LT1 restoration progress
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 884
Likes: 45
From: Hardeeville, South Carolina
LT1 restoration progress
Thought I would share the progress thus far in doing a body on restoration with my 70 LT-1. I picked the car up in August with a goal of getting the frame/chassis/motor restored before Xmas. Next will be getting the restored suspension, rear end and brakes back on the car.
Cleaning up the frame with the body on was a major PIA and made a huge mess, but I'm really happy with the results. Allot of grinding and scraping to get it cleaned up and ready for paint. The cars frame was undercoated by the original owner back in the early 70's, but underneath it was really solid and in very good shape, just some surface rust/scale.
Primed the frame with Eastman's Extreme Chassis back rust inhibitor and then covered it with Krylon's black semi-flat, looks real close to the original GM chassis color.
Bead blasted and painted all of the chassis components, brackets, nuts/bolts, etc.. I took off the car. Waiting for my original T-arms and A-rms to return from rebuild before re-assembling the suspension and brakes.
Original motor is done and ready to go, probably should have completed this after the frame cleaning/painting, but I couldn't wait.... that why its bagged/wrapped in the car. Painted it with Eastman's 2-part engine epoxy paint kit, this stuff worked great, flowed out real nice and looks awesome....I doubt will EVER come off or peel.
Will send some more once I get the suspension on....
Cleaning up the frame with the body on was a major PIA and made a huge mess, but I'm really happy with the results. Allot of grinding and scraping to get it cleaned up and ready for paint. The cars frame was undercoated by the original owner back in the early 70's, but underneath it was really solid and in very good shape, just some surface rust/scale.
Primed the frame with Eastman's Extreme Chassis back rust inhibitor and then covered it with Krylon's black semi-flat, looks real close to the original GM chassis color.
Bead blasted and painted all of the chassis components, brackets, nuts/bolts, etc.. I took off the car. Waiting for my original T-arms and A-rms to return from rebuild before re-assembling the suspension and brakes.
Original motor is done and ready to go, probably should have completed this after the frame cleaning/painting, but I couldn't wait.... that why its bagged/wrapped in the car. Painted it with Eastman's 2-part engine epoxy paint kit, this stuff worked great, flowed out real nice and looks awesome....I doubt will EVER come off or peel.
Will send some more once I get the suspension on....
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 223
From: Sherman CT
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
St. Jude Donor '24-'25-'26
Looks like mine !!
Just had my 72 Elkhart green LT-1 finished 2 mos ago.Good luck with your project,Looks great so far 
