New project
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
New project
Just joined this site. I've owned two corvettes and built a Cobra replica. Recently a gentleman I work with with said he had a vette for sale that was dissassembled about 15 years ago, I mean completely. Anyway it was a 68 convertible and it is all there, just in about 2 thousand pieces. Anyway when building the Cobra I made a jig to mount the body on while framework was being done.
My question is are there any plans out there for a jig for this 68? Would also like to know about any how to books on placing the right parts, what reinforcements if any need to be added to the frame ect.
Just kinda strange starting on the other end!
My question is are there any plans out there for a jig for this 68? Would also like to know about any how to books on placing the right parts, what reinforcements if any need to be added to the frame ect.
Just kinda strange starting on the other end!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,503
Likes: 33
From: McGrady NC
St. Jude Donor '15-'16
If the body is still on the frame, a wooden frame on wheels is handy to set the body on to move it around. Search the forum for plans for one. Otherwise, if you have the room, blocks or floor jacks at the body mount locations will work to keep it off the floor. If the body is disassembled, I would wait until the frame is completed and the main body section remounted before fitting the rest so everything lines up.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Order the 1968 assembly instruction manual (AIM) and the GM chassis service manual. Both will be handy.
Order an owner's manual if you do not have an original. There is valuable information in the owner's manual.
There is a considerable amount of published reference material on C3s and Corvette in general. Time to start putting your library together. Start with these two.
Order an owner's manual if you do not have an original. There is valuable information in the owner's manual.
There is a considerable amount of published reference material on C3s and Corvette in general. Time to start putting your library together. Start with these two.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,202
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi d,
Here is a drawing of the dolly I built for the body of my 71.
It supports the body at the 8 body mount points. It's easy and inexpensive to build. The material can be bought and the dolly built in half a day.
The larger wheels make it easier to move around, especially outside.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Here is a drawing of the dolly I built for the body of my 71.
It supports the body at the 8 body mount points. It's easy and inexpensive to build. The material can be bought and the dolly built in half a day.
The larger wheels make it easier to move around, especially outside.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
parts
Thanks for the info, the dolly will come in handy.
Something the fellow didn't tell me was that there were a lot of new parts in boxes that were bought 10 to 13 years ago for this car. I brought the first truckload home today. I've looked up what I brought home today and so far it's about $3600.00 dollars worth, thats about twice what I paid for this car. Everything from new fuel tank to new pillar post and dash pads. Still a lot of new stuff to pick up. Wife said Christmas has come early for me.
May have to move the old Fairlane to a storage unit until I get all this stuff sorted out.
Tomorrow I'm going to have to start building more storage shelfs and racks in my new shop.
Well have to go, beer needs replacing.
Something the fellow didn't tell me was that there were a lot of new parts in boxes that were bought 10 to 13 years ago for this car. I brought the first truckload home today. I've looked up what I brought home today and so far it's about $3600.00 dollars worth, thats about twice what I paid for this car. Everything from new fuel tank to new pillar post and dash pads. Still a lot of new stuff to pick up. Wife said Christmas has come early for me.
May have to move the old Fairlane to a storage unit until I get all this stuff sorted out.
Tomorrow I'm going to have to start building more storage shelfs and racks in my new shop.
Well have to go, beer needs replacing.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
More parts
Picked up more parts today. Kinda sad when I saw the old muncie with a busted ear. On the bright side did find a new set of 3:55 gears and a mono leaf with the hardware.
Doors look rough, skin coming off one with rust on the bottom, don't know how bad yet.
I have a few questions till I get the manuels for this car. Does anyone know the approximate weight of the body with the front clip off the car? We will be trying to load it onto a trailer by hand next weekend or the weekend after.
Need to know how many friends to bring and how much beer to buy!
Doors look rough, skin coming off one with rust on the bottom, don't know how bad yet.
I have a few questions till I get the manuels for this car. Does anyone know the approximate weight of the body with the front clip off the car? We will be trying to load it onto a trailer by hand next weekend or the weekend after.
