Introduction and Request for help (Long)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Introduction and Request for help (Long)
1st off Hello all
Just call me JD
and a little history
I've pretty much been a gas guzzling steel car guy all my life. My two pride and joys are a 69 375hpSS Chevelle and a 72 Elcamino that are currently in a long term restoration process. The awesome thing about these cars are that they both were my 1st two cars in the early eighties and I got them back but that's another long long story. Have a quik look. About the only pics I have from those days. I do all my own body and paint work but never made it my trade.
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays.gif
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays1.gif
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays2.gif
I currently have two addresses. One in Maryland one in the Outer Banks of NC. Most of my time atm requires me to be in NC and the Hazards of being on a strip of sand out in the ocean means I will not take the chance with my metals at this time and leave them were they are safe for the time being.
On to the Glass!
Six or Seven Years ago I was given a 76 Vette that had taken a front hit. The car was in perfect shape other than the frame and clip at the time but really not worth digging into for what you could buy one for then. Then is then and now is now.
Plus I need something to do this winter.
As with the Chevelle forums there seems to be an unbelievable amount of knowledge in these forums and I'm going to do my best to put it to use! I am going to lay out what my plans are to build a Vette that I know will stand up to the harshness that this Island has to give. It simply eats vehicles alive. Its it job.
So here we go.
During the last six or seven years it was stored under a roof but no side protection. I have removed the seats and soaked carpet to find very rusted floor pans. They were fine when it was parked.
Not the end of the world as I've change few metal car floors in my time. The bird cage from what I can tell from searching and reading here appears for the most part to be ok. One thing is certain. I will be galvanizing my chosen frame and certain frame members followed by powder coating. I've done this before with great results.
I plan to shelf the original motor plus any other suspension original parts and go with a crate. I don't want to do anything to the Vette that cannot be reversed. I also plan to treat any other metal in this car I can get my hands on anyway. Maybe It would be best to shoot out a list and I would love to hear suggestions to fill in the blanks. I'm not looking to brake the bank on this one but wont rule anything out if its worth it. From my 1st paragraph you can see I tend to hang onto my cars for a long time.
Frame Galvanize and coat
Crate motor zz4 ? maybe?
Front suspension stock or aftermarket ? suggestions?
Rear Suspension stock or aftermarket ? suggestions?
Tranny ? it is an auto car suggestions?
I'm also looking for a little more information on floor pan replacement than I was able to find in the searches.
Is it possible to replace the entire pan in one piece from a donor?
Is it safe to do a floor replacement with body removed from the frame?
Heres a link to to a bunch of pics I took If you see anything I should be concerd about feel free to let know. I can take it.
Keep in mind at this point I have practicly nothing but time invested in the Vette.
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/vette/
In closing (I warned it would be long)
I've always loved the curves of the C3s, and cause the chicks dig it! Even before I got it off the trailer I got calls from gal friends wanting rides. lol
I gotta tell you. Im real jazzed about this project
and BTW this place is great
Just call me JD
and a little history
I've pretty much been a gas guzzling steel car guy all my life. My two pride and joys are a 69 375hpSS Chevelle and a 72 Elcamino that are currently in a long term restoration process. The awesome thing about these cars are that they both were my 1st two cars in the early eighties and I got them back but that's another long long story. Have a quik look. About the only pics I have from those days. I do all my own body and paint work but never made it my trade.
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays.gif
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays1.gif
http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/glorydays2.gif
I currently have two addresses. One in Maryland one in the Outer Banks of NC. Most of my time atm requires me to be in NC and the Hazards of being on a strip of sand out in the ocean means I will not take the chance with my metals at this time and leave them were they are safe for the time being.
On to the Glass!
Six or Seven Years ago I was given a 76 Vette that had taken a front hit. The car was in perfect shape other than the frame and clip at the time but really not worth digging into for what you could buy one for then. Then is then and now is now.
Plus I need something to do this winter. As with the Chevelle forums there seems to be an unbelievable amount of knowledge in these forums and I'm going to do my best to put it to use! I am going to lay out what my plans are to build a Vette that I know will stand up to the harshness that this Island has to give. It simply eats vehicles alive. Its it job. So here we go.
