Newbe

[Lordphilgood]

So the C3 has been my dream car since my childhood (in the 70's) & finally got a 1970's one, having lusted after one for so long I thought I knew everything there was to know - how wrong I was.
I will be posting quite a few questions on this forum so please be patent with me!
Phil

 

[Roscobbc]

Welcome to the asylum Phil.

 

[Invetterate]

So the C3 has been my dream car since my childhood (in the 70's) & finally got a 1970's one, having lusted after one for so long I thought I knew everything there was to know - how wrong I was.
I will be posting quite a few questions on this forum so please be patent with me!
Phil

Not got a clue? You'll fit right in!!

Welcome! There are some really good people in this Club [I'm not one of them, obviously.....] and I am sure they will be only too happy help you out. It's a great hobby/obsession!

 

[Andrew]

Welcome Phil. You will find so many lovely people on here who will answer all your questions! They helped me so much with my C4 and now i can drive it!

 

[CaptainK]

Hello and welcome to the club. I have a C3 too, fun cars. Hope you are practicing your tinkering skills

 

[Lordphilgood]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
Planning on just driving it during this summer (new toy & all) and while it seems in generally good, original condition I'm considering tinkering with it over the winter months but in the mean time;

1st question is, my standard 1970 - 350 small block (apparently 35k miles!) is showing low on oil (no leaks as such) and confused on what oil to use to simply top it up? Looks like I should be using 10W-30 with Zinc and phosphorus additives, any recommendations?

Phil

 

[Lordphilgood]

Also new to this site so happy to be guided as to where I should have posted this in the 1st place

Phil

 

[johng]

I use Valvolene VR1 20-50 and I know several others do too. Best place to put questions is probably the C3 Generation in Technical Talk.

 

[Chuffer]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
Planning on just driving it during this summer (new toy & all) and while it seems in generally good, original condition I'm considering tinkering with it over the winter months but in the mean time;

1st question is, my standard 1970 - 350 small block (apparently 35k miles!) is showing low on oil (no leaks as such) and confused on what oil to use to simply top it up? Looks like I should be using 10W-30 with Zinc and phosphorus additives, any recommendations?

Phil

Valvoline VR1 is all I ever use and many other members do too . It has one of the highest % zinc and phosphorus additives available . I advise always keeping the oil level well within the `safe level ` marks on dip stick for the health of old engines like ours . Regular oil changes are important too even if you only do a low annual mileage like most `hobby ` classic cars do . 35K miles is a big ask unless you have a detailed history of the car from first owner onwards . Also check date codes on tyres or look for tell tale fine cracks in tyre walls as a sure sign of age hardening . If the car genuinely is 35K miler they could even be the original tyres and could go bang in spectacular fashion when out on a good run !

 

[teamzr1]

So a C3 that is around 50 plus years old and only has 35,000 miles (if odometer is valid)
That would average only 700 miles a year
Now an unknown how long between oil/filer changes ?

I'd suggest first adding oil flush product and drive the C3 to clean and flush oil and then new filter with the
oil grade most C3 owners here prefer to use

You might do the same flush of coolant and think about how old the brake fluid and power steering fluid
along with checking the age of serpentine belts and sparkplugs

 

[Nassau65]

20/50 was the oil when the car was new. It went in everything.
I’ve used that valvoline oil in my 65 for a good few years, before that things like Castrol GTX 20/50 and duckhams 20/50