AllC34Me

Today was a good day on two fronts. Gordon came over and helped me button up the 496 Stroker engine today, that you can see on the road race replica site.

Here on the 72 coupe I got the frame done and installed the engine and transmission back on the rolling chassis. Still have some adjustments to make but the project is coming along nicely.











So tomorrow I will continue to button things down on this build and make sure I have things tightened up and ready to roll. Then on to the gas tank.

Thanks for watching.

David

AllC34Me

Quick update. This rolling chassis is nearly done. Final brake line hookup in the rear today, installation of the gas tank and hooking up all gas lines. At that point this chassis will be ready for it's body install. The body is not ready however, so that is next up for this car.

The lower portion of the body had significant rust issues so I have ordered all new parts to install to make the underside of this body nearly new. This will include new number one and number four mounts; new splash shields; new seat supports; new shifting support; and new birdcage channels. This will take me some time to complete so I will move over to my 72 road racer chassis next.

I will update the 72 coupe repair as I do that work over the next two to six weeks and will update here if there is any update.

Let me know if you have any questions and I will be glad to address them as I can.

Thanks for watching.

David

AllC34Me

We had a beautiful weather day here in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving yesterday so I pushed the 72 coupe rolling chassis outside to get some fresh air.













It isn't fancy but it is very nice and I will be securing all the loose ends over the next week in preparation for matching it back to the body.

Body repair will be begin soon as the final repair parts are on their way via UPS and should be here soon. Weather again today supposed to be nice enough to paint so that is what I will do later today.

I have asked Gordon to come up when he can do so and go over this top to bottom, front to back, assisting me in confirming I have all items buttoned up correctly before putting that body back on the chassis.

I have now moved this to bay one in my garage (background) where I can work on it near my work bench and freeing up bay two in the garage for the 72 racer frame which I moved in yesterday as well (foreground).


I look forward to beginning the journey on the 72 racer and ending the journey on the 72 coupe soon. It has been fun though, have to be honest. (You can see rear trailing arms in the Bair's boxes and on top of those are the front spindles, raring to go on the racer).

Once the 72 coupe body is repaired and back on the chassis I will be offering it to someone that wants to have it to finish and call their own.
I wanted it correct, and I wanted it safe, and that is what it will be. But that is not now, that is later, and for now I will keep moving forward on this build.

Thanks for watching and best regards,

David Howard

KYC4

Just awesome and amazing attention to detail, David. Very nice to see your work and glad that you did save the '72 coupe even if the body is requiring more work than you anticipated. Love seeing your workmanship, sir.

Impressed,

Lee

AllC34Me

Thank you Lee, I appreciate it. It never goes as quickly as I would like it to go but I insist on quality parts and installation so this car, and all the ones I work on, leave me much better than I got them. The repair parts for this 72 have arrived so it won't be long before I start that process. Fun stuff.
Thanks again.
David

AllC34Me

New repair rails arrive. Time to do some learning. Not today, but soon.

marshal135

David,
Great work my friend.
I gotta retire so I can hang up at your shop and learn
Marshal

AllC34Me

I have to finish this 1972, then build my 1972 racer, then finish the 1969 chassis, and then I may call it good for the Corvette hobby.

Might be time to just kick back and head for the beach, we will see.

Sure is fun for now though.

David

chucksingh

Where did you purchase these rails as mine look shot?

AllC34Me

Paragon Corvette Reproductions in Michigan.

Best regards,

David

PMorganRacing

Awesome work! Thought the front page crowd would like to follow along too...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...e-restoration/

FLYNAVY30

David, excellent work!! Im very interested in seeing the repairs to the body/bird cage as I am about to embark on that's same project myself, although I am likely going to farm out the metal work to someone with experience after I get the body off the frame.

t.renz791

awesome pictures. didn't read the whole thread, but again, what a find. You deserve a nobel corvette prize!



I can't wait to see the final product!

(off topic, why do people say "73 c3, 98 c5... 86 c4, kind of redundant ... )

NAVY08

Because almost every year C3 was a little Different. 68-72 has front and rear chrome bumpers, 73 has just rear, and 74 and up all have rubber bumpers. 68 had separate backup lights, and after '74 the rear windows were domed and not straight. Some years have a removable rear window, some don't.

I do agree with your first topic, the work in this thread is top notch! Want do come down to Va and visit, do some work on mine?

You and I work very much the same way. Breaking into sub projects, ensuring all the materials, tools, and instructions are available and then start. I also use "horizontal" organizing when working on a project, need lots of room to spread out.

I really enjoy following your work, keep it up.

AllC34Me

I'm researching it now. The folks who know me know that I do my research first, then do dig into the task at hand. I am seeking ideas, advice, concerns, and the same type of information that others would like to know so that I do this correctly, and do it once only. Thanks for following along.
David

AllC34Me

I hear you.

AllC34Me

Final product, now there is an interesting set of words when used with a Corvette. I have worked on my 71 since 2009 and it is done, but not a final product, probably never will be a final product. That term in particular means different things to different people, but I think I know what you mean.

I'd like to take this C-3, or 72 if you wish, to a point where someone else can pick it up and take it to their final product. I knew that hanging in a barn for ten years it would probably wind up parted out as so many have been. I have parted a car myself and I was saddened that I could not bring it back. Once they are gone, they are gone, there are only so many of them around. This one was badly injured, but I saw that maybe, just maybe, we could give it a second chance at life.

If we look at these cars for financial gain alone then we would part them and move to another car. It isn't about the money, ask me how I know, but as long as I can help prevent another loss I will try.

Here is how I view this 1972 Ontario Orange Coupe. 1) Not my favorite color. 2) Not my favorite interior color. 3) Not my choice of preferred options. 4) No reason for having it rot in a barn. 5) Someone would love to own a bumper car that has been well restored and is safe again.
6) I want to learn more so I can help more people with their cars. 7) I will never recover my money from this but seeing it in the hands of another enthusiast that will finish it (paint and interior) will make all the work worth it in the end.

David

AllC34Me

Thank you. Exactly where I am at the moment. I have confirmed that I have everything I need in the way of materials for this repair and work now, and I am researching information available from those that have done it previously. Not going to be my easiest challenge but I have confidence I can make this happen correctly. That is why I have picked this for my "winter" project and will be happy if when the snow thaws I am done and have the body back down on the rolling chassis.
Fingers crossed.
Thanks again.
David

chucksingh

What part or name are these rails under?

AllC34Me

First of all do not order what I have ordered, it is not what I was looking for. The parts I received from Paragon are for the frame and I was looking for repair sections for the body, wrong stuff here.

I will get this sorted out and clarify here when I do. Until then, stay tuned.

Thank you.

David