u/networkwizard0

Looking for opinions on my birdcage. I posted a week or so ago about sinking a bunch of money into my vette. I was hesitant because I bought the car under the notion it must have a bad birdcage because the floor panels were rusted out and the section under the kick panels had surface rust.

Well, I finally just pulled the trim expecting the worst. All I found was some very correctable surface rust. The frame underneath the car is solid and for a 50 year old car with 115k, I am pleasantly surprised!. I haven’t yet pulled the corner windshield trim (the pieces that the t top mounts into because I don’t want to chance breaking my windshield) but I can see under them and it’s more of the same. Just some surface discoloration.

Wondering if I have rose colored glasses right now or if I’m not wrong in thinking this isn’t half bad and I’m good to sink some cash into my drive train.

I purchased this 1981 for $6000 last year. It has been absolutely awesome. I think it looks amazing. I have had a multitude of issues many already addressed and I want to make sure I don’t hit the point of no return with what I sink into this car. I bought this car so I can learn how to do some engine work and I am very well equipped with tools and very handy (I’ve rebuilt many marine engines and outboards and do all maintenance on my vehicles). This is a 4 speed car.

So far I have spent and redone:

Seat cushions and covers ($900)
Parking brake pads and cables ($200)
KYB Shocks all around ($200)
Brakes and solid rotors ($400)
Tires ($900)
Starter ($200)

My current cost of ownership is: $8800.

Here are my issues. My floor boards are rusted out, I need to tear those out and replace at a point. And I have lowish compression on cylinder 4. I ran a wet compression test with no improvement and I have a leak at the heads as well as the china wall at the manifold. I want to rebuild the top end and pop a cam in this thing. The lower has 115k on it, and I have to go pretty mild with my setup.

I have an upgraded Dewitt’s aluminum radiator with 2 inch hoses and a Holley street avenger on it now. So I’m thinking an edelbrock e-street top end kit.

Total cost of the refresh will be around $3000. Including top end kit, purchase of rockers and push rods plus a few hundred dollars of buffer.

I also need a throw out bearing and while I’m in there might as well do a rear main seal and clutch. I’ll obviously buy side pipes and headers (Doug’s) at another $1300.

I’m going to assume as things go wrong I’ll be another $5500into this car in no time.

At 14,200 I’ll be into this car more than it’ll be worth I think, but I will really enjoy the work and learn a ton. Should I pursue this further or just run it as it is. Help a brother out with his poor decision making.