I finally found my first real project! It is not a numbers matching car but is a great 71 base coupe project with a solid frame and a body 95% ready to paint. The interior is completely removed but most of the parts are there and need to be cleaned up (or replaced in a few cases).
I wanted to say that I could not have done this without the help of many people on the forum but mostly because of blue72lt4sc. He inspected the car for me (it was in Houston while I am here in San Antonio) and brokered the deal, picked up the car and parts as well as delivered it to San Antonio for a very reasonable fee.
To go further, he is currently assisting with acquisition of a suitable motor and has offered present and future advice on the best courses of action to make this a great finished car.
I will post some pics soon but thanks again to everyone and especially you, Lenard!

 

Sounds like you got yourself an excellent start
This is the place to be

blue72lt4sc

Rod

 

Anyone have thoughts on where to start? I know pics will help, which I will post tonight. What I have done is starting cleaning all the dirt and surface corrosion from the interior (carpet and such were already removed). I guess my question is, it will be some time before it goes to the paint shop, so is it a better idea to wait on interior until it has been painted or should I be starting somewhere else?
I have the feeling I have a mess ahead of me which is ok (I say that now ) but I guess I need to know a logical starting point. I do not have plans to invest in a frame off restoration being that it is not the original motor, so thoughts?

 

The first thing you need to do is sit in the car and with a notebook and pen, jot down everything the car needs and then everything you want the car to do. Every project starts with a plan of action. By sitting in the car, all your focus will be on the prooject and the list will keep you on track.

 

How can I do that? The seats are out!

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely do that. The other thing I didn't mention was initially I need to work on things that don't cost a great deal as I kinda blew my wad on the car itself. That's why I started with the interior metal cleaning.

 

THATS how you do it. if you do it like i did, you end up changing the whole car out lol i first did what i wanted it to have and now doing what it needs to have

 

One more question to the experts out there, since it is not numbers matching if I want to keep it mostly stock will repro parts work or should I be looking for nos? My first thought is to get quality parts as inexpensively as possible and do most of the work myself. Thoughts?

 

If it's not a matching numbers car, you can get quality parts from Ecklers, Mid America or Corvette Central. Attempting to keep everything completely original is hard and very expensive.

Look through the catalogs, decide on how much you need to spend and how long it will take....now double both!

 

Here's a suitable motor for your 71.



Rick B.

 

Hi CRV,
71s are WONDERFULL cars.
Good luck with your project.
I think you can clean and prep the interior now but I'd wait till the car is painted to start putting it back together.
I'd also think you can clean and prep the engine compartment before paint.
Stock parts are an issue only if you want the car to be close to original.
PICTURES!!!
Regards,
Alan

Here's a picture that's the exact opposite of Rick B.'s picture!!! (It's a 71 that thinks it's a 70.)

 

Sounds like you have quite the project there. Enjoy the car. Learn everything you can and do the work yourself. You will save yourself tons of money. Ask questions here as someone has at least been there and done that at least one time before. I built mine to suit me. Mine was mostly numbers matching but, I went astray and well most of the numbers are gone. Mine was a base car like yours. So far, I am well pleased with the way the car has turned out. Most of all have fun with the car. Be sure to take lots of pics of stuff when you are taking it apart so you will know about where most of the stuff goes back. Everyone once in a while be sure to post some pics of what you are working on, we love to see the projects people are playing with.

 

Willcox can give you a wealth of information, and he is honest.

He also sells a few parts at decent prices.

 

When you say wait to put the interior back together, do you mean carpet as well? Just curious.

 

Another question, since my engine is not the original, is there any value in keeping the numbers matching transmission? I would stay with auto just wondering if there is a better alternative without completely changing the entire drivetrain.
Also what about the paint and trim codes, again value in staying original or paint to what I like and what others might like?

 

The whole question of staying 'ORIGINAL' has a zillion answers and opinions.
I think you need to do exactly what will make you happy.
I do encourage you to save EVERTHING that may be a factory installed part that comes off the car but doesn't go back on.
My 71 has EVERY factory part that I could save still on the car. BUT it has 69 side-exhaust. Because that's the way I like it.
You have to have fun playing with this car.
Regards,
Alan

Keep the transmission even if you don't use it. Again, keep everything. The trim codes are critical to NCRS types, but if you want another color you can do it. It's your car.

 

I like the idea of sitting in the car and just jotting notes down. Personally I tend to put these notes in a data base and then assign a priority number! In the old days I would use the assembly manual and a highlighter, but computers have pretty much knocked this method in the head.

NOS, NORS, or reproduction again would depend on the direction you wish to take the car. There are plenty of great reproduction parts out that are better than what came on the car. In the same sense there are plenty that stink. . . Most of the time the reproduction parts are your only choise unless you want to go Ft. Knox.

One item that we hate but still sell is the outer replacement wipes for the door windows. If you look on our site we even have a note telling you basically not to buy them. . . People still buy them, and I’ve never understood this philosophy, but hey we would rather tell you tan not! Here is the link if you want to see what I mean, it’s kind of funny. http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...oducts_id=1935

On items that we have problems with in our own shop, we pull them! If we can’t install it we surely don’t expect you to be able to!

I agree with the philosophy to keep everything with the car that is still original and this will only help you in the long run should you decide to sell the car. Just pack it off in the corner somewhere and someday you might even get lucky and find the original engine. Then you’ll be glad you saved it!

Good luck with your car!

Willcox Inc.

 

Here are the first pics. I removed the lower drivers dash pad and labeled all the wires but as you can see from the console bubba (as he is so lovingly referred to) got to the console and passenger side before I could. Thank God for wiring diagrams! By the way, these are pics after it was clean!

Sorry had problems with my album, will reload in a few.

Here they are:

http://gs111.photobucket.com/groups/n155/I8SGVUEF0D/

 

You have your work cut out for you my friend, just remember in the end, it will all be worth it.

 

I was where you are 4 years ago.. It took most of that time to learn HOW to do this right. The body takes the most time, even if it is close to perfect. Do the interior after paint. Looks like you should pull the motor, and start with the engine bay/tunnel/ underneath. Then work up and out. You will learn so much (even if you know a lot now) doing this project. Prepare to spend lots of time searching e bay and forums and swap meets looking for parts. But it is worth it; I would do it all over again in a second. You have a nice place to start there!

 

I took a look at your pictures.
I agree with OS that you really have your work cut out for you.
I think you need to be careful that you don't get far more $$$ in this car than it can ever be worth.
I LOVE 71 Corvettes, but this one would scare me!
Regards,
Alan

PS: Is the primer over the white paint or is the primer where body work was done. The car looks pretty far from being 95% ready for paint. It seems to me it would be unusual for someone to be so rough on the rest of the car but then be meticulous with the body work. What's under the primer?