Hello Everyone,

My name is Leslie and i am new to this site. I mainly joined so i could get some insight from you guys. I have never owned a Corvette but it is what i have always wanted. I have actually found one that i am wanting to buy. But my father keeps telling me that it would be a horrible decision. So here is the deal i would be driving this Corvette as my daily driver. I only drive about 30miles a day never much more than that. I live in Houston, Tx so there isn't any snow i would have to deal with. Here is everything i know about the car at this point


Hobby restored and in excellent condition. Repainted with 87 Corvette red with new engine, transmission, air conditioning, exhaust, breaks, radiator, water pump, paint, carpet, Buckskin leather seats, rims, new console, plus much more. Majority of work done in the early 1990s.

350 C.I. making more than 350 horsepower. New motor, Dart heads, competition cam, performer intake, 750 Holly carburetor, and Hooker headers. 3.73 rear end with Turbo 350 transmission rebuilt by Rutland Transmission with B&M shift kit.

Air conditioning operational and cold.

Well over $20,000 invested in this car. Have $14,000 in receipts for work performed. This does not include the cost of the rims, replacement cost in excess of $2,000. Salvage title.

So please give me all the advice you can!!!

Thank you everyone!!!! :seeya:

I wouldn't recommend it as a DD, the carb may start to hassle you. But I'm pushing near 330 on my DD and it does pretty good. Just depends on how you drive it :D. Exactly what year Corvette is it? I didn't catch on to the year, unless it's an 87 where you talked about the painting?

Oh haha yea it would probably help if you guys knew the year! Its a 77'

Oh haha yea it would probably help if you guys knew the year! Its a 77'

Thanks :), ahh the C3's, beautiful cars. I had mine running for a while then things went... To my knowledge I think C3's aren't much of Daily Drivers, that is unless you mod them to be DD's. They have a few things that operate on vacuums, which can go bad and may not be to reliable for daily use. To start of as a DD I would recommend the C4 Generation(84-96) Stay away from the 84's if you can, due to the crossfire injection. I mean if you have the money, go for it but that's just my opinion. Driving a C3 everyday would be lovely :). Wait to see what another members replies with and gather up what you think will be best. And where are my manners, Welcome to SVC!!!

Well thank you very much! I just don't want to end up making the wrong decision on this one. I'm gonna check around at what you recommend see what i can find!

One more thing! How would i have to modify this to become a daily driver?

Well thank you very much! I just don't want to end up making the wrong decision on this one. I'm gonna check around at what you recommend see what i can find!

That's what we're here for :), your welcome.


One more thing! How would i have to modify this to become a daily driver?

Now for this part you'd have to wait on a more experienced Corvette owner/enthusiast/Mechanic/knows more than me :D

Best I could say would be converting it over from Carb. to TPI. Possibly getting electric fans instead of the mechanical which stresses the engine a bit more. Also try asking for opinions over in the C3 Section forum, you will probably get way better answers. See other' s opinions on getting a C3 for Daily Driving.

You'll get your questions answered here! WELCOME!

Keep a close eye on the rear leaf spring. I had one come apart (straps broke that keep the leafs together). Also, keep an eye on the IRS (rearend) especially the axle bearing assemblies. When they decide to fail, I have seen an axle break. Not a cool feeling when a rear wheel blows past you.
Other than that, like said above, cooling issues need to be beefed up especially in the Houston heat and traffic. Might want to put some Dynamat under the carpet to help block exhaust heat from radiating through the floorboard.
This is THE end all-beat all vette site. Welcome!:thumbsup:

Welcome aboard!

Good luck with your Vette, that is some serious cash tied up in it!

Glad to have you here! :burnout:

You need to check out your local rules and regs re: the salvage title.
Some counties/states/insurance co's will give you a headache/nogo when it comes to a salvage title.

As far as a C3 being a daily driver... well, if everything on the car has been replaced, it's basically a new car.
If anything hasn't been replaced, you WILL be replacing those parts, it's just a matter of when, not if.

Welcome to SVC

Welcome to SV! Sounds like a nice car. Any Vette is! Here are my thoughts. Fuel injected cars are great as daily drivers. Carb cars can be if you know what you are doing with them. Carbs can be very touchy. What everyone else has said are pretty good points ie, the heating, salvage title, ect. Once again welcome!:burnout:

My Dad told me the sam thing back in 1975 when I got my first Vette!
Tell your Dad that I sold my first Vette four years after I bought it for what I originally paid for it, effectively driving it for free!
I recently sold a C4 roadster for $200 more than I paid for it, and got to drive it for nearly six years for free!
Corvette's are an investment, not just a car! Welcome to SmokinVette where Corvettes are Number One!

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