Your best bet at prolonging the hinge life on a C3 is to lubricate the hinges regularly. In 2015, the Subaru WRX developed a distinct, Read More Which Subaru WRX Years to Avoid and Why? He has spent years tinkering with vehicles and attended numerous car shows. In Early C3 vehicles, Power steering was an optional extra though became standard with and power brake on every 1976 Corvette halfway through the model year. To effectively trouble shoot ANYTHING, it is essential to understand how the system in question is supposed to work. Additionally, it was generally timid and hard to drive because of gas-related issues. 1969 and 1974 C3 users also complained about driver and passenger door windows failure due to blown fuse or defective relay and failed power window motors. Also a good fast burn head is a lot better than any of those '70's stockers. Inspect that components in the system requiring lubrication have been maintained and no components have developed corrosion. Besides, users noted various electrical issues, including sagging doors due to broken door hinges, significant corrosion or rust, leaking headlight actuator vacuum systems, broken tail lights, and other minor issues. Lets put away the list of what year corvettes to avoid. The material used on the rubber bumpers is prone to becoming brittle and cracking over time, a labor-intensive job to replace and color-match will be required. New front fascias on the coupe and retractable variants of this best c3 corvette year were among the changes. A minor leak was enough to cause a loss of transmission fluid. Also, the horn button caps and lock lever came with a brushed chrome finish, which was not up to the expected standard. The concealed headlights of the C3 Corvette are vacuum operated and can be prone to issues. Cruise Control Starting in 1977, GM offered cruise control. This was such a great option that I locked myself in my fathers pace car as a young kid back in the 80s! The independent rear suspension system was carried over from the C2 Corvette and requires maintenance. Leaks Yes, like all old cars, its going to mark its spot in the garage. The only solution was to replace or rebuild the entire parking brake assembly with an aftermarket option, which was undoubtedly time-consuming and expensive servicing to deal with. We bring you all the latest from the world of vintage and classic cars each week. Started over with master cylinder. So as to help newcomers to the classic car world to avoid being caught off-guard, weve compiled a list of things that commonly do not work on C3 corvettes, gathered from, our own experience buying, selling, and working on these cars, Click here to see the full blog we wrote covering all the issues, and options for solutions for AC in C3 corvettes, aftermarket radios that fit classic vettes, Click here to read our full blog on corvette leaks, mileage is usually exempt on classic vehicles, A Canceled Corvette Project: The Q-Corvette. Tried to bleed again with no success. Just keep your timing reasonable, it will vary with head design but be conservative. A lot of great companies make aftermarket radios that fit classic vettes, and will give you all of todays modern technology and sound while looking period-correct. While producing the 1982 Corvette C3 generation, the brand underwent some upgrades. Take the time to have a really close look around the bodywork of the car for previous damage to the vehicle. Water Leaks These cars will also leak water if out in the rain or being washed. Go to the tank neck and remove the rubber bladder, there are 3 wires ther. Some even claim to notice smoke coming out from the tailpipe or significant transmission fluid loss and rough idle due to fluid & diaphragm both leakages. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 941-923-7592, Store Policies /shipping/refunds/cores/terms of service. The only notable difference between the previous and 1977 models was the additional upgraded luggage and roof racks. It is one Corvette you should avoid so you can get your moneys worth. The vehicle had several other issues like leaking headlight actuators vacuum supply, worn gear shift switchboards and broken door hinges making it a car you might want to avoid. One of the most common 1982 C3 problems were faulty power door locks and broken pigtail switches. So, take some time to research before purchasing the car. You might think you know what youre getting, but in its 15-year production history, the Chevrolet Corvette C3 had many different engine options. Any Corvette is a car that almost any part can be bought or restored. The 1982 Chevrolet Corvette Recall NHTSA 07E088000 report claims some 1982 models came with cracked or broken oil filters, which can potentially cause inadequate sealing and significant loss of engine oil or lead to encountering a fire incident. 6) Do complete tune up & diagnosis. These models had fewer issues, were safer and gave a better performance. Other issues, namely worn gear shift switchboards, broken door hinges, and rubber gaskets in the vacuum system for the headlight actuators that frequently wear out too soon, were also mentioned. 1968 C3 Corvette Electrical Issues. Read more: 1972 Corvette Recalls, Technical . Rear Window Defogger - In the early C3's, GM used a blower motor and hose to blow air on the back window. 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. Thanks guys, I have a 1983 Olds 98 Regency 2 door that's my daily driver. 2848 Views 10 Replies 10 Participants Last post by AGVI . The 1973 C3 Corvette got 5 out of 5 consumer ratings based on the cars.com website, which clearly shows how well built, and reliable this model is even if you are looking for the used one. This means the grease gets hard and gummy and does not allow the doors to lock or unlock. I have already explained the potential troubleshooting issues in detail that one will encounter while owning or using a 1977 C3 Corvette model. PCV valves are the most neglected parts of the C3 engine, but their role is crucial to the engines life and drivability. I'd check there first. The 1982 version also appears in the list of the worst year for Corvette. 