Doorgunner's '68 Convertible Project
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Heh D.G. Thought you might be an old rotor head type. I was taught never fly anything in which the wings move faster than the fuselage, but after hauling back some of your 'P/U and delivery' results in my C-141, you guys got my respect. You were down and dirty while we stayed safe, most of the time. With your background, you should be able to take on any little Vette challenge. Hang tuff.
Time out for a flashback!
SAM......I flashed right back to the runway at Cahm Rahn Bay, Viet Nam...120*F/102% humidity,...my Chinook-47 which was big for a helicopter, landed beside a C-141...my eyes nearly popped out of my head---we could have flown the Chinook inside the cargo area of that thing if our rotor blades didn't have such a big sweep!
Thanks for the "lift"....LOL....but after waiting 45 years---I'm nervous as a cat when working on the Corvette!!!!!!
Here's a couple more pics of todays work...(I can't stay focused on one phase of the project too long because of the PTSD....and hop from one area of repair to the other)
I started on the bright shiny floor insulation today and managed to get the passenger's side done.....
Last edited by doorgunner; May 9, 2014 at 11:05 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 127
Likes: 33
From: Punta Gorda Florida
The work looks good. You are more patient than I am. I always want it done yesterday. The pix of the 'Lockeed Lizard' looks good, but like most of her pilots, they are now all in the 'Boneyard'. Hauled a few C-47 and crews from DaNang and other spots. Get the Vette up, or run the ''36 down to S.W. Fla. Rum Runners are good for PTSD and anything else that ails you.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Problem: Accelerator mounting bracket has disintergrated......Trusty cut-off wheel was cut/fabbed into a repair plate to hold bracket together with epoxy glue...
The heater box resistor backing also disintergrated....
the rest of the cut-off wheel was used to make a backing plate......a thin dremel diamond-crusted wheel was used to notch the tough cut-off rectangular piece for the heater contacts to pop into with a pair of needlenose pliers.........(It works...but a new one will be ordered if it goes "bad",,,,
The cockpit is finally insulated/soundproofed (2 days in the making/off & on)
Now maybe my wittle brain will work well enough to finish installing the dash harness.....
The heater box resistor backing also disintergrated....
the rest of the cut-off wheel was used to make a backing plate......a thin dremel diamond-crusted wheel was used to notch the tough cut-off rectangular piece for the heater contacts to pop into with a pair of needlenose pliers.........(It works...but a new one will be ordered if it goes "bad",,,,
The cockpit is finally insulated/soundproofed (2 days in the making/off & on)
Now maybe my wittle brain will work well enough to finish installing the dash harness.....
Last edited by doorgunner; May 9, 2014 at 11:15 PM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
So......the car is still on jackstands/daughter still has not delivered....
BUT BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY CLOSE!!!!!!!
(Maybe my other son-in-law-the-car-freak and I could sneak down for the day as soon as the baby arrives....but don't tell my wife about this!)
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Do you think things will still be going strong at the event on Saturday................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ........................................ ................................in case I get a divorce........or something?
EDIT: 10/15/13......she got a grip....things have calmed down
Last edited by doorgunner; Oct 19, 2013 at 07:04 AM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
The image block will not accept my photobucket IMG link.
It's been working well for the last 3 weeks, but not today.
Anybody got a clue as to what went wrong?
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Well I had to go over the river/thru the woods/past Grandma's house to post a pic...but here's the siezed up odometer disassembled and cleaned---the drive worm gear looks good/the 3rd worm gear looks good/the replacement (middle) plastic worm is gnarled because the head was dirty/dry...(the plastic gear is inside the housing)
Now.....why didn't I take a pic of the head BEFORE I disassembled it? Anybody have a schematic or pic of an assembled head?
It's difficult to see, but some progress has been made....the wiring connectors are labeled/the heater box has been repaired and installed/the speedometer is about to be reassembled and installed with the dash panel...
It's been working well for the last 3 weeks, but not today.
Anybody got a clue as to what went wrong?
[IMG]
[/IMG]Well I had to go over the river/thru the woods/past Grandma's house to post a pic...but here's the siezed up odometer disassembled and cleaned---the drive worm gear looks good/the 3rd worm gear looks good/the replacement (middle) plastic worm is gnarled because the head was dirty/dry...(the plastic gear is inside the housing)
Now.....why didn't I take a pic of the head BEFORE I disassembled it? Anybody have a schematic or pic of an assembled head?
It's difficult to see, but some progress has been made....the wiring connectors are labeled/the heater box has been repaired and installed/the speedometer is about to be reassembled and installed with the dash panel...
Last edited by doorgunner; May 9, 2014 at 11:24 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Things settled down a little....I re-organized my ADD/PTSD/EI-EI-O........
I reassembled the speedometer parts and set the assembly back into the dash panel......
And then I got tired of tripping over that box of carpet, so I redid the cockpit floorboard.......(the previous carpet was black---but I've done that nightmare already==you just LOOK at black carpet and it gets dirty!)
I decided to see how the dye-job looked on the center console pieces...
The daily-driver carpet looks good.....now to remove the seat sliders so I can clean/paint them and notch the carpet to access the bolt-holes/rear studs.
You guys are correct about that dash wiring harness---if it isn't exactly where it should be---the instrument panel AIN'T going into place!
EDIT: My son-in-law wanted to know why I re-installed the E-brake handle backwards???? (V.A. meds--that's my story!)
I reassembled the speedometer parts and set the assembly back into the dash panel......
And then I got tired of tripping over that box of carpet, so I redid the cockpit floorboard.......(the previous carpet was black---but I've done that nightmare already==you just LOOK at black carpet and it gets dirty!)
I decided to see how the dye-job looked on the center console pieces...
