Intro and question
02-17-2016, 05:07 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Intro and question
First post long intro. Question is at the bottom.
My name is Kevin and I've been reading the forums here for a while. I have a 62 that has been in my family since about 67 and I am going to start restoration/restomod process this year. My father purchased the car after he returned from Vietnam somewhere around 67. He was a drag/street racer in high school and loved cars so he became a mechanic at a local Olds dealership after Vietnam. When he got the vette it became his racer and daily driver. He drove the car daily until 82 when the front suspension and steering needed to be rebuilt but we didn't have the money so it got parked in the garage. Shortly after, the distributor and Carter carburetor were stolen off the car while in the garage. He and my mom divorced in the next couple years and the car got put on the back burner being a single dad. Other than it just sitting in the garage I have two real memories of the car, one is a ride went on and I was small enough to lay across the back in the cove of the window and we were going 140 down a back road and the other is him starting it and letting it run in the garage for a few minutes after it was put up but before the parts were stolen. I'd be shooting baskets in the driveway and he'd fire it up, I listen to it run and smell the richness of the fuel in the exhaust. I actually had to have eye surgery when I was 8 because of that car. He was working on it and I was helping him hold and exhaust manifold while he was chiseling it for some reason. A piece of the chisel broke off and went in my eye. Luckily I would be ok, what was cool to me was Sugar Ray Leonard and I were both in the hospital at the same time for a detached retina. Dad was a big boxing fan. In 1989 he passed away just after my 15th birthday. He had been sick for the last couple years and I think he knew it was coming. A few months before passing he purchased a Holley 650 carb and Torker II manifold for the car. I think he wanted to drive it one last time but never go to. He had remarried in 86 and my stepmonster and I did not get along so after he died the car was caught up in the courts. Knowing I would have to buy out my stepmonster from her portion of the car I pulled the drive train and stored it at a relative's house before the courts inspector could come and determine a value of the car. My intent was to lower the value so I would have to pay her less. I was finally able to get the car in about 2006 and it has been sitting in my garage since. I married my wife in 2003 and she has been on me for the last 8 years to get it restored. I always put it on the back burner wanting to spend the money on other family things but now it's time. When I removed the drive train years ago I realized the car had better heads on it and the cam was a full race grind. No wonder it sounded so good in the driveway! I've been thinking a while now on which direction to take the car which has been really difficult because my dad and I never really talked about its future and his wants for it. I went back and forth on original or restomod. My dad embraced technology and making things better. He once told my cousin he needed to put fuel injection on his 80cc dirt bike just because it was better. As far as keeping it stock, it was not stock anyway with the heads and cam, plus he purchased the Holley and Torker for it. Those purchases may be because he just wanted to drive it but it makes me think that is all that mattered, just enjoying the car. Once at the Houston Autorama he told me to help him find fuelie badges for it so he could put them on. This gives me another indicator of his vision of stock vs not. All that being said I'm going full restomod. I will never sell the car and my only child (boy) is 6 so I think forward to enjoying the car with him and he having it years from now. The car will be driven a lot so I want to update it to ride and handle better.
I've pretty much decided to replace the frame with a rolling chassis from either Morrison or Corvette Correction. I've looked into some of the others like Rod Shop, Specvette, SRIII and the Martz kits. I really do not want to weld up a 4 link to the stock frame. The SRIII frame is nice but the tubular turns me off. I've read sketchy things about the Rod Shop frames and not enough about the Specvette frame to trust it. I wanted a chassis that would require minimum cutting of the body and the AM and CC fit that requirement. I've read really good things about both these frames so I feel comfortable with either one. The decision comes down to C6 vs C4 suspension. Given what I want the C4 will definitely make it ride and handle better but I cant help but think why not go with the more current suspension? The AM uses a 4 link in the back where the CC uses IRS.
Here is the question.
What is the real ride/handling difference between the Art Morrison frame with the C6 components vs the Corvette Correction frame with C4 components?
