[Project] New Project: 1976 Chevy Corvette

[Akodo]

Since theres is very little I actually need to do to my 79 T/A, I decided to get something that needed a complete frame up resto, something I could make a daily driver out of. Well, for the summer anyway. My search led me all the way to Muskegon nearly. Here is the start of the project: a 1976 Corvette Stingray! Body is in pretty good shape, no powertrain, limited interior, but a solid frame. Some custom work has already been done to it with the addition of front fog lights (pulling them back and putting the grills back in), shaved door handles and locks (who shaves the door handles and doesn't put in a release system??!?) , a VERY stupid wing that looks like it came off a Neon (already pulled off and pitched) and the "stingray" on the front quarters is actually laser cut through the shell. Can you say LED backlights? Not sure yet which direction I want to go with it. LS1 swap? Drop in a 355 I have? Go really crazy and do a supercharged 3800? Maybe I will flesh out some ideas and put it to a vote. Make it the Mifbody committee build. Lol.
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[JoeliusZ28]

Looks like a fun project thatll keep you busy a while! Lol that wing does look like it came off a neon, my roomate has sitting in the garage.

[Akodo]

Looks like a fun project thatll keep you busy a while! Lol that wing does look like it came off a neon, my roomate has sitting in the garage.

Yeah. And if you look close in the corner of it you can see the head of the 2 inch long WOOD SCREWS the guy put it on with. Some jackasses shouldn't be allowed to drive cars...

[bri2203]

It looks very custom!
Someone modified the front end to install 1980-1982 front bumper. The rear bumper is also a 1980-1982 model.


But if I were you I would reconsider doing a frame off resto on a 1976 Corvette.

[C2YT]

haha 3800 swap!!

[Akodo]

It looks very custom!
Someone modified the front end to install 1980-1982 front bumper. The rear bumper is also a 1980-1982 model.


But if I were you I would reconsider doing a frame off resto on a 1976 Corvette.

Why? Whats wrong with a 76?

[Darren]

Why? Whats wrong with a 76?

Because you will dump way more money into it then it will ever be worth. Granted I know that's the name of the game but some year corvettes are just simply better to do that with.

Please do not even consider a v6 of any kind, 3800 swap would fall right in that category of 2 inch wood screws holding on the spoiler.


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[Akodo]

Because you will dump way more money into it then it will ever be worth. Granted I know that's the name of the game but some year corvettes are just simply better to do that with.

Please do not even consider a v6 of any kind, 3800 swap would fall right in that category of 2 inch wood screws holding on the spoiler.


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Eh. I see what you are saying, I just don't care about how much its worth to someone else. Its going to end up a hodge podge of years, well obviously since half the body is from an 82, so the frame is really irrelevant in the long run. I'm going to pick and choose the interior panels, trim parts, emblems, etc from the various Vettes solely based on which ones I like best.

The V6 idea came up for several reason. I'm not building a show car. I'm not building a track car. I'm building a daily driver I can enjoy driving back and forth to work in the summer, which means three primary concerns come into play: fuel mileage, maintenance costs, and dependability. Do I really NEED a 355 with the cruise set perpetually to 75? How much fuel economy could I get out of a 3800 in a car that light? Like I said, I'm not building this car to impress anybody, I'm building it to drive and enjoy. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

[Akodo]

It looks very custom!
Someone modified the front end to install 1980-1982 front bumper. The rear bumper is also a 1980-1982 model.


But if I were you I would reconsider doing a frame off resto on a 1976 Corvette.

Yep, I really don't know much about Vettes, but looks like you are right. Which actually works out OK, I like the way the back bumper looks, though I may swap the front bumper back to stock if I can. The frame actually looks pretty clean, just the front end bushings are shot. Realistically, I could drop an engine, transmission, radiator, fans, and tires on it and drive it. You know, the little things.

[MP81]

The V6 idea came up for several reason. I'm not building a show car. I'm not building a track car. I'm building a daily driver I can enjoy driving back and forth to work in the summer, which means three primary concerns come into play: fuel mileage, maintenance costs, and dependability. Do I really NEED a 355 with the cruise set perpetually to 75? How much fuel economy could I get out of a 3800 in a car that light? Like I said, I'm not building this car to impress anybody, I'm building it to drive and enjoy. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

If that's the case, then the clear answer is an LS-swap, with a 6-speed (manual or auto - something with double OD). That'll get better fuel economy and have more power than a 3800. And it'll be the same weight - or lighter, too.

[Akodo]

If that's the case, then the clear answer is an LS-swap, with a 6-speed (manual or auto - something with double OD). That'll get better fuel economy and have more power than a 3800. And it'll be the same weight - or lighter, too.

I really like the LS swap idea other than the much higher cost. Anyone got a cheap LS lating around they want to donate? Lol.

