I would check the block and heads very carefully for freeze damage and possible cracks, could be why it is dissasembled

 

I would do the same if it were me. But, some folks with that 'challenge' would not have the skills to do it. Just checkin'....

 

I replaced my distributor with a 3864501 - Mallory Unilite Distributor with tach drive. Best upgrade I ever did.

 

Yes I have the heads and they have been off the car since parked they are 487 castings with 2.02 / 1.60 valves and screw in studs and guide plates.

The motor was tore down due to a "miss shift" and over tach'n the motor, which lead to the valves floating and bending of a few push rods. While apart he was going to have the heads worked, seats and guides checked befor putting it back together. So I doubt the heads were cracked and same with the block. The rad tank lookes almost as if something was setting on the rad and the hood was closed.

I used to work in a machine shop and was the "head" guy. So I have a lil idea on what is going on with the heads and stuff.

I think I will have a shop see if they can repair the tank end and hope the core is good.

Gas tank I am still in the air about, seems awful rusty to trust it.

I did some reading last night and think I may contact the guy mentioned above about repairing the stock radio.

I will try to keep in touch about what to do when I start working on it, right now I am fixing to start a new job and realise this is gonna take a bit of time so I am not rushing this.

The smog pump is missing and that could be a real chore to find as I think it was removed years ago... The Ram horn manifolds have tubes in them but look as if they were plugged. So that may be something that stays missing.

Paint has alot of crowfooting going on, and not real sure at this point what to do with it.

THANKS Everyone! For all the comments and info, I love reading about it and learning more and more on the car! There are some dang nice cars on here and I love to look at them.

LOL as for trading my car for any others, no offense, but not a chance. To many memories in the ol car.

 

I think the water pump was replaced at one point... but I think the original is still in a box setting in storage. Think it is really worth having rebuilt?

Also I have stock rockers but was not sure about reusing them, had thought about getting some stamped ones with the roller tips... Any ideas on this, or should I stay with stock?

All push rods will be replaced at it looks that most of them took a whack, as with the valves. Hope the stock cam is still good.

 

Rebuild the original water pump. Again, the more original the better.
The valve train question I think is up to you. If you plan to have it judged then go stock.

 

From the picture of the radiator, that is a simple swapping of the tanks at either end and I'd stick with a brass radiator. When I restored My 79, I searched out a rebuilder who would take my alternator or carburator or started and rebuild what I brought in. that way when I got it back, the numbers all matched. Things like the distributor, starter, alternator, engine, transmission and differential as well as the radio are all items you would want to retain and have rebuild as you restore the car.

If you are going to restore the car, First thing I'd do is join NCRS. It's a great organization and they have members who reallly know what your trying to do and offer hope and well as help with the project. They publish the "DriveLine" magazine in which you'll find ads for companies who still rebuild virtually everything on a to-be restored Corvette. You won't be disappointed as a member.

 

Maybe I am a bit confused but I dont call putting a motor back together and gettin the car running a restore. I was thinking this is more of a get it running. LOL
To me a restore would be tear down and fully rebuild the parts and paint. I basicly want it back to running and operational in a safe manor.

As for the valve train, would they really take off the valve covers to see if it had roller tips on it? Still not sure if I am even gonna put them on, just thinking if I was gonna do new rockers might as well add the roller tips. Still in the air on all of it.
I am not so sure what is to gain from this "Judging" or why I would have it judged? Now I may take it to a few local shows but not trying to win anything it is just what my dad would have done with it and it is what I am into. Can someone give a run down on this "judging"?

Thanks !!!!

 

Jason,

You have a car that is special - an LT-1. Most of us here would say keep it as close to stock as possible because it will only go up in value.

My plan of attack would be get the brakes up to par, drivetrain running, clean it up, drive and enjoy it as you learn more about the car over time.

As time goes on, you could search out the parts required to bring it back to a judging standard, i.e. smog, etc. Some people will seek out and amass the parts and hold on to them for a future restoration - if that suits you go for it! A smog setup will be much harder to find 20 years from now - maybe your kids will want to fully restore it!

