My 1979 L-82/NCRS Material?

[Paul Latour]

I have just joined NCRS and received my member number today (38817). I truly believe in keeping these Corvettes on the road and in pristine condition. But driveable. I have had my 1979 L-82 for some 16 years and it has taken that time (and a few dollars) to get it into a very pretty shape. But I do wonder if it meets NCRS standards in some way, shape or form. Here are a few details:
-original engine with motor and transmission numbers matching (about 47,000 miles)
-original code 59 Corvette Light Beige paint but now DuPont Chroma Premier base/clear
-original interior was code 59 (doeskin) with vinyl and cloth; could not find the cloth so went with Al Knoch vinyl/leather
-I have three tops: fiberglass, smoked glass and vinyl folding
-distributor is OK
-emissions are all in place but cat con is now high-flow; AIR pump is generic Chevrolet
-alternator is not correct
-starter is GM high-torque mini
-carb is original and re-built
-Muskegon front end re-build kit
-new GM rear struts and spring
-Eckler's SS brake calipers and lines

A very stock car in my previous view. But not absolutely correct. I saw some of these mods as improvements. So as I move into NCRS, I begin to wonder: Is there a place for this type of modified vehicle?

[george romano]

Re: My 1979 L-82/NCRS Material?

Did you remove those fog lights from behind the grill?

Your car can be judged. Points will be deducted for each deviation from original configuration. While modifications will hurt on the NCRS circuit, there are some that I feel are upgrades, like the SS brakes. Some mods are just plain dumb, and the more you listen to a certain group of "Corvette Enthusiasts" from another board, the farther from correct you're car will become, and the less valuable it will be. You have to decide whether you want to go stock, or modified. There is a class within the NCRS for modified cars. I think its called Sportsman Class or something similar. I personally like to see a stock Corvette, a car built the way GM intended. I really have no use for "kit cars" as a friend of mine once described a car full of repro parts and aftermarket gadgets.

Good luck with the C3 Paul, and welcome to NCRS!

George

[Paul Latour]

Re: My 1979 L-82/NCRS Material?

George,
You have obviously seen pics of my 1979. And you recognize that it is bone stock; albeit with some wrong numbers on a few mechanical components. There are no mods.

On the "fog" lamps. You mave have followed my project on CorvetteForum. They are really Hella high-intensity driving lights for visibility in daytime. I drive my Corvette and I consider this a safety issue given the low frontal profile of the C3. I was very expicit in my thread that no stock wiring was touched for the installation despite the instructions from Hella. They are grounded into the normal wiring near the driver's side front end and hot is into the fusebox for the 30amp auxiliary cooling fan that did not come with my car. This can all be pulled out in 15 minutes with only one 1/8" hole in the firewall as a consequence. As long as I drive the car, and enjoy it as a driver, those lamps stay. Unfortunately, this Forum does not allow pics. But if anyone wished to see this safety feature do e-mail me.

[george romano]

Re: My 1979 L-82/NCRS Material?

Paul

Please don't take my post as an insult, I didn't mean for it to sound that way. I always liked your car, it is very nice. I was simply trying to point out areas where you will get point deducts. I drive the hell out of my 72 as well, and I can appreciate the fact that you drive yours too. I put 20,000 miles on my car since May 1999. You gotta drive 'em to enjoy 'em. Best thing to do is enter the car in an event, and let the judging sheets be your guide. I refered to the other board because there are very few unmolested cars there. Some of those guys think the farther from stock, the better, even if it impairs the safety of the car itself.

George

[Paul Latour]

Re: My 1979 L-82/NCRS Material?

Thanks George. I did not take your message as an insult; believe me. The NCRS "points" concept is new to me. I have tried to stay stock over the years with this 1979 but alternators go, I had C3 starter heat soak, and a few other items. So I did what I had to do such as the GM mini-starter. But basically the car is unmolested as you say. I will look for an NCRS event in my area next spring/summer and see what happens. We do have some NCRS people in our Corvette Club and I will seek their advice as to whether that is worth attempting.

[Michael W.]

NCRS events

Paul,

There is an NCRS chapter in Quebec and another in Ontario, each of which holds an annual Flight judging meet. Are you closer to Montreal or Toronto? Essentially there is no such thing as a Corvette that is not eligible for Flight judging, barring cars with VIN problems.

We'd be pleased to see you (and your car) at the next Quebec meet!


Quebec NCRS Chapter

[Paul Latour]

Re: NCRS events

I am in Ottawa so Montreal is a good choice.