mirage2991

Rear support


Front nose support using the front bracket and 2x4 bolted to dolly


What you can not see is I'm using stacked 2x4 on the main portion of the dolly so that it slides in where the frame would be. I think I should have used bigger casters, as it was a pita to get over the the bump by the garage door.

That's about how far I got. Tomorrow, engine/trans are getting pulled off and I'll start striping the frame.

I'm not exactly sure which route I will take with it...stock...SRIII frame....pro-street....original idea was stock frame and add L88 flares, hop up the 327 and call it a day...probably will stay Le Mans blue or going to Red. Car was burgundy, NOM 327 (though 68). I believe the car was made in April, one head is May 68 the other is nov 67. Trans and rear are matching to the car.

13611

Have fun! Doing a 68 coupe myself

SB64

Nice shop, just started my 69 restore. Working on body mounts and making a list of other things to be disconnected. Any thoughts, I thought brakes at master. rag joint for steering column, front and rear bumper brackets, emerg. brake, seats, radiator, console, battery cables, fuel wires to sender, gas boot, anything else would be appreciated.

mirage2991

disconnect the master itself from the firewall, leave it connected to the lines, just push it away, less messy that way. Also, there's the rear valance panel (where the tag bolts to) that is secured to the frame, I removed it completly off the car, gives it more room and it's easier to see back there when you are lifting the body. Don't forget that, i did, caught it on time... my only doh! moment.
I removed my headlights and radiatore suport to get the front nose as light as possible, again, to make it easier on me when lifting the body, less weight=less chances for it to get damages.

mirage2991

motor is out, put away on a stand in the back of the garage



started tearing apart the front driver side. this is about mid day today, and tonight i have it all off including the steering box. Started on the driver rear, caliper is off and called it quit by 9pm



Every bolts fought me, or broke...lower A arm simply wouldn't budge off the spindle... will take care of that later on, focusing on getting to a bare frame so i can soda blast it. That's it until next week end.

SB64

Now I see the master cyclinder hanging in the pic. Good idea. Valance is another good idea and needed to come off cause I think I sold it. Going to sidepipes. Everything else you mentioned I have on my list. Keep in touch. Still working on body mounts 1 down 7 to go.

3JsVette

Of those 3 choises the SRIII frame and the pro-street back 1/2 could not be further worlds apart. Do you want to go fast in a straight line or around corners?
Either way a great project. Good luck going foward and keep the pictures coming.

mirage2991

indeed but I have the going around corners thing covered with my c6zr1
I have the straight line thing somewhat covered with my 69 camaro but it is not tubbed and I've always liked pro-street...haven't cut up the camaro because it is rust free....and well the 68 is in great shape too...frame looks very solid, most of it is undercoat coming off...maybe I'll do a stock build with some l88 flares to get that 60's look of a race car...

texas jim

My hat is off to you guys who take on these full restorations and complete them. It takes a person w/ sticktuativeness. I know these projects take years sometimes and this one is another super cool one. I remember when the '68 came out, the new body and still great strong engines. Best of luck on the project!

mirage