1978 Chevrolet Corvette

Price Reduced - Excellent Driving 1978 Corvette - 300 HP GM Crate Engine with only 25,000 miles - Ready to Enjoy

If you're looking for a solid, honest C3 Corvette that's ready to enjoy, this is an excellent opportunity. I've owned and cared for this Corvette for many years, and it has always been garage kept. Currently resides in Roseburg, Oregon.

One of the car's biggest advantages over a stock 1978 Corvette is its engine. At approximately the 50,000-mile mark, the original engine suffered a catastrophic coolant-loss failure and seized. Rather than rebuilding the damaged engine, a professional mechanic installed a GM Chevrolet 350 (5.7L) Special Performance long block. According to the original GM installation documentation, this engine is rated at 300 horsepower at 5,000 RPM. The replacement engine has been driven only approximately 25,000 miles since installation and runs strong. (The chassis has approximately 75,000 on it)

The original cast-iron intake manifold and carburetor were retained during the long-block installation, preserving the Corvette's factory appearance while providing a significant performance improvement over the original 1978 engine.

The exhaust system was later upgraded with Hooker headers and a professionally fabricated custom dual exhaust system with dual mufflers and dual catalytic converters, installed by Meineke. Documentation for both the GM engine installation and the exhaust work is included with the car.

This Corvette is equipped with its original factory air conditioning. I recently tested the system on a warm day, and it begins blowing cool air within about a minute of operation. Like most factory air conditioning systems from the late 1970s, it does not cool as aggressively as a modern vehicle, but it functions as expected for a well-preserved classic Corvette

Features
GM Chevrolet 350 (5.7L) Special Performance long block
Rated at 300 HP @ 5,000 RPM (per original GM documentation)
Approximately 25,000 miles on replacement engine
Automatic transmission (professionally rebuilt)
T-Tops
Hooker headers
Custom dual exhaust with dual catalytic converters and dual mufflers
Factory air conditioning
Power steering
Power brakes
Garage kept
Upper and Lower control arms & idler arm replaced
Clean Title

Condition
The paint presents well with good shine and is approximately a 7/10, with a few minor chips but no fiberglass cracks. The interior is also approximately a 7/10. The seats have been professionally reskinned, and the carpet has been replaced. The dashboard is in good condition with no cracks. All gauges function properly except the clock.
The frame is solid with no known rust issues, and the car has no known fluid leaks.

The suspension is original and performs well, although the suspension bushings are aging and may eventually benefit from replacement.

Documentation Included
Original GM installation documentation for the 350 Special Performance engine
Hooker header documentation
Meineke receipts for the custom exhaust system
Additional maintenance records where available

Disclosures
Repainted in a non-original color
Original suspension bushings are aging
Factory air cooling performance is typical of a well-maintained late-1970s vehicle
Clock inoperative
Carpet somewhat faded
Normal C3 squeaks and creaks

Cold Start: Like many carbureted classic cars, this Corvette benefits from a short warm-up period before being driven. If placed in gear immediately after a cold start, the engine may stall. After several minutes of warm-up, it runs and drives normally. I have chosen to leave any further tuning or repair to the next owner, and the car has been priced with this in mind. This is an excellent opportunity to own a well-maintained, C3 Corvette that has been enjoyed and cared for rather than simply stored.

This Corvette is an honest, well-maintained driver with a documented GM performance engine upgrade that makes it considerably more enjoyable than a stock late-1970s Corvette. It is being sold as-is and is ready for its next owner to enjoy.