1973 Corvette Convertible Resto
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
No matter how well you "think" you did your body work, that first primer shoot will humble you in a hurry... Definitely will be a guide coat, wet blocking, and re-prime... Happy with some areas, and disappointed in others... I guess not bad for a hack that hasn't done this in 25+ years...
Got Tass to help me put the doors on real quick... We also just "set" the hood and hatch on...
Thanks for looking and commenting...
Rogman
Got Tass to help me put the doors on real quick... We also just "set" the hood and hatch on...
Thanks for looking and commenting...
Rogman
Looking good! Pretty exciting to see it in primer. For me, that's when it starts to really look like a car again - and to be honest, I love the look of a car when it's in fresh primer.
You are right about that first round letting you know how you did, but it's good in the fact that you are finally able to see what else needs to be done. Looking like a Vette again in that photo with the doors and hood on!
The trip isn't what you want to do I'm sure, but thank you for your service to our country
Maybe you'll get to hop on the forums from time to time while you're in DC.
Take care,
Adam
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Hey Roger,
Looking good! Pretty exciting to see it in primer. For me, that's when it starts to really look like a car again - and to be honest, I love the look of a car when it's in fresh primer.
You are right about that first round letting you know how you did, but it's good in the fact that you are finally able to see what else needs to be done. Looking like a Vette again in that photo with the doors and hood on!
The trip isn't what you want to do I'm sure, but thank you for your service to our country
Maybe you'll get to hop on the forums from time to time while you're in DC.
Take care,
Adam
Looking good! Pretty exciting to see it in primer. For me, that's when it starts to really look like a car again - and to be honest, I love the look of a car when it's in fresh primer.
You are right about that first round letting you know how you did, but it's good in the fact that you are finally able to see what else needs to be done. Looking like a Vette again in that photo with the doors and hood on!
The trip isn't what you want to do I'm sure, but thank you for your service to our country
Maybe you'll get to hop on the forums from time to time while you're in DC.
Take care,
Adam
Rogman
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne, IN
sorry to hear that you'll be away for so long, but I for one will be anxiously waiting your return to complete your beautiful masterpiece.
I'll be out of the USAF by then, so i will be able to really work on my car. I will definitely be using this thread when i do a frame off resto-mod of my 77 as well as a proper frame off restoration of my (soon-to-be) 78 SA when my wife PCSs next year. (BOP to Wright-Pat, I believe, we find out next week)
I'll be out of the USAF by then, so i will be able to really work on my car. I will definitely be using this thread when i do a frame off resto-mod of my 77 as well as a proper frame off restoration of my (soon-to-be) 78 SA when my wife PCSs next year. (BOP to Wright-Pat, I believe, we find out next week)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
sorry to hear that you'll be away for so long, but I for one will be anxiously waiting your return to complete your beautiful masterpiece.
I'll be out of the USAF by then, so i will be able to really work on my car. I will definitely be using this thread when i do a frame off resto-mod of my 77 as well as a proper frame off restoration of my (soon-to-be) 78 SA when my wife PCSs next year. (BOP to Wright-Pat, I believe, we find out next week)
I'll be out of the USAF by then, so i will be able to really work on my car. I will definitely be using this thread when i do a frame off resto-mod of my 77 as well as a proper frame off restoration of my (soon-to-be) 78 SA when my wife PCSs next year. (BOP to Wright-Pat, I believe, we find out next week)
Good luck on the move... Saying WP is your BOP when you are in Hawaii just doesn't seem right!!! We loved our time in Hawaii (03-06), and would go back in a heart beat... Guess you can't stay forever...
Rogman
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne, IN
LOL! I know, right?! My wife got me excited about WP by showing me the kinds of houses that we can afford to buy out there.
Big house, with a pool, plenty of land, 2 car attached garage......and the best part, a separated detached 4 car garage to a full on pole barn (for my workshop) all for about the same price that you can buy a condo for out here. And there are plenty of places out there that are that size with all of those....."amenities"(?) for sale out there.
I personally love Hawaii, and would love to stay here forever, but I really want space to work.
Big house, with a pool, plenty of land, 2 car attached garage......and the best part, a separated detached 4 car garage to a full on pole barn (for my workshop) all for about the same price that you can buy a condo for out here. And there are plenty of places out there that are that size with all of those....."amenities"(?) for sale out there.
