Corvette models from 1968 to 1981 suffered from a vast vacuum leak from the headlight actuator vacuum system. (Explained), Which Subaru WRX Years to Avoid and Why? 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 . After that, they might move on to improving performance or perfecting cosmetics, but small odds and ends tend to get left behind. The Hagerty Price Guide supports the affordability argument, at least for later examples of the C3, as a 197578 in #3 condition carries a value of $10,500$11,500. Corvette fans adore rare variants like the L88 (only 216 produced) and ZL1 Corvette. The primary electrical faults C3 suffered from are rooted in taillight and turn signal failure. Always remember to avoid the following worst C3 Corvette years unless you wish to spend extra bucks for several servicing and repairing tasks-. Such a detail is to detect whether any of the lights have broken or when the hazard lights are not working properly because of damaged seat belts, doors open, or limited fuel supplies. Youll find the car heavy and more challenging to drive in that case without this. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. As for rust check the frame area, even if it has been stored. Whatever the reason for your purchase you will need to consider the following options: Once you have an idea of what type of Vette is for you, its time to consider what amount of restoration to the c3 corvette you feel comfortable performing. The 1981 C3 was the best, evident in its large sales. 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). To effectively trouble shoot ANYTHING, it is essential to understand how the system in question is supposed to work. Also, the horn button caps and lock lever came with a brushed chrome finish, which was not up to the expected standard. thanks for joining me I'm Steve from c&s corvettes in Sarasota Florida welcome to our Friday podcast we're going to address a couple of problems today that people have asked me about and we'll get into that in just a minute but for right now i just want to thank you for being here before we get started please take a moment of your time and like and if you haven't already subscribed please subscribe and you can click on the bell icon to be notified of future content as it comes out if you do that now that'd help us a lot now let's get on to addressing the problems people have asked us about here is our display door the one of the problems that that is brought up most often is the power window clunking as it goes up and down there's a number of different reasons for that and we're going to address a few of them here i can't do all of them right now but it's fairly time consuming but let's go over the most common we've got the door skin off of this so you can see the works what moves what doesn't move and you'll understand and make it easier to understand what the problems are first one most common one is the screws that hold your inside door pull handle in place when they get replaced people use whatever screw they can find and sometimes they're just way too long and as that screw goes through the handle through the inner door panel it comes out right in here by the by the regulator mechanism we've got this rigged up so we can we can make the window go up and down here today and what happens is as it goes up you can see the mechanism and we'll zoom in in a minute to show you the screw it it can hit that screw or that screw and as it passes the screw it goes clunk clunk it may not pass the screw if the screw is big enough which means it'll go up to there and stop so first and simplest thing to do take the screws out of the inner door handle now this is a 77 and back door 78 to 82 is different we'll address that one the next time but this is the most this is the the easiest to show you right now so those screws are one of the big problems i thought you might might enjoy seeing this this is some of the screws we have taken out of customers door handles to solve the very problems we're talking about we see everything from drywall screws to concrete screws tap cons the problem with these too is once they're put in those holes they enlarge the holes because they're much much too big around the right screws then don't fit so that has to be addressed before you put your door panel back together but this is stuff people have actually used and then wonder why their stuff doesn't work there's the answer okay here's your inner door handle um of course door panels removed the screws one goes in here one goes in down here from the bottom that hold that in place that's the screws we're talking about that are usually two or so often too long once you have put a screw in there that is too long and or too fat and you enlarge the hole when you put the right screws back in it here's what happens because the hole was enlarged that's why you have to fix the hole in the door first it can be done by kind of hammering it closed you can use a larger screw not as long of course larger in diameter and you can get by with that but in the future if you want to put the right stuff in it it won't work once you've enlarged it so you have to get into this piece of metal right here and flatten it out so that it will take the the correct size screw another of the problems is these little rollers that go inside these tracks with age they're plastic and they break they're they're little wheels once they don't turn properly anymore that can be your clunk so you have to make sure that the guides