During the last six or seven years it was stored under a roof but no side protection. I have removed the seats and soaked carpet to find very rusted floor pans. They were fine when it was parked.
Not the end of the world as I've change few metal car floors in my time. The bird cage from what I can tell from searching and reading here appears for the most part to be ok. One thing is certain. I will be galvanizing my chosen frame and certain frame members followed by powder coating. I've done this before with great results. I plan to shelf the original motor plus any other suspension original parts and go with a crate. I don't want to do anything to the Vette that cannot be reversed. I also plan to treat any other metal in this car I can get my hands on anyway. Maybe It would be best to shoot out a list and I would love to hear suggestions to fill in the blanks. I'm not looking to brake the bank on this one but wont rule anything out if its worth it. From my 1st paragraph you can see I tend to hang onto my cars for a long time.Frame Galvanize and coat
Crate motor zz4 ? maybe?
Front suspension stock or aftermarket ? suggestions?
Rear Suspension stock or aftermarket ? suggestions?
Tranny ? it is an auto car suggestions?
I'm also looking for a little more information on floor pan replacement than I was able to find in the searches.
Is it possible to replace the entire pan in one piece from a donor?
Is it safe to do a floor replacement with body removed from the frame?
Heres a link to to a bunch of pics I took If you see anything I should be concerd about feel free to let know. I can take it.
Keep in mind at this point I have practicly nothing but time invested in the Vette. http://www.beachdevelopersllc.com/vette/
In closing (I warned it would be long)
I've always loved the curves of the C3s, and cause the chicks dig it! Even before I got it off the trailer I got calls from gal friends wanting rides. lol
I gotta tell you. Im real jazzed about this project
and BTW this place is great
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you have a complete frame off resto planned. Lots of choices, sounds like your not panning on NCRS. so make it fun. Crate motor is a good way to go.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MsVetteMan
Welcome, and when you dig into it, ask specific questions, they will be answered 95% of the time in here, and be correct 90% of the time.
Thanks Six and yea I have a bad habit of unbolting bodies.
For now the guidance I need the most is what to do/buy as far as the suspension and drivtrain. I plane on a frame mockup with body attached before I disassemble for powdercoating. There seems to be a lot of choices out there and at this time I know very little about other than stock options.
The floorpan question is also my biggest concern. Its easy to see how its attached in most places but in the rocker area I'm not to sure about yet and thus far I haven't found any good (I did it) with pics sites out there. I hope to help out with that in long run . Pan gurus please chime in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Looks like the floor pans are sold as 2 pieces right & left. I think they have just started to repo these. It says weld to tunnel and rear section of pan, so it must just be the front seat foot well that goes. The AIM shows it as all one piece.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...9C4D16B071C5F9
Welcome to the Vette world. Hope you like to tinker.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...9C4D16B071C5F9
Welcome to the Vette world. Hope you like to tinker.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Vette Brake Products and Ecklers both sell serious suspension systems for these things utilizing transverse mounted composite springs, coilovers, tubular control arms and even Trailing arms and then there is the issue of Rubber or Poly ( I like poly) So its pretty much a matter of tast and $$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Corvettes rust. There is plenty of metal structure inside that plastic.
The frame and trailing arms will rust from the inside-out.
The salt will make short work of them and the birdcage.
You would need to strip things completely of old rust before you galvanize them.. including the INSIDE of the frame.
Otherwise, back to square 1.
The last floorpan I welded in, I did with oxy-acytylene and it was a PITA. So I can't comment there.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by rihwoods
Great thread! thanks!
and thanks for the welcomes
He's done what I always threatened to do but I never seem to get the pics I take posted.
I do plan on trying to do a better job at that on this one. The great thing about having certain things like the frame galvanized is it takes care of all the parts you cant see. All boxed areas. The trick is not to have it quenched as the last step. Then paint powdercoat or what ever adheres fine. Soon as I can settle/find on a good frame and a complete later model floorpan it will be time.It still kills me that the days I parked this bird it was rust free
Owell I supposed that why God made
Already posted in the wanted section but a re-mention here. Looking for a complete floor pan. The years they started galvanizing them.
JD