I personally love Hawaii, and would love to stay here forever, but I really want space to work.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Roger, it's been awhile since I looked in, but that car looks amazing even in primer. It'll be stunning when you finally do get the chance to lay the paint on...
As for mine, I've got the body half-sanded, but getting my son's car ready for the trip back to TX pretty much interrupted everything, so we got that done and I just took one of the more interesting 1300-mile trips of my adult life! Halfway across America in midsummer in a 21-year old Nissan 240SX drift car with a fart-can tipped 4" pipe, coil-over springs with 1/2" of travel and the back half filled with tires, tools, and luggage. Fortunately, I had my Motrin bottle at the ready.
Since you're now separated from your beast, it looks like I'll be passing you up and hopefully have color on mine in about a month. Posts and pics to follow...
As for mine, I've got the body half-sanded, but getting my son's car ready for the trip back to TX pretty much interrupted everything, so we got that done and I just took one of the more interesting 1300-mile trips of my adult life! Halfway across America in midsummer in a 21-year old Nissan 240SX drift car with a fart-can tipped 4" pipe, coil-over springs with 1/2" of travel and the back half filled with tires, tools, and luggage. Fortunately, I had my Motrin bottle at the ready.
Since you're now separated from your beast, it looks like I'll be passing you up and hopefully have color on mine in about a month. Posts and pics to follow...
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Elida OH
74 being restored
Your pictures look great. We have been working on our 74 corvette since May 2011 and just started it up yesterday. Put new elderbrock cam, lifters, manifold, waterpump, shocks, etc, etc. I have assisted my hubby and son throughout this operation. I will be placing pictures of this whole operations in about a month when it is all done. We are now debating on replacing the steering with rack & pinion. We have done all the work ourselves and it has been a momumental task. Reading about the R&P steering has me concerned as we will not modify any original part on the frame, engine, or oil pan to put this in. We did start it up yesterday and set the timing and dwell. The car sounds like its ready for Nascar, lol. Can't wait to get her done. Is yours done? How is she running? We bought our Vette new in 74 and it has 43000 miles. We are the original owners and have kept all original parts in storage boxes under the house.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Your pictures look great. We have been working on our 74 corvette since May 2011 and just started it up yesterday. Put new elderbrock cam, lifters, manifold, waterpump, shocks, etc, etc. I have assisted my hubby and son throughout this operation. I will be placing pictures of this whole operations in about a month when it is all done. We are now debating on replacing the steering with rack & pinion. We have done all the work ourselves and it has been a momumental task. Reading about the R&P steering has me concerned as we will not modify any original part on the frame, engine, or oil pan to put this in. We did start it up yesterday and set the timing and dwell. The car sounds like its ready for Nascar, lol. Can't wait to get her done. Is yours done? How is she running? We bought our Vette new in 74 and it has 43000 miles. We are the original owners and have kept all original parts in storage boxes under the house.
Sorry it took me a couple of days to reply... Unfortunately, nothing has progressed on our Vette since I left for school at the beginning of August... Next chance I'll get to work on it will be on Christmas vacation... Plan then is to block the car, do a little body work on some areas I'm not happy with, and shoot another couple coats of primer... It will then sit until I finish school (May/June 2013)... Glad yours is coming along... I know what you mean about driving it and getting it on the road... Being an original owner has to be pretty rare!!!
Rogman
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Small Update, Alan please don't look ;-)
I was able to fly home for a long weekend during Veteran's day... I had two goals, 1) block sand the doors, hood and vert lid and get another couple of K36 applied, and 2) Clean up several pieces that I needed to get sent off to the chromer/polisher... Well, never got close to even beginning #1, but did get #2 accomplished... Cleaned these guys up, got them boxed up, and off to Fedex...
Got the call today from my Chromer and gave him the go ahead (except for the gas lid, told him not to chrome that; I'll just paint that the color of the car--I got that nice polished aluminum lid from Brett)... These should be back to me by the time I get home for the Christmas break... They are going to re-chrome the pot metal pieces and polish the stainless steel pieces... Can't wait to see these refurbed...
I leave tomorrow to go home for Thanksgiving, but most of my family gets into town for the weekend, so doubt I will get to #1 above (maybe???)... If not, I expect to get the whole car blocked and re-primed during my 2 weeks at home during Christmas...
As always, thanks for looking and appreciate your comments (and constructive criticism--Alan, I know you don't like the hood/deck grills chromed, sorry, I dig the look)...
