Done - Kudos and some lessons learned
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
Done - Kudos and some lessons learned
Well, 5 weeks after I started my major upgrade, the car is done and back on the road.
Here is the original post:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1676940
Basically;
- all new poly bushings in the front control arms
- new tie rods, idler arm, and ball joint
- all poly sway bar bushings, new rubber T/A bushings
- Bilstein shocks
- rebuilt steering box
- rebuilt PS control valve
- new rag joint
- new parking brake cables
- new carpet (with Reflectix)
- custom two door rear storage compartment lid (vice the stock 3 door)
- DIN stereo
- Performer RPM Q-Jet manifold.
I also painted the brake calipers, repainted all the hard plastic in the interior, installed a new horn button to replace the faded orginal and a new hood liner.
I have to give kudos to Gary Ramadei (gtr1999) for the steering box rebuild and the T-Arm bushings. He did a quick turnaround for me. The box is extremely tight and with the new steering components, the feel is great and very precise.
Lars' paper on fuel lines was an immense help in bending up the new line for the taller manifold. I gave up on doing the fancy fuel filter for now but I will get to it eventually. For those that want to use the late model Corvette filter, NAPA has 18" length of lines with the correct fitting. About $10 each.
I was torn on the new shocks (my KYB GR-2's are only about 2000 miles old) but the Bilsteins are great. The ride is stiff but surprisingly comfortable over the RI roads (which honestly suck). The forum helped me make that decision.
FYI, a Peformer RPM Q-Jet will fit under a '75 hood using a stock Q-Jet and a Moroso drop-base air filter assembly with a 3" filter. It required a sight dimpling of the base so the accelerator pump lever would not hit the aircleaner.
Kudos to Zip Products and Vette Brakes for their customer service. Zip forgot to pack the mickey mouse clips in my new parking brake cables. Two days later, I had them. When disassembling my rear suspension, I found a loose Smart Strut and traced it to a bushing with larger than normal inner diameter. When I called Vette Brakes, they sent me not one replacement bushing but four brand news one, FREE. Great service.
Al Knoch made the custom storage compartment lid and carpets. Great quality.
Also kudis to the local NAPA and Autozone stores, Summit Racing, and Providence Automotive Engineering for a great alignment.
Worst part of the entire job was having to pull the entire driver's side header and side pipe to get the steering box out. Thank god for antisieze.
Best new tool is the Mother's Powerball. I got the full set form their web site including the Powerball MD (Metal Doctor) which is only available direct from Mothers. The MD made quick work of my nasty valve covers and the regular Powerball shined my wheels up in about 5 min each. Highly recommended.
I do have lots of disassembly pics but stopped using the camera when I just wanted to get the car back together.
I still have few projects/ideas left:
- Wiper tray cover sitting in the basement
- K&N filter and Extreme Lid (so I can hear the secondary roar better)
- Amplifier for the new stereo. More power.....
Overall, I am very happy and ready to start driving the car again. Of course, it was 70 degrees and sunny when I had it on jackstands and now it is 45 degrees and raining.
Here is the original post:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1676940
Basically;
- all new poly bushings in the front control arms
- new tie rods, idler arm, and ball joint
- all poly sway bar bushings, new rubber T/A bushings
- Bilstein shocks
- rebuilt steering box
- rebuilt PS control valve
- new rag joint
- new parking brake cables
- new carpet (with Reflectix)
- custom two door rear storage compartment lid (vice the stock 3 door)
- DIN stereo
- Performer RPM Q-Jet manifold.
I also painted the brake calipers, repainted all the hard plastic in the interior, installed a new horn button to replace the faded orginal and a new hood liner.
I have to give kudos to Gary Ramadei (gtr1999) for the steering box rebuild and the T-Arm bushings. He did a quick turnaround for me. The box is extremely tight and with the new steering components, the feel is great and very precise.
Lars' paper on fuel lines was an immense help in bending up the new line for the taller manifold. I gave up on doing the fancy fuel filter for now but I will get to it eventually. For those that want to use the late model Corvette filter, NAPA has 18" length of lines with the correct fitting. About $10 each.
I was torn on the new shocks (my KYB GR-2's are only about 2000 miles old) but the Bilsteins are great. The ride is stiff but surprisingly comfortable over the RI roads (which honestly suck). The forum helped me make that decision.
FYI, a Peformer RPM Q-Jet will fit under a '75 hood using a stock Q-Jet and a Moroso drop-base air filter assembly with a 3" filter. It required a sight dimpling of the base so the accelerator pump lever would not hit the aircleaner.
Kudos to Zip Products and Vette Brakes for their customer service. Zip forgot to pack the mickey mouse clips in my new parking brake cables. Two days later, I had them. When disassembling my rear suspension, I found a loose Smart Strut and traced it to a bushing with larger than normal inner diameter. When I called Vette Brakes, they sent me not one replacement bushing but four brand news one, FREE. Great service.
Al Knoch made the custom storage compartment lid and carpets. Great quality.
Also kudis to the local NAPA and Autozone stores, Summit Racing, and Providence Automotive Engineering for a great alignment.
Worst part of the entire job was having to pull the entire driver's side header and side pipe to get the steering box out. Thank god for antisieze.
Best new tool is the Mother's Powerball. I got the full set form their web site including the Powerball MD (Metal Doctor) which is only available direct from Mothers. The MD made quick work of my nasty valve covers and the regular Powerball shined my wheels up in about 5 min each. Highly recommended.
I do have lots of disassembly pics but stopped using the camera when I just wanted to get the car back together.
I still have few projects/ideas left:
- Wiper tray cover sitting in the basement
- K&N filter and Extreme Lid (so I can hear the secondary roar better)
- Amplifier for the new stereo. More power.....
Overall, I am very happy and ready to start driving the car again. Of course, it was 70 degrees and sunny when I had it on jackstands and now it is 45 degrees and raining.