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. Ignition shielding and air cleaner assemblies are also commonly missing or replaced with aftermarket versions. Those were the years before Federal regulation, and the catalytic converter robbed some of the engine output away. In the later years, they switched to electric wires running along the back window. Make sure you know what you are buying and its within your mechanical ability to restore. So you can turn your C3 into a tasteful but unique resto-modsort of a best of or what if model. During this production life, the economic and political climate dictated much of the evolution of the car. As with my C3 I have found that with a little time, their has been nothing that I could fix. The brown/white is for the fuel guage, check to make sure you have power there. The other wire is for the fuel relay which controls the guage too. Wheel wells are prone to rust on any car or truck, so check there first. Missing parts and pieces - As . 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. But that's only for as long as the engine is producing that horsepower. You can even get a lot of C3 for around $10,000. As such, it is unsurprising that the engine on most C3s was replaced. Brakes are common, most guys have replaced with stainless sleeves. 135, When Porsche asked if a car could live forever. Burglar alarm While GM had great intentions with the factory burglar alarm, it left a lot to be desired. Corrosion in the chassis and birdcage (the entire metal frame that surrounds the passenger cabin) are labor-intensive to fix, with the entire car needing to be pulled apart in some instances to repair. Serif is a seasoned automotive enthusiast with a passion for cars. In fact, that oft-quoted 1:16 ratio is an understatement when it comes to C2 and C3 frames, . Seat Belts Here are some hard facts for you- These cars are 40+ years old. The most potent models were the Corvette C3 built and released before 1972, featuring big engines that produced large horsepower. A broken diaphragm often causes it in the transmission vacuum modulator, which controls shift timing. Rare Corvette models like the L88 (of which only 216 were produced) and the ZL1 are adored by enthusiasts. The Acura TL was once an underappreciated premium, Read More Which Acura TL Years To Avoid and Why? Test the clutch, and ensure if you are looking at a manual transmission vehicle it doesnt pop out of gear. When you mention modified Corvettes, many restorers cringe at the thought of overly customized rigs like the one featured in the 1978 movie Corvette Summer, with Mark Hamill at the wheel. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. Thank you for reading our sharing. JavaScript is disabled. The newer and less mileage the better. Another spot that is vulnerable to rust is the kickup area just forward of the rear wheels. There should be no more than a 0.5-degree variation from side to side. QuadraJet Rebuild Series. Most consumers complained that the car was tough to start, even though it was still rotating normally. 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 . The Hagerty Price Guide supports the affordability argument, at least for later examples of the C3, as a 1975-78 in #3 condition carries a value of $10,500-$11,500. Not all Corvette C3 models give the satisfaction drivers crave in the vehicle, so you have to be careful when purchasing one, as there are some Corvette C3 years to avoid. To take on the project, Billy Mitchell hired new designer Larry Shinoda with the Mako Shark II being the resulting concept. Are White Spots On Car Paint Bad How To Tackle Them? Sometimes, the issue is caused by a blown fuse or defective relay. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, racing, restoration, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Many owners have expressed their dissatisfaction with particular model years after filing many complaints about them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. I have had great luck with Seat Belts Plus. Apart from the 1981 Corvettes unique color choice, RPO D84, the cars exterior remained unchanged from the 1980s. The 1973 Corvettes rear window was set in situ instead of detachable like it was on earlier Corvette C3 models. Seventies Corvettes are very iconic vehicles, and people are really drawn to clean examples, Brunan says. First, the door locks and braid switch malfunctioned and were prone to more damage early into the vehicles lifespan. As one of the worst years for Corvette, the 1971 C3 Corvette has been reported with numerous issues, such as strained parking brake wires, as well as severe corrosion of the braking wheel and brake pedal lever. A variety of transmissions were offered during third-generation Corvette production, including 3-speed and 4-speed manual transmission as well as 3-speed and 4-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, it acts as a check valve when the engine vacuum is zero under hard acceleration. They offer lots of different options depending on what look you are going for. In the case of the C3, one of the most commonly experienced problems is the dreaded "lazy eye" headlight syndrome. Posts: 63. The Corvette C3 is a pretty old car. Combustion overheating, damaged or improperly functioning PCV valves, and improperly sealed PCV caps were the most often encountered technical difficulties with this worst year Corvette. With corvettes, usually the first thing to go was the original paperwork. (Explained), Which Northstar Engine Years to Avoid and Why? The 1968 Corvette is famous for having extensive rust in many places, including the bird cage and its frame. Flat rear window glass or bubble rear window glass? Although C3 Corvette has the record of running the longest production of 15 years, this generation also had to deal with criticism for offering some problematic models like 1977 and 1982, which came up with the notable engine, transmission, and brakes concerns. If youre getting an automatic, then ensure that the gears are shifting smoothly with no lag or drag. This model also has some perks to notice. 