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Thanks Everyone for the kind words! Still having to pinch myself that it came together so quickly at the end and now is off to the tuner. Once it's back, I'll get the door panels in and fix the wiper conflict under the dash. Then it'll be ready for inspection and registration! Here are a few shots of it being loaded today. I love the paint in the sun - first time I've seen it all together out of the garage!
BTW, it's riding a little bit high (approx. 1.5" higher than others I've seen). Could this be caused by the shocks being brand new and needing to settle into ride height? Car sits level and all four corners are the same distance above the tires...
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I think you'll find that the suspension, especially the rear will settle about that much after about 500 miles on the road. My 66 did after I got it back together. The front will as well....how much? time will tell.
Now all that's left is for me to win the lottery and make you an offer you can't refuse!
Beautiful job, you should be gleaming with pride every time you drive it down the road.
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BTW, it's riding a little bit high (approx. 1.5" higher than others I've seen). Could this be caused by the shocks being brand new and needing to settle into ride height? Car sits level and all four corners are the same distance above the tires...
Shocks don't impact ride height, springs do.
Fantastic job on the car!
The ride height is a spring issue, not shock...with the ones I have done, when they sat high they never "settled"...I've had to swap the springs out.
Usually the problems I had were associated to a fiberglass mono spring...or the rear of the car...your whole car seems to be elevated all the way around...what front and rear springs did you use?
As you know I'm a big fan and internet stalker. A far as your suspension, my best guess since I'm not there to see anything is did you tighten all of the a arms with them hanging down when you were building up the chassis. If you did that would cause the car to sit high as its trying to destroy the bushings by twisting them. I wold lossen all suspension and retighten at ride height. Then your bushings are set neutral and not fighting the weight of the car. You may have already done this and I'm just one more internet dummy offering info you already know. If I never meet you and shake your hand for a great job consider it done now. Beautiful.
Gents, I put a "note to self" on my front A arms to specifically NOT tighten the bushing bolts until after the body and engine were on the frame and on the ground so I don't think that's the issue. Also, I bought a new standard rear leaf spring because I didn't want a stiffer ride than stock. I haven't tightened it down much so maybe that's the deal in the rear. As for the front, that's a real puzzler for me. The shocks are new, equivalent replacement Monroe matics and the springs are not new. I just painted the ones that came on the '75 donor frame. They might be something other than stock though...
I'll tighten the rear spring and re-check the front bushing bolts just in case.
Regardless, I'm going to drive it for a while and see if it softens any like Kerrmudgeon suggests. So if you see me on the road, there will be a little more air between the tires and body until I get it figured out - just not ready to be taking sh#t apart for a while!!
I know you get that...
A little before/after - purchased May 2011 to on the road April 2017. As of today I have 1645 hours into it...
Wow Rhett, didn't realize you've been working on the labor of love for 6 yrs! But then you had the whole frame to repair as well. I can see why you are anxious to just drive it finally.
Mine has been apart for a little over 2 yrs and I'm not painted yet. Bill
Well Y'all, yesterday was probably the most incredible swing of emotions I've EVER had!! The short story is that the '67 has been at the performance shop for a couple of weeks to get the final computer tune and dyno run. They called on Monday to say that the car had been on the dyno and ran great but they wanted to road test it before handing it off to me and since it was going to rain that day, I could probably pick it up Tuesday. I called yesterday and got "call cannot be completed as dialed" message, then got a message that their phones had been disconnected. Checked online and their website had been shut down... Now I'm freaking out thinking they've gone belly up and my car would be in the bankruptcy nightmare for years. I called one of the glass companies across from them and found out several of the local phone/internet systems had been down all day - SUPER WHEW!! Got a hold of them around 4pm - car was ready for pick up... Took quite a while for the adrenaline to go down!!
Got to drive it for the first time and put gas in it!!! She hasn't been on the road since the late 70's. The engine ran fabulous and the T5 is a dream!! Was pulling 1800rpms at 70mph. I also really like the seats. Has a slight vibration around 65 but I'm thinking that's because of the angle of the half shafts since it's riding a little high. Also could be alignment, will get that done on Friday.
Got to drive it for the first time and put gas in it!!! She hasn't been on the road since the late 70's. The engine ran fabulous and the T5is a dream!! Was pulling 1800rpms at 70mph. I also really like the seats. Has a slight vibration around 65 but I'm thinking that's because of the angle of the half shafts since it's riding a little high. Also could be alignment, will get that done on Friday.
So . . . you like the T5? . . . I figured you might! Congratulations Rhett on a real milestone! . . . your car is absolutely amazing! Well done. Now - drive it!!!
Rhett,
The Corvette turned out beautiful and considering what you started with it is a showcase of your excellent skills.
I just went back to the start of this thread and you have done a fantastic job.
Drive it like you stole it and have lots of fun.
Bruce B
I am not a fan or resto mods but I do like your 67 and I love the seats. If I were (which I am not) ever to do another Vette I would put seats in it like yours. They even look comfortable. Enjoy your 67 you have done enough work on it that it is now time to enjoy it.
That looks so nice you have to be excited after all the work.
I have read and appreciated your posts from the beginning and was very slow to realize your forum name probably has a lot to do with the Mastercraft I have seen in the background on many photo's.
If I ever get started on my project our Nautique will be in the background as I have always been a Slalom Fiend also, although almost all of my friends are no longer skiing I still get out a few times per summer, hope you do also, now that you will have some free time.
Put a hitch on that cool vette!
Last edited by Westlotorn; 04-30-2017 at 02:57 PM.
04-04-2017, 06:03 PM
Huge Milestone Day!!
