Saturday my son and I pulled the 72 into the garage and began gutting the interior. 2 1/2 hours later we had the battery out, all the carpet, the seats and seatbelts, the door panels, the upper and lower dash, the consoles, the passenger door, the vert top, and I dissassembled the lower dash panels. Oh yeah, I also made $2.34 on the deal.

1. The instrument bezel was cracked--need to order new one

2. some rust in the holes behind the kickplates but not too bad---suggestions are welcome.

3. Oil gauge does not work--need suggestions on where to start.

4. how to best clean up the battery "cave".

5. windshield frame is good-- no rust

6. doors are not original and have been patched (welded) on the inside but seem to work okay.

7. no spring on passenger door--I have never installed a door spring before.

8. now some cracks are appearing--none real bad but are there--advice?

Bubba has been here and revisited many times--screw holes are too big in some places--3 inch wood screws holding door panels on--some type of foam stuff above and inside of "door armpit"-- cannot see foam when door is closed.

With everything out this thing suddenly looks like a disaster area. I know that I am at the edge of my limitations. My nervousness factor right now is somewhat elevated. My strategy to date is to order yet more parts, concentrate on the reinstallation of the dash, and then move on to the easy stuff like carpet. In my dreams I will have the interior back together in 6-7 weeks. I have instantly revised my expectations regarding the timetable on this car.

I am in sotheastern Minnesota---visitors are welcome!

 

We just finished our interior. What a job! Before you get to ordering new stuff (Dash, Door Panels Carpet) ask around about the best out there. We used Ecklers, and though it looks good now it is finished, we had "issues".
Does your interior look like this?
http://cherryfamilyracing.com/_wsn/page5.html

GOOD LUCK!!! Don't get in a hurry!!

 

Yikes! Yeah, that's what ours is like now....I think you said it well: don't get into a big hurry.

I would like someone to help me with the process for figuting out why the oil pressure gauge does not work. That would be a good place to start.

 

Have you tried applying voltage directly to the gauge? That way you would know whether it is the gauge as opposed to the sending unit in the engine block (or the wires between). If it's the gauge, you'll probably need to replace it.

I just started on this yesterday myself. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...p?p=1554594095

Good luck! I'm sure you'll be done before I am, I won't be able to afford the parts for a while.

-Chris

 

Congrats! I was there two years ago...decided to replace the carpet and began pulling stuff out.....a few hours later I was down to the bare frame with EVERYTHING removed, wires hanging from the firewall, etc!

I too was a bit freaked out once all the dust settled. Anyway...it all came back together in time and with relative ease. Be sure to NOT break or lose anything!! Sometimes the smallest of parts can be costly. As as example, I broke a healight switch because I was aggravated and it ended up costing $50 for that part alone.

Take your time and accomplish small tasks at a time. I spent a day cleaning up all the parts with water and Simple Green, a day to spray paint the bezels, replace lenses, a day to prime and dye interior pieces, etc, etc...before you know it you'll be ready to put stuff back in. Take your time with the dash!! It's a slow go and be catious to not break anything. Leasson learned - be sure your center bezel has everything in (including radio) before re-installing. I had to pull mine out like three times - frustrating. Also, if you need to replace the antenna cable then now is the time to do ot while you have easy access.

Finally, be expected to drop some $$$$ if you are redoing the seats. I had to have my seat frames media blasted, new foam, seat covers, new hinges, hardware, etc and it took forever and cost close to $800! However, doing it myself saved about $600 and they look sharp.

Here are some pics of the process:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/willsh...=/680d&.view=t

 

My bubba must be a relative of your bubba, what is it with the 3" wood screws?

I started down this same path with the interior back in November, it's now coming up on April, still no end in sight. All I wanted to do was intall dynamat, 5 months later .

Good Luck and enjoy the time with your son

 

Here's what you get with taking a little time and care:
http://cherryfamilyracing.com/_wsn/page5.html
We finished it today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You said you have 72 ? Here goes......
Your oil pressure guage has a small (black) plastic 1/8" line that goes through the firewall into the block. You will see where it hooks up(get a light)from the top between the engine and the firewall. I bought my replacement line a NAPA store and you should be able to re-use the fittings. The fittings have the little ferrels and are a pressure fit. There are 2 sets of fittings. One on the back of the guage itself and one on the block. Take you time and don't loose the ferrels. If you do you can buy more. They are brass and a standard size. I even think you can buy a kit on eBay...10 bucks or so.

My car is also a '72 and it looks like a Beruit car bombing and has for a year or so...It seem like every time I go to do one thing, it turns into a dozen little odd projects....like....I got the dash(tach/speedo) out so I'll replace the light bulbs...or, since its out, I'll replace the lenses. I'll replace the A/C felts...etc, etc etc....

SO.....label everything! Take pictures!(you will forget how things look) and do ALL the little things so you don't have to get back under/inside that dash area. Oh...PS the carpets a snap! Get the seats out and....re-do them too! See I told ya....just one more thing. Ha ha

Good luck!
Dave

 

i would think you have a mechanical oil press. guage... unless the line is kinked, or somhow blocked with sludge, your guage may be bad.

 

We'll give that a try!

 

I want to thank you all for posting your stories here. This really means a lot to an old guy like me who is doing this alone. I started painting today. Some pieces are doing okay but on some pieces there appears to be lots of Armorall. I think I am going to go with a DIN radio and custom cut bezel so I can play CDS. I am going to try my hand at fiberglass repair (minor problems). Like most of you I do not have unlimited funds for this baby, so there are going to be compromises.

I am really impressed with the C3 family. I always felt at home in the C4 group but you guys are much closer-knit and more knowledgeable overall. You do things with your corvettes that C4 owners don't even think about. Nature of the beast, I guess.

I will check in when progress is made.

Dan in Austin

 

Before you pay $17 a can for that spray dye, check out the Krylon Fusion at walmart for $3 a can. The stuff is great!
http://cherryfamilyracing.com/_wsn/page5.html

 

And Simple Green is a great product to clean up the interior pieces - it cuts through the grim! Since you are on a budget...then be sure to go through Willcox for interior soft goods, you will save almost 50% for the same products you get through Corvette America.
http://www.yankeelady.com/willcox/