'71 Corvette:
- Install new Vansteel offset trailing arms
- Have rear wheel bearings rebuilt
- New Spicer u-joints
- Build and install a 350 from scratch
- New clutch to go with new 350
- Prepare original 350 for storage

'75 Triumph TR6:
- Rebuild carbs
- Install new seat foam and seat covers
- New seat belts
- New wood dash
- Replace points with Pertronix
- New convertible top

'78: Firebird:
- Build 455 engine
- Install Keisler TKO 5-speed
- 1LE 12" front disc brake upgrade
- Install rear end from 1980 Trans Am with rear discs (3.42, posi)
- Weld in patches on rusty floor pan
- replace rusty trunk gutter
- Weld in sub frame connectors
- Rebuild suspension
- Install clean, straight right fender
- etc. etc.

This may not all get done this winter.

 

I plan to take the T-tops off alot and enjoy the cool 80* weather

 

winter projects huh?
lets see now.......

on the '65:
pull the tranny and rebuild it
replace the clutch
replace the throwout bearing
repair sidepipe covers (loose heat shields)
reair noisy shifter (rattles)
send car to paint shop to have front fender redone from recent paint job

on the '78:
replace master cylinder
replace all the brake fluid
replace carpet
possibly redo seats and change out from cloth to leather which will also require changing out the door panels to the leather versions
replace the shifter console plate and center gauge bezel
repair/replace vacuum control module for climate control
replace antenna and antenna cable
repair intermittent operation on wiper system
repair or replace AC compressor (works but has bad rattle when turned on)
send to paint shop to repair new scratch on front fender on new paint job

it's going to be expensive and a lot of work getting through the list on both cars over the winter...... The most "interesting" job will be the tranny rebuild on the '65 since I've never done it before but I can't afford to send it out to be done so I guess I'll have to learn to do it myself, just like everything else on the cars when it needs to get done. Everything becomes a learning experience

 

Barry,
What's the pronlem with the paint on the 1965? We had our cars painted about the same time and I wondering if I should be on the lookout for something.

 

Check everything and do a leg of Route '66 in May. See that part of the country.

 

Barry,
What's the problem with the paint on the 1965? We had our cars painted about the same time and I wondering if I should be on the lookout for something.

 

Motor and trans swap. Building the garage ate into my funds bigtime. Still have to insulate the garage and wire it and heat it and it goes on and on. It has become my second money pit. Although I'm glad I did build it.

 

Hey dont forget to add more cowbell!

 

I refuse to talk about anything related to Winter at this time!

 

nothing you need to have to worry about on yours Paul. In the right light and on the right angle only you can see an uneven area in the fiberglass of the fender right where the fender emblem is. It's not the paint but the fiberglass underneath. It was one area where a lot of work had needed to be done and somewhere it didn't end up as smooth as it should have. Neither the painter nor I noticed it while it was still in the shop and as you can imagine we both had been over every fraction of an inch of the body during the work but seeing the flaw takes just the right light and just the right angle but than it's obvious (to me anyway).
He's already seen it and agrees it needs to get fixed so he is going to strip the entire fender, repair the fiberglass, than respray the fender folowed up by a complete re-wetsanding and buffing of the entire car to get rid of some orange peel in a few areas that was still there from the original wetsanding ( he didn't go very aggressive the first time because the paint was so fresh).

Luckily because the paint job is still relatively new and of course the car is garage kept we don't expect any problems matching the paint to respray the fender

 

Thanks Barry. I have a couple of small flaws that only I can see on a good day at 9:00am with the sun shining at a 45* angle . But I am going to leave them alone. The Sherwin-Williams paint has held up well. It's 50F here now with temps falling. Darn, another driving season gone. Only two weeks until I say good-bye to the car until April.

 

Get motor back in car by Thanksgiving and drive the **** out of all winter long. The joy of living in Florida. Never a bad time of the year to drive your corvette

 

Barry,

I dont think I am the only one who cant wait for your winter projects updates on your website!!

I think the tranny rebuild will interest me the most! Im in your boat... not enough money so have to learn to do it yourself. I dunno if Im brave enough to tackle the tanny...but maybe after your write up!!

Good luck!

 

One thing for sure is that Barry will take plenty of pictures!

This winter I'm planning to strip the paint, install fiberglass front and rear bumpers, get my speedometer working, fix the e-brake, replace wiper motor, and change out the stock gauges with AutoMeter Sport Comp II like the few I've already added. That's my "Must-Do" list, the "Want To-Do" list is pretty long!

 

al
I'm not sure I'll manage to get that whole list done but that's the 'to-do" list on the cars anyway. more than anything else it will be a matter of what I can afford to get done. The work on the '65 is the prority since the tranny, clutch, and TO bearing won't last thru another "season" of driving as it is now. The master cylinder is the main priority on the '78 (brakes ARE a bit of a safety item afterall....)
On the MC replacement it's easy enough to phyically change out the MC but since I've never done any work on brake systems before it will be my first time attempting to bleed brakes and I know from other threads it can be a PIA. At least I'll get a bit of experience beforehand bleeding brakes from the '80 frame replacement project we are working on. I actually waited on doing the MC on mine until after we finish the '80 project for just that reason - I've had my replacement MC since the spring.
I was very hesitant to even consider doing a tranny myself but a lot of people that know me and know my level of experience (or lack thereof to be more accurate) all told me it was a doable job for me and there is even a video out that takes you step by step through the rebuild process on the Muncie. All I can do it try anyway..... You can be sure that is one job i'll be taking a LOT of pictures of. One reason is to make sure I know how everything goes back together and another reason is that is I manage to do it successfully maybe i can put the pictures together with text in a tech article for my website called something such as "Muncie rebuild for Dummies".

Dale, yep, you KNOW I'll take a lot of pictures!! That's one thing you can count on anyway with my projects.
BTW, if you have a digital camera can you take pictures of any progress made this Sunday on Mike's car since I can't be there? I hate to not have something documented in case we need it for the magazine article.

 

I'm going to replace the carpet and a lot of interior trim pieces. Also have some seats out of an 80 that I'm reconditioning to put in. I'm working on the seats now and will go ahead an put them in. The rest of the interior will likely be in January-Feburary.

 

Well at least the garage won't break down everytime you use it...

 

1) Finish the paint on the 78
2) Partially assemble at least so I can move by January. I guess I'd better get off the forum and start working.

 

Well, I've been hoping to get body parts so I can get it painted before winter, but not enough funds...so onto minor things until I get that front bumper and hood.
Replace body mounts
pull engine
clean/prime/paint engine
clean out engine bay
re-assemble/install gas tank
undercoat body underside
POR-15/top coat frame
Finally get new front bumper:fiberglass in
Finally get new aluminum radiator
Finally get new hood or hood scoop
Fiberglass in rear bumper panel

So, this should keep me busy until spring...

 

I am so looking forward to the winter to:

Install

Patriot aluminum heads with 1.6:1 roller rockers
tall aluminum valve covers
Professional performance polished cyclone intake
Edlebrock 1904 carb
Stewart stage II water pump
135 amp alternator
Hooker sidepipe headers with 4 inch sidepipes
Steelshields
timing chain and new aluminum cover
VB&P transverse composite monospring system
VB&P new o ring calipers
slotted and drilled rotors
new tires
SS emergency brake cables and rebuild kit
VB & P smart struts and 8 inch spring bolt kit
VB & P spreader bar kit
Aluminum radiator with dual spals with controller and Robert Shaw thermostat
New chin spoiler
Wilcox Red on Oyster carpet/interior set
Paint new fiberglass T tops and restore glass T tops
rebuild drivers side window regulator