Ground up restore
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 243
Likes: 3
From: Sydney Australia
Ground up restore
Hi I have bought a 76 model and about to start a ground up restore in 2 months. Got holidays first. So what I am looking for is a good book/manual that I can read over holidays. Also I have seen a guy built a wooden frame that the body can sit on, while working on chassis. Anyone have a diagram for this.
Thanks for help
Thanks for help
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Welcme to the finest C3 resource on the planet. Spend the weekend using the search function here. There are posts about everything from suggested toolkits, air comperssor sizing, body dolly construction, home paint booth construction and anything else you can possibly envision which pertains to working on your car. You name the challenge and someone (or several someones) have faced the same thing and come up with excellent solutions. No waiting for the mailman, adult beverages encouraged, and it's free... what more could you ask for???
Last edited by markids77; Apr 26, 2012 at 09:21 PM. Reason: spelling
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Hi I have bought a 76 model and about to start a ground up restore in 2 months. Got holidays first. So what I am looking for is a good book/manual that I can read over holidays. Also I have seen a guy built a wooden frame that the body can sit on, while working on chassis. Anyone have a diagram for this.
Thanks for help
Thanks for help
I built the body dolly from the plans and I felt it could have been a LOT better and easier than it was.
I think I drew up a photo that made some corrections...let me see if i can find it.
Things I learned about the body dolly.
Make sure if you're using an engine hoist to lift the body the legs fit under the dolly. I think i used 4" caster wheels and that didn't get it high enough for the dolly to slide under.
you might consider some kind of extra support for the front nose... mine's been sitting on the dolly for a year now with no support and i'm worried it isn't good for the body.
Last edited by PUNISHER VETTE; Apr 26, 2012 at 09:27 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
just a little more while i'm on the subject.
You can get body lifting straps from corvette stores online. if you're using the engine hoist method i had to put knots in my straps to shorten them just enough...
pic of actual body dolly...
using an engine hoist is not the way I would do it again if i had other methods or extra money...
and the issue with height that i ran into..
You can get body lifting straps from corvette stores online. if you're using the engine hoist method i had to put knots in my straps to shorten them just enough...
pic of actual body dolly...
using an engine hoist is not the way I would do it again if i had other methods or extra money...
and the issue with height that i ran into..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If you haven't done so already pick up the AIM, here's a link to one:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1976-Corvette...#ht_5099wt_754
Study hard............and welcome aboard.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1976-Corvette...#ht_5099wt_754
Study hard............and welcome aboard.
Last edited by briankeery; Apr 26, 2012 at 11:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
I think it's like 700ish?
buy a hoist with the longest arm that'll support 700ish lbs as you can as mine lifts the body BUT when you need to go higher the hydraulic ram rubs on the paint and bends the door fiberglass...
Luckily my body/paint are in poor condition so I don't care. But I'll find a new method once i get my paint fancied up...
Not sure what others are using but I would vote against using an engine hoist... just get 6ish big family or friends to come over and lift it off for you...
buy a hoist with the longest arm that'll support 700ish lbs as you can as mine lifts the body BUT when you need to go higher the hydraulic ram rubs on the paint and bends the door fiberglass...
Luckily my body/paint are in poor condition so I don't care. But I'll find a new method once i get my paint fancied up...
Not sure what others are using but I would vote against using an engine hoist... just get 6ish big family or friends to come over and lift it off for you...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Before you begin you will want an owner's manual, the assembly instruction manual (AIM), and the GM chassis service manual.
Space will become an issue. You will need to store everything you pull off. As soon as you separate body and frame, will will need twice the shop space.
Good luck.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,541
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From: iowa city iowa
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C3 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
When I put the body back on my 76 I used a cheap HF engine hoist that I borrowed from a friend. I used 2 straps that I borrowed from a truck driving friend that had the flat hooks on each end. I have seen people use four straps, but I had really good luck with putting one across the front corners and one across the back. I thought it might be awkward to move the body swinging from the hoist, but we have a very steep driveway and did not want to try to roll it out and back in so I borrowed (see a theme here yet?) some wheel dollies and we slid the frame under the suspended body. I was dreading the process, but it was actually quite simple and went very well. That is me in the second photo watching my friends (who loaned me the stuff) do most of the work. Yup. Cheap AND lazy. Ask my wife... she will tell you. 
Papawana has wiring diagrams that he has been kind enough to send to everyone, but since I already got one of his '76 ones, I can send it to you (check your PM) or you can request one from him:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...or-anyone.html
Good luck and keep us posted.
-brent
Papawana has wiring diagrams that he has been kind enough to send to everyone, but since I already got one of his '76 ones, I can send it to you (check your PM) or you can request one from him:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...or-anyone.html
Good luck and keep us posted.
-brent
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 243
Likes: 3
From: Sydney Australia
all ready in front of you. I got the wiring diagrams off him a day or so go. Thanks 
I thought the engine lift was the easy option. So if i got 3 other people could we just lift it off. Paint dont care about, going to get done. But i dont want to flex the body to much.
I thought the engine lift was the easy option. So if i got 3 other people could we just lift it off. Paint dont care about, going to get done. But i dont want to flex the body to much.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
I just moved to PA so didn't know 6 people so the hoist is a single man method that works for me... but I think 6ish people could lift the body fairly easy and with much less risk of flexing the body and dealing with straps and all that...
