Newbie w/ fuel system & general questions

[ragnarock47]

Hi Everybody!!!

A friend in CA. just offered me his 1976 Vette for free. I took him up on it. I've been lurking on the board for a few weeks and I know I have tons of work to do. The windows don't work, and the cars been sitting for a few years. With that in mind, I know I'll have to replace belts, tires, plugs, clean/rebuild the carbs, etc. It also needs some electrical work.

My main goal right now it to get it running. It had water in the tank and then was garaged. I don't have the car yet, as it's on it's way from CA. to my house. My question is: once it gets here, what kind of damage should I expect from the water in the tank?

Man, I don't even have the car yet and already the credit card is looking at me with the evil grin. I ordered an Ultraguard Cover (It will sit in my driveway until winter time) and some car dollies: http://www.car-dolly.com/ as I have a fairly small driveway, the books, I need the AIM manual still.

I'm hoping to get the car running decently for $2500 +/- $500, that includes the shipping costs for the car. From there, I hope I can get it working/running like a peach for another $3500 +/- $1k. At this time, my initial plan is to keep it as is, stock but most likely not O.E.M., I am not going the NCRS route. No engine enhancements, or upgrades unless I need to replace pieces parts such as suspension components.

My questions:

From above: What problems can I expect from the water in the tank?
Are 255/60R15's the proper tires for stock wheels?


Thanks to all who reply.

On a side note, I am an administrator for the Kawasaki ZRX Owners' Association: http://zrxoa.org/forums and I've been in varying admin roles since a year after the bike was introduced into the states. The point I haven't made yet is that I am glad I came across Corvette Action Center. I guess I took for granted what a resource we have over there. Now that I've found you all, it will make it a much better place in my brain when I start bugging out on something on my message board, because I am living the value of it, in this message board. After one more little bit of babble I'll be done, I'd like to thank the Admin and moderators for their work, I truly know what it entails.

LOL, I'm sure I'll be posting many more once the car gets here!!!

[Rob]

Welcome to the Corvette Action Center.

Sounds like yolu may have your hands full there, but considering that you got the car for free, you probably got a great deal either way.

Your main concern is to check the condition of the rubber components in and around the engine and suspension. You already mentioned the tires so that's good.

Do you know how much gas is in the tank now? You mentioned that it got put in storage with water in the fuel? If there is still fuel in the tank, I would highly suggest pumping it all out. Once you have gone through the engine and replaced any necessary parts (and gone through the carburetor since the carb has probably suffered greatly due to the moisture in the fuel), I would then add a fresh tank of fuel and possibly even some "Dry Gas" so that once you do start the car, the fresh fuel and Dry Gas can circulate through the system.

That's my own unprofessional opinion, but let's see what others here have to say.

Once again, welcome aboard!

[Stingray6974]

Hi Ragnarock47,
Standard tire size is 225-70-15 with 255-60-15 being an option. Sometimes people get tire rub on the front fenders with the 255's.
Check for rust in the gas tank and on the throttle plates in the carb. If you are familiar with quadrajets pull the top off and look for white deposits or flakes. If you find any chances are the carb is ruined.
Most common items to wear out are upper and lower control arm bushings, idler arm, rear wheel bearings, inner yokes, u-joints, trailing arm bushings, and rear spring. Also leaking brake calipers.
Check for cracks in the frame around the front spring buckets, power steering ram where it mounts to the frame, and the lower control arm mounting points.

Mike

[ragnarock47]

Thank you for the help Stingray and Rob