Really? My front one is 7/8" & the rear one I ordered (3/4") is smaller - albeit not much - than the front one.....but, I'm bowing to you experts' opinions....what size should the front one be?

Actually, working on my Corvette is fun...it is much easier than working on one of my MGB's! I get up each day with my little list of things I want to accomplish that day as I have always done when restoring MG's....the difference is: I can usually accomplish the entire list on the 'vette because there's just this stripped frame sitting up on jackstands....I can get to things easily; plus, as mentioned earlier, I blasted & cleaned the entire frame with the suspension et.al. still on it so that makes things much easier also.

However, I am learning that things are more expensive on the 'vette than on an MG......& things seem to wear more but that's probably because 'vettes have had such a hard life by the time we get to them to restore them...for example, after looking at my spindles today, I decided to order 2 new ones...but, with my MG's, I have lots of good, used parts so if I need a hub (spindle) or something else, I just go over to the shelf and get one.

I've gotta give lots of kudo's to Kevin at Keen Parts....he's where I'm getting all my parts that I can't find locally.....he's great...my parts get here within 2 days & he always gives me a time frame wherein I can add to an order (right up until they seal the box, basically)...& the guys there are patient with a newbie like me who asks dumb questions.

 

Great thread! Your progress is inspirational. I started my body-off project in January 08

Edit: PS, if you need hard-to-find parts for your MGs from the UK, let me know. I might be able to help.

 

I don't know how I missed this thread for so long but I just read through it all and I'm very impressed with all that you've accomplished.

Looking at your website brings back memories of the MG Midget I owned back in the 70's. Don't remember what year it was but I believe it did have chrome bumpers. I recall having to turn a valve open in the engine compartment to get heat in the winter....I remember have a fire in one of those SU carbs....I remember having to rig a push button to start the car because the ignition switch gave up....I remember the top flapping in the breeze on many a cold winter night with me freezing inside...... but I also remember some fine spring days running through that sweet 4 speed on country roads which made up for all the negatives.

Good Luck with the 77

 

The optional FE-7 Hi-Perf. Sus. has a 7/16" rear bar along w/ a larger front 1 1/8" bar.

It should be noted that some take the rear bar off the FE7 setup!
Probably you should try it w/o the rear bar & see what you think.
Did you change any spring rates?

Of course you are just new to Vettes.


I agree Corvettes are easy.

 

No, didn't change spring rates....think I'll prefer the softer ride of the 9-leaf spring over the 7-leaf.....I can always go to a larger front bar if the rear end feels 'froggy'.

 

Got my computer problem fixed; here're a few photos....I'll try to add more in a few days:

 

Back from a week at DisneyWorld w/grandson & thought I'd share my progress:

Here's what trailing arms look like; I have new spindles, hand brake & all new bearings, etc.....they should be together & under car by weekend


Loaded crossmember has new bushings & is in place; front differential assembly is finished; hope to have differential back together in a few days - everything's ready to hang it when its together:


New radiator & original condensor mounted with insulation between them & radiator shroud to force air through, not around, radiator...one mounting block & piece of insulation is on backorder; so, while I wait, I'm thinking about what to use for electric fans now & am leaning towards 2003/04 Ford Focus 2.0L w/AC fan setup that someone else on the forum used:



I know it's a push; but, I'm shooting for the end of the weekend to have the rear end reassembled & ready for rotors & calipers - middle of week is probably a more pragmatic goal. Things to do:

reassemble/install trailing arms
close-up differential & hang
install shocks/arms/sway bar
disassemble/clean spring & replace sound deadener strips; then install

Pretty soon, I'll be asking about tires!

 

I didn't get as far as I wanted since my last post....when we were finishing up the differential, we noticed the side yoke on the passenger side had been pushed on for some time...that side was also where the rear portion of the accident happened....the spindle on that side was damaged and the strut rod was bent.

I had earlier ordered a new strut rod & both new spindles so the only part I still need is the side yoke we found today.

The trailing arms are rebuilt and already installed so we're just waiting to button up the differential when the side yoke arrives.....all other parts of the rear suspension are cleaned, rebuilt and painted.....so, the rear suspension is at a standstill until Thursday.

Anyway, here are the trailing arms:

Driver side:


Passenger Side:

 

Rear end is assembled....tomorrow I'll hook up the park brake & install the rotors and calipers.

I ordered a rear sway bar kit but they sent a front one instead so I'll have to wait until we can rectify that.

Tomorrow I'll also check on a set of 255x60 Goodyear Eagles....she might just be rolling shortly.

Here are some photos:

 

So, I bought my 'vette during early part of May & its now 15th of OCt & I have a completely restored rolling chassis.....I took a few photos today...as soon as the weather is dry and sunny, I'll roll it out of the garage to take better photos.





Don't have both rear wheels mounted yet because I want to see if a 255/60R15 will fit inside the spare tire carrier but I have to wait on a couple of parts to arrive...plus, I'm having the bottom half of the spare tire carrier coated with bedliner.

....now on to the gas tank.

 

Great work.. This car has come a long way.

 

Looks great, hows this project compared to an MG?

 

Easier....& it's a great change from them....think I was burning out on them.

 

Man, You are working on this project like the Tazmanian Devil. I love to see that kind of ambition! It is so rare.

 

Rolled the completed chassis out into the sun today for the first time...next I tackle the fuel tank installation, fuel pump for the TPI and fuel lines.

 

WOW.... you have accomplished in a few months what takes many people years... I had to keep looking at the dates to check it said 09 each time you make a post.

Autoist, let me ask you about the frame. Seems like that car spent some years outside in Alabama and probably got its share of rain/humidity.. how did the frame look overall? Im sure their was a nice coating of surface rust, but did you have any thing serious that you could drive a screwdriver thru or did ya just sandblast and repaint it???

 

From 1997 until I bought it, the car sat in the rear of a shop out of the weather...so it was only on the road from 1977 until 1997....after removing the body & straightening the frame, we pressure washed the frame & then sandblasted it....we inspected it thoroughly to make sure there was no rust anywhere after it was sandblasted....& we primed it with a 2-part epoxy primer (milspec) & then painted it with black enamel.....as I disassembled things, we did the same (sandblast, inspect, prime, paint, rebuild)....before I knew it, I had rebuilt/replaced everything.

Yep, purchased the car on April 15, 2009 & rolled the completed chassis out into the sun October 23, 2009....about 6 months.

Now, I'll solve my fuel tank/pump/lines issue while the transmission is being rebuilt.

My 1986 TPI engine goes on the engine stand tomorrow to start work on it....engine has 50,000 miles on it so I'm going to pull the oil pan. valve covers, intake and all the ancilliaries.....After I learn the condition of the inside, I'll clean & paint the outside, removing all emissions items at same time so I can have the PROM redone.

Remember, I'm retired so I can spend most everyday or part of the day on it.

 

Good deal... so many other posts I read about frame rust and all is pretty amazing. Some cars even not as old as yours and you can push your finger thru the frame they have some much rust damage then others dont have any damage. I guess some of the cars up north got it worse than the cars down south, with all their snow, ice, salt bs on the roads 6 months out of year.

 

Yep, my hard work is going to be the body.

 

Well, while I'm figuring out how to make my gas tank supply fuel to the TPI, I'm pulling all the emissions stuff off the engine; & there's lots of it....Chevy painted their '86 engines black - valve covers also....since mine is just as it came out of the car, I'm going to have to steam clean it before opening it up (can't stand to work on dirty things).

Photos tomorrow night.