hello everyone. I am new to the whole car deal. I am a medical student so i haven't had much experience in car related subjects. I would like to buy a muscle car, more specifically a corvette ( 1968-1982). I would like to use it as a daily driver. Many of the ones i have seen have had their engine as well as other parts restored. What does this mean exactly. That the engine is like new? new? once restored how reliable is it as a daily driver? if not restored then what would be the approximate cost to do so?...thank guys any help would be appreciated.. any tips would also be appreciated....................................... .................................................. ..........one last question...if i do happen to buy a decent car with restored engine how would it continue to give me trouble or just the usual.....thanks to all

 

If you don't know anything about cars or restoring them you only need two things. 1- lots of money (good thing your going to be a doctor) or 2- lots of friends who know alot about cars. The engine is probably the least of your worrys, it's everthing else that will dollar you to death if you have to pay someone to fix for you. Have someone you know who has muscle cars check it out before you buy one. Don't trust the fast talking used car salesman! Good luck.

 

Rich G. is absolutly right. Restroing a muscle car is not really something for the inexperienced. It can be done, but you'll have to get lots of manuals, tools, and pick the brains of experienced hot rodders.
Cost depends on what you can do vs what you need to pay to have done. It's not unusual to drop 15 g's in a restore and still have some work that needs to be done. A lot of us here do our own work and rely heavily on other members to coaxus along.
My case example:
3g's for the car
4 1/2 g's in the suspension and rear end
3 1/2 g's in the engine
....and I still have the electrical, interior, and paint to do.
I'm not doing a frame off restore, which could very easily pile up another 3 g's.
My suggestion is that you find a car ingood shape, drive it for a couple ofyears, learn about and do your own work on that car, and concider a restore when ya have some hands on experience. And read, read, read.
Good luck, and mainly, have fun.

 

rennier, For a guy like you, the best way to go about buying a '68 to '82 (C3)'Vette would be to find one that's in very good all originalcondition with low mileage. You'll have to pay a premium dollar amount for one in this condition-check "blue-book type" value of the particular year 'Vette-but you can, at the time you buy it, go about using it as a "daily driver" and maintain it correctly as you go. You do need to have not just a qualified mechanic, but an honest oneto check it out prior to you buying it and maintain it while youown it. If you search well, you can find the 'Vette you want that's in very good condition, all stock and original with low mileage. In the long run, either way, you'll save money starting off with a clean one. Especially for a guy with little wrench-turning experience, you don't want one that needs any kind of restoring. Farming all the work out to someone else, you'll spend WAY more than the car is worth. If possible, you should search for a clean one in the hot dry climate states as the over-all condition ofthe car will be much better.
In this C3 area, on page 2 now, under the subject: "Would you do it again?" (Poll) is some info on buying a clean one or restoring one. Read this and get a general idea.

 

one more question.......let say i find one that has been restored. are they reliable. is a restored engine reliable for a daily driver. would you preffer an original corvette wiht 90 000 miles or a corvette wiht a restored engine. thanks guys for the help by the way.

 

Depends on what they mean by "restored". The usual term referred to on engines is a rebuild or crate motor. A good rebuilt motor is OK if done right. To some restored might just mean that they degreased it and did a tuneup.

Best advice is to try to find a Corvette expert and learn as much as you can from him and have him look at any prospects. Read up on the '68-'82 Sharks and learn about the different quirks or design details for each year.

Don't hesitate to ask questions on this forum. There's lots of guys with hands on experience that are more than willing to help you out. Good luck.

 

well I have been messin with muscle cars and now vettes for about 22 yrs and some things i have noticed are
1. any dealership selling these types of cars usually 9 out of 10 put a quick paint job and maybe a tune up on an old car and claim that they are restored! This type of car will most likely need tons more work and money spent especially as a daily driver!!
2.you may be better off finding a car with a bad motor or one on its last leg and use the money saved from original purchase price to have a new or fresh rebuilt motor installed (usually from any descent shop will give a warranty).
3 trying to restore while using for a daily driver will nickle and dime you to death.
4. if you have the cash to spend 25-40 g for a mint or frame off nut and bolt restored car (a real restoration) with reciepts and documentation that would be best for something you plan to drive, as all you will have to worry about would be normal maintanence issues like brakes oil changes and fuel and air filter replacements etc..

JMHO

 

some examples of the dealer restos i have been involved in.
1. i went to the volo auto museum in illinoisand knew that a friend of mine had sold them a 68 camaro plain jane that he did a bunch of work to. a nice car worth around 8-10 g at the time he sold it to them for 8500. They painted black stripes on the car and i mean nothing else and listed it as a frame off resto that THEY had just done for 25,000 i asked a bunch of questions i knew the answers to and they feed me so much bs it was insane! when i told them i knew the previous owner and that he had done the work in front of 3-4 prespective other car buyers they asked me to leave!!
2. I cant remmember the name of it but there is a classic car dealer/museum near cedar rapids Iowa with my brother in law (he dose auto upholstery) looked at several camaros chevelles and noticed tons of problems 1 68 camaro they claimed to be a 100 % all original low mile car had 69 bucket seats (had head rests not available in 68) had a 350 sb not available till 69 they claimed it was a 327 (block numbers dont lie) had a 70 chevelless that was a frame off resto?had terrible interior head liner was sagging door panels didnt fit right and were for a 72(pattern) over spray from painting engine in car on inner fenders and exhaust etc... so when my brother in law and i brought these things to a salesmans attention he said well are you gonna buy one or not cause if your not get out!!! they hate it when you start to bust them out in front of possible buyers that DONT KNOW!!!
3. i bought the 71 chevelle i have now with the interior restored nicely and fresh paint on a AZ rustfree body, the guy had it listed on ebay as a fully restored car but nothing mechanical was ever touched much less restored and the greasy dirty engine in the pics showed it but the car was in excellent shape so when the auction ended i called and went to see it and when he kept saying restored fully restored i corrected him and said the paint and interior was done but it had a 38 year old motor trans etc.. he said well yeah i guess so he wanted 6500 i pulled out 4800 and he sold it.
My point you are way better off buying from an individual as they are more apt to deal and admit making mistakes in terminoligy where a dealer knows there is another sucker just around the corner!!

 

This is great advice! The guys here on the forums are some of the most helpful people I've found. I'd take the advice given though about buying an all ready mostly restored vette, otherwise you're going to be spending a ton of money on parts as well as tools, unless you've got either A) A good military friend since we get access to just about every tool you'd ever want for free or B) A good mechanic friend who for a few bucks and some beer on the side can do the work for you.

 

I'd prefer the one in very good original condition with 90,000 miles on it. Here in Texas for example, an '80 or there abouts in very good condition with 90,000 on it would be a great car. I bought mine with about that mileage on it and it's in super clean condition, inside and out, and the engine, all original, runs great and doesn't burn or leak any oil. I know that up north is different from here-my reason for telling you todo your shoppingin a hot dry climate state. We all know about the restoring, and I love projects, but for a "non-wrench-turner?" Go with the "all original in great shape" beauty.