Here is where I was last October, body was just off the 73 and starting to strip the chassis


You guys have been here....breaking rusty fasteners, rotted rubber bushings, fuel and brake lines crumbling when you go to remove them


oh oh...this can't be good, The more I beat the crap out of it with a hammer the more daylight I saw....think its frame replacement time


This settles it....the search is on...


While I am waiting for a frame to show up I start rebuilding my sub assemblies....350 L82, +.030, stock 2.02 heads, comp cam XE268, headman headers and Edelbrock performer....reseal the M21, rebuild hubs, trailing arms, reseal diff and replace yokes and all that fun stuff you can do on cold winter nights


Finally, a frame is located off a 73 Corvette, Auto trans so now I have a removable crossmember...and its only a 12hr drive across the prairies to go get it we Corvette guys are an enthusiastic bunch aren't we


Well after the usual body mount repairs, gusseting the lower control arm mounts, repairing a dented front crossmember and welding up a few seams its ready for sandblasting and paint...at least the crossmembers are not rotted out!


and here we are today...new stainless steel lines, 460lb front springs, addco sway bars, kyb shocks, poly bushings, BFG 255-60-15's, 2.5" exhaust(just waiting for my Magnaflows to bolt everything up) new seals, bearings etc



still need to refinish my air cleaner, I have the hood seal and will be setting the cowl hood for full time operation
Working on the body now changing #4 mounts, seat belt brackets and pressure washing everything...at least the wife will know where I am on my vacation. Hope to be doing a body drop and firing it up before the end of the month!

 

You've really been busy! Looks great and looks like you'll mange to completion in well under a year. Awesome!

 

nice work

I'm going through the same process on my '69.

Keep the pics coming!!!

 

This is phase 1 where I would like to have it drivable on the road, break it in, work out any bugs and replenish the bank account
This winter will be phase 2 where I repaint the car and replace the interior...then for 2008 I just want to burn a lot of gas up going on cruises and car shows and take the wife out for a blast with the tops off so she can understand my obsessive behavior

 

That is going to be one beautiful car…well done sir

 

Been there, done that, looks like you have the HARD part over. GREAT JOB!

 

Gonna be one cool looking '73!!!

 

Great job so far. I'm at the same point in my restoration.

Wanna Race?

 

Very nice work! And yes, you have been very busy. I know what you mean about the Wife knowing where you are while she is on vacation. Doing the same thing this weekend, working on the Vettes.

 

Thanks for the great comments!

As with many of you, it has been a 35 year dream for me to own a C3 Corvette. Ever since my first ride in a 69 427 Motion car at the age of 15 I have been hooked on Vettes.
Over the years career and raising a family prevented me from persuing the dream until the big 5-0 birthday my wife said it was time to make it a reality. Shes not a car person but she has watched with interest as I turn my dream into a reality.

A big thanks to the forum members for the wealth of information that has been presented through posts, it has helped many times when you are looking for a fragment of information that is not in any manuals and can only be learned from experience.

Happy Motoring!
Howard

 

Good looking work !!! Always enjoy progress pictures. The one of the snow covered prairie reminded me of some of the scenes in the movie Fargo. How far can you drive with out any signs of civilization ? Again, good work !!!
Regards,
Alan

 

Top job HW, thanks for posting pics for all of us to enjoy and maybe take inspiration from

 

Nice looking job. Getting ready to do the same on my 72.

 

Looks great, and you are moving along fast too. I am doing the same on my 71, but I started in January 2006. I am not as far along as you. Keep up the good work.

 

great job! thanks for sharing!

 

Started working on the body today, have to change the seat belt reinforcment brackets, rocker channels, & outside seatbelt reinforcements. The fiberglass and remaining brackets are in good shape and the car is mostly original, though there are some minor glass repairs....should I leave the glass natural finish or sparay with Black rubberized rock gaurd?.....I can be happy with either one.
Looks like there could have been a minor tap on the rear bumper...nothing major


brackets just need a buffing with the wire brush annd a repaint


Gee, you finish the chassis and think...hey I'm almost done...then you realize how much work there is to prep the body to the same standards you finished the chassis with...thats when you realize what patience is