First Corvette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
First Corvette
Well, I just bought first Corvette, 1974, so I quess I have to see if I bit off more than I can chew. First question I have is two metal plates under vehicle appear to be very rusted and loose. Thes plates appear to be underbody just below seats. I assume they are to do with body mounts. Second question is there appears to be some delamination of fiberglass on drivers door to metal at inside bottom edge, what would recomended repairs be. I am sure I will be back with may questions so please bear with me, as I am quite nervous about having a car this old and finding problems, but I always wanted to have a Vette, and this one coincides with the year I got married. I quess I just have to be patient and take a little on at a time. Thanks for listening. Any information on websites and pulications would also be helpful as I am a complete newbie with intermediate mechanical skills.
Thanks
Steve
Thanks
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Congrats and welcome!
There is nothing that cannot be fixed. Can you describe (or even photograph and post) the plates you refer to? Someone will have an answer. Second, fiberglass repair is no biggie, just a question of how correct you want the repair to be.
The Search button is your friend. You can go to almost any bookstore and get Richard Prince's "Corvette Restoration Guide 1968-1982" and Richard Newton's "How To Restore & Modify Your Corvette 1968-1982." Also, get ahold of the Assembly Instruction Manual (Mid America sells 'em) to roadmap and make your projects easier.
There is nothing that cannot be fixed. Can you describe (or even photograph and post) the plates you refer to? Someone will have an answer. Second, fiberglass repair is no biggie, just a question of how correct you want the repair to be.
The Search button is your friend. You can go to almost any bookstore and get Richard Prince's "Corvette Restoration Guide 1968-1982" and Richard Newton's "How To Restore & Modify Your Corvette 1968-1982." Also, get ahold of the Assembly Instruction Manual (Mid America sells 'em) to roadmap and make your projects easier.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: Platteville WI
Welcome to the club Steve. I felt the same anxiety when I bought my first vette. Don't worry, there's nothing that cash can't take care of. HAHAHAHAHA. Sorry I can't help with body related issues. I would highly recommend that you take it to a local vette pro or Chevy dealership for evaluation before you start investing lots of money. Good luck.
Jay
Jay
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 826
Likes: 0
From: Pearl MS
Welcome aboard. We need some pics of your car.
As BlueL36 said - whenever you can - when you need help - post a pic (of your problem) along with what you need help with. That helps the folks here help you. And as he said (again) the search button at the top of the page deffinately helps out and there is alot of archived info on there.
As BlueL36 said - whenever you can - when you need help - post a pic (of your problem) along with what you need help with. That helps the folks here help you. And as he said (again) the search button at the top of the page deffinately helps out and there is alot of archived info on there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Welcome aboard. Seeing some pics of what your'e talking about will help in diagnosing your problem. Perhaps what your describing is the seat mounting brackets that are tacked to the underside of the floor? By the way, my Vette is the same year I got married also. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 0
From: Beacon NY
Originally Posted by KALAWAY
Welcome to the forum. You'll learn so much here. My one and only Vette is from the year I graduated from high school.
my '79 is older than me
... well only by a year
anyways, you'll have a lot of fun with the car. I've had mine for over five years now. You've definately started a life-long love affair. Hopefully you're wife won't get too jealous. I know mine is....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by smkunder
First question I have is two metal plates under vehicle appear to be very rusted and loose. Thes plates appear to be underbody just below seats. I assume they are to do with body mounts. Thanks
Steve
Steve
Eddie
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
Likes: 44
From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Originally Posted by Silvr77
If these metal plates are about 4" wide and 20" long...they are the forward seat mounting brackets. If the plates are concave, kind of oval shapped and about 8" in diameter they are the seatbelt retractor reinforcments. The lap belts under the seat bolt to them.... These parts are avilable from many catalog vendors.
Eddie
Eddie
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Thanks for welcome
Thanks to all that have replied, you made me feel welcome, I guess I kinda of knew it could be a money pit, just did not know if I was over my head or not, just kind of following a dream,like most of you I am sure.
I will definetly take pics, the plates I am talking about are directly under seat on under carriage of car, looks like they were riveted in with one captured nut on plate and a bolt coming trough from inside of car under drivers seat.
I will take photo when I get home from work
I will definetly take pics, the plates I am talking about are directly under seat on under carriage of car, looks like they were riveted in with one captured nut on plate and a bolt coming trough from inside of car under drivers seat.
I will take photo when I get home from work
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by smkunder
the plates I am talking about are directly under seat on under carriage of car, looks like they were riveted in with one captured nut on plate and a bolt coming trough from inside of car under drivers seat.
Good Luck
Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
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