Project 1Cool C2 underway, some assembly required!
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Project 1Cool C2 underway, some assembly required!
Thought I would post some pictures of the progress of my "hybrid" C2. After lots of discussions with forum members and some great advise and help from Rich Lagasse, Rich Merce and Gordon. I ordered a frame from SRIII Motorsports (Mike was great to work with and I was able to pick up my frame at Carlisle. I finally got around to start work on the project last month. Since I had my brother-in-law captive for the long holiday weekend (Gordonm from the C3 side of the house) we decided it was time to actually get something done! Since the LS6 pan will not fit the frame first we had to change out the oil pan/windage tray/pump pick-up and dipstick tube to a F-body LS1 configuration. We then attacked the car with air recip saw and of course some frosty beers! (dangerous combo, fear not we did not drink until the day was done.) Needless to say much cutting had to be done to get the body to fit on the frame and over the huge T56 tranny! Enjoy the shots and thanks to all who have answered all of my questions in all forums C4,C5 and C2 since this car spans all three of these generations.
#3
Melting Slicks
Wow, that is looking really good. It'll be great to see the finished product.
Next time I'm home visiting my parents and working on my 'Vette in Virginia Beach over Christmas, if you're up to it, I'd love to see your progress.
Next time I'm home visiting my parents and working on my 'Vette in Virginia Beach over Christmas, if you're up to it, I'd love to see your progress.
#5
Racer
Now I know where your user-name comes from
Jeff,
This is going to be one cool mid-year, congrats on your excellent project. These are the type of builds that turn me on.
Check your PM's
Stepinwolf
Drive your Corvette as if each day was your last
This is going to be one cool mid-year, congrats on your excellent project. These are the type of builds that turn me on.
Check your PM's
Stepinwolf
Drive your Corvette as if each day was your last
#6
Melting Slicks
Some assembly required
Thats going to one COOL Hot Rod when it's finished.
Keep the pics coming. Posts like this get me motivated to go out and work on my 65 coupe.
The artheritis is getting so bad in my hands sometimes that I have problems holding the damn tools. I might just have to send it to a shop for finishing.
Rick.
Thats going to one COOL Hot Rod when it's finished.
Keep the pics coming. Posts like this get me motivated to go out and work on my 65 coupe.
The artheritis is getting so bad in my hands sometimes that I have problems holding the damn tools. I might just have to send it to a shop for finishing.
Rick.
#7
Props to Rich Lagasse
1CoolC2,
Thanks for sharing your project. I am somewhat on a Rich Lagasse acknowledgment crusade, as it's clear that he has impacted and assisted the pro-classic/resto-mod/custom group at a huge level. Rich always answers questions, is full of a tremendous amount of information, and is a great guy to boot.
I started my project a year and a half ago with Rich being there to assist even before I bought my project. I'll have finished body and paint pictures early this week.
Keep sending the progress pictures in. They are encouraging.
Thanks for sharing your project. I am somewhat on a Rich Lagasse acknowledgment crusade, as it's clear that he has impacted and assisted the pro-classic/resto-mod/custom group at a huge level. Rich always answers questions, is full of a tremendous amount of information, and is a great guy to boot.
I started my project a year and a half ago with Rich being there to assist even before I bought my project. I'll have finished body and paint pictures early this week.
Keep sending the progress pictures in. They are encouraging.
#8
Race Director
That is going to be one of those cars that I have always loved. Modern drive train and classic good looks. Keep up the good work.
#10
Team Owner
Member Since: Feb 2003
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2015 C2 of Year Finalist
I hope you are not going to keep the wagon wheels. other then that it looks like a fun cool project. also what year is that car. in your profile it says 67 but form the pics in the back it clearly is not and has the 63-65 rear embleme
#11
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by 1coolC2
Tossin,
Feel free to come on by and check it out. But be forewarned, I will probably put ya to work!
Feel free to come on by and check it out. But be forewarned, I will probably put ya to work!
