mustang and now the Stingray) came about based on  the car’s sub-model and my work in the USAF with the SR-71 Blackbird.  The 1973 Mustang wasn’t a Mach I nor a fastback, it was technically called a SportRoof.   The project started out as #ProjectSportsRoof but as I typed it over and over again, I toyed with shortening.  I eventually realized that SR73 would be cool as it sounded a bit like SR71.  Of course you when think about the SR71 you think of the Mach 3+ at which it could travel (actually it was closer to Mach 5) and everyone wants their muscle car to be fast!

As I was driving the Stingray home, I of course planned to record my work on it and need a name for the project.  If you wanted the video for #ProjectSR76 you’ll know I decided just that day.  You don’t need me too, but I’ll spell it out – SR is for Stingray and 76 is the year of the car.

That’s a little background.

Coming up next will be quick inspection of the undercarriage of #SR76.

Check back!!!

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjectSR76 1976 Stingray – Interior Inspection

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We begin creating the list of thing that need attention on the 1976 Stingray. We start by inspecting the car. This video the interior.

Now you might have go to back ways in the list of posts and videos to find those showing the condition of my last project 1973 Mustang (#ProejctSR73) and the Vette is in much better shape the than the Stang.  Vette is 90% better mechanically and 80% better interior wise then the 1973.

I grew up loving the C3 body styles.  I share the same birth as the Corvette (although the brand is a bit older than I am) and 1976 was the year I graduated high school.

So take a look at the interior.


Thanks for checking and there’s lot more coming up.

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

C3 Corvette Search Episode 4

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The search has ended.

INTRODUCING #ProjectSR76  (1976 Stingray)

 

 


Lots more coming – Exterior walk around, interior inspection, undercarriage look and a peak at the power plant.

So come on back!!

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 =1976  (duh)

Guess what engine this is?

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Guess what this is a pic of – you can guess, the engine or the car.

 

 

Drop the note in the comments.  

BY THE WAY – MY C3 SEARCH HAS ENDED…STAY TUNED!!!

Tim

 

C3 Corvette Search Episode 2

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The search goes on for my next project car.  I’m searching for a third generation Corvette built between 1967 to 1982.  There were a few body changes and some suspension changes between those dates. But mostly stayed the same. In 1981 a engine computer was added.

I came across this 1981 Corvette locally.  Still owned by the original owner although he’s no longer able to drive.

I normally try to record as much of the inspection as I can.  That’s difficult to do because you don’t want to capture the owners or any family member nor the sales person.  So this video is a bit choppy in spots and I had to edited out a 4 year old that really wanted to help.

Normally, I’d like to capture the car running, for no other reason than to refresh my memory after looking at several cars in one day or long delays during between offers. In this case I was pouring gas into the carb and couldn’t.

I’ve made two offers on the car the first was turned down and I yet to get a response on the second.

Check out the video.

 

I love this car…the stories helped, but  I have 1977 Stingray to look at on Saturday.

 

Checking back for updates.

Tim

Classic – Muscle Car Shopping – Primer Part I

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If you are following a long you know I’m on the hunt for my next project car and boy are my fingers tired and I can’t get this thing off of me:

Maybe WD40?

It’s a lot of work when you search nationwide.  Setting up searches on different web sites and on those that don’t offer that feature you are continually recreating the same search.  Then there are emails with questions like, “Is it still available?’  and other questions that often get ignored.  Here’s an actual example: (Setup – the ad said make an offer)

12:24 PM Jun 06 (ME)

I’d consider $4K…thoughts?

12:46 PM Jun 06 (Seller)

6500 is what I’m looking to get

01:34 PM Jun 06 (ME)

Ok…a few more questions if you don’t mind. How’s the interior? I can tell from the pic but the tires seem to be good enough to get it on a trailer. Has it been driven recently or at least started? Thanks. Tim – Tucson AZ

10:23 PM Jun 07 (Seller)

The car runs and drives fine

06:57 AM Jun 08 (ME)

I’d like to take a look at it and hear it run. I’ll be up in Phx late Saturday afternoon.

NO RESPONSE.

That’s nothing but fun!   Just as fun are the sites that don’t know anything about the car and people listing  cars they don’t actually own. My a favorite phrase has become “I was told it runs great.” right up there with “ran when parked”.

I just got of the phone with an interesting site – consignment site of course.  That went something like this:

Me: Hi I had a couple of questions that I emailed about the car. Those weren’t answered but you sent me an invoice for purchasing the car.  Can you answer these questions?

Lady on the Phone:  No I can’t.

Me: Is there someone there that can? Or can I call back later to speak to someone?

Lady on the Phone: No it’s just me here.

Me:  Ok.  I have a question about payment.  The invoice says you are located in PA but you want me to “wire” money to an account in FL.  Is there another way I can make the payment?

Lady on the Phone: No.  I’ll just cancel the invoice. – CALL ENDED.

I’ve saved the best for last!

www.hotmusclecars.com has a lot of cars for sale. The problem is they allow anyone to post an ad and  many are scams. VERY ELABORATE SCAMS. (Found this problem with Facebook marketplace and Offerup as well). The same car is listed in 8-10 different cities and at different prices but the same pics. There aren’t that many tall pine trees in the middle of LA, CA.

For fun, I decided to chase one down. It was a Mach I for $6k, which is a stupid price for such car (1969). The car was listed in Los Angles and she was in FL. I sent the obligatory “Is it available?” email. Response said it was and the story.  It was her husband’s car and he died, and she had to move to Lakeside, FL with her two children.

She said she had arranged to ship through eBay (which according to eBay – isn’t a thing). I told her I’d be fine buying through eBay and if there was a buy it now page I’ll pay through eBay as well. She said ok and sent me a link to a buy it now page. The problem was it wasn’t actually on eBay. The website looked just like eBay, but there was no VIN listed (that’s required by eBay) and no pictures. I told her that the listing wasn’t working and that I’d call eBay and let them know. She said “oh don’t call them. Just tell me what you want to see and I’ll add it to the page. ” As a former IT guy (20 years – in web development) red flags popped up. I did call eBay to let them know and they said “Yup” happens all the time. They recommend that if it looks odd call them with the item number. You can leave a number and they’ll call you back.

The search continues.

Thanks for checking in.

Tim