Need info/help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From: Horsetown USA (Norco) Kaleeforkneeah
Need info/help
I hope to be in the market for a C2 soon. Now with the prices skyrocketing like they are, I will likely be forced to buy a project car. If all goes right I might have about 27K to invest in one. I have seen quite a few projects on Fleabay lately.
My delima is this. I have only done body work with steel bodied cars, so I know that things can be bolted/welded with no problem, and that you can use filler and polyester primer to fill low spots and block sand.
How is it then, that the front nose piece, or for that matter any of the body panels attaches on Corvettes? I have heard the term "Birdcage" and "Bonding Strips", but is there a breakdown of what these items look like or the process of attaching body panels to them?
Most of the project cars seem to need some kind of front end work of some type or another. If anyone knows of any good books, links, or recommendations from personal experience, that details the process of how this is done, I would appreciate it. I am sure that once I spend my hard earned $$$ on my dream car, I won't have any $$$ left to have a body shop do it. Besides that I love being hands on.
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
My delima is this. I have only done body work with steel bodied cars, so I know that things can be bolted/welded with no problem, and that you can use filler and polyester primer to fill low spots and block sand.
How is it then, that the front nose piece, or for that matter any of the body panels attaches on Corvettes? I have heard the term "Birdcage" and "Bonding Strips", but is there a breakdown of what these items look like or the process of attaching body panels to them?
Most of the project cars seem to need some kind of front end work of some type or another. If anyone knows of any good books, links, or recommendations from personal experience, that details the process of how this is done, I would appreciate it. I am sure that once I spend my hard earned $$$ on my dream car, I won't have any $$$ left to have a body shop do it. Besides that I love being hands on.
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,913
Likes: 283
I hope to be in the market for a C2 soon.
Great
Now with the prices skyrocketing like they are, I will likely be forced to buy a project car.
Not really the case. I see some nice driver stuff going on eBay.
If all goes right I might have about 27K to invest in one.
Borrow the rest of the money if need be. You will not come out ahead on a "fixer upper". Unless it is your life's dream to do body work, buy a bunch of tools you will never use again then do the project.
I have seen quite a few projects on Fleabay lately.
Find one that is done. I see allot of good cars for that 33,00 - 37,000 Range.
My delima is this. I have only done body work with steel bodied cars, so I know that things can be bolted/welded with no problem, and that you can use filler and polyester primer to fill low spots and block sand.
How is it then, that the front nose piece, or for that matter any of the body panels attaches on Corvettes
Integral bonding strips! The car is basically "Fused" together. If you have no glass experience, practicing on your 30K car is not the place. You also cannot just "Sand Away" on a fiberglass car. You will eat the sharp edges off fast then the IRS takes your money. They must be chemically stripped.
I have heard the term "Birdcage" and "Bonding Strips", but is there a breakdown of what these items look like or the process of attaching body panels to them?
The birdcage is the cockpit frame, it is metal.
Most of the project cars seem to need some kind of front end work of some type or another.
They need allot of work, more than a guy like myself with 10K in garage tools cares to take on. I would just as soon borrow the money.
If anyone knows of any good books, links, or recommendations from personal experience, that details the process of how this is done, I would appreciate it.
Noland Adams Book "Corvette Restoration Vol. II" is a good start.
I am sure that once I spend my hard earned $$$ on my dream car, I won't have any $$$ left to have a body shop do it. Besides that I love being hands on.
Well, a good paint job, body work on a midyear can run you 8K-10K
That does not include rechroming parts $1200-$1500
Motor rebuilt $2000-$3000
Trans $500.00
Suspension $750.00
Tires - $500.00
Seats - $700.00
Gauge Set - $1200.00
Radiator - $700.00
Set of hubcaps - $400.00
Interior Parts - $1000.00
Brakes - $700.00
Misc - $2500
Paint and Body Work $6000 - $10,000
NOW, does spending 25K on a piece of crap you have to trailer home and do EVERYTHING TO sound like a good deal, or spending 35,000 on one that you can drive home and start enjoying right away.
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Great
Now with the prices skyrocketing like they are, I will likely be forced to buy a project car.
Not really the case. I see some nice driver stuff going on eBay.
If all goes right I might have about 27K to invest in one.
Borrow the rest of the money if need be. You will not come out ahead on a "fixer upper". Unless it is your life's dream to do body work, buy a bunch of tools you will never use again then do the project.
I have seen quite a few projects on Fleabay lately.
Find one that is done. I see allot of good cars for that 33,00 - 37,000 Range.
My delima is this. I have only done body work with steel bodied cars, so I know that things can be bolted/welded with no problem, and that you can use filler and polyester primer to fill low spots and block sand.
How is it then, that the front nose piece, or for that matter any of the body panels attaches on Corvettes
Integral bonding strips! The car is basically "Fused" together. If you have no glass experience, practicing on your 30K car is not the place. You also cannot just "Sand Away" on a fiberglass car. You will eat the sharp edges off fast then the IRS takes your money. They must be chemically stripped.
I have heard the term "Birdcage" and "Bonding Strips", but is there a breakdown of what these items look like or the process of attaching body panels to them?
The birdcage is the cockpit frame, it is metal.
Most of the project cars seem to need some kind of front end work of some type or another.
They need allot of work, more than a guy like myself with 10K in garage tools cares to take on. I would just as soon borrow the money.
If anyone knows of any good books, links, or recommendations from personal experience, that details the process of how this is done, I would appreciate it.
Noland Adams Book "Corvette Restoration Vol. II" is a good start.
I am sure that once I spend my hard earned $$$ on my dream car, I won't have any $$$ left to have a body shop do it. Besides that I love being hands on.
Well, a good paint job, body work on a midyear can run you 8K-10K
That does not include rechroming parts $1200-$1500
Motor rebuilt $2000-$3000
Trans $500.00
Suspension $750.00
Tires - $500.00
Seats - $700.00
Gauge Set - $1200.00
Radiator - $700.00
Set of hubcaps - $400.00
Interior Parts - $1000.00
Brakes - $700.00
Misc - $2500
Paint and Body Work $6000 - $10,000
NOW, does spending 25K on a piece of crap you have to trailer home and do EVERYTHING TO sound like a good deal, or spending 35,000 on one that you can drive home and start enjoying right away.
Thanks in advance for your time and help.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From: Horsetown USA (Norco) Kaleeforkneeah
Thanks for the reply. Paintwork and all mechaical work, I can do myself. I am not looking to restore to factory original, but you do bring up some very valid points. Just like the sidepipe thing I want. I am sure I am better off finding one with them already on, since it seems to add them will cost thousands. I have considered borrowing the ramaining 5K to 7K to get a good clean driver.
I just sold my 69 Jeep CJ5 for 10K. I probably broke even on what I had into it, but it definitley didn't pay for the 8 months I spent building it.
Now if I can just convince my better half to let me borrow (probably from my 401K) the rest of the $$$ to get what I need, I'll be set.
Thanks for your time.
I just sold my 69 Jeep CJ5 for 10K. I probably broke even on what I had into it, but it definitley didn't pay for the 8 months I spent building it.
Now if I can just convince my better half to let me borrow (probably from my 401K) the rest of the $$$ to get what I need, I'll be set.
Thanks for your time.