#12
Drifting
Stepinwolf said in his post .......
Drive your Corvette as if each day was your last
Absolutely...you gotta LIVE today as if you're gonna DIE tonight!
Drive your Corvette as if each day was your last
Absolutely...you gotta LIVE today as if you're gonna DIE tonight!
#13
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Feb 1999
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Were you able to leave the air compressor in the stock location? I have a Newman conversion and had to move the compressor up to top right location cause it hit the frame. I also see in your pics the torque arm from the differential to the trans cross member is not on the car. How does the SRIII frame accomodate it? Did you have to cut the rear floor area also for shock and drive shaft clearance? What year is your rear suspension? Pre 88? Were you able to use 18" wheels on the back and keep them inside the stock fenders or are they 17's? Hope you don't mind all the questions, I am very interested in how the SRIII compares with the Car Creations (Paul Newman) frame modification. Thanks for the pics, they bring back a lot of memories from my 66 coupe project. Please keep us posted on your progress.
Nick
Nick
#15
Race Director
Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
I hope you are not going to keep the wagon wheels. other then that it looks like a fun cool project. also what year is that car. in your profile it says 67 but form the pics in the back it clearly is not and has the 63-65 rear embleme
The torque arm is gone but a very short "bracket" connects the rear pumpkin to the frame. There is a better picture of the rear of the car with the fiberglass ctu out and it shows how everything is mounted. The floor was cut quite extensivly for driveshaft and frame and trans clearance. We went wild with the cutter.
#16
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thanks for all of the positive comments! I am really excited to be working on this project and have met some great people in the process. This forum is by far the best on the net with people who actually provide you with useful info
To answer a few of the questions.....
1). The car in fact did start life as a 63 fulie 4 speed convertible, Black on Black with a saddle leather interior, power brakes and steering. The car has a LONG history. It has not been registered since the late seventies/early eighties. It suffered a fire under the hood and sat at a body shop for many years. The guy who owned it died of a sudden heart attack and after sitting in the body shops lot for a long period of time (the car not the guy) the engine and trans disappeared. Eventually the body shop had to do something with it so the wife settled the bill with the shop by signing it over to them (storage fee's and they had removed the damaged nose clip). The shop sold the car and it sat for many more years (owner convinced he would restore it someday) he eventually sold it to the guy I bought it from.
I was actually trying to find a 67 for my project, but you know how that goes! This car was complete from the cowl back and had a solid frame and was already past a stage of restoring to anything worth spending the money on, so I made the decesion to make it a 67 (will be registered as a 63 due to trim/Vin/title). I have all of the 63 parts that I am going to sell shortly (dash with high rpm tach, clock, complete heater box, steering column, console, complete nice un-damaged doors, original power brake booster etc..so stay tuned if your looking.
I will post some pictures of the surgery required to mount the body on the SRIII frame so anyone interested in this type conversion can see it is not a "bolt on" and was never intended to be one by SRIII (Rich Lagasse was kind enough to post some great shots of their car on his website). If you do one of these conversions and you have a coupe "tub it" like Rich Lagasse and you can fit steam rollers under it. If you have a convertible like me, and want to retain the folding top you can fit a 255 tire under it without cutting the 1/4's. I plan on using the GTS customs 1/4's to fit a tire that can use the better suspension and help hold the ATI Procharged 600 hp LS6!
2) No, the wagon wheels are courtesy of Rich Merce (BADBIRDCAGE). He was gracious enough to let me use the C5 rim to mock up the suspension. I will be running 275/40/18's on the back and possibly on the front if they clear.
3). The torque arm is a stout little piece that connects to the chassis just forward of the DANA 44 pumpkin.
4). Yes the entire factory accessory drive including AC compressor fits, it's tight but has plenty of clearance.
I still have to modify the floor pan to accept the seats and that's a story all in it's self! Then the car will go for the front clip and rear 1/4 work (can't wait to see it in color!!)
