Restoration Resources
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 43
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From: Woodbridge Virginia
Restoration Resources
As you may have read in a previous post I just recently picked up a 70 L-46 Vette yesterday. (Very long day driving from MD to Albany, NY and back in the same day) Believe it or not, the car had been sitting for 3 years and made the 370 mile trip back without a problem. Except for stopping to fill up 80 times!! :-)
So anyway, what I wanted to try to find out is some resources for parts and restoration. For parts that have been swapped out for non numbers matching, such as the Carb & Distributor, are there places to purchase the proper parts with the correct ID numbers? The interior needs to be completely redone, so are there any places online that sell complete color correct interiors? Is there anyone in the Md, Va, DC area that has had their Corvette engine and tranny rebuilt that would recommend a shop? Same for any frame repair/restoration? I'd also like to know what books would be beneficial to be have during this process.
Yes I know I can do some searching, which I have, but I'd like to get some opinions/suggestions of places or websites that other people have actually used and are happy with.
Thanks for the help.
So anyway, what I wanted to try to find out is some resources for parts and restoration. For parts that have been swapped out for non numbers matching, such as the Carb & Distributor, are there places to purchase the proper parts with the correct ID numbers? The interior needs to be completely redone, so are there any places online that sell complete color correct interiors? Is there anyone in the Md, Va, DC area that has had their Corvette engine and tranny rebuilt that would recommend a shop? Same for any frame repair/restoration? I'd also like to know what books would be beneficial to be have during this process.
Yes I know I can do some searching, which I have, but I'd like to get some opinions/suggestions of places or websites that other people have actually used and are happy with.
Thanks for the help.
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,316
Likes: 359
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
As you may have read in a previous post I just recently picked up a 70 L-46 Vette yesterday. (Very long day driving from MD to Albany, NY and back in the same day) Believe it or not, the car had been sitting for 3 years and made the 370 mile trip back without a problem. Except for stopping to fill up 80 times!! :-)
So anyway, what I wanted to try to find out is some resources for parts and restoration. For parts that have been swapped out for non numbers matching, such as the Carb & Distributor, are there places to purchase the proper parts with the correct ID numbers? The interior needs to be completely redone, so are there any places online that sell complete color correct interiors? Is there anyone in the Md, Va, DC area that has had their Corvette engine and tranny rebuilt that would recommend a shop? Same for any frame repair/restoration? I'd also like to know what books would be beneficial to be have during this process.
Yes I know I can do some searching, which I have, but I'd like to get some opinions/suggestions of places or websites that other people have actually used and are happy with.
Thanks for the help.
So anyway, what I wanted to try to find out is some resources for parts and restoration. For parts that have been swapped out for non numbers matching, such as the Carb & Distributor, are there places to purchase the proper parts with the correct ID numbers? The interior needs to be completely redone, so are there any places online that sell complete color correct interiors? Is there anyone in the Md, Va, DC area that has had their Corvette engine and tranny rebuilt that would recommend a shop? Same for any frame repair/restoration? I'd also like to know what books would be beneficial to be have during this process.
Yes I know I can do some searching, which I have, but I'd like to get some opinions/suggestions of places or websites that other people have actually used and are happy with.
Thanks for the help.
Last edited by avalonjohn; Jun 30, 2007 at 02:02 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
If you have the original carb and distributor, you BEST alternative is to contact Lars Grimsrud (Corvette Forum member) and have him refurbish them. The original parts were designed specifically for your engine, so if they can be placed in original condition, all the better. Lars' costs for doing so are very reasonable, and you will not find anyone else to do the same thing with the same quality job and for the same money. Also, you will not be able to buy any new product for less. That's my advice on the carb and distributor...and I'll stand behind it.
