C2 Barn Find
#181
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Kinda slow week update
Had some other projects, requirements come up that took away my "ol blue" time so just a quick update. I got the bad wheel stud replaced and the parking brake fixed and back together. Now here is an idea for someone to become a rich person. Invent a parking brake that works off of the caliper like the GM single piston design with the lever, I know I would buy one and probably so would anyone else that has ever worked on the e brake in rotor hat assembly by GM. Not a lot of fun to be had there. Anyhow, on a brighter note I got wheels and tires for ol blue. American Racing TTII one piece 16x7. Yeah I know, everybody and their brother runs them (yawn) but I like them and a friend took them off of his car going for a new look so I got a deal on them. They had tires but the rears were 235 so to wide, and the front are 205 (60 series) a bit smaller than I would like. But I kept the 205 on the front and bought some matching 215 for the rear. I had some old style (metal not plastic) three prong knock offs that I really like, but looking at them on the wheels they seem to stick out kinda far, at least to me, so not sure I'm going to keep them yet. Well at least she is back on the ground and all done underneath, except for mufflers, unless something else unexpected pops up. With any luck at all I can get a test fire and cam shaft break in this week so I think I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, maybe even a test drive in the near future. Woo Whoo
#182
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Update
Just another update for those still following. I got the new engine fired up this week and the camshaft broken in. I think all went well, but with these flat tappet cams you can never tell until its to late, and then if it goes wrong, it is to late to do anything except curse and cry while tearing down a new engine for metal in the oil. I got it running with a lawn mower type gas tank strapped to the front fender and the only problem is a slight leak at the fuel pump. Still will have to do some tune work, as I started it with a known good carb, but it is only a 650 cfm unit. I will be putting on a bigger carb later and I also used an HEI that I knew was good. I am going to add a Pertronix to the distributor so I can get my tach back and working as the HEI did not have a tach drive, but again it was a know good distributor as I didn't want any failures going on with the camshaft break in. Now I got a new gas tank as the old one is loaded with rust from sitting 20+ years. I got one with a vent as I plan to add EFI later and will use that for a return. I don't know for sure if there is enough room to add an in tank pump to the top side and I have not had any luck finding one that can go in from the bottom and work upside down. Another person here on the forum said they sent their tank in and had a pump and baffle installed but I am looking at some of the new pumps that have a foam type sock around them and don't require a baffle. Don't know how good these work so I have more research to do in that area. I am still waiting for a new filler neck and boot for the top and a sending unit for the bottom but I think I can add these after the tank is in so that is my next task. I really wanted to get this all done before putting the new mufflers on but am getting anxious to drive it before winter comes. I see the light at the end of the tunnel so maybe I'll just go with a carb for now.
Last edited by Vette5311; 09-23-2018 at 08:20 PM. Reason: mistake
#183
Safety Car
You are close now. Keep it up.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (09-24-2018)
#184
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,546
Received 2,127 Likes
on
1,466 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
You are making great progress. I see the tanks together show a difference in the side indentations. Do you know why that is? Dennis
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (09-24-2018)
#185
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Yes.............
#186
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
gettin close
Well I went by the muffler shop on Friday and they said they were really behind and couldn't get to the car for about 10 days. NO WAY. I thought. I'm not waitin 10 days for muffler work. So instead of trying to use the chambered mufflers I already had I ordered 2 "direct fit" Magna Flow and did the install my self. Cut the pipes a couple times till I got them right. Readjusted the head pipes and the intermediate pipes, and then set up the mufflers and tailpipes. Finally got them all adjusted where I wanted them except for the tail pipe tips. No matter how I seem to adjust them they don't come out of the valance holes straight, or point toward the rear correctly at the same time, its like I can get one or the other but not both. l know the brackets move side to side and the hangers on the muffler go up and down but I can not seem to get them where I want them. Anybody got any magical suggestions for getting them to not look so crooked?
Thanks
Oh yeah, the sound is awesome. About 1/2 way between chambered and turbo. Really like it.
#187
Safety Car
If they are “direct fit”, did they send the right ones? If the pipe is off from the engine side, can the muffler be mounted so the pipes go correctly through the valance? I’m wondering if you need to work rear to front vs front to rear? Might be to late if you have already cut the pipe.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-03-2018)
#188
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Thanks
If they are “direct fit”, did they send the right ones? If the pipe is off from the engine side, can the muffler be mounted so the pipes go correctly through the valance? I’m wondering if you need to work rear to front vs front to rear? Might be to late if you have already cut the pipe.
#189
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Red Letter Date
Today Ol Blue made it out of the garage and around the neighborhood under her own power for the 1st time in over 20 years!
Just a short drive to shake down and look for things breaking or falling off. Happy to report neither occurred. Still some things to work out, no horns, etc but all major systems are go.
Thanks to you all for staying with me and the encouragement. Looking forward to a longer test when I check a few more things out.
#190
Safety Car
Sweet. Congrats and looks good.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-04-2018)
#191
Race Director
Looking good - congrats!
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-04-2018)
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-06-2018)
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-06-2018)
#194
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2009
Location: Canada's capital
Posts: 19,777
Received 4,583 Likes
on
2,157 Posts
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Looks awesome. Congrats on all the hard work, and thanks for posting it up for us armchair quarterbacks to see.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-06-2018)
#195
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Ol Blue Lives..............
...........and the beat goes on.
