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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 07:04 PM
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Default to do or not to do

I have a 1980 L-82 vette with 16,000 original miles. Everything is factory original in the car except the front shocks and paint, which I am having done in the coming months $$$$$. I have a friend who has extensive experience in project and total restorations of basket cases. He is advising that after the car comes back from paint that we put a coat of por-15 on the chassis/frame. The chassis/frame has no rot or rust just surface stuff. Also he wants to detail the engine compartment and advised me to puchase all new emblems for the painter . I have the original tires and build sheet, bill of sale, etc. The car has never been molested and was under a cover for 16yrs. My question is with a car like the one I described above is it detrimental to the value/originality of the car to do the work he is advising. I am new to vettes and restoring classics any advice would be appreciated before I make a mistake I would regret.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 07:13 PM
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I would say that your friend is giving you good advice. I am not a fan of POR-15 on the frame but a nice spray of Krylon semi-flat would do the trick.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 07:22 PM
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If you do it right, it can look like this with alot of time and work




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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by nptwoody
I have a 1980 L-82 vette with 16,000 original miles. Everything is factory original in the car except the front shocks and paint, which I am having done in the coming months $$$$$. I have a friend who has extensive experience in project and total restorations of basket cases. He is advising that after the car comes back from paint that we put a coat of por-15 on the chassis/frame. The chassis/frame has no rot or rust just surface stuff. Also he wants to detail the engine compartment and advised me to puchase all new emblems for the painter . I have the original tires and build sheet, bill of sale, etc. The car has never been molested and was under a cover for 16yrs. My question is with a car like the one I described above is it detrimental to the value/originality of the car to do the work he is advising. I am new to vettes and restoring classics any advice would be appreciated before I make a mistake I would regret.
Based on the car you describe I would clean it up and leave it original a while longer.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 07:54 PM
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I dont mean to hijack the thread, but i have one question...

Glass Act - whats that hard line running along your
firewall?


nptwoody - got any pics of the car? detailing the engine compartment is a good thing for the value, as long as you keep the original components. If everything is functional and in good condition, which I would think it is after only 16,000 miles, just clean it all up and put it back.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:03 PM
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Thanks for all the help at least now i can go ahead and do the work and feel good about it, and not feeling that i am ruining an original car.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:14 PM
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From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
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Originally Posted by JoeRags
I dont mean to hijack the thread, but i have one question...

Glass Act - whats that hard line running along your
firewall?
JoeRags, I changed the frontend on the 72 so I needed to route an extra new line for it. I should post the whole frame off I have done and you could follow the changes better, But here's a picture of the new front.

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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:20 PM
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if your frame has no rust don't use POR15. That paint is designed to be used over rust, that what it stickes to as it covers it and protects the frame from addistional rust (POR stand for Paint Over Rust). If you have just a little surface rust, it shouldn't be hard to remove that via a wire brush or such.
If you paint the frame, use something like Eastwood's Chassis Black or any good semi-glass black paint.

just my $.02
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 08:54 PM
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IMHO, with such an original car I would not touch a thing....unless it was stored improperly and in bad condition.

Last edited by gq82; Mar 19, 2006 at 09:02 PM.
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Old Mar 19, 2006 | 10:17 PM
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Glass Act - That front end is looking awesome.... but I'm still curious as to what those two hard lines are across the firewall... they look like fuel lines.


nptwoody, I agree with the others, there is no need for POR15 on the frame unless there is significant rust... if its surface rust, grind/sand it off, and primer/paint it with regular flat black. It its significant rust, there's going to be alot more work to do.

good luck with the car.
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