I'm a long-time VW nut. I have an old '67 type-3 fastback that's slammed to the ground and rides like a buckboard, a boosted '85 Golf GTI that runs low 10's in the 1/4 and a 2012 Golf daily driver with cold air-conditioning but, lately I've been having the most fun helping my father-in-law get his '68 Stingray back on the road. Luckily, I have alot of 'merican V8 dragracing pals to help me but I've been able to get alot done with the help of forums like this.

He bought this car about fifteen years ago and probably has only put 400 miles on it since then but when he services it, he does it right. When the seats needed help, he got the right material to cover them and had a good shop rebuild them. The suspension was sagging, so he had a good shop lift it back up and tighten things. The car was originally white with black interior and top so when the crappy white top quit working, he got the right black one installed. It's got the "wrong" hood on it but he has the "right" hood sitting in the garage for when it gets repainted. He got the exhaust re-done (doesn't drag the ground anymore). While he's done alot of good work, the car just wouldn't run well.

I started checking numbers and found the block is a 350 from a '74 truck as opposed to the "right" 327. It's got a Holley 6619-1 carb (getting overhauled by one of my dragracing pals), '64/'65 intake manifold, "ram-horn" exhaust manifolds but I have no idea what heads, cam, compression ratio it has. I installed the Pertronix Ignitor in place of the points and with the freshened-up carb we should be good for a cruise!

The tires are flat-spotted and dry rotting so I'll be looking for the "right" size tires and I'll go through the brakes before we get too excited for a little "heavy pedal".

Nonetheless, I wanted to let you regular posters know that a newbie is eager to learn. Thanks for posting up your experiences and knowledge. I regularly have people ask me how my brother and I learned so much about making our VW dragcar move so well. I tell them that our list of dramatic failures is much longer than the list of our successes. It's forums like this that adjust that curve.

Thanks again,

dave.....

 

Welcme to the forum and thanks for helping get another classic back on the road. I recommend brakes before it leaves the yard for the first time... please include a new master, and all new rubber (or braided) flex lines for sure. If the rotors need attention search here for "setting runout"... if the discs are warped or not installed "correctly" the wobble tends to pump the system full of air and leads to poor pedal and bad stopping distances.

Ditto new sneakers before it leaves the driveway! Fiberglass shreds under contact from flat, delaminating dry rotted tires. Best for all concerned it never has a chance to happen. Feeling a healthy American V8 under your right foot might go a ways toward returning you to the "one true path" for speed... there is absolutely no replacement for displacement!

 

Hi Dave,
WELCOME!
Although you're helping with a car that's been modified to some degree you may still get a LOT of useful information from the '68 Assembly Instruction Manual', (often refered to as the AIM); and the GM '68 Chassis Service Manual', (it was used at the dealerships by the service techs).
Many of the larger vendors sell them, and most people find them priceless!
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Welcome both Markids77 rec. and Alan71 have given you excellent advice as quite often answered to posted questions will start out with references to the AIM manual and go from there.

 

Welcome to the group. Sounds like the car is in good hands between you and your father-in-law. Post pictures when you get a chance we love pictures. And as mentioned check into the AIM and GM shop manual.

 

Hi Dave, welcome to Corvette Paradise.

Except there are 'NO' 1968 Stingrays.

thats OK, got to have one like me in every crowd......

 

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the warm welcome.

It seems my father-in-law, while not really a car guy, has taken the initiative to get the AIM some time ago so we're ready for war. Apparently, the guy who sold him the car had one for sale so he thought it was a good idea to have one.

While trolling, I learned the correct way to get a Corvette (not a stingray) on jack stands to service the brakes. This will happen over the weekend.

I went to a party on Tuesday night at a pals house while he was in town passing through on the Hot Rod Power Tour. There were two dozen cool old cars sitting around in his yard and the stories from the drive made it seem like we should do this next year. We have a goal for the Corvette!

Thanks again for the welcome and I look forward to digging into the car this weekend.