the rollers the wheels whatever you want to call them on the regulator are in good condition you want to make sure that these runs that the wheel rides in are free of dirt and debris they do have grease in them light grease but over the years they collect debris and junk just from being on a car you can clean that grease out you can put in a little bit of fresh grease it'll help a lot um some of the other issues are if the if the window stop is too low it allows the window to go to go down too far oops like instead of stopping there if it goes too far it'll go beyond this little trim piece and under it so when you go to go back up it catches the edge and it has to go good chunk to go that's another common problem okay here is a power window regulator this is a reproduction really good quality piece we use a lot of them here in the shop we sell a lot of them this is the root of many of the problems let me show you a few of the pieces components of this item and here here's what we've got this is the fan gear and you can see all the little teeth on it those teeth wear off your window doesn't go up and down or it skips really really common problem the little wheels are rollers that i was talking about earlier that's these guys they break they get to where they don't turn anymore they're a problem this unit comes ready to install if you decide to use one of these i'm i want to say this for everybody's safety now and there's a warning right here on it this bolt in place is very important it has to stay there until you install the motor because this big spring right here will cut your fingers off if you get them in the wrong place when the motor is in place it stops that spring from being allowing anything to rotate so please heed that bolt is very very important that one other item this little tab here this goes to when it's installed in the car on your door panel is an inspection panel there's a hole in it and it this bolt goes through that panel into here and it secures the bottom of this without it when the when the motor reaches its top extension or lower extension it torques which makes it do one of these one way or the other it changes the dynamics of it and it makes it it doesn't work well so if that these tabs are known for breaking off if you don't have it you need one of these the earlier cars didn't have that the reason they put it on is that there were a lot of complaints so if you have an earlier car you replace it with one of these you're going to solve that particular problem okay that's it for the for the regulator at least now you see what we're talking about well thanks for joining us today for our our video on on this particular problem thanks for watching all the way through to the end here please like subscribe and it'll help us a lot click the i the bell icon so you're notified again in the future again thanks for joining me, 5317 Ashton CourtSarasota Florida 34233Tel. Electrical, engine compartment cowling harness can abrade and short out, that will have you scratching your head for awhile. All of them were V8 engines, starting . Working amazingly!! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Decided to pressurise the brake lines with air. Make sure you know what you are buying and its within your mechanical ability to restore. What Does TBC Fault Mean On A Ford Truck? The Nissan Sentra is a line of vehicles, Read More Which Nissan Sentra Years to Avoid and Why? The C3 Corvette was first officially introduced to the public in 1968, and the model resembled the second-run Mako II concept car launched in 1965. By eliminating the rear window storage shelf, the resolved window increased the vehicles back cargo space by one inch. Generally, this is something that can be fixed and may work for awhile, or may stop working soon after the contacts are cleaned. This causes the system to either stop working, or stay on and drain batteries until someone figured out how to unhook the system. Reset valve and set aside. Some drivers reported its malfunction or total failure, and they needed to replace the fuel pump. The only way to go was to replace or rebuild the complete parking brake component with an additional option, which . Looking back at the corvette history, the C3 Corvette started life midway through the C2 production. A popular one was for ice and drinks to be stored in its place. Most C3 models had overheating problems. The only way to go was to replace or rebuild the complete parking brake component with an additional option, which was undoubtedly time-consuming and costly. C3 Corvette Forums. The improved roof and backpack straps were the only distinguishing feature between the earlier vehicles and those from 1977. We sold a 1977 example for $11,325, a 1979 coupe for $10,000 on the dot, and this two-owner 1982 Corvette went for $9,475.All three of those cars looked clean, presented well, and had fresh paint. Showroom hours vary Monday-Saturday. It had the best fuel efficiency and a more contemporary interior control panel. The fact that the 1968 C3 was the first T-top does make it special, particularly since some type of T-top or removal roof panel has been a part of many Corvettes since the 1968 debut. 