_I'm certainly partial to this '75 Corvette convertible Ben. (Out of 33,836 units manufactured in 1975, only 4,629 were convertibles)! This particular model in drop top guise was indeed my second Corvette ever owned at just 20 years old,(the car being just three years old). Thank you for saving the last drop top produced until 1986(the year this car was stored)._
Here's a theory: The engine was rebuilt, but never started. Filled with oil but not primed by turning the oil pump. So the bone dry cylinders flash rusted to the rings. (I've done this myself.) (Was there a gasket between the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head? Check the block for date codes.) If that (it is a never oiled or run rebuilt engine) is true, forcing it to start could cause expensive damage.But taking it apart, putting a light hone job on, the putting it back together would mean an engine good for 150 thousand more miles. I have a 75 coupe L48 with leather and deluxe interior, tilt, AC, 100 percent original so I am watching this with interest. I just bought an 8 track tape for the radio today. Well, original in that nothing new has been put on. The rubber bumpers disintegrated on it, though. I'm wondering how to take the bumper retaining clips off without breaking that ridge. The nuts are rusted on. It runs, but has rear suspension problems. Also, it is hard to figure out tires that are big enough to fit an 8 inch wide wheel but small enough to clear the body. Some people list the 75 Corvette as one of the "Worst Corvette Years." But their sole reason is a low horsepower rating when all original. Something easily changed. I made a list of reasons why the 75 is one of the BEST C3's.
Marvel's Mystery Oil really does work. Another you can try is turning the motor backwards. If the cylinder walls have rust on them, the rings have a hard time going forward.
You’re so cruel! Ending on a cliffhanger! Will it turn over? Stay tuned until next episode. Excellent camera angle when you were working on the valve covers. Could see everything. It was great. Love the music and the time lapses
Parked my 79 Corvette for the winter in the fall of 1989. As life happens I lost interest and the car sat in the storage garage for 28 years. In the spring of 2017 I suddenly got the desire to get it running again. It was flat bedded to my home garage and I started to work on it. The first thing I did was to attempt to hand crank the engine over, that wasn't going to happen. I think W D40 was the first thing I soaked down the cylinders with. I waited a few days and again attempted to get the engine to turn over with no success. For the next two months every few days I would attempt to get the engine to turn over, using several different lubricants in the process. I was about to give up and started to look at new GM create engines, but decided to give it 1 more month. A few days later I went out and it had broke free. I faced several issues that I had to address, however the car is running today like the day I drove it home from the dealer. The biggest surprise I came across was not having to replace the gas tank. There was a plastic liner in the tank that saved it from any corrosion.
OK, just watched part one, so now realize the owner died. The family probably didn't want to part with the car that reminded them of their lost loved one, thinking they would fix it up someday...But, it obviously got away from them... I love how original this car is, and hope you will do your best to preserve its originality..... Sure hope you get the engine freed up OK...
Would anyone ever restore this back to bone stock? Yes, including all of the smog crap. In a way I think that it would be cool, but I doubt that I ever could.
Yes! Would like to see how to remove all the smog stuff and unnecessary vacuum hoses... I have a 78 C3 SA that still has all the smog and hoses including a good running “Quadrajoke.”
Great project Vette. I had a flashback when I saw the video! I purchased a 75 conv. Vette back in 1981. It was a dealer demo car that had all the option...L-82 with a 4 speed too. I sold it the same year yours was parked 1986. That's when I purchased my dream ride. A 1967 conv. Vette with a 427 4-speed. I still have her today. Btw, the guy I bought the 75 from had all the dealer books from 75, and I still have them. Cool stuff. Good luck with the project, and Happy Thanksgiving Ben
It might have not been this video but referring to Quadrajets as Quadrajunk is doing them a disservice. I have 45 years experience with them and believe me I doubt an Edelbrock carb will be rebuildable after 45 years. I would be happy to rebuild one for you
such a shame this nice vette was allowed to sit and rot this way.....Sure looks new under those rocker covers though, wonder what the story is behind this neglected classic...
