Corvette build

[bablazer73]

I have always had a weakness for Corvette’s. When I was a little punk, my uncle’s all had Vettes!
59, red
62, also red.
But my favorite uncle had a New(at the time) 73!
454/4 speed. I loved this car!
He let me drive it (15, no license)
The time of my life!!
For years, i have played with them, owned a bunch. But Never could find “that one” in all my searches.
When I moved from NY, I unloaded just about every car/truck that I had!
As I started rebuilding my “empire”, I always kept an eye open for that car! Or one close! But 5 years, cash available…. Never found one that matched!
But while in Georgia looking at another vehicle to flip……
Boom! Although it was a project car, i had to have it!
I am 2 years into It. Progress is slow, but it’s still progress..
I’m going to post progress in stages…
This Metallic Yellow, Dark saddle interior is a 1 year only color combination. And 73 is also a 1 year only body. Which is making parts availability difficult.
This is something like what I’m building.

 

[bablazer73]

Before I got married, I had a 69 427 tripower 4 speed. Sold to pay for the wedding. It’s ok, I had other cars at the time. I was ok with it!
But have had some C4’s also.
The Red 89 is the last one. Sold that before we moved here in 2018.

 

[Fastereddie]

I like the first post. Second one, not so much…

 

[bablazer73]

I like the first post. Second one, not so much…

Not a C4 fan? Or the fact I sold them?

 

[Capt Ron]

 

[Fastereddie]

Not a C4 fan? Or the fact I sold them?

Haha, the fact you sold them to get married!
Sorry I’m still a bitter divorcee lol.
I love vettes, I used to work at a vette shop

 

[76zimmer]

What’s hard about finding parts for a 73? Chrome rear bumper same as 68-72, and rubber front same as 74.

 

[bablazer73]

Haha, the fact you sold them to get married!
Sorry I’m still a bitter divorcee lol.
I love vettes, I used to work at a vette shop

I get that response a lot!!
But i have a tendency to keep cars for a couple years, get bored, and move to the next one! At the time I had the 69, I had a 64 Lemans Drag car, a 77 T/A,(Bandit car) and a 78 Firebird as toys. Plus my Chevy truck! When I sold it, I used some of the money and bought an 84 corvette! ‍

 

[bablazer73]

Part of the plan when we moved from NY, was for me to Semi retire, and find “the car” and just have a play toy to enjoy…
But I never found “the car”.
And I never semi retired!‍
We looked at a ton of 73’s.
What few big blocks we found, were automatic!
And most the stick cars were Small blocks! And if I found a metallic Yellow car, it usually had a Black interior!
After the shop got built, I wanted to flip a few cars, and build my “empire” back up..
I had a great running 355/TH350 combo I saved, and was looking for a car to put it in.
While searching for “a car” I came across a 73 Corvette, No engine/trans.. the price was right, and I knew it could be a easy flip…
So the wife and I took a drive! Cash in hand to at least leave a deposit!
But when we got there, I was blindsided by the “other Corvette” he had.
He was selling the other 73, to finance the “new project” 73!
But he was a bit beside himself when I got there. He had just brought the other car home, and it accidentally rolled off his trailer, and smashed into the house!
The car had ZL1 flares glued on (poorly)
And the whole drivers rear got smashed!!
Too much damage for his abilities!
But to my surprise….,
He had a …,.
1973, factory 454/4 speed!
Originally Metallic Yellow!!!
With Dark Saddle interior!!!!
He had my “unicorn” car!!!!!
But I didn’t want to go crazy. I needed to research what I was up against!
This is also a running/driving car, although it needed work!
But I knew…. I NEEDED THIS CAR!!!

 

[bablazer73]

What’s hard about finding parts for a 73? Chrome rear bumper same as 68-72, and rubber front same as 74.

73-74 are similar in some parts.
But the Dark saddle interior is a 1 year only color. And although the rear uses 68-73 parts, there are some pieces I am having trouble finding.
Seat belts are a 73 design only. And not reproduced in the correct color. The car came with a mostly complete Black interior, but want to switch back to original.
Not everything is available reproduced. If you have a source, I’d like to know!
I’ve been getting most of my parts from Zips Corvette.

 

[bablazer73]

I researched how rare the car was the next day, checked with a few Corvette groups I was in… posted pictures of the car.
Immediately got a message from a guy that had a 73 parts car, that had a near perfect rear clip. Offered me what wa left of the car for 300$. The frame was rotted!
Since that pretty much was the big dilemma, I decided to go forward. Contacted the guy, agreed on a price. Monday, I sent him a deposit and agreed that in 2 weeks I’d be down to get the car!