8) No electricity up to idle sole-noid, or no ground. It is regarded as the worst year for the Corvette. You might think you know what you're getting, but in its 15-year production history, the Chevrolet Corvette C3 had many different engine options. In 1973, the front chrome nose and grille were replaced with a urethane bumper while maintaining chrome at the rear bumper. Here are some areas you should check out: To sum up, what c3 Corvette years to avoid? At first glance it looks factory, but when you get inside and head down the road, and you realize this is something way better. Finally, if you observe the window-rattling when the door is closed, have a professional inspect the window regulator mounting bracket and anti-rattle cushions. This has been a problem since day one. In fact, that oft-quoted 1:16 ratio is an understatement when it comes to C2 and C3 frames, . The 1977 C3 was hard to start and drive, mainly due to gas-related issues. Car and Driver ran the '75 Corvette off against the ignoble Bricklin SV1 in its May 1975 issue and found Chevy's plastic car with the base 350 and three-speed automatic transmission took a brutal . They focus instead on problems that would keep the cars from being driven, like brakes, suspension, and other mechanical concerns that might leave them sitting alongside the road. The concept of a mid-engined Corvette was abandoned due to budgetary constraints and the absence of suitable mid or rear-engine parts compatibility. This model also has some perks to notice. In 1975, GM switched to an electronic tachometer, which worked off of a circuit board fixed to the back of the tachometer behind the dash. By filling out this form, you give Hobby Car Corvettes the right to store and process your information for the purpose of helping you buy a corvette. When he pulled. Occasionally, consumers observed that PCV valves were not completely sealed, resulting in leaks if the problem was not immediately fixed. Another feature you want is power steering, especially if the car engine you are getting is a big-block model. Front cross-member weld cracking, I've had mine fully welded and gusseted. Need to purchase a window regulator for a C3 Corvette? The newer and less mileage the better. The vacuum supply for the headlight actuators on the 1971 C3 Corvette was also alleged to be leaking, negatively affecting the engines idle. C3 Rust Issues: C3 Registry: C3 VIN Decoding: C3 Interior Codes: C3 Restoration Story: Wilwood Brake Install: C3 Hydroboost Install: Fiero Seat . The time and mileage intervals for each of the maintenance items included on this page were established by General Motors with the introduction of the 1972 Chevy Corvette. The Chevrolet C3 Corvette, also known as the Corvette C3, was a 3rd designed generation Corvette sports automobile built from 1967 until 1982. Off comes the combination valve. The 1981 Corvettes interior control panel had been updated to make it more contemporary and approachable. Check inside the vehicle for the optional upgrades that may come with the car, such as headrests, the steering wheel condition, and whether the tilt-telescopic steering column is operational. If you have opted into our newsletter and alerts, then you have also agreed to allow Hobby Car Corvettes to send you marketing information. 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-. Here are some examples of model years and the price you can expect to pay (prices are in USD): With the demand for these cars growing, now is a great time to snap up a bargain. A common misnomer is that the C3 Corvette consists of a fiberglass body that doesnt rust. It also represented the C3s first makeover since its 1968 debut. Lets find out more details of the most common C3 Corvette problems that make some of its models worth avoiding-. 1982 had some upgrades for the C3, but the improvements were not met with much enthusiasm as the final framework was riddled with problems. I've swapped out the 307/200r for a '75 4 bolt 350/TH350, learned electrical trouble shooting in the Army. If you check most surviving C3s today, finding one with the original engine would be nearly impossible. !Actuator Relay:C3 68-82 Corvette Headlight V. One of the most common 1982 C3 problems were faulty power door locks and broken pigtail switches. Thorough inspections of all the areas we mentioned above are an absolute must for anyone seriously considering a Corvette C3. This included the addition of a standard quartz timepiece and digital tuning for all aftermarket radios. Power door locks became an option in the 1978 model year. Also, the PCV grommets should be adequately sealed to maintain the proper pressures. Examine for any cracks where the body mounts to the frame in the wheel wells. Copyright 2023 Hobby Car Corvettes All Rights Reserved. Another reason why the headlights may have a problem is worn-out components. It is one Corvette that cannot be forgotten in a hurry because of its great value and fun. In 1973, the 20th anniversary of the Corvette foundation was commemorated. Dirt in the frame channel and moisture will cause it to rust. C3 Corvette also contains innovative features such as fibreoptic cables from the lights to the dash panels to identify when any bulbs fail or the warning lights malfunction due to disconnected seatbelts, open doors, and low fuel levels. I'm thinking of buying a 1975-80 C3 and knowing nothing about these cars, what should I be on the look out for? Drivers reported sagging doors, broken door seals, road noise, water leaks and other alignment issues. For a little more cash you can get yourself a four-speed to further enhance your driving experience. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is an intense 100-minute dash for the Corvette . 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