1981 Project Fun
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
From: NW sub of chicago IL
Hey a fellow insomniac I like you already.
Its a journey just to keep these cars on the road. After owning my 72 for the past 2 years I have learned every nut and bolt on it. I even plan on rebuilding the transmission my self.
Wish I could have had a family member help me out with this, all my family past on to me is how to handle and train horses. Odd I always envisioned a mustang as my first car. But when I rode in my grandmothers 75 I fell in love with the stingray.
Enjoy the journey and let that car put a smile on your face
ok I think I over did the sappy there
Its a journey just to keep these cars on the road. After owning my 72 for the past 2 years I have learned every nut and bolt on it. I even plan on rebuilding the transmission my self.
Wish I could have had a family member help me out with this, all my family past on to me is how to handle and train horses. Odd I always envisioned a mustang as my first car. But when I rode in my grandmothers 75 I fell in love with the stingray.
Enjoy the journey and let that car put a smile on your face
ok I think I over did the sappy there
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
The exhaust system has sure been changed from what came out in '81. Looks like a different crossmember was put in....was it? I would sure like to see some additional shots of that exhaust system and crossmember.
From the engine picture it also appears that the CCC has been removed as well.
From the engine picture it also appears that the CCC has been removed as well.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
congrats!!! looks like you guys have a lot of progress. It will definitely be a learning process. I have had mine for a couple of years and every time I am in the garage I am always learning something new. Enjoy. I just wish my boys (16 and 13) would be eager to learn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Yeah I thought the original carb and computer were probably removed. And the GForce crossmember is what allows the exhaust to be routed on both sides of the trans. Originally the exhaust piping was routed on the right side....it was a 2 to 1 to 2 with a cat under the passenger seat.
So you actually have more of an '80 than an '81...just because the CCC is gone....that was the major difference between the years...except for an '80 in Califorina...and then it also had a 305 engine.
You will have lots of fun ahead. I had the interior of my '81 looking just like yours at one time. Be sure to change-out the heater core....it is the easy with the dash out. Oh and if there is anything wrong with the windshield.....replace it with the dash out.....really, really difficult to get the original one out with the dash in. But if it has already been replaced once....probably not to bad with the dash in.
Again....have fun....enjoy.
So you actually have more of an '80 than an '81...just because the CCC is gone....that was the major difference between the years...except for an '80 in Califorina...and then it also had a 305 engine.
You will have lots of fun ahead. I had the interior of my '81 looking just like yours at one time. Be sure to change-out the heater core....it is the easy with the dash out. Oh and if there is anything wrong with the windshield.....replace it with the dash out.....really, really difficult to get the original one out with the dash in. But if it has already been replaced once....probably not to bad with the dash in.
Again....have fun....enjoy.
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Are you going back to the original white? I guess I must be a wuss or something, but I wouldnt have gone to the trouble to sand all that paint off when the paint that was on there was presentable. I would have put a new interior in and called it good. To each his own, but its great to see youngin's working on these cars. Keep it up!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Fl.
St. Jude Donor '11
WOOF WOOF......Hope your a boy. I'm in LOVE 
Can I help?
Seriously, great project with your dad that you will always remember
I'm trying to get my daughter to work on her (future Vette) when she's not texting.
She loves it when were at an event though, when others complement her car.
Have FUN
Can I help?Seriously, great project with your dad that you will always remember
I'm trying to get my daughter to work on her (future Vette) when she's not texting.
She loves it when were at an event though, when others complement her car.
Have FUN
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Good Luck with your project, it looks like you're not waisting any time on it. Did you get to drive it around before you took it apart? Take lots of pictures of everything, they will come in handy when its time to put it all back together...
