This has been a lot longer project than I originally intended. Started out as a normal '78 that needed to be freshened up. It has been sitting for a couple of years waiting.





Then it went to a convertible conversion that stalled for a while.







Found a deal on all the parts that I needed for it but the rear deck wouldn't fit on the car. I'm not a fiberglass guy so it took a while for me to decide on what to do. I cut both sides of the rear deck to give the clearance for the fenders and started fiberglassing it together. Just have it the cuts roughed in to fit for size and will be grinding out most of that and reapplying fiberglass.




I started seeing rust on the frame and got worried about the condition of the frame and birdcage. Now it has become a frame off. I'm really enjoying it now. This has forced me to learn more about corvettes than I ever would any other way. Ended up the rust was nowhere near as bad as I thought. Mainly a heavy surface rust. I've just about got the frame completely disassembled and will be starting to get it painted soon.





Wish I had gotten a 4 car garage now. The birdcage seems great. All of the body mounting points are still good. It will be getting all new interior, motor, transmission, rear end, trailing arms and paint. Pretty much only the body and frame will be the original parts left on the car.

 

Wow, and I thought I was knee deep into my Vette... You certainly have me covered... Will be following this build very closely... Please keep us updated...

Rogman

 

Full Speed Ahead!!!

Subscribed.

Good Luck!

 

Can't stop now, so far so good, keep us posted.

 

they all take longer than expected. i got my 82 in 07 and just got in on the road at the beginning of this year. it looks like your making some good progress on it. i see a sportbike in your garage. what is it. i can't tell. i have one also, a turbo hayabusa.

 

It's an Interceptor. Picked it up about 6 months ago.

 

 

i wish i had the time and money to do my 79 that way... good luck and god speed

 

They are both in short supply. This project came to a halt about 1 1/2 years ago due to both reasons. I just recently got motivated again. As far as money, you just have to watch craigslist, this forum and ebay. I am getting good deals on all my parts so I am saving a lot. I'll have about 15k in this when it is all said and done but that will be an all new car that should last the rest of my life time.

 

Looks great so far. Was there actually a '78 convertable?
Bought our '79 built, trying to get it pristine. I'm learning as I go. What is the bird cage? I have heard a lot about it. Is the only difference between the '78 and '79 the emblems?

Here's a pic of our '79:

 

No convertible in 78. The birdcage
is the frame of the pasenger compartment that is susceptible to rust on these cars and hard to repair.

Not a lot of difference between the two years. Not familiar enough with a 79 to tell you what it all is. You'll learn a lot on this site from these guys.

Nice car

 

Thanks, can you see the bird cage's condition without taking the car apart?

 

the seats are a dead giveaway btwn a 78 and 79. 79 adopted the 78 Pace Car seats as standard equipment, emblems are also different. Very little difference btwn the 2 years.

 

Check the windshield but it is really hard to see it if there is rust on it. The kick panels inside the car in front of the doors can be removed and you can see a body mount there. Inside the rear wheel wells at the front of each is a small plate with 2 screws that can be removed to check. Those are the easiest places to check.

 

Well got bad and good news today. I was looking at my windshield frame and found a pretty large hole in it that had rusted through at a corner. Don't know how I missed it unless I just uncovered it when I was cleaning it up with a grinder last week. That would be a serious repair for me and now I question if there are any parts of the birdcage that can't be seen right now that are that bad. I've put a stop to the rebuild. That's the bad news.

The good news for me is that I have already found and bought another corvette to replace it for what it would have cost me to finish this one anyway.

The good news for you guys is now I have a ton of parts that I will be taking photos of and posting in the for sale section maybe as soon as tomorrow. Everything from a full interior, all the parts needed for a conversion including a couple of the hard to near impossible parts needed, suspension, convertible top frame and who knows what else. I can't remember what all I have bought over the past several years. If it was bought new then it is still new in the box.

If you are looking for anything for your car watch for my post and get a early start looking for your parts. Once I get the headlight assemblies out of the body, I guess it is off to the landfill with it.

 

The rust problem seems minor. Easy to fix or farm out the work.

It is easy to rip a car apart. This creates a false sense of accomplishment. Almost no skill required. Then the delays. Then the excuses of being too busy. Actually you are feeling frustrated. The hobby is no longer fun. Overwelmed. Wondering what friends and family are thinking. All those confident promises. Feeling like a failure.

Sounds like you just lost control and gave up. You destroyed what was a nice but not perfect car. How do I know? Been there and done that on a prior car.

Finish the car. You can do it.