7T1vette
7T1vette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Believe it or not, GM actually has a freebie on resto sources and lots of other information for your Corvette. Call 248-475-7314 and ask for your year Corvette Restoration packet. The item numbers on the packing list that came with mine were 2731002000 for the Chevrolet past model parts and 2731VETT-68 for the Chevy Restoration Corvette packet. (Mine is a '68.)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Woodbridge Virginia
If you have the original carb and distributor, you BEST alternative is to contact Lars Grimsrud (Corvette Forum member) and have him refurbish them. The original parts were designed specifically for your engine, so if they can be placed in original condition, all the better. Lars' costs for doing so are very reasonable, and you will not find anyone else to do the same thing with the same quality job and for the same money. Also, you will not be able to buy any new product for less. That's my advice on the carb and distributor...and I'll stand behind it.
7T1vette
7T1vette
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
every now and then you'll find people in the parts for sale section or on ebay that have parts that are dated in 70 and such.... If your building an NCRS car I believe engine and tranny have to be original and the paint and interior have to match the paint codes in the door jamb. For things like carbs and distributors all it needs is a specific stamped number - a number that was from the same year the car was made. Getting a carb and stamping numbers or so is a big no no and you'll get disqualified!
My main point is things like the engine block are mated to each body and you cant replace that, but anything else just has to have the RIGHT numbers on it..
My main point is things like the engine block are mated to each body and you cant replace that, but anything else just has to have the RIGHT numbers on it..
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
make sure you go to Corvettes at Carlisle in late August. This show /swap meet is, I think, the best on the East coast. Look hard enough, and you shoud find alot of what you may need. I think it's the 3rd week in August tis year, around the 22nd or so. Also, be careful on Ebay...Ebay generally blows as far as prices go. Guys with unlimited $$$ always go nuts and most often you spend more than you need to. Don't be in a rush to buy a particular part that you "gotta have"..look around, ask alot of questions before you bid or buy.
Ill disagree on ebay. While some stuff overbids because some bidders dont know what they are doing, I have often picked up parts off ebay for much less than I see in the catalogs, usually new parts with Buy it Now prices or ebay Stores listings. Rare parts are of course, something else entirely.
Re: catalog sales, I like Corvette Central and Paragon.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Chicago Corvette has trailer loads of correct carbs that are either already rebuilt or need to be rebuilt. But you will pay an arm and a leg for one. Every so often, carbs from CC are on Ebay under a pseudonym. Each one I've seen are over $600. Good luck with your search.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 43
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From: Woodbridge Virginia
Believe it or not, GM actually has a freebie on resto sources and lots of other information for your Corvette. Call 248-475-7314 and ask for your year Corvette Restoration packet. The item numbers on the packing list that came with mine were 2731002000 for the Chevrolet past model parts and 2731VETT-68 for the Chevy Restoration Corvette packet. (Mine is a '68.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
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From: End of the Ike IL
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
ZIP and Paragon are my favorite sources for repop parts. If I need a used item, Gruhala Enterprises in DeSoto, MO has always been a great help. A somewhat frightening proportion of my car has come out of Gary's yard... 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Peekskill NY
You will also want the AIM (assembly instruction manual) which were used on the assembly lines, and the chassis manual.
Vendoer are plentiful, so get lots of catalogs from Paragon, ZIP, Corvette Central, Mid America, Volunteer, Ecklers. You'll hear lots of stories re different vendors and problem members have had with ALL of them. I've found that ZIP is slightly less $$ for same parts from other vendors.
There are sites with all the carb, distributor, heads, intakes fro numbers. Just Google Chevy corvette numbers for sources.
You picked a great year and good luck.
Glenn
Vendoer are plentiful, so get lots of catalogs from Paragon, ZIP, Corvette Central, Mid America, Volunteer, Ecklers. You'll hear lots of stories re different vendors and problem members have had with ALL of them. I've found that ZIP is slightly less $$ for same parts from other vendors.
There are sites with all the carb, distributor, heads, intakes fro numbers. Just Google Chevy corvette numbers for sources.
You picked a great year and good luck.
Glenn
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Woodbridge Virginia