19 years ago I had a chance to buy a 1974 Corvette convertible with 88,000 miles for $5,000. L48 four speed with the optional hardtop. Instead I bought a 1993 Z28 for $5,100 and have put a lot of money in the engine. Although the Z28 is fast, looking back I wish I had bought the Corvette.
@@micksterboone4517 they run great and have a powerful throaty sound but some quadrajets the secondary butterfly opens for air but the jets are sealed. i was told this was a mileage/epa requirement during this era. wonder if it true... quadrajoke!
@@eugenescoj On the '67 or '68 Firebird 400, they had a limiting tab for the secondaries which the GTO 400 didn't have. I forget which version of the 400 this was, but the Goats always ran better than the 'Birds - until the Firebird owner bent back or ground off those tabs!
Way back in the day a sbc was so much easier to work on. Carb, points. Wow 👍🏻 I’ve watched Sea Foam videos. Just spray a little on the lug nutz and it’s like Blueprinting and Balancing the motor 😂👍🏻 just ONE can will do.
I'm sensing that the new plugs Ben exposed were done as a shot to get the engine to run right. After seeing the real loose rocker arm I'm thinking a worn-out lifter camshaft combo issue. It's been a long time but I seem to recall GM having a big run on bad camshafts back somewhere around then. Any older guys recalling this? That aside, since the mid to later '60's Chevy V-8's were known for soft camshafts and lifters. They didn't get burnt valves common with the Ford's. The Chevy's would keep running and running while the power output would eventually drop to a point that they could barely take-off from a stop. Once they got moving they'd usually hold the speed well enough to get around with them.
Some one else probally tried to get it running and probally couldnt get it started or realised it was locked up and gave up. I'm pretty sure those plugs have never been run, they were just way too clean. Someone also could have dried the cylinders M put trying to start it with starter fluid or too much gas and now the cylinder may be rusted. It will be interesting to see how this car turns out.
I was in a hurry sorry ! But you should have known there was trouble when you pulled the valve covers and saw how clean they were ! Spark plugs were new looking !
A clean motor, new plugs, case of oil on passenger seat! Back in the day it had a tune up and oil change but is the box of oil still full? Is there oil in the engine? Did he pass away during said oilchange, and car got ran with no oil? Please check the oil during next episode, the suspense is Killing me! Cheers from Canada!
Since the car has been sitting that long you might want to drop the torque converter splash shield. i've run across them packed with mouse nests from sitting that long.
Yes and yes. It'll run better once the smog junk is gone because you'll remove the parasitic loss from the pump as well as clean up the air charge. And get rid of a bunch of hoses that complicate troubleshooting vacuum issues.
I don't know what you intend to do with this Vette. Too bad about the broken body work. I wonder if the soft top is repairable. Was the car stored inside? Do you want to get it running with the ancient smog controls, or free it up to breathe and make a little power?
@@TheCorvetteBen On engines that long-neglected the cylinder walls are dry and the oil is not to ensure movement but to prevent the scoring of the walls. You found a beauty of a project, I'm envious.
@@truebetold65 _2,407 had the hardtop option(of which 279 were in vinyl). My own white one-owner '75 also had the option. Guess folks who ordered the convertible knew the car looked incredibly decent with the hardtop(well that, and the option was just $267 for the matching body color top, or $350 for the black vinyl)._
That engine looks to have done nothing at all. I'd believe it was switched off in 1984 and left sitting, in fact it looks to have done little in the nine years it ran. Being completely unworn isn't always good when an engine is stuck, though.
Those cars suck. I had 2 and no one wanted them at any price. Dont crank any old engine until you take the plugs out and squirt diesel into the cylinders
1975. Was embassasment to all auto manufacturers with eps and ntsb regs strangle cars with hideous bumpers cat cons smog junk pumps and detuned motors...better was like 150 hp and the 454 was a goner sad times
