This kind of idea has been in my head for a very long time. I’ve always wanted to modernise a classic mustang. They’re such great cars but let’s be honest it’s not the most comfortable or easy to drive.
If I bought a kit car from Factory Five, I would expect everything included with the kit plus step-by-step instructions. All the extra parts you had to buy on the internet or wherever is a colossal pain in the ass and I wouldn't have a clue how to do that. I love the look of the end product and it's performance but unless the process is straight forward step-by-step I couldn't imagine taking on a project like this. I have to say that the price of the completed project seems reasonable.
I just replaced the OEM leaf / front springs -but- did add urethane bushings. In hindsight, I kinda wish I would have purchased a fiberglass rear leaf spring / I've heard a lot of good things - thanks for the comment!
Check the SST website or give them a call to verify - but - while the rear end is different in an 80, I think location remained the same (thus driveshaft should be same - ie - kit should work)
I must interject on the Ford crate engine! Ford Performance absolutely will not warranty the Coyote if you have a problem with the engine! I can guarantee the Ford Performance will NOT Warranty the engine! Their Warranty is Garbage! Its written in a way to get them out of fixing or replacing the engine! Ask me how i know!!!
Great video, Joe! Your explanations are well done. I see that already you have some videos on your engine build. I would love to see a comprehensive version or series, where you take the viewer through each detailed step of the process. There are others out there already, but your commentary and tips offer the unique perspective of approaching it from the novice point of view, which would be really helpful! You could include tools needed/created, as well. Thanks for the details so far.
I luv the C3 and C8 but in the long term the C8 is gonna cost a lot more to keep on the road, whereas the C3 can be worked on by the back yarder and parts are everywhere new and secondhand. My sons 69 has been upgraded with Willwood calipers which are half the weight of the original, the stock 4 bolt has been taken out to 383 450HP/480TQ with a 3.36 final drive behind the Muncie, the power steering has been upgraded to a Borgeson power box which is a HUGE upgrade over the old ram style. the suspension is just bilstein shocks up front and down the back is coil over shocks with Van Steel arms and a 6 Link with stabilizer bar , the popup headlights are by electric motors and the A/C is all new Vintage Air which now makes a car that is a very comfortable well handling sportscar, still more to do but thats half the fun.
on my short list is the steering upgrade - so many people have shared this and it seems like a no-brainer / appreciate the feedback Brian Q: did your son convert the headlights via a kit or did you retrofit the electric motors yourself? That is another item I need to finish on my C3 - ie - switch activated headlights! Right now I need to flip them up manually -lol
I just picked up a blue 77 vette roller. I got all over the 4 speed conversion parts and an m21. Solid car to start with. I'm building a 383 for it and possibly putting in a t56 6 speed. Awesome car you have man.
that can be a challenge is there's cars -short answer though: yes, but likely need to consider a seat swap/etc - I'd check out the corvette forums to see what others have done / thanks for the comment!
I agree with all the mechanical upgrades you made, but the interior work doesn't look good. Should've gotten a $20 hands free phone mount to put on your windshield and called it a day.
Coolness?.... put anything beside at 69 or 1970 Stingray, there is no comparison .... not a 1974 yes there is a difference. (73's and up are still beautiful cars, they were just hijacked by idiotic government regulations that changed their look, power and weight)
I really like the new Corvette's, but they still aren't as cool and beautiful as that C3. They made something special with those 60's and 70's muscle cars.
It may be sacrilege, but the new C8 just doesn't do it for me. Stand at the rear wheel and look across the trunk. The car is just too wide. What you did with the C3 is brilliant. Loved the video.
I've got a 1975 C3 just sitting in the yard rotting.... The problem is that I'm no mechanic... I'm a computer programmer. But seeing you modernize your C3 has given me some motivation! The only problem is that it's the only car that I own that IS NOT sentimental. So even though it's MY favorite, it's still gonna be the last one I restore because I want to honor my dad and my grandpa. I have my dad's 1973 Mach 1 Mustang. The good thing about it is that he has already basically fully restored it, so there isn't much I have to do with it unless I wanna modernize it. My dad was all about keeping it original. Then I have my grandpas 1991 Chevy Caprice (Bubble). My grandmother gifted it to me after he passed away because they knew how much I loved the body style... mainly because of how much it resembled the Impala SS which is one of my dream cars. I'm currently customizing my Yukon which is a truck full of subwoofers. People think I'm crazy when I say my Yukon only sits 2 people, because the rest of it is amps and subwoofers. But since I am mute and unable to speak, its kinda like my way of being heard anyways 😂Thank you so much for this video because I really didn't even think stuff like this was possible, but now I know that it is and that has totally revamped my motivation to make my dreams possible. Of course, the main road block is the amount of money that it will cost to reach these goals, but just like how my dad restored his Mach 1 over a decade.... I just gotta do a little bit at a time as I can afford it and then it will eventually all come together.
I live in europe, a new transmission would be too expensive. I think I'd pay 8k for the import fees and shipping alone. Also when it comes to making classic cars liveable I don't really see the need for fuel injection a carburator isn't bad. When it comes to classic muscle cars the things I would upgrade first are: The steering rod/box, make sure it's one that doesn't pierce you when you crash. Power brakes and a disc brake upgrade and if you want to drive it alot use a electric ignition because the old ignition systems are more likely to fail or give you a bad starting car then the carburator. Especially with V8 engines.
I do roll a 2018 accord as a commuter - 1.5l turbo and (drumroll): average 47mpg! Just today I got 51mpg 26 miles one way! Crazy for a non-hybrid / thanks for the comment!
I have a 383 stroker in my 82 C3 corvette since the 350 we originally had was not fast at all thanks to emissions and the emissions now a days still sucks
Are you replacing the original wiring or adding some new accessories/etc? Depending on amp draw, you'll want to make sure you have sufficient wire gauge to safely transmit the power.
@TacoJoe replacing what's left of the old . Looks like the rats had their way with the truck. Fuel n break line's eight all to shit. Chicken lights gone . Dash trim gone .but I ain't skeerd
you should be able to get away with 12-14ga on almost everything -except- your fuseable link-fusebox lead (usually 10ga on the older Chevys - sometimes comes off the starter solenoid) -but- check the chevy truck forums too for advise. As for replacement wire... check out wire barn / thats where I purchase most of my wire.... www.wirebarn.com / good luck!
I'm planning on doing an EFI kit on my C3 and I'm wondering if the O2 sensors would be a pain since the headers sit so close to the frame rails or if it's gonna clear.
not a big deal - you can purchase collectors with the O2 bung already welded in and then position it however you like it (ie- you can rotate it 360 degrees) - good luck and thanks for the comment!
I'd like to take a 1978 Corvette and put a C8 motor, transmission and interior in it. I'd probably run into issues due to the C8 being a rear-engine, so might have to upgrade it to a C7 instead of C8. I don't know if this would even be doable, but it sure would be cool.
the LT2 motor is pretty pricey for the HP - might just want to stick with an LS2/LS3 in a C3. I know the LT2 is a tall motor too (because GM engineers had more space to work with given its rear engine so they made some changes to help it breath even better) - thus - if you add to a C3, you likely would need to make some hood mods too. Thanks for the comment!
No argument here. I have a ‘72 and had a ‘13 C6. Maintenance wasn’t a beast on the C6 but it was much more of a pain than the C3. I enjoy the C3 more than the C6 for a myriad of reasons.