My name is Kevin and I've been reading the forums here for a while. I have a 62 that has been in my family since about 67 and I am going to start restoration/restomod process this year. My father purchased the car after he returned from Vietnam somewhere around 67. He was a drag/street racer in high school and loved cars so he became a mechanic at a local Olds dealership after Vietnam. When he got the vette it became his racer and daily driver. He drove the car daily until 82 when the front suspension and steering needed to be rebuilt but we didn't have the money so it got parked in the garage. Shortly after, the distributor and Carter carburetor were stolen off the car while in the garage. He and my mom divorced in the next couple years and the car got put on the back burner being a single dad. Other than it just sitting in the garage I have two real memories of the car, one is a ride went on and I was small enough to lay across the back in the cove of the window and we were going 140 down a back road and the other is him starting it and letting it run in the garage for a few minutes after it was put up but before the parts were stolen. I'd be shooting baskets in the driveway and he'd fire it up, I listen to it run and smell the richness of the fuel in the exhaust. I actually had to have eye surgery when I was 8 because of that car. He was working on it and I was helping him hold and exhaust manifold while he was chiseling it for some reason. A piece of the chisel broke off and went in my eye. Luckily I would be ok, what was cool to me was Sugar Ray Leonard and I were both in the hospital at the same time for a detached retina. Dad was a big boxing fan. In 1989 he passed away just after my 15th birthday. He had been sick for the last couple years and I think he knew it was coming. A few months before passing he purchased a Holley 650 carb and Torker II manifold for the car. I think he wanted to drive it one last time but never go to. He had remarried in 86 and my stepmonster and I did not get along so after he died the car was caught up in the courts. Knowing I would have to buy out my stepmonster from her portion of the car I pulled the drive train and stored it at a relative's house before the courts inspector could come and determine a value of the car. My intent was to lower the value so I would have to pay her less. I was finally able to get the car in about 2006 and it has been sitting in my garage since. I married my wife in 2003 and she has been on me for the last 8 years to get it restored. I always put it on the back burner wanting to spend the money on other family things but now it's time. When I removed the drive train years ago I realized the car had better heads on it and the cam was a full race grind. No wonder it sounded so good in the driveway! I've been thinking a while now on which direction to take the car which has been really difficult because my dad and I never really talked about its future and his wants for it. I went back and forth on original or restomod. My dad embraced technology and making things better. He once told my cousin he needed to put fuel injection on his 80cc dirt bike just because it was better. As far as keeping it stock, it was not stock anyway with the heads and cam, plus he purchased the Holley and Torker for it. Those purchases may be because he just wanted to drive it but it makes me think that is all that mattered, just enjoying the car. Once at the Houston Autorama he told me to help him find fuelie badges for it so he could put them on. This gives me another indicator of his vision of stock vs not. All that being said I'm going full restomod. I will never sell the car and my only child (boy) is 6 so I think forward to enjoying the car with him and he having it years from now. The car will be driven a lot so I want to update it to ride and handle better.
I've pretty much decided to replace the frame with a rolling chassis from either Morrison or Corvette Correction. I've looked into some of the others like Rod Shop, Specvette, SRIII and the Martz kits. I really do not want to weld up a 4 link to the stock frame. The SRIII frame is nice but the tubular turns me off. I've read sketchy things about the Rod Shop frames and not enough about the Specvette frame to trust it. I wanted a chassis that would require minimum cutting of the body and the AM and CC fit that requirement. I've read really good things about both these frames so I feel comfortable with either one. The decision comes down to C6 vs C4 suspension. Given what I want the C4 will definitely make it ride and handle better but I cant help but think why not go with the more current suspension? The AM uses a 4 link in the back where the CC uses IRS.
Here is the question.
What is the real ride/handling difference between the Art Morrison frame with the C6 components vs the Corvette Correction frame with C4 components?