[bri2203]

Why? Whats wrong with a 76?

I didn't say anything was wrong with a 1976.
Personally(OPINION).... I would reconsider a frame off on a 1976 because a frame off restoration is very expensive! Even if your labor is free the parts add up VERY fast.
From a monetary perspective a 1976 Corvette is not very desirable. The 2016 Collector car price guide gives of value of $21,00 for a perfect show car that is not driven. That being said most of the driver 1976 vehicles sell for significantly less.

I'm building a daily driver I can enjoy driving back and forth to work in the summer, which means three primary concerns come into play: fuel mileage, maintenance costs, and dependability. Do I really NEED a 355 with the cruise set perpetually to 75? How much fuel economy could I get out of a 3800 in a car that light? Like I said, I'm not building this car to impress anybody, I'm building it to drive and enjoy. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

A 3800 and T5 would be a great MPG machine! My 2001 camaro got 33mpg all highway at 80mph.
Drivetrain conversions are not always straight forward or cheap. But are the modification and headache worth the extra mile per gallon?
My 1969 Corvette was 350 with a carb, a five speed transmission, and a 3.36:1 axle got 23mpg at 75mph.

Yep, I really don't know much about Vettes, but looks like you are right. Which actually works out OK, I like the way the back bumper looks, though I may swap the front bumper back to stock if I can. The frame actually looks pretty clean, just the front end bushings are shot. Realistically, I could drop an engine, transmission, radiator, fans, and tires on it and drive it. You know, the little things.

Swapping the front bumper back might be more difficult than you think. The 1980-82 front bumper wrappped around the front fender and defines the front wheel opening where the 73-79 secures to the front nose and fenders.
I always suggest making the vehicle safe then make it dependable.

[Akodo]

I didn't say anything was wrong with a 1976.
Personally(OPINION).... I would reconsider a frame off on a 1976 because a frame off restoration is very expensive! Even if your labor is free the parts add up VERY fast.
From a monetary perspective a 1976 Corvette is not very desirable. The 2016 Collector car price guide gives of value of $21,00 for a perfect show car that is not driven. That being said most of the driver 1976 vehicles sell for significantly less.


A 3800 and T5 would be a great MPG machine! My 2001 camaro got 33mpg all highway at 80mph.
Drivetrain conversions are not always straight forward or cheap. But are the modification and headache worth the extra mile per gallon?
My 1969 Corvette was 350 with a carb, a five speed transmission, and a 3.36:1 axle got 23mpg at 75mph.


Swapping the front bumper back might be more difficult than you think. The 1980-82 front bumper wrappped around the front fender and defines the front wheel opening where the 73-79 secures to the front nose and fenders.
I always suggest making the vehicle safe then make it dependable.

Apologies Brian, that wasn't meant to sound like I was accusing you of something, I was just wondering if there was like a flaw in the frame or something that made a 76 resto mod a problem.

3800 with a T5 was exactly what I was thinking, something you don't see everyday and all that. But you are right, is the headache worth it went any 350 pretty much will drop in? Really leaning toward the 355 option at the moment.

Didn't realize the nose was that different, might as well stick with it. They both look sexy to me, so why mess with it? Though I may end up needing to replace it anyway, there is a fairly wide crack on the passenger side, just below the Stingray engraving, runs half the length. Not sure how hard its going to be to fix.

Thanks for all the input!

[MP81]

I really like the LS swap idea other than the much higher cost. Anyone got a cheap LS lating around they want to donate? Lol.

5.3 truck engines are usually pretty cheap - and I would be surprised if someone didn't sell all the pieces needed to swap one in (mounts, etc).

[bri2203]

Apologies Brian, that wasn't meant to sound like I was accusing you of something, I was just wondering if there was like a flaw in the frame or something that made a 76 resto mod a problem.

3800 with a T5 was exactly what I was thinking, something you don't see everyday and all that. But you are right, is the headache worth it went any 350 pretty much will drop in? Really leaning toward the 355 option at the moment.

Didn't realize the nose was that different, might as well stick with it. They both look sexy to me, so why mess with it? Though I may end up needing to replace it anyway, there is a fairly wide crack on the passenger side, just below the Stingray engraving, runs half the length. Not sure how hard its going to be to fix.

Thanks for all the input!

No need to apologize! I was not offended I was just making sure you understood that my statement was not meant to hurt anyone's feelings.

I do not know your goals or budget. But a 350 will be your best options from an ease of assembly standpoint. You can easily order a radiator hose for a 1976 Corvette and it will fit.

I prefer the body styling of the 1980-1982.
Repairing fiberglass is not hard but is not fun.
Just to give you a background, I work at a shop that maintains and restores corvette. If I can help you out let me know.