79-L82 4 speed

[John Werner]

I would like to get my car in shape for NCRS shows. But I have allot to learn. My car only has 7,300 miles on it so it is almost just like getting off the showroom floor. It still has all the little stickers, labels with numbers on them like the drive shaft, wheel shafts, shocks etc. But because the car is 20 years old and it was kept inside, the rear end, drive shaft, wheel shafts still have rust on them. I don't know if these items were painted or not and if they were, what color. In either case, if I am to clean the rust off, how do I do it and not damage the stickers on the parts.

Where can I find information on what to fix and what not to touch.

Thank you for any information you can give me.

John

[Patrick H.]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

John,

Sounds like a great car!!!

The driveshaft and half-shafts, as well as the rear differential, were all natural steel, and left to rust. :) You don't mention HOW rusty they are, but a light coating or coloration is acceptable, realizing that as your car sat in the St. Louis lot waiting for transport, or outside at the dealer, and was exposed to the weather, it easily could have rusted before the car was ever purchased.

As a "natural" item, it is VERY difficult to remove the rust without altering the appearance of the part, especially with such a low mileage car.

My recommendation would be to touch NOTHING on the car, and have it judged as-is. You may not realize how many of us who judge actually crave seeing a totally unrestored car such as yours out on the field for us to inspect. As Terry McManmon told me regarding a '72 we were discussing, when you have a car that is extremely original, any restored part will "stick out" like a sore thumb and look out of place. The entire appearance of the car has to "flow," and this will likely be easier if you present it in the exact form that your car is in now.

Remember, a Corvette (or one of its parts) can only be original ONCE; after that it's just another restored car (or part). Why do you think original cars and parts command such a high premium in price?

Hope that this helps.

Patrick Hulst

[Patrick H.]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

John,

Sounds like a great car!!!

The driveshaft and half-shafts, as well as the rear differential, were all natural steel, and left to rust. :) You don't mention HOW rusty they are, but a light coating or coloration is acceptable, realizing that as your car sat in the St. Louis lot waiting for transport, or outside at the dealer, and was exposed to the weather, it easily could have rusted before the car was ever purchased.

As a "natural" item, it is VERY difficult to remove the rust without altering the appearance of the part, especially with such a low mileage car.

My recommendation would be to touch NOTHING on the car, and have it judged as-is. You may not realize how many of us who judge actually crave seeing a totally unrestored car such as yours out on the field for us to inspect. As Terry McManmon told me regarding a '72 we were discussing, when you have a car that is extremely original, any restored part will "stick out" like a sore thumb and look out of place. The entire appearance of the car has to "flow," and this will likely be easier if you present it in the exact form that your car is in now.

Remember, a Corvette (or one of its parts) can only be original ONCE; after that it's just another restored car (or part). Why do you think original cars and parts command such a high premium in price?

Hope that this helps.

Patrick Hulst

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

John, read the requirements for Bow-tie Judgine in the REFERENCE MANUAL. Your car sounds like a very good candidate. Condition of parts in this judging does not matter, but numbers and dates must be visible. You may clean any rust that is obscuring these. Good luck!!

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

John, read the requirements for Bow-tie Judgine in the REFERENCE MANUAL. Your car sounds like a very good candidate. Condition of parts in this judging does not matter, but numbers and dates must be visible. You may clean any rust that is obscuring these. Good luck!!

[Jack H.]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

As others have said, touch nothing and have the car judged AS IT IS. You have a unique opportunity here to go 'both' ways -- take honors in restored concours categories (Flight at NCRS, Certification at NCCB or Bloomington) as well as unrestored concours categories (Bowtie at NCRS and Survivor at NCCB). Once you start touching/changing without knowing and understanding what is allowed (maintenance OK - restoration not OK for unrestored classifications), you enter a one way path of no return....

[Jack H.]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

As others have said, touch nothing and have the car judged AS IT IS. You have a unique opportunity here to go 'both' ways -- take honors in restored concours categories (Flight at NCRS, Certification at NCCB or Bloomington) as well as unrestored concours categories (Bowtie at NCRS and Survivor at NCCB). Once you start touching/changing without knowing and understanding what is allowed (maintenance OK - restoration not OK for unrestored classifications), you enter a one way path of no return....

[John]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

Thank you gentelman for your information. It was of great help. I guess that old saying is true here too. If you don't know what you are doing, don't touch it. Luckily I didn't do much. I did touch up the valve covers, but I won't touch another thing. I will clean it and that's it. Thanks again!!

[John]

Re: 79-L82 4 speed

Thank you gentelman for your information. It was of great help. I guess that old saying is true here too. If you don't know what you are doing, don't touch it. Luckily I didn't do much. I did touch up the valve covers, but I won't touch another thing. I will clean it and that's it. Thanks again!!