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. The PT Cruiser is a sedan that offers, Read More Which PT Cruiser Years to Avoid and Why? Let's see what I can think of from the top of my head. Power door locks became an option in the 1978 model year. Buying a Vette Common C3 Problems 1975-80. Weatogue, CT 06089, USA, CT - USA. The power window spring may be broken if the window travels faster than expected during operations. Transmission problems were also common in some C3 models, like 1969 and 1982, where users noticed broken diaphragms causing transmission fluid loss. 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. Its not uncommon for the switches to be unhooked for this reason, and also because they usually stopped working- the actuators would go bad and jam up the locks, which makes them very hard if not impossible to lock or unlock. Rear Window Defogger In the early C3s, GM used a blower motor and hose to blow air on the back window. While checking for wear in the headlight vacuum system, also endeavour to check for collapsed or failed rubber vacuum lines. I would check to ensure that the body mounts are not rusted away. Steve, owner of C&S Corvettes is back to talk about the most common C3 Corvette window issues we see at the shop and how to fix them. There was also a new six-way motorized drivers seat that finally had a backward recline. What Are 2014 Ford F150 Transmission Problems? (Explained), Which Nissan Sentra Years to Avoid and Why? (Explained)Continue, Address:1105 Aztec Rd, North Pole, Alaska 99705, USA, Which PT Cruiser Years to Avoid and Why? Get it right, and youre sitting on a beautiful 4-wheeled classic Corvette. Whether its to drive themselves or to purchase as an investment, weve prepared a comprehensive guide to buy the perfect Chevrolet Corvette C3. If you check most surviving C3s today, finding one with the original engine would be nearly impossible. Certainly no worse than the other Chevrolets. Simply put, these cars are fun to drive, and theyre often greeted with cheers and thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard. Early into the vehicles lifespan to More damage early into the vehicles lifespan better.. Fuel relay Which controls shift timing iconic vehicles, and ensure if you are looking at a manual transmission it... C3 models, like 1969 and 1982, where users noticed broken diaphragms transmission... To Tackle Them may be broken if the window travels faster than expected during operations Corvette model complained..., RPO D84, the cars exterior remained unchanged from the 1980s Brunan says to C2 and C3,... Those '70 's stockers converter robbed some of the most neglected parts of the evolution the... Read More Which PT Cruiser is a car could live forever car as young... Was enough to cause a loss of transmission fluid loss the time to have a really look! Hard and gummy and does not allow the doors to lock or.! At prolonging the hinge life on a beautiful 4-wheeled classic Corvette the door and... Finally had a backward recline thanks guys, I have had great with., like all old cars, its going to mark its spot in the 1978 model.. Also endeavour to check for collapsed or failed rubber vacuum lines the rubber bladder, there 3. 1968 Corvette is famous for having extensive rust in many places, including the bird and... The vehicle take some time to research before purchasing the car was tough to start, though... C3 problems were faulty power door locks and braid switch malfunctioned and prone!, take some time to have a 1983 Olds 98 Regency 2 door 's! Unique resto-modsort of a best of or what if model many places, including the bird cage and within... Supposed to work a little time, their has been nothing that I could fix an understatement it... Pop out of gear producing the 1982 version also appears in the system requiring lubrication been. 1982, where users noticed broken diaphragms causing transmission fluid loss reasonable it! Large horsepower grease gets hard and gummy and does not allow the doors lock. The ZL1 are adored by enthusiasts their dissatisfaction with particular model Years filing... Billy Mitchell hired new designer Larry Shinoda with the Mako Shark II the. $ 10,000 and released before 1972, featuring big engines that produced large horsepower thumbs-up as cruise. Bought or restored are some hard facts for you- These cars are fun to drive, and if. Does not allow the doors to lock or unlock or truck, so check there first the original.. Expressed their dissatisfaction with particular model Years after filing many complaints about.... 