biggest problem areas on the c3 corvettes is what's called " the birdcage". it needs close inspection, also the body mounts. starting in 76 they used metal floors which are prone to rust. give the diff cover a good look for cracks, quite common and the diff cover is a major component of the rear suspension.

if the hole is up toward the front of the door it could indicate water has been running down. if that's the case it's more than a frame issue - the bird cage could be rotted.

Thanks for the info fellas. I told my wife Linda that I was very nervous about buying a vette even though it is her favorite body style because I have never worked on one and always hear the "becareful about the frames stories". The owner admitted that people who have looked at it were turned off by the look of the bird cage. I am inclined to think that I should stay away from this one but I will continue to research it out for my wifes sake.

Thanks for the pics Studeshaker.
Rich

It is a 1980 corvette. No hiding it cause it is in Brantford on Kijiji and the car looks really nice. Bright red with white leather interior! The nice thing about My wifes taste for corvettes is that she doesn't care if it is a big block or any form of a rare car. She just likes the look of the body style. This particular car is for sale for 4995.00 (bad sign #1) priced too cheap. But I had to call and inquire. Last appraisal was $11,000 but he has cut the price in half because guys that have looked at it have said it has "Bird cage " issues. Bad sign #2 plus I remember seeing that ad on Kijiji stating a warning to stay away from a certain corvette that was in the $10000 range asking price because it had frame issues and was no better than a parts car. Bad sign #3 it sounds like that car. And well to top it all off I googled C3 birdcage and the images of the rust are enough to scare even the most seasoned car rebuilder! You guys have been helpful with your posts to point me in the right direction as far as what to look for and google images was the deal breaker I think. Linda likes the new Mustang. Probably better to start maybe looking at them. LOL I'll talk to Linda some more and show her the images and see if it scares her too!  Looking at the pics the car looks real nice and I still may have to see it for myself up close.  What do you guys think??

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1000026752

slab wrote:

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It is a 1980 corvette. No hiding it cause it is in Brantford on Kijiji and the car looks really nice. Bright red with white leather interior! The nice thing about My wifes taste for corvettes is that she doesn't care if it is a big block or any form of a rare car. She just likes the look of the body style. This particular car is for sale for 4995.00 (bad sign #1) priced too cheap. But I had to call and inquire. Last appraisal was $11,000 but he has cut the price in half because guys that have looked at it have said it has "Bird cage " issues. Bad sign #2 plus I remember seeing that ad on Kijiji stating a warning to stay away from a certain corvette that was in the $10000 range asking price because it had frame issues and was no better than a parts car. Bad sign #3 it sounds like that car. And well to top it all off I googled C3 birdcage and the images of the rust are enough to scare even the most seasoned car rebuilder! You guys have been helpful with your posts to point me in the right direction as far as what to look for and google images was the deal breaker I think. Linda likes the new Mustang. Probably better to start maybe looking at them. LOL I'll talk to Linda some more and show her the images and see if it scares her too!  Looking at the pics the car looks real nice and I still may have to see it for myself up close.  What do you guys think??

 

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html?adId=1000026752

-- Edited by slab on Tuesday 1st of July 2014 10:41:20 AM

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 humph!  it is cheap. one of them in reasonable shape should be had for 10-12 grand, guessing. you could end up close to the 20 range if its got some problems, easy. i got lucky finding the dinged up 79 for a parts car. at the end of the day i wouldn't do it again, no how. they are out there but canada is hard on them, salt dust. guys get horney on a nice sunny day in early april and take a drive and the salt dust gets in between the glass and the metal. a couple of misty-rainy summer days through 30 some odd yrs and its inevitable. they really have to be owned by someone who takes care of them from new.

-its your call slab at the end of the day. but, if it's got a visible rust issue on the frame now you can't imagine the amount of metal you can't see, i didn't. just saying.

She may like the look but has she ever driven one of those things?  

slab wrote:

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DaveM wrote:

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She may like the look but has she ever driven one of those things?  

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LOL  how'd you know that she has never driven one!!!   That has been discussed here and I said you wouldn't even be able to see out the windshield let alone see the front of the car.

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 backin' em up is fun too !!!

The price is a little on the cheap side and you really don't want to get into rust issues. If she wants something like that what's the problem? They are the cheapest priced vettes simply because they're not the most desirable and they were slipping in the performance area,but like she says she just wants a red vette that starts and drives when she wants to go somewhere. Do a little searching,join the corvette forum,find a good one, check it out good, you may have to pay a little more but have fun and enjoy!! Don't let others influence you this is something to do as a family!! Who knows she might even let you drive it !!

  Randy

shag766 wrote:

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i just got back from a bike ride and on the way home i seen one of these models for sale, red. i know the guy where it is sitting and if you want the contact info let me know.

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