02-17-2016, 05:29 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Can I say without answering your question - that's great you got to keep the car! If I were you I would pare my thread down and cover the current issues and how you feel about your dad and leave any business about your stepmother out of it. It doesn't make a great story better and just exposes you to risk. Maybe I'm too cautious.
We would all love to see some photos! Stick around it's a great group of guys. If you haven't already considered the true cost to build, be careful that it will take longer and cost more than you think- universally true. You "may" find it more gratifying to simply fix what you must and have the amazing experience of driving it for a year or two. These cars are basic.
My son is also 6, and my father has passed. I appreciate what you're doing!
Benton
We would all love to see some photos! Stick around it's a great group of guys. If you haven't already considered the true cost to build, be careful that it will take longer and cost more than you think- universally true. You "may" find it more gratifying to simply fix what you must and have the amazing experience of driving it for a year or two. These cars are basic.
My son is also 6, and my father has passed. I appreciate what you're doing!
Benton
02-17-2016, 06:53 PM
#3
Drifting
Unless time and money are no longer problems (or the frame is rusted away), I would consider just getting the car running again with the original chassis (rebuild brakes etc.).
Last edited by 427435; 02-17-2016 at 06:54 PM.
02-17-2016, 07:20 PM
#4
Race Director
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Wow! I sure hope you have plans for your son's college education in 12 years. In the mean time do the basics and get the car safe to drive and enjoy it with your son. 
Dennis
Dennis
02-17-2016, 09:00 PM
#5
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
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I agree with previous recommendations to just get the car safe and drive able and then take some time to really decide what you want to do with the car long term.
02-17-2016, 09:26 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
seems like he already knows what he wants to do with his family heirloom 62 corvette.
Morrison or Corvette Correction, Rod Shop, Specvette, SRIII or Martz kit. Toss a coin for any one of those.
by the time your 6 year old is 20 years old, your resto mod hot rod will be just another old out of date kit car, of little interest to anyone. It won't be his grandpa's corvette anymore that's for sure.
but, hey, whatever floats your boat, right?
Morrison or Corvette Correction, Rod Shop, Specvette, SRIII or Martz kit. Toss a coin for any one of those.
by the time your 6 year old is 20 years old, your resto mod hot rod will be just another old out of date kit car, of little interest to anyone. It won't be his grandpa's corvette anymore that's for sure.
but, hey, whatever floats your boat, right?
02-17-2016, 10:18 PM
#7
Burning Brakes
I enjoyed working on cars with my father when I first learned how to break them! Then I enjoyed introducing my son to his first car, 1976 Camaro. He now owns an 1961 Corvette. My grandson turns 13 this week and I think he favors my C3 over the C2 or Z28. Enjoy the time with your son, and enjoy the ride whichever way you go.
02-18-2016, 01:45 AM
#8
Safety Car
Sounds like a very cool project, only enhanced by the memories and stories that brought it forth.
Since you are asking....
Personally, I would probably just repair it/restore it as it is.... Since the carb/manifold were stolen, I put the ones on your dad bought.
Replace brakes, lines, rubber parts, and make it safe, then get it and drive it. Take your wife out for dinner and hit some shows or cars and coffee. Join your local Vette club. After you have had it on the road again, then make a decision about where to go next.
As was said above, unless the frame is toast and NEEDS replacing, I'd postpone that decision (as most of the resto-frame places has 6 month + waiting lists anyway).
We are rabid for pics here... got any? How about some from when you were young of you/dad & Car?
Since you are asking....
Personally, I would probably just repair it/restore it as it is.... Since the carb/manifold were stolen, I put the ones on your dad bought.
Replace brakes, lines, rubber parts, and make it safe, then get it and drive it. Take your wife out for dinner and hit some shows or cars and coffee. Join your local Vette club. After you have had it on the road again, then make a decision about where to go next.
As was said above, unless the frame is toast and NEEDS replacing, I'd postpone that decision (as most of the resto-frame places has 6 month + waiting lists anyway).
We are rabid for pics here... got any? How about some from when you were young of you/dad & Car?