 

[Fastereddie]

I researched how rare the car was the next day, checked with a few Corvette groups I was in… posted pictures of the car.
Immediately got a message from a guy that had a 73 parts car, that had a near perfect rear clip. Offered me what wa left of the car for 300$. The frame was rotted!
Since that pretty much was the big dilemma, I decided to go forward. Contacted the guy, agreed on a price. Monday, I sent him a deposit and agreed that in 2 weeks I’d be down to get the car!

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Love the tow rig too!

 

[Fastereddie]

73-74 are similar in some parts.
But the Dark saddle interior is a 1 year only color. And although the rear uses 68-73 parts, there are some pieces I am having trouble finding.
Seat belts are a 73 design only. And not reproduced in the correct color. The car came with a mostly complete Black interior, but want to switch back to original.
Not everything is available reproduced. If you have a source, I’d like to know!
I’ve been getting most of my parts from Zips Corvette.

I’ve been out of the vette world for two decades but back then Ecklers and Mid America were good for parts

 

[bablazer73]

I used both in the past. Eklers was always overpriced, but had stuff. Mid America was hit and miss..
I started using Zips with C4’s, and they have been fantastic with service and quick delivery! They have just about everything i need… new….
Except a few parts, which aren’t reproduced at all.

 

[bablazer73]

Love the tow rig too!

There is a build thread on that here.

 

[bablazer73]

Last photo/story dump for today!
Part 2 of this was getting the donor car.
Car was in Illinois, I’m in SC.
Early Saturday morning, head out! Get the car around 4pm! Hit a hotel, drive home Sunday!
Turn and burn!!!
Figured the shell was light enough, so we used my Jeep instead of the Dually for this run!
after this… the real fun begins!!

 

[76zimmer]

73-74 are similar in some parts.
But the Dark saddle interior is a 1 year only color. And although the rear uses 68-73 parts, there are some pieces I am having trouble finding.
Seat belts are a 73 design only. And not reproduced in the correct color. The car came with a mostly complete Black interior, but want to switch back to original.
Not everything is available reproduced. If you have a source, I’d like to know!
I’ve been getting most of my parts from Zips Corvette.

It’s been a long time ago since I redid my car, but Zip had very good trim parts and I used a local corvette shop for advice on many other parts I bought.
I would ask around on a couple forums for suggestions.

C3 Corvettes, 1968 - 1982 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

C3 Corvettes, 1968 - 1982 -

www.corvetteforum.com

Corvette Forum : DigitalCorvettes.com Corvette Forums

A forum community dedicated to Corvette C Series owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!

www.digitalcorvettes.com

Good luck looking forward to this project

 

[bablazer73]

It’s been a long time ago since I redid my car, but Zip had very good trim parts and I used a local corvette shop for advice on many other parts I bought.
I would ask around on a couple forums for suggestions.

C3 Corvettes, 1968 - 1982 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion

C3 Corvettes, 1968 - 1982 -

www.corvetteforum.com

Corvette Forum : DigitalCorvettes.com Corvette Forums

A forum community dedicated to Corvette C Series owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!

www.digitalcorvettes.com

Good luck looking forward to this project

I’m in a couple Forums, and some Facebook groups..
but some parts are scarce, or people want as much as I paid for the car for a piece!!!

 

[bablazer73]

Today’s photo dump!
This car does run/drive. But needs work.
It is a real 454 car, but not the original block. It has the correct heads, but the block is from a 79 Burb.
I am not really worried About the block. I do plan on building another engine eventually. The first thing I wanted to do though, is change the intake and carb, and upgrade ignition.
It came with a Holley, NASCAR 930CFM 3bbl! Yup! 1 huge rear throttle plate!
And the old twisted intake. Neither good for a basically stock engine!
Went with an Air gab intake, 750 vacuum secondary, and an MSD ignition..
I did have a few weeping freeze plugs, so changed them. Flushed the system, and that’s all good to go! Fires right up and idles with no issues.

 

[bablazer73]

Now that the car is running decent, The next step was to unglue the damaged rear clip.
Not as easy as it sounds. A heat gun, a gasket scraper, and patience!!! Time consuming, that’s for sure! This was a little easier, as it was already damaged, and the glue points were accessible.