Hey guys, Im getting ready to pick up a '69 vette from a family friend. It was originally a daytona yellow 4 speed 350 car, but has been changed to a red th400 sb 400 car. Its still in pretty good shape, has a hand full of things that needs addressed, but shouldnt take much to get it back on the road. It has been setting in a garage for the past 10 years not started or moved. The right rear is messed up, the caliper locked up but was driven a few miles and tore up a bunch of parts.

Back in its glory days.


What it looks like today.

 

Hi Bp,
A 69 convertible from a family friend!
A nice way to get a Corvette!!!!
What are your plans for it?
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Yesser, plans are to first get it back reliably on the road. Then start with the interior and replace the few minimal things that need attention, and maybe up a stereo in it. Then turn my attention to the suspension and brakes and make a few updates there with better bushings, shocks, rotors and pads. Then work on the exterior, new paint job, new weather stripping, etc. Just try and get it back in nice shape to take it to a few car shows and such. Im thinking more then likely it will go back to the original color. I want it to be mostly original with just a few tweaks here and there.

 

Good one on bringing it back to the original color and while you're at it, put a stick-shift back in it, you will enjoy it a lot more. My observation is that this Corvette was set up as a street race car and the interior and engine compartment are far from original. Not that it matters, as I have a Stingray that's along those lines as well.

As far as car shows, I'm not sure if you're going after absolute originality or just having a good looking, but mod'd car and that's the fork in the road you're better off deciding on which which way you're going to go now, versus later. Me? I'm keeping mine mod'd, as it will never be original again, without a huge investment.

As I've done with others, get a clean note pad and dedicate the first three pages to "To Do" and the next three to "To Get". If you're going to work on it yourself, get a Factory Service Manual and an Assembly Manual. The owners manual is a good one to get too. You'd be surprised at what you'd miss in the Owners Manual!

Bag and Tag all the parts too. And while you're at it, decide if you want a 'happy daily driver' (like what I've got) or if you're going to have the time, patience and money for a full-resto. Remember, it's unlikely that you'll recover any money out of this vehicle. Many of us, put way more into these cars, than what they're worth, so be prepared to throw a lot of money at it, and be happy about it!

The forum is an excellent source of information too! Welcome aboard!

 

I have a family friend with a 68, I was supposed to do a BB conversion on, he pulled the 327 and then he bought a colbra, it sat in a garage. now he bought a ZR1 ,so the 68 is now in a car trailer.
I keep telling him to give me a price, but he just hems and hulls.

maybe one day!

 

I plan to make it look good, new paint, restore the trim etc, keep the power plant and add any necessary suspension components to handle the power if need be. The interior has been changed, but I plan to keep it mostly as is with the exception of a few modern touches. The a/c box has all been removed so possibly a vintage air system with be the best/ cheapest way to get a system back in the car. I dont plan for it to be an original car, but i want it to have the original look and feel but with a more modern setup. It will be a driver so reliability is key. Also I build cars for a living, everything from a mustang to a vette to a viper, stock engine rebuilds to 1500 hp tt setups, so the work involved is no issue. Luckily most of the common problem things have been addressed and replaced. I'm sure there will be things come up that I will turn to you guys for help.

Stay at it!

 

Nice score - love those gills!

 

The only thing on the exterior is the 80-82 hood... it was common to get rid of the wiper door assembly and replace with a "long" hood, but that model has contours at the bottom that dont really continue onto the nose.

Lots of places carry a "long" version of the big block/LT1 style hood from that car's era that might fit better, visually.

 

You definitely have the foundation there for a real nice looking car.
Congrat's

 

Yep, good job. I'd return the interior looking original if you're putting the color back to Yellow. You can get an updated radio that look ssimilar to original.

 

I plan to keep the interior mostly the same, as the original gauges do not work and these are much more accurate. I dont plan to make it "original" but more original with a few personal touches. this car has been too hacked up in a sense where it would cost too much to make original again. Just a nice cruiser and occasional car show will be fine..

 

The hood and the rocker panels are the 2 most obvious visual cues that are not 1969. Rockers are easy, deciding to go to a working wiper door is more expensive and challenging. I wouldnt go back to the original color without getting the hood setup right.

 

Ill have to look into that. I know 0 when it comes to the older vettes. I have always been and will always be a mustang guy at heart, but I am lucky enough that i get to work on and build vettes, mustangs, vipers, etc everyday for a living. I know the c5+ vettes pretty good but am very lacking on the older ones. I will most certainly be calling upon you guys for advice and help once I get this guy home. Right now just trying to figure out where to put it... I have a two car garage that is 1/4 full with tools and 1/2 full of my mustang.. And the mustang isnt sleeping out side... hehe

 

Congrats, she looks great!

There is a group of us in Far North Dallas that gets together from time to time, hope to see you around.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-saturday.html

 

Oh, be creative... you can do it! (I even included a Mustang!)