Need to know how many friends to bring and how much beer to buy!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
frame
Finally have the frame here at home. I saw a few rust through spots on the crossmember just aft of the differential support member.
I'm about to order some books to help with this project.
Looking for a good manuel that will show how to stiffen/reinforce the frame, would like to do this before any sandblasting starts.
The front crossmember that cradles the engine is also bent from someone using it as a jacking point. I know a fix for this but just an example of what I'm looking for.
I'm about to order some books to help with this project.
Looking for a good manuel that will show how to stiffen/reinforce the frame, would like to do this before any sandblasting starts.
The front crossmember that cradles the engine is also bent from someone using it as a jacking point. I know a fix for this but just an example of what I'm looking for.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Congratulations!!
To each his own and whatever floats your boat, but this is a fun way to acquire a Corvette!!!
More Corvettes end up this way, then most would care to admit, lots of "projects" out there for sale!
Good news, none of the "projects" get thrown away, all of the usable parts continue on in their new life, LOL's!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
body
That decision is still out. I had assumed the body was sitting on some kind of support, it wasn't. After clearing everything out we could see that he just sat the body on some roofing tin. He then put a lot of heavy parts in the body with the front cap and hood on top.
I can now see that the rear quarters are bulging out to the point that about halfway up the wheel well it's starting to crack. The hood had a scoop put on that makes it resemble a 67 BB hood.
Well I'm going to try to pick the body up next weekend, get it home and see how bad it is. At least the frame for the soft top is still there. They can get expensive!
Wife told me that if we build it she wants the same engine we had in the last Vette we had. It was a BB 67. Gotta love a wife that thinks that way.
I can now see that the rear quarters are bulging out to the point that about halfway up the wheel well it's starting to crack. The hood had a scoop put on that makes it resemble a 67 BB hood.
Well I'm going to try to pick the body up next weekend, get it home and see how bad it is. At least the frame for the soft top is still there. They can get expensive!
Wife told me that if we build it she wants the same engine we had in the last Vette we had. It was a BB 67. Gotta love a wife that thinks that way.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 140
From: Kanuckistan
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
This is what you need.
Official GM guide on how to prepare a corvette for racing, including chassis preparation.
Many people have done this, do a search and you'll have pic of the process.
Have fun with your puzzle, a least as much as I had with mine
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 119
From: Springfield Missouri
go to a web site called "the corvette restoration page", he shows all the work on a complete restro of a corvette. very good pictures and write-up on the work. He also has some videos on some work he has done.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,912
Likes: 266
From: Charleston SC
you want to suport the rear on a vert... leave the doors on for added rear bracing:
what you don't see is where i added a 2x4 on each side where the frame would fit up in the body. i used 1/2 plywood to bolt those two 2x4 to the dolly
I followed the dimensions posted on the plan in this thread, for the front i did a brace to support the nose (i took the lights and rad support out to make light as possible
the back support
what you don't see is where i added a 2x4 on each side where the frame would fit up in the body. i used 1/2 plywood to bolt those two 2x4 to the dolly
I followed the dimensions posted on the plan in this thread, for the front i did a brace to support the nose (i took the lights and rad support out to make light as possible
the back support
Last edited by mirage2991; Dec 16, 2013 at 06:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
Tanks
Thank you for the pictures.
Another bad weather weekend. We are off two weeks for Christmas though so if the weather allows we will be picking it up on Mon. or Tues. this week.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Another bad weather weekend. We are off two weeks for Christmas though so if the weather allows we will be picking it up on Mon. or Tues. this week.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,016
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Merry Christmas "back 'atcha"!
Get a "good" $60 digital camera for Christmas to keep with the project---it makes pic documentation a lot easier.
You don't have to leave the car to "go=get" the camera/track up the house every time that you need to take some pics.....
and the wife doesn't gripe because there is paint/wheel bearing grease on her favorite camera...LOL)
Get a "good" $60 digital camera for Christmas to keep with the project---it makes pic documentation a lot easier.
You don't have to leave the car to "go=get" the camera/track up the house every time that you need to take some pics.....
and the wife doesn't gripe because there is paint/wheel bearing grease on her favorite camera...LOL)