Repair Books
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
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From: St. Petersburg FL
Repair Books
Will be starting a restoration project on my '81 in a few weeks, in preparation I've been doing a lot of research. I've came across a couple of interesting books that have been out of print for some time. Looking for any feedback from anyone that have used these before on there useful content? Also looking to see if anyone has a copy that they would be willing to part with.
Thanks
1. Corvette water leak and wind noise solutions: Proven diagnostic and repair procedures
Prestige Pub (1999)
by Michael J. Dabis
2. Air Conditioning Strategies for the 63-82 Corvette
Prestige Publishing; 3rd edition (1998)
by Michael J. Davis
3. Eckler's Complete Guide to Corvette Fiberglass Repair
Thanks
1. Corvette water leak and wind noise solutions: Proven diagnostic and repair procedures
Prestige Pub (1999)
by Michael J. Dabis
2. Air Conditioning Strategies for the 63-82 Corvette
Prestige Publishing; 3rd edition (1998)
by Michael J. Davis
3. Eckler's Complete Guide to Corvette Fiberglass Repair
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I have all three. 1 and 2 are interesting, but you can skip them. Eckler's book is good.
For a restoration you will want an owner's manual, the assembly instruction manual (AIM) for 81, and the GM chassis service manual.
Other Corvette restoration books might help provide information how other people have completed restorations, good to know, but there is no requirement you do what they did.
There is no single reference work for a C3 restoration.
Most important: does your car need a complete restoration? You can do a lot of work and have a completely drivable car without having to do a complete restoration.
Good luck.
For a restoration you will want an owner's manual, the assembly instruction manual (AIM) for 81, and the GM chassis service manual.
Other Corvette restoration books might help provide information how other people have completed restorations, good to know, but there is no requirement you do what they did.
There is no single reference work for a C3 restoration.
Most important: does your car need a complete restoration? You can do a lot of work and have a completely drivable car without having to do a complete restoration.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: St. Petersburg FL
Easy Mike,
Thanks for the reply. I've owned my '81 since around '83, I'm the 2nd owner. It's been sitting outside on my driveway for almost 19 years, starting it every few months but not actually driving it. Started working on it this summer as a father son project, replaced the entire brake system (calipers, rotors, master cyl, booster, etc), tires, tank drained and cleaned, new fuel pickup and carb rebuilt - it's drivable now. Most of the interior is dry rotted, the paint is in terrible shape and suspension and frame has what appears to only be surface rust on it.
I've been struggling with the idea of doing the frame off restoration myself, but decided to move forward with it as more of an educational process for my son as we work together on this project, and I plan on keeping the car for another 30 years!
I already have the '81 Shop and Assembly Mannual's and Lindsay Porter's Corvette Restoration Guide.
I came across the 3 books listed in my origional post and thought that they would be a good addition to my reference collection. I have several areas where the paint/gelcoat has blistered away and the fiberglass fiber's are visable, does the Ecklers book cover this problem well?
Thanks
Thanks for the reply. I've owned my '81 since around '83, I'm the 2nd owner. It's been sitting outside on my driveway for almost 19 years, starting it every few months but not actually driving it. Started working on it this summer as a father son project, replaced the entire brake system (calipers, rotors, master cyl, booster, etc), tires, tank drained and cleaned, new fuel pickup and carb rebuilt - it's drivable now. Most of the interior is dry rotted, the paint is in terrible shape and suspension and frame has what appears to only be surface rust on it.
I've been struggling with the idea of doing the frame off restoration myself, but decided to move forward with it as more of an educational process for my son as we work together on this project, and I plan on keeping the car for another 30 years!
I already have the '81 Shop and Assembly Mannual's and Lindsay Porter's Corvette Restoration Guide.
I came across the 3 books listed in my origional post and thought that they would be a good addition to my reference collection. I have several areas where the paint/gelcoat has blistered away and the fiberglass fiber's are visable, does the Ecklers book cover this problem well?
Thanks
