Category Archives: Classic Cars

#SR76 1976 Stingray – Out With the Air and In With the Gas – Shocks That Is.

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Just finished the rear shocks on the 76 Corvette (#ProjectSR76).  The Air-Max shock are gone.  There’s a couple tip in there so check it out!!

 


 

Thanks for checking!!

Tim

 

 

#SR76 Video To Do List Part 2

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The list for my 1976 Stingray #SR76 continues to grow.  That’s too be expected.  It’s a project and for the amount I paid, well let’s just say…it was a great deal!

Now, if you are squeamish you might want to have someone else watch this first.   There’s some good, some bad but there’s is a lot of ugly!!


ARE YOU OK AFTER THAT?

I think shocks are coming up next. See you then!!

Thanks for checking in!

TIM

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#SR76 Video To Do List Part 1

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I begin discussing ALL the work that has to be done to #ProjectSR76 1976 Stingray.  There’s a lot!!   Spreadsheets are being created and mini projects planned out.

Of course, everything is subject to funding.   As you know, Average Guys have Average Budgets.  There is no magic number, but no corners are cut for safety.

I created an Eckler’s project and started adding my NEEDS for #SR76.  The entire carpet package is $430.00.  Which isn’t bad.  But the roll of the looped black carpet was only about $30.   Can I make it work?   Well, you’ll be the second to know.

If you have an idea or have a comment make it here or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLWYRoUPd_SANVjRj77cwkw) or our FaceBook page.

Here is part of my discussion (with myself) on my To Do List:

 


Thanks for checking in!!!!

Tim

#SR76  
SR=Stingray  76 -1976

 

#ProjectSR76 Is The Stingray Numbers Matching?

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Numbers matching means that a part (or parts) have a number that matches the VIN or a portion of the VIN. Often it only refers to the engine, in some cases other parts as well.

Watch a Barrett Jackson or Mecum Auction and many of these “Numbers Matching” cars bring higher prices. It is a unique attribute especially muscle and sports cars that were often modified over the years.  For example there were just over 46k 1976 Stingray produced and having the original engine adds it to a much smaller number. 

Since the L48 for #SR76 is the lower performance of the engine available in 1976, one might guess that they were replaced for more horse power over the years. 

For #SR76 my intentions are not to create a contours level restoration, so it really isn’t that much of benefit but would be cool to know.

So is the L48 original to #ProjectSR76?

See what you think.

 


Thanks for checking.

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjectSR76 L48 Engine Inspection

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Welcome back to Average Guy’s Restoration and Mods and Racing.

For this post we are going to give the L48 a once over.

Take a look:


When I mentioned the cam, just to be clear it was an upgraded cam according to the previous owner, however he didn’t put it in the guy he bought it from put the upgraded cam in.

More coming up including IS IT NUMBERS MATCH? and WHERE DO WE START?

Thanks for checking.

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjecySR76 – 1976 Stingray – This Just In – Car Parts 1

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Who doesn’t love coming home and finding new car parts waiting at the door???!!!   OK  probably my wife…but who else?

New Carpet (Black) New E-Hand Brake console.

The plan for the interior -at this moment is to replace all the ugly carpet (what’s left of it) with Black.

There is no carpet in the front. You see remnants of the underlayment and some surface rust in the front.

And this “no idea what color that is’ carpet in the back.

At this point the seat belts and the seats will be black (or maybe red — Thoughts?)

I don’t know what to do with the rest of the car that has this off-white (without the details from an invoice or window sticker, I have no idea what the carpet color options were in 1976) – I don’t think this is going to come clean enough to suit me.  I had luck painting some parts of my 1970 Mustang’s interior, I might consider that again.

I have already pulled off one of the kick panels, and I’ve scrubbed it pretty well. It did not clean up well. See —>

Maybe more elbow grease on the hard plastic but I don’t know about the fake leather.

Share your thoughts.

Tim

#ProjectSR76 – 1976 Stingray Add-Ons

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It’s clear that the build sheet/inventory sheet is not available for #ProjectSR76.

With some inquiries on FaceBook I found free downloads of Corvette Brochure for 1976. 

Thanks to:

GM Heritage Center

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com

For providing the downloads.

 

There’s a section called “What You Can Add” which list all the option available.

Here’s a screen shot:

 

I put together a list as the car exists now.  Here are the Add-Ons:

Power breaks
Power Steering
Power Windows
Four Season A/c
Tilt-Telescoping steering
AM/FM (two types – don’t know which one- there’s an old Walmart AM/FM cassette crammed in it’s place)
Two rear speakers
Fixed Height Antenna
4 Speed Wide Ratio Trans*
wheels are 15″x8″
Anti-theft alarm
Luggage carrier
Dual Horns

I don’t know how identify the Gymkhana suspension. The description is above, but that’s really no help. I’m assuming it was the forerunner to the Z51 but that’s just a guess.

I know it started out with the L48 – which has been modified.  I can check for numbers matching – if that was a thing for Corvette.

The wheels, if original, are steel with wide chrome rings and center caps.

I’ll continue looking for a supplier of the window sticker/build sheet.

Coming up next will be a engine inspection then I start building the list of restoration/issues to fix – THAT’S WHEN THE FUN BEGINS

Thanks for checking in!

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 -1976

#ProjectSR76 – The Undercarriage

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Welcome back.

Here’s a quick look at the undercarriage of #Project#SR86, my 1976 Stingray.   Everything looks solid.

Although today I found a fairly significant power steering leak.

I’m pleased with this purchase.

Let me know what you think.

 

 


I have the engine bay coming up next.

Tim

 

#Project SR76
1976 Stingray

C3 Corvette Search Episode 4

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The search has ended.

INTRODUCING #ProjectSR76  (1976 Stingray)

 

 


Lots more coming – Exterior walk around, interior inspection, undercarriage look and a peak at the power plant.

So come on back!!

Tim

SR=Stingray
76 =1976  (duh)

Guess what engine this is?

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Guess what this is a pic of – you can guess, the engine or the car.

 

 

Drop the note in the comments.  

BY THE WAY – MY C3 SEARCH HAS ENDED…STAY TUNED!!!

Tim