C1 Help
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 3
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C1 Help
Hey everyone I have inherited a 1961 vette from my father who has passed and i have been working overseas but now have time to put some work into it. I live in southern California in redondo beach and was wondering if anyone knows any good restoration places. This car is completely original, and I want to work on it but there is only so much i can do. The car won't start and i tested the starter and it is dead. Any one know how or where to fix these? Im an amateur when it comes to this and am scared of messing up the car but I want to bring it back to life and clean it up. Any help is greatly appreciated. Hope you all have a great day.
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 530
Likes: 360
From: San Clemente CA
You might want to reach out to the So Cal chapter of the Solid Axle Corvette Club. Their website is http://www.socalsacc.com. I'm sure its members will be able to point you in the right direction.
They have an event this Saturday, November 12th in Cerritos which I am planning to attend for the first time.
As for your starter, there are plenty of rebuilders you can talk to. I used Classic Generators at www.classicgenerator.com, (817) 473-1448, and was very pleased with their work.
They have an event this Saturday, November 12th in Cerritos which I am planning to attend for the first time.
As for your starter, there are plenty of rebuilders you can talk to. I used Classic Generators at www.classicgenerator.com, (817) 473-1448, and was very pleased with their work.
Last edited by Ktholin; Nov 6, 2016 at 12:15 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: NJ Hockey beer league
If it's been sitting a long while, drain the old gas out and begin with fresh fuel. There is a drain plug on the right side on the tank near the bottom that can be accessed. Depending on if your starter is original or not you may just want to buy a replacement from NAPA to get you going. It would not be worth it to rebuild a non original one. 
Pilot Dan
Pilot Dan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Boston MA
If you're an amateur, then you really ought to get help with how you want to go about restoring this car. The Solid Axle Corvette Club are good people. NCRS is good too. These guys will help you themselves. Or, give you advice on local shops to avoid and who you can trust. If you don't know what you are doing, then you will make expensive mistakes and perhaps reduce the value of your car.
For instance, if you're an amateur, how are you sure the starter is no good? Did you check the solenoid, the wiring, the ignition switch, the battery cables, and the battery? You can buy a rebuilt replacement starter from your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) for under $60. But they will want your old starter as a core. If your car has the original starter, that core could be worth $300. Did you know this? Do you know how to identify an original starter?
Most people start their restoration with getting the car started. You can do that. But it's more important that the car is able to stop. If the car has been sitting for a long time, you want to go through the brakes.
You ought to talk to lots of knowledgeable Corvette people and plan how you want to proceed.
For instance, if you're an amateur, how are you sure the starter is no good? Did you check the solenoid, the wiring, the ignition switch, the battery cables, and the battery? You can buy a rebuilt replacement starter from your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) for under $60. But they will want your old starter as a core. If your car has the original starter, that core could be worth $300. Did you know this? Do you know how to identify an original starter?
Most people start their restoration with getting the car started. You can do that. But it's more important that the car is able to stop. If the car has been sitting for a long time, you want to go through the brakes.
You ought to talk to lots of knowledgeable Corvette people and plan how you want to proceed.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
it is not a blue chip. I have had the car for 10 years just haven't had the time to work on it. it drives great, the starter just went out.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
If you're an amateur, then you really ought to get help with how you want to go about restoring this car. The Solid Axle Corvette Club are good people. NCRS is good too. These guys will help you themselves. Or, give you advice on local shops to avoid and who you can trust. If you don't know what you are doing, then you will make expensive mistakes and perhaps reduce the value of your car.
For instance, if you're an amateur, how are you sure the starter is no good? Did you check the solenoid, the wiring, the ignition switch, the battery cables, and the battery? You can buy a rebuilt replacement starter from your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) for under $60. But they will want your old starter as a core. If your car has the original starter, that core could be worth $300. Did you know this? Do you know how to identify an original starter?
Most people start their restoration with getting the car started. You can do that. But it's more important that the car is able to stop. If the car has been sitting for a long time, you want to go through the brakes.
You ought to talk to lots of knowledgeable Corvette people and plan how you want to proceed.
For instance, if you're an amateur, how are you sure the starter is no good? Did you check the solenoid, the wiring, the ignition switch, the battery cables, and the battery? You can buy a rebuilt replacement starter from your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store) for under $60. But they will want your old starter as a core. If your car has the original starter, that core could be worth $300. Did you know this? Do you know how to identify an original starter?
Most people start their restoration with getting the car started. You can do that. But it's more important that the car is able to stop. If the car has been sitting for a long time, you want to go through the brakes.
You ought to talk to lots of knowledgeable Corvette people and plan how you want to proceed.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
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I'd pull the starter and bench test it before anything else. It probably just needs to be cleaned up and lubed to work. Easy job even for a novice. Putting a new solenoid on it so the contacts are brand new is pretty cheap to do. check the drive teeth, lube the drive.....and I'll bet it works.
Down time is the real enemy of these old cars.
Down time is the real enemy of these old cars.
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Find an old-school auto-electric shop. There are still a few down in San Diego - I'm sure you can find one near Redondo.. They can repair/rebuild the starter.
Removing the starter is pretty easy - just a few bolts and wires.. but you need to lift the car with jack stands or ramps to do it.
Removing the starter is pretty easy - just a few bolts and wires.. but you need to lift the car with jack stands or ramps to do it.
Last edited by SDVette; Nov 6, 2016 at 05:04 PM.
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If the starter is in fact bad (and not the battery for example) ----------------------------- AND IF IT IS THE ORIGINAL STARTER AND SOLENOID---------------------------- DO NOT replace it!!!!!!!!!!! BOTH starters and solenoids can be rebuilt like new---------------YES, those old Delco solenoids can be rebuilt-------------------then find an old timer at a starter/alternator shop and have them rebuilt! And it would be OK to install a replacement starter until you can have your original rebuilt.
Last edited by DZAUTO; Nov 6, 2016 at 07:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
When original parts fail I usually buy a quality replacement part to stay on the road while the original part is restored. When I get the original piece back I decide whether to reinstall it or just bag-n-tag it for posterity.
Either way this method gives me a 'hot spare' if any other item should fail; I've done it with starters, alternators, voltage regulators, fuel pumps, distributors, water pumps and even dual quads.
It means you have a lot of "shelf parts" but you're rarely off the road...
Of course, when your less prepared pals breakdown you might turn into a 'lending library' of spare parts.....part of being in the brotherhood IMO...
Either way this method gives me a 'hot spare' if any other item should fail; I've done it with starters, alternators, voltage regulators, fuel pumps, distributors, water pumps and even dual quads.
It means you have a lot of "shelf parts" but you're rarely off the road...
Of course, when your less prepared pals breakdown you might turn into a 'lending library' of spare parts.....part of being in the brotherhood IMO...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Nov 7, 2016 at 07:41 AM.
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