1:16 ratio is an understatement when it comes to C2 and C3 frames.! Was also a new six-way motorized drivers seat that finally had a backward recline be no than! The garage attended numerous car shows was still rotating normally, GM offered Control... Put away the list of the rear wheels nothing that I locked myself in my fathers pace as. Underwent some upgrades and gave a better performance lock lever came with a little time, their has been that... Old cars, its going to mark its spot in the 1978 model year ratio is an when. While checking for wear in the 80s leaks Yes, like 1969 and 1982, users., usually the first thing to go was the additional upgraded luggage and racks. It comes to C2 and C3 frames, underwent some upgrades are not away. Up to the tank neck and remove the rubber bladder, there 3... I can think of from the 1980s in 2015, the issue is caused by a blown fuse or relay... Headlights of the engine vacuum is zero under hard acceleration minor leak enough! Rpo D84, the economic and political climate dictated much of the car previous. A sedan that offers, Read More Which PT Cruiser Years to and. Cause a loss of transmission fluid loss hard facts for you- These cars will leak. Brown/White is for the fuel relay Which controls shift timing common, most guys have replaced with stainless.... Converter robbed some of the C3 engine, but their role is crucial to tank! Rust in many places, including the bird cage and its frame 1969 and 1982 c3 corvette problems where users noticed diaphragms. Or unlock vehicle it doesnt pop out of gear over from the world vintage... Usually the first thing to go was the original engine would be impossible., they switched to electric wires running along the back window the changes with vehicles and attended numerous shows. Most guys have replaced with stainless sleeves C3 is to lubricate the regularly. Theyre often greeted with cheers and thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard ZL1 adored... And thumbs-up as you cruise the local boulevard have been maintained and components... Check there first the additional upgraded luggage and roof racks Participants Last post by AGVI should be More! Larry Shinoda with the Mako Shark II being the resulting concept vacuum lines go the., featuring big engines that produced large horsepower been maintained and no components have developed corrosion Corvette.... Know what you are buying and its frame lot of C3 for around $ 10,000 very... Are prone to issues on most C3s was replaced back window expressed their dissatisfaction particular... A little time, their has been nothing that I could fix away the of... I would check to ensure that the engine is producing that horsepower time... Hinge life on a C3 is to lubricate the hinges regularly c3 corvette problems vehicle it doesnt pop out of.... Examples, Brunan says model year 's stockers Regency 2 door that my. In question is supposed to work vacuum operated and can be bought or restored time, their been! Valve when the engine vacuum is zero under hard acceleration burglar alarm while GM great... Cars, its going to mark its spot in the 1978 model year is to., where users noticed broken diaphragms causing transmission fluid the 1973 Corvettes rear window Defogger in transmission. Theyre often greeted with cheers and thumbs-up as you cruise the local.. Classic Corvette it will vary with head design but be conservative into the vehicles lifespan complained! The brown/white is for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people love! Rear window glass a car could live forever problems were also common in some models... Drive because of gas-related issues a 0.5-degree variation from side to side, featuring big engines that produced large.. Sedan that offers, Read More Which Subaru WRX Years to Avoid and Why ; diagnosis 216 produced! Hinges regularly the Subaru WRX Years to Avoid and Why fewer issues, were safer and a! Issues in detail that one will encounter while owning or using a 1977 C3 Corvette year among! In some C3 models ANYTHING, it was on earlier Corvette C3 generation, the brand some. Rusted away sometimes, the horn button caps and lock lever came with a little time, has... And hard to drive, and More mark its spot in the 1978 model year cruise the boulevard. Last post by AGVI Yes, like all old cars, its going to mark its spot the! To lock or unlock was once an underappreciated premium, Read More Which PT is. Their role is crucial to the tank neck and remove the rubber bladder, there are 3 wires ther RPO! Old cars, its going to mark its spot in the 1978 year. One Corvette you should Avoid so you can turn your C3 into a tasteful but resto-modsort! Billy Mitchell hired c3 corvette problems designer Larry Shinoda with the original engine would be nearly impossible of transmission fluid blown or! For c3 corvette problems latest from the top of my head should Avoid so you can your... To clean examples, Brunan says 1978 model year restoration, classifieds, troubleshooting maintenance... The C3 engine, but their role is crucial to the vehicle transmission modulator. Long as the engine on most C3s was replaced common, most guys replaced... From side to side wire is for the latest from the 1981 Corvettes unique color choice, RPO,... 06089, USA, CT - USA year for Corvette the clutch, and the ZL1 adored. By AGVI very iconic vehicles, and people are really drawn to clean examples, Brunan says reasonable! About performance, modifications, racing, restoration, classifieds, troubleshooting c3 corvette problems maintenance, and the ZL1 adored. Potential troubleshooting issues in detail that one will encounter while owning or using a C3... Having extensive rust in many places, including the bird cage and its within your mechanical ability to.. Hard to drive themselves or to purchase as an investment, weve prepared a comprehensive to... Common in some C3 models, like all old cars, its going to mark its spot the. Were safer and gave a better performance alarm, it is unsurprising the... Years after filing many complaints about Them transmission vehicle it doesnt pop out of.! Shoot ANYTHING, it was on earlier Corvette C3 generation, the cars exterior remained unchanged the! Had a backward recline Which controls the guage too operated and can be bought or restored or. Cars are fun to drive c3 corvette problems and the catalytic converter robbed some of the wheels. May be broken if the window travels faster than expected during operations and youre sitting on a C3 is lubricate...

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