Rogman
Got the call today from my Chromer and gave him the go ahead (except for the gas lid, told him not to chrome that; I'll just paint that the color of the car--I got that nice polished aluminum lid from Brett)... These should be back to me by the time I get home for the Christmas break... They are going to re-chrome the pot metal pieces and polish the stainless steel pieces... Can't wait to see these refurbed...
I leave tomorrow to go home for Thanksgiving, but most of my family gets into town for the weekend, so doubt I will get to #1 above (maybe???)... If not, I expect to get the whole car blocked and re-primed during my 2 weeks at home during Christmas...
As always, thanks for looking and appreciate your comments (and constructive criticism--Alan, I know you don't like the hood/deck grills chromed, sorry, I dig the look)...
Rogman
Love it when stuff turns all bright and shiny! Looking forward to seeing the results of the plating.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Rogman
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Arlington VA
Hey Rogman - first, Happy Thanksgiving!
I got my 73 coupe in October, and just recently found this thread - OMFG! It's taken me about 10 days to slog through all the posts, pictures, blood sweat and tears, and I'm very happy I spent the time reading and contemplating what you've done, how you've done what you've done to date. Wonderful attention to detail, and I'm quite envious of your setup where you have the luxury of tearing into everything on your car and give it the work that those of us passionate about C3s believe they deserve :-) I'm especially fond of your work on the doors, filling in the seams, the undercarriage coating and the engine bay. Very nice work, and most of all - I appreciate your willingness to take the time to post photos and commentary so those of us very new to this can benefit greatly! So, thanks for your efforts and time.
Enjoy your vacation and when you get back to DC - PM me, and I'm happy to come get you in my very-early-stage 73 resto-mod, and we can grab dinner at Vapiano's or something.
I got my 73 coupe in October, and just recently found this thread - OMFG! It's taken me about 10 days to slog through all the posts, pictures, blood sweat and tears, and I'm very happy I spent the time reading and contemplating what you've done, how you've done what you've done to date. Wonderful attention to detail, and I'm quite envious of your setup where you have the luxury of tearing into everything on your car and give it the work that those of us passionate about C3s believe they deserve :-) I'm especially fond of your work on the doors, filling in the seams, the undercarriage coating and the engine bay. Very nice work, and most of all - I appreciate your willingness to take the time to post photos and commentary so those of us very new to this can benefit greatly! So, thanks for your efforts and time.
Enjoy your vacation and when you get back to DC - PM me, and I'm happy to come get you in my very-early-stage 73 resto-mod, and we can grab dinner at Vapiano's or something.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,868
Likes: 13
From: Mascoutah IL
Hey Rogman - first, Happy Thanksgiving!
I got my 73 coupe in October, and just recently found this thread - OMFG! It's taken me about 10 days to slog through all the posts, pictures, blood sweat and tears, and I'm very happy I spent the time reading and contemplating what you've done, how you've done what you've done to date. Wonderful attention to detail, and I'm quite envious of your setup where you have the luxury of tearing into everything on your car and give it the work that those of us passionate about C3s believe they deserve :-) I'm especially fond of your work on the doors, filling in the seams, the undercarriage coating and the engine bay. Very nice work, and most of all - I appreciate your willingness to take the time to post photos and commentary so those of us very new to this can benefit greatly! So, thanks for your efforts and time.
Enjoy your vacation and when you get back to DC - PM me, and I'm happy to come get you in my very-early-stage 73 resto-mod, and we can grab dinner at Vapiano's or something.
I got my 73 coupe in October, and just recently found this thread - OMFG! It's taken me about 10 days to slog through all the posts, pictures, blood sweat and tears, and I'm very happy I spent the time reading and contemplating what you've done, how you've done what you've done to date. Wonderful attention to detail, and I'm quite envious of your setup where you have the luxury of tearing into everything on your car and give it the work that those of us passionate about C3s believe they deserve :-) I'm especially fond of your work on the doors, filling in the seams, the undercarriage coating and the engine bay. Very nice work, and most of all - I appreciate your willingness to take the time to post photos and commentary so those of us very new to this can benefit greatly! So, thanks for your efforts and time.
Enjoy your vacation and when you get back to DC - PM me, and I'm happy to come get you in my very-early-stage 73 resto-mod, and we can grab dinner at Vapiano's or something.
Thanks much... Valpiano's sounds fun... I've seen the commercials but never been... I've got a small studio in Old Town Alexandria... I'll shoot you a PM sometime next week after I get back into the swing at school!!!
Rogman