Cars that have been judged by the NCRS or Bloomington receive a certificate as to degree of "originality". In quotes because that word does not necessarily mean as the car was born, but as it would have left the showroom.

The judging can get quite tedious, wrong bolt, wrong finish on a part, etc. all cost you points. But overall cars that judge well were probably well attended too.
it takes alot of attention to detail and passion to get a car to a high standard, i.e. Top Flight, Bloomingtom Gold, etc. (Or simply alot of money!!)

Anyway, it's your car, you plan to keep it so what you do is up to you - since resale is not your priority. But in my opinion, an LT-1 should be kept as original as possible.

Good Luck with it

 

Thanks! resale is not a option, and my dad was huge on keeping it original. Only thing I can think of is the smog pump I think kept throwing the belt. Not sure but something like that sticks in my head. I will search the warehouse and see if I can find the smog. As for the water pump, I think the original is still on the car. after looking at it, paint seems to match, and other pump i seen looked different.

 

for radio rebuild. contact Jerry Rudbeck, he's done mine and a few other. for a stock sound much better then before i sent it to him.
ElectroDesign
Simpsonvill, SC
Jerry@ElectroDesign.US
WWW.ElectroDesign.US

 

He has been mentioned a few times I think he will be the one I will talk to... price is what is gonna snap the neck... lol

 

When I made my last post to this thread, I could not find Jerry Rudbeck's name and info. He is a very good source for Delco radio repair/refurb.

Also, from your further discussion, it sounds like "Dad" really used the LT-1 as it was intended and wound it pretty 'tight' at times. I would surmise that you might "put the pedal down" once in a while, but probably not rev it to max. revs very often, if at all. You want to conserve the car, not use it up. Anyway, if you are a little more mild mannered with it, the smog pump and rebuilt 'stock' drive train will be plenty good for you. You need to pull the oil pan and remove a bearing cap or two to see what condition they are in before you merely button it up. If those bearings and caps look good, then a refresh of the heads and a good oiling and prelube of the engine should be enough to get it going again. The lifters should be checked for damage/wear, but keep them identified as to which lobe they came from so you can put them back the same way if they are good. New gaskets and new stock head bolts should get it together again if all checks out.

Keep in touch with progress and further questions. Good luck.

 

Well I have thought of pullin the motor and and do new bearings and oil pump and maybe hone the bore a touch to add new rings. and then button it up.

He did drive it and tried to not drive the crap out of it, but did wind it up a few times. I plan to make it a cruiser and I am sure I will put it down every now and then but, I am not the type to hammer it to hell.

I am now really wondering about this tank sticker I keep hearing about, can someone fill me in on this "treasure" I keep reading about and why it is so treasured?

 

GM printed up a "build sheet" which contained all the pertinent information of a car, such as engine, transmission, paint and interior trim colors, as well as all options. It was always put "somewhere" in the car before it left the factory. In the case of Corvettes of that era, it was stuck to the top of the gas tank.

It's a "treasure" in that it lists everything unique about your car, as well as can be used to verify originality.

 

While you have it tore down....change the timing chain. They come with a nylon tipped cam gear and they do slip. Put a good quality double roller setup in. It will save a whole lot of headaches later.
Keep us updated.

 

If you find the tank sticker still on top of the fuel tank, don't just try to pull it off. The paper will be fragile and could easily tear off. I've not really searched for that on mine; but should I find it, I'll call a document restorer to learn how to properly remove it and process it with the best chance of 'survival'...rather than just pull it off and 'check it out'. There are ways to keep it as a viable document without destroying it.

 

Good advise...the factory also sometimes stashed copies under the seats & or up under the dash...you might get lucky

 

treasure hunt... nice. Hope'n for the underdash area.

I figured timing chain would be a given. That is a pretty important item that could alot of issues quickly.

Thanks again for all the info!

 

Regarding the radio, i recently bought this one and i am very happy with it!
I got two 4 inches in the kick panels and two 7 inches in the back and it sounds great!

I would definitely recommend it...
I like it cause it looks stock, i hate it when i see big radios with big screens, it looks out of place in my opinion!


http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=26589