I will be happy to share any and all info as I move through this project because so many of you have shared your info and I have found it extremely helpful. Thanks again and I will post some pics when I get around to accomplishing something
To answer a few of the questions.....
1). The car in fact did start life as a 63 fulie 4 speed convertible, Black on Black with a saddle leather interior, power brakes and steering. The car has a LONG history. It has not been registered since the late seventies/early eighties. It suffered a fire under the hood and sat at a body shop for many years. The guy who owned it died of a sudden heart attack and after sitting in the body shops lot for a long period of time (the car not the guy) the engine and trans disappeared. Eventually the body shop had to do something with it so the wife settled the bill with the shop by signing it over to them (storage fee's and they had removed the damaged nose clip). The shop sold the car and it sat for many more years (owner convinced he would restore it someday) he eventually sold it to the guy I bought it from.
I was actually trying to find a 67 for my project, but you know how that goes! This car was complete from the cowl back and had a solid frame and was already past a stage of restoring to anything worth spending the money on, so I made the decesion to make it a 67 (will be registered as a 63 due to trim/Vin/title). I have all of the 63 parts that I am going to sell shortly (dash with high rpm tach, clock, complete heater box, steering column, console, complete nice un-damaged doors, original power brake booster etc..so stay tuned if your looking.
I will post some pictures of the surgery required to mount the body on the SRIII frame so anyone interested in this type conversion can see it is not a "bolt on" and was never intended to be one by SRIII (Rich Lagasse was kind enough to post some great shots of their car on his website). If you do one of these conversions and you have a coupe "tub it" like Rich Lagasse and you can fit steam rollers under it. If you have a convertible like me, and want to retain the folding top you can fit a 255 tire under it without cutting the 1/4's. I plan on using the GTS customs 1/4's to fit a tire that can use the better suspension and help hold the ATI Procharged 600 hp LS6!
2) No, the wagon wheels are courtesy of Rich Merce (BADBIRDCAGE). He was gracious enough to let me use the C5 rim to mock up the suspension. I will be running 275/40/18's on the back and possibly on the front if they clear.
3). The torque arm is a stout little piece that connects to the chassis just forward of the DANA 44 pumpkin.
4). Yes the entire factory accessory drive including AC compressor fits, it's tight but has plenty of clearance.
I still have to modify the floor pan to accept the seats and that's a story all in it's self! Then the car will go for the front clip and rear 1/4 work (can't wait to see it in color!!)
I will be happy to share any and all info as I move through this project because so many of you have shared your info and I have found it extremely helpful. Thanks again and I will post some pics when I get around to accomplishing something
Last edited by 1coolC2; 11-28-2005 at 10:43 AM.
#17
I had problems with the GTS quarters bubbling after we painted. My body shop also owns The Corvette Image (largest reproduction Corvette fiberglass panel maker), and they made molds of my quarters which are about 2" wider than original, yet retain the original body lines.
See my gallery to the left or email me with questions.
See my gallery to the left or email me with questions.
#18
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Aug 2002
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Congrats on the major leap forward. Keep the momentum going and you'll be driving it sooner than you think!
Advice: Don't forget to locate and drill a hole in the floorplan for the clutch bleeder. You may also want to accomodate future access to that little bugger when doing the carpet. There's no way to get to it with the right tools from underneath with the floorpan being so close.
Advice: Don't forget to locate and drill a hole in the floorplan for the clutch bleeder. You may also want to accomodate future access to that little bugger when doing the carpet. There's no way to get to it with the right tools from underneath with the floorpan being so close.
Last edited by Mecom Racer; 11-28-2005 at 11:20 AM.
#19
Melting Slicks
Jeff,
Great to see the progress pictures on your project. It looks like you guys are really moving along.
Best of luck with those few remaining things on your "to do" list.
Just let us know if there is anything else where we can be of help.
Rich Lagasse
Great to see the progress pictures on your project. It looks like you guys are really moving along.
Best of luck with those few remaining things on your "to do" list.
Just let us know if there is anything else where we can be of help.
Rich Lagasse