1974 Refresh
08-29-2012, 12:57 PM
#1
1974 Refresh
I bought the car 17 years ago. First car. Daily drove it for about six years and occasionally drove it for the following 10. A little more then a year ago I dusted it off, cleaned it up and took it for a drive. I decided it needed to be painted, finally, so naturally I would build a motor first. Pulled the motor and trans that night and broke the motor down.
I took the block and crank to the most reputable engine builder I could find for machine work and after talking engine theory and horsepower across several visits decided to let him build it instead of just doing the machine work.
Then life got in the way of corvette plans until about a month ago when I got back into it. As with everything it has been escalating. Motor and trans turned into cleaning up the engine bay. Which led to rebuilding the front end into power steering where I noticed body mounts when I saw rear suspension pulling the body might as well breaks ss lines... It doesn't end. Front end is done working on pulling the body.
I took the block and crank to the most reputable engine builder I could find for machine work and after talking engine theory and horsepower across several visits decided to let him build it instead of just doing the machine work.
Then life got in the way of corvette plans until about a month ago when I got back into it. As with everything it has been escalating. Motor and trans turned into cleaning up the engine bay. Which led to rebuilding the front end into power steering where I noticed body mounts when I saw rear suspension pulling the body might as well breaks ss lines... It doesn't end. Front end is done working on pulling the body.
Last edited by jeff06600; 08-29-2012 at 01:15 PM.
08-29-2012, 01:07 PM
#2
Race Director
I bought the car 17 years ago. First car. Daily drove it for about six years and occasionally drove it for the following 10. A little more then a year ago I dusted it off, cleaned it up and took it for a drive. I decided it needed to be painted, finally, so naturally I would build a motor first. Pulled the motor and trans that night and broke the motor down.
I took the block and crank to the most reputable engine builder I could find for machine work and after talking engine theory and horsepower across several visits decided to let him build it instead of just doing the machine work.
Then life got in the way of corvette plans until about a month ago when I got back into it. As with everything it has been escalating. Motor and trans turned into cleaning up the engine bay. Which led to rebuilding the front end into power steering where I noticed body mounts when I saw rear suspension pulling the body might as well breaks ss lines... It doesn't end. Front end is done working on pulling the body.
I took the block and crank to the most reputable engine builder I could find for machine work and after talking engine theory and horsepower across several visits decided to let him build it instead of just doing the machine work.
Then life got in the way of corvette plans until about a month ago when I got back into it. As with everything it has been escalating. Motor and trans turned into cleaning up the engine bay. Which led to rebuilding the front end into power steering where I noticed body mounts when I saw rear suspension pulling the body might as well breaks ss lines... It doesn't end. Front end is done working on pulling the body.
10-08-2012, 02:35 PM
#5
Finished stripping and cleaning the frame. Working on por15 the frame at the moment.
New body mounts being installed.
Mounts installed, cleaning and prep for por15.
I was hoping I wouldn't have to do the trailing arms this go round. The only thing I thought I might get away with not touching. I did the driver side when I was 19 after the rear leaf pulled out of the rusted trailing arm. No internet guides or pictures back then. A lot of trial, error, and me banging my head inside the wheel well... No such luck on leaving them alone. While pulling the parking break internals from the passenger side, which has been pulled apart in the past, whoever rebuilt it in the past didn't do a very good job and it will need to be redone. Front wheel bearings were very cheap and of Chinese origin. I expect the same in the rear. The passenger side is not rolling very smooth, bearings are shot. Add it to the list.
New body mounts being installed.
Mounts installed, cleaning and prep for por15.
I was hoping I wouldn't have to do the trailing arms this go round. The only thing I thought I might get away with not touching. I did the driver side when I was 19 after the rear leaf pulled out of the rusted trailing arm. No internet guides or pictures back then. A lot of trial, error, and me banging my head inside the wheel well... No such luck on leaving them alone. While pulling the parking break internals from the passenger side, which has been pulled apart in the past, whoever rebuilt it in the past didn't do a very good job and it will need to be redone. Front wheel bearings were very cheap and of Chinese origin. I expect the same in the rear. The passenger side is not rolling very smooth, bearings are shot. Add it to the list.
10-09-2012, 11:15 AM
#7
Team Owner
Do the T/A's while you have the body off. No doubt they need it and will be 'good-to-go' for the next 30 years when you're done. If you don't want the added work, just have yours rebuilt.
10-09-2012, 05:27 PM
#9
Team Owner
Time for a 330# monoleaf rear spring and gas shocks all-around.
10-10-2012, 06:15 PM
#11
Team Owner
You're doin' great. Enjoy! 
03-01-2013, 03:41 PM
#18
Finally back to work on it.
Spent last night reconsidering my decision to put a parking brake back on the car. They are not fun to install.
Also picked my transmission up from being rebuilt.
Working more on the parking brake tonight then I have to split the diff. Changing it to a 3.73 before I can put the back end back together.
Spent last night reconsidering my decision to put a parking brake back on the car. They are not fun to install.
Also picked my transmission up from being rebuilt.
Working more on the parking brake tonight then I have to split the diff. Changing it to a 3.73 before I can put the back end back together.
03-01-2013, 04:07 PM
#19
IMHO, you need a parking brake on a manual transmission car. How else can you get to the bottom of the driveway, stop, jump out and collect the morning paper without setting the parking brake?
Not necessary on an automatic, of course.
Not necessary on an automatic, of course.