A couple of the members have asked me about my progress and I apologize for the long lag time, but I had some family issues that got in the way of my projects, but am getting back on track now. I had to put Ol Blue on the back burner for a bit but got back to her in the late summer this year. Couple of big hiccups that came up involved the front suspension and overheating.
So I got involved in rebuilding the front suspension, and thought, I can get tube a frames with new ball joints and bushings for just a bit more cost than rebuilding the stock ones and get some extra caster besides. WRONG I got some (in another thread) from an on line vendor and after putting them on, 1, the car sat up like a 4 wheel drive P/U, 2 there were NO steering stops so the tires hit the fenders and frame, AND not enough room to get the camber needed because of not enough room for shims to get to 0. Talked with vendor several time and finally gave up I put in offset cross shafts (which got me close but not to 0 on camber) built my own steering stops, and cut one full coil off of the front springs. I finally got it to sit where I liked the stance but still want 0 camber, so I will probably go to Global West in the future, (which is what I should have done in the first place)
Then on to the overheating. I had an aftermarket aluminum radiator and electric fans in the car. (big block with iron heads) and going driving it was ok as long as you kept air moving through it. At each stop light it would creep up a little higher, and never go back down. Soon I was in the red and peeing out of the over flow tube. AND stop and go traffic, well forget it. So I took out the aftermarket aluminum radiator and the electric fans and put in a 7 blade GM Corvette fan, new fan clutch and a Dewitt radiator. Took the temp down about 15 degrees. Still working with it, but it is a lot better. Another question about that, but for another thread.
Took her out to the Golden Super Cruise last weekend (last one of the summer) and car was a bit hit. Seems people like patina on C2, maybe because they don't see many that are not fully restored. Lots of smiles
Currently I am still working on the e brake (cable froze up) w/wipers (appear to be siezed up) and the headlights, which take about 1/2 a day to open. Also need a new headlight switch. Did I mention letting a car sit for 20 years is a really bad idea.
A couple of pictures from today, sorry about the star bursts, I guess the lens was dirty or something. Special effects?
Thanks for all the encouragement from those following the thread, I will try to be more timely in the future.
A couple of the members have asked me about my progress and I apologize for the long lag time, but I had some family issues that got in the way of my projects, but am getting back on track now. I had to put Ol Blue on the back burner for a bit but got back to her in the late summer this year. Couple of big hiccups that came up involved the front suspension and overheating.
So I got involved in rebuilding the front suspension, and thought, I can get tube a frames with new ball joints and bushings for just a bit more cost than rebuilding the stock ones and get some extra caster besides. WRONG I got some (in another thread) from an on line vendor and after putting them on, 1, the car sat up like a 4 wheel drive P/U, 2 there were NO steering stops so the tires hit the fenders and frame, AND not enough room to get the camber needed because of not enough room for shims to get to 0. Talked with vendor several time and finally gave up I put in offset cross shafts (which got me close but not to 0 on camber) built my own steering stops, and cut one full coil off of the front springs. I finally got it to sit where I liked the stance but still want 0 camber, so I will probably go to Global West in the future, (which is what I should have done in the first place)
Then on to the overheating. I had an aftermarket aluminum radiator and electric fans in the car. (big block with iron heads) and going driving it was ok as long as you kept air moving through it. At each stop light it would creep up a little higher, and never go back down. Soon I was in the red and peeing out of the over flow tube. AND stop and go traffic, well forget it. So I took out the aftermarket aluminum radiator and the electric fans and put in a 7 blade GM Corvette fan, new fan clutch and a Dewitt radiator. Took the temp down about 15 degrees. Still working with it, but it is a lot better. Another question about that, but for another thread.
Took her out to the Golden Super Cruise last weekend (last one of the summer) and car was a bit hit. Seems people like patina on C2, maybe because they don't see many that are not fully restored. Lots of smiles
Currently I am still working on the e brake (cable froze up) w/wipers (appear to be siezed up) and the headlights, which take about 1/2 a day to open. Also need a new headlight switch. Did I mention letting a car sit for 20 years is a really bad idea.
A couple of pictures from today, sorry about the star bursts, I guess the lens was dirty or something. Special effects?
Thanks for all the encouragement from those following the thread, I will try to be more timely in the future.
The following 7 users liked this post by Vette5311:
64luke (10-14-2019),
BANG11 (10-14-2019),
Easy Rhino (10-14-2019),
elwood13 (10-14-2019),
hcallaway (10-14-2019),
and 2 others liked this post.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-14-2019)
#197
Safety Car
Looking good. Glad to hear you got some drive time in.
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-14-2019)
#198
Racer
Still like those wheels on that car. Gives it the "clean badass look"! Don't worry about not getting a ton done during certain times. Things come up, you have to prioritize, and family always comes first.
Keep it up, we love seeing the progress. Heck, I bought a '93 40th a couple of years ago that was supposedly all great, still finding things that need to be redone every time I drive it!
Keep it up, we love seeing the progress. Heck, I bought a '93 40th a couple of years ago that was supposedly all great, still finding things that need to be redone every time I drive it!
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-14-2019)
#199
Team Owner
Member Since: Aug 2008
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 31,358
Received 5,010 Likes
on
2,529 Posts
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
Just looking at those pics brings back memories! They were a cool car back then, and even more so today. Love the blue/white!
The following users liked this post:
Vette5311 (10-14-2019)