The daily-driver carpet looks good.....now to remove the seat sliders so I can clean/paint them and notch the carpet to access the bolt-holes/rear studs.
You guys are correct about that dash wiring harness---if it isn't exactly where it should be---the instrument panel AIN'T going into place!
EDIT: My son-in-law wanted to know why I re-installed the E-brake handle backwards???? (V.A. meds--that's my story!)
Last edited by doorgunner; May 9, 2014 at 11:30 PM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
The D.D. leather seatcovers finally came in....they look great but there's a little restoration/carpet job between me and installing the new seat covers......
(The good news is....all the interior parts/panels/gauges were tossed into the cargo area for years(some of the parts remaing back there after I removed most of them)...I also found a "new/un-rat-chewed"" wiring harness while sifting thru the old black carpet pile/rat nests/disintegrating cardboard boxes/etc...LOL)
Out to the GO---Rajjj.........
(The good news is....all the interior parts/panels/gauges were tossed into the cargo area for years(some of the parts remaing back there after I removed most of them)...I also found a "new/un-rat-chewed"" wiring harness while sifting thru the old black carpet pile/rat nests/disintegrating cardboard boxes/etc...LOL)
Out to the GO---Rajjj.........
Last edited by doorgunner; Oct 18, 2013 at 09:30 PM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Later the same day........the storage gets insulated before I ran out of contact cement..........................
The battery area and the underside of the deck needs covering as soon as I get more adhesive---at least I got off to a fast start...LOL
EDIT: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......and the daily driver leather seat covers came in today...the workmanship looks good.....I unwrapped them/inspected them/put them in a big bag until I finsh the cargo area.....
The battery area and the underside of the deck needs covering as soon as I get more adhesive---at least I got off to a fast start...LOL
EDIT: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......and the daily driver leather seat covers came in today...the workmanship looks good.....I unwrapped them/inspected them/put them in a big bag until I finsh the cargo area.....
Last edited by doorgunner; May 10, 2014 at 09:14 PM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
It's. a grandson/9lb boy---(ouch!)...........1st birthday in 364 days - Set of wrenches on order!
Last edited by doorgunner; Oct 18, 2013 at 08:43 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 9
From: Viking Longhouse North Wisconsin
Congrats on your Grandson, Doorgunner!!
Man, that's some sweet work on your project... Was the Dynamat difficult? I'd like to attempt that at some point too.
Keep up the killer job!! Mike
Man, that's some sweet work on your project... Was the Dynamat difficult? I'd like to attempt that at some point too.
Keep up the killer job!! Mike
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Thanks Men! The grandson only took 9 months....Maybe I can get the car done faster!
Here's some installation time info:
It took about 8 hours to soundproof/insulate from the firewall/under dash/kick panels/ to the large panel behind the seats...
and another 4 hours to do the cargo area........
another 2 hours to do the two storage compartments and battery compartment............
Then 4 hours to lay the carpet on the firewall/floorboard/seat-rear panel.....
and 4 more hours to carpet the cargo area/three compartment doors....
3 weeks ago:
A sideview of the compartment doors with new black trim pieces and polished original compartment-door-pushbuttons....oops-need to respray one button-bezel...(Don't tell my wife that I used the puppy's leash to make temporary pull-straps for the compartment doors)
3 hours ago:
The entire cargo area is finally carpeted.....it will take a few days for the carpet to lay down smoothly over the wheel wells and in the rear corners....I still have to do some carpet-tucking behind door rear pillars to smooth it out.....
Next....................re-pad/re-cover the driver's seat-----then the passenger's seat.
Here's some installation time info:
It took about 8 hours to soundproof/insulate from the firewall/under dash/kick panels/ to the large panel behind the seats...
and another 4 hours to do the cargo area........
another 2 hours to do the two storage compartments and battery compartment............
Then 4 hours to lay the carpet on the firewall/floorboard/seat-rear panel.....
and 4 more hours to carpet the cargo area/three compartment doors....
3 weeks ago:
A sideview of the compartment doors with new black trim pieces and polished original compartment-door-pushbuttons....oops-need to respray one button-bezel...(Don't tell my wife that I used the puppy's leash to make temporary pull-straps for the compartment doors)
3 hours ago:
The entire cargo area is finally carpeted.....it will take a few days for the carpet to lay down smoothly over the wheel wells and in the rear corners....I still have to do some carpet-tucking behind door rear pillars to smooth it out.....
Next....................re-pad/re-cover the driver's seat-----then the passenger's seat.
Last edited by doorgunner; May 10, 2014 at 09:32 PM.
Thread Starter
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,601
Likes: 7,048
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
FatCat..............you're BACK!
Thanks.....I've been chipping away at it.....maybe in another week I'll be finished with the interior (yes...I'm avoiding the dash wiring...) but I'll have to complete it before re-installing the seats once I re-cover them.
Thanks.....I've been chipping away at it.....maybe in another week I'll be finished with the interior (yes...I'm avoiding the dash wiring...) but I'll have to complete it before re-installing the seats once I re-cover them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Dash Wiring
Took me three weekends to finally get my dash harness back in so you have something to look forward too
Since you are back there have you replaced all light bulbs? I also highly recommend going through all the gauges.
Getting the center console and harness in correctly was harder than removing the trailing arms. Toughest job on a vette IMHO other than maybe removing the PB booster.
It is all worth in in the end.
Bill
Since you are back there have you replaced all light bulbs? I also highly recommend going through all the gauges.
Getting the center console and harness in correctly was harder than removing the trailing arms. Toughest job on a vette IMHO other than maybe removing the PB booster.
It is all worth in in the end.
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Yes sir!! I have been watching the whole time!! I had a frustrating couple of weeks with mine though an slowed down my posting on others... Haha
