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Some good progress over the weekend, fun to take a step or two forward. I'll make two separate posts as the areas are quite different.
First, my radiator core support was in good shape - EXCEPT for the bottom couple inches, which was mostly just gone from rust. Seemed a shame to shell out $300 for a new one, but fortunately a search on here turned up an old thread saying Paragon sells a replacement piece. It's their part # 1716, it's $100, and it's just what the doctor ordered. That arrived a couple weeks ago.
Saturday a buddy came over and he's an old hot-rod builder who has much better fabrication and welding skills than I do. And he had a bunch of parts which needed sandblasting. SO while I blasted, he cut and welded and put the new piece in. For those contemplating this, he said the worst part of the job was getting the old part off, there were several spot welds on each side which were a PITA.
Anyway, we both finished about the same time so it was a good deal for both of us. yesterday and today I cleaned it off shot an etching primer, and the finish coat, and here you have it!
Before:
After:
NICE SAVE..........I love it when ''original'' parts are used.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by jimgessner
NICE SAVE..........I love it when ''original'' parts are used.
Jim, I'm taking a mid-road approach to that. With a frame replacement, the car will never be "numbers matching". But as you say, if I can reasonably and sensibly save something original, I'd rather do that than wholesale replacement. But sometimes you don't have a choice.
They were just cars, people just used them, and they still are just cars, I don't think I would put snow tires on mine today or drive around in the snow, but I do wish there was a longer driving season . yes I know move down south.
No, it’s over rated other than the favorable politics and lack of ridiculous taxes. I love NY, particularly during the summer.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Geez, typed the post out and then clicked something wrong, and it vanished! Second attempt:
Spent 3 days out to the shop, but for the first two I called a "time out" to clean and organize. Some times things just get too out of control and you need to trade the wrench and hammer for a broom and shop-vac. I'm not "Mr. neat" but we all have a limit.
I then removed the glove box, ultimately going to remove heater core, wiper motor, and who knows where project creep will take me. So the seats are out, no soft top in there, rear deck lid was up, and I'm still thrashing and flopping trying to move around under there. I thought back to about 1968, and thought "How the hell did I ever screw in one of these things?
Next was removal of the outer seat belts - I took the inners out long ago. I found out my car was at one point worked on by the most famous mechanic ever - Bubba! As near as I can tell, the brackets are totally gone, and the bolts holding the belts in were secured by a large glob of J B Weld! I ground it away and finally got them out, but it looks like I will need to learn some fiberglass skills before everything gets put back together.
Also took the side cover off the M-20, cleaned up the mufflers, and a few other odds and ends. Not really a kick-azz few days, but progress for sure. And - had the Amish contractor stop by to get me an estimate on doubling the 24x24 into a 24x48. Not sure the budget will allow it, but we'll see what number he comes up with.
Last edited by Railroadman; 03-13-2019 at 10:04 PM.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by ChattanoogaJSB
Don I love seeing your updates! I don’t know what happened to me last time you were in tn!!!
Couldn't think of anything I did to get you PO'd so I put it down to your actually having a life and a busy schedule. And I was thinking it was my turn to buy, too!
Benton, all I can say about the car is I'm having a ball and have no regrets on it. It's just what I wanted and it's the challenges of the process that make it rewarding. And it's many more times as much fun because of the others on here going through the same thing with theirs. Insanity loves company!
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
No major milestones but progress continues. Spent 4 days out there and between work on the place itself, getting the mower ready for use, and blasting/painting a few parts for my truck restoration, I probably only spent about a day and a half on the Vette itself. But the better half now has the picture hung in the bathroom, and molding around her kitchen cabinets, and had a nice warm fire the whole time we were there, so things are good! Seems we work harder at our "getaway place" than we do at home!
Got the heater box, heater core, and wiper motor all removed. Did some cleaning and prep work on the firewall and shot half of it just to see how it will come out. Also several small odds and ends on the car. The encouraging thought came to me that aside from doing the motor work, I'm winding down on things to remove and take apart. Not totally, but getting there.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by narlee
Looks like things are coming along nicely. The nicer weather helps a lot with the enthusiasm.
For a while. Then the rain will wash away the road salt and the '92 will be calling from under the car cover "Drive me! Drive me!"
At some point when the ground gets less mushy, I'll have to drive the C-4 out there and roll the body dolly out the door for some pics of the two of them together.
Last edited by Railroadman; 03-24-2019 at 10:19 PM.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Originally Posted by Bluestripe67
You got a cup holder on it? Dennis
Yeah, but the ground is a bit bumpy and more than once I have reached down for some liquid and found it bounced out.
I really need something wider than a 46" deck. But I look at the "need" list for the Vette, and then look at the budget, and decide I can coax another year out of the old rider.
03-05-2019, 01:10 PM
Second attempt:
I ground it away and finally got them out, but it looks like I will need to learn some fiberglass skills before everything gets put back together.
Dennis
