68 Project
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
68 Project
I've decided to make a thread to document my "project". Birdman, from whom I bought the 68 vert, also had asked me to take pictures of things I would be doing.
I'm not new at restoring cars, but this is my first resto on a vette (had two 67 RS SS camaros, one 69 which I still have).
The goal for this car is to stay with originality.
Thus far I have started to take apart the console (to replace the bottom portion) and restore the shift plate and the arm rest/e-brake cover.
I had seen some bubling on the drive side door jam (door side by the lock) and I couldn't help myself...plus the air sander was right there...
"Doctor, I believe there's some cancer here":
"Scalpel please":
eventually, I get to this point: the support bracket behind the metal is in good shape, some sanding down with disc sander and a coat of POR15 should protect it. Now I'm ready to fab a patch panel, tack it in...soon it will be like I wasn't there
I'm not new at restoring cars, but this is my first resto on a vette (had two 67 RS SS camaros, one 69 which I still have).
The goal for this car is to stay with originality.
Thus far I have started to take apart the console (to replace the bottom portion) and restore the shift plate and the arm rest/e-brake cover.
I had seen some bubling on the drive side door jam (door side by the lock) and I couldn't help myself...plus the air sander was right there...
"Doctor, I believe there's some cancer here":
"Scalpel please":
eventually, I get to this point: the support bracket behind the metal is in good shape, some sanding down with disc sander and a coat of POR15 should protect it. Now I'm ready to fab a patch panel, tack it in...soon it will be like I wasn't there
Last edited by mirage2991; Dec 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
No rain today. I was able to get the patch fitted and started welding
a few hours later and a few drinks later, it's just about good to go. A little bit more grinding, and a very small amount of filler will get it to 100%
As the sun was going down, is started to get cold, so I stoped there. I ordered the lower console, should be arriving in a couple days.
a few hours later and a few drinks later, it's just about good to go. A little bit more grinding, and a very small amount of filler will get it to 100%
As the sun was going down, is started to get cold, so I stoped there. I ordered the lower console, should be arriving in a couple days.
Last edited by mirage2991; Dec 26, 2011 at 10:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
only pics I have is what Birdman had taken for his fs thread, right here: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3s-...nvertible.html
hopefully my lift gets here soon so I can start doing stuff under the car (like POR15 the frame) and do some exh work: going back to under the car exh, got a set of hooker comps coated headers waiting to be installed, mendrel bent 2.25 exh and turbo mufflers.
hopefully my lift gets here soon so I can start doing stuff under the car (like POR15 the frame) and do some exh work: going back to under the car exh, got a set of hooker comps coated headers waiting to be installed, mendrel bent 2.25 exh and turbo mufflers.
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 56
Likes: 15
From: BARRINGTON Rhode Island
Wow...what a nice job on the repair.
Wish I had time to learn to weld..
Wish I had a garage to learn in..
Wish I could convince wife to let me get a welder, garage and a project car!
Look forward to the progress.
Nice work!
Wish I had time to learn to weld..
Wish I had a garage to learn in..
Wish I could convince wife to let me get a welder, garage and a project car!
Look forward to the progress.
Nice work!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
After fighting with the first exht system pipes I had bought (hookers mendrel bent 2.25") which no amount of cutting and welding would make look right (hanged low, bends were just not done correctly allowing for the pipes to properly tuck in), I went and bought Mid America's chambered exhaust. Unfortunatly, I fat finger the order and got the 74 up kit and not the 68-73...doh...found out when the system arrived, so, the tail pipes required some mod, nothing to hard or bad, just time consuming.
Spent most afternoon setting up the pass side to where there was enough clearances not to rattle yet still decently tucked in:
this side is now all done, I will tac the SS tips last, when the other side is in place.
This is "tomorrow's" plan.
Spent most afternoon setting up the pass side to where there was enough clearances not to rattle yet still decently tucked in:
this side is now all done, I will tac the SS tips last, when the other side is in place.
This is "tomorrow's" plan.
Last edited by mirage2991; Jan 14, 2012 at 07:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
ok, all done, after another afternoon, this exhaust is all done, all hooked up, all welded up.
I was afraid about welding the SS tips, since I use flux wire (no gas), but a quick test on a piece I cut out (so they could be positioned correctly without any clamps) and it showed it would work...and it did.
Now I will be moving on to some wiring clean up, then I will be ready to fire it up to hear it...I will post a vid, can't wait!.
After that, I will get back on the top side to finish the console install, and finishing cleaning up the back carpet area to install the sound/heat shield kit.
Then, looks like the A-frames could use new bushings, and I'm sure there will be some misc pieces that will be replaced as I find them.
Don't want to do to much as I plan on doing a frame off early summer and would like to enjoy driving the car before that.
I was afraid about welding the SS tips, since I use flux wire (no gas), but a quick test on a piece I cut out (so they could be positioned correctly without any clamps) and it showed it would work...and it did.
Now I will be moving on to some wiring clean up, then I will be ready to fire it up to hear it...I will post a vid, can't wait!.
After that, I will get back on the top side to finish the console install, and finishing cleaning up the back carpet area to install the sound/heat shield kit.
Then, looks like the A-frames could use new bushings, and I'm sure there will be some misc pieces that will be replaced as I find them.
Don't want to do to much as I plan on doing a frame off early summer and would like to enjoy driving the car before that.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
This morning, I was able to spend a little bit of time to button it back up so I could fire it up. What a great way to start the day! Man she sounds great. I wouldn't call it "quiet" but the sounds is all the way in the back, which is a big plus.
Recap: this is the MidAmerica chambered system, for 300 bucks, one "muffler" per side. They claimed it sounds like your 66-67 style side pipes, and from all the youtube vid I could listen to from those, I would say they are correct.
No leaks and no rattles to boot...
and now, for some music (keep in mind this is taken in the garage, facing the wall so it is "louder" with more resonance than out side):
click me!
Recap: this is the MidAmerica chambered system, for 300 bucks, one "muffler" per side. They claimed it sounds like your 66-67 style side pipes, and from all the youtube vid I could listen to from those, I would say they are correct.
No leaks and no rattles to boot...
and now, for some music (keep in mind this is taken in the garage, facing the wall so it is "louder" with more resonance than out side):
click me!
Last edited by mirage2991; Jan 18, 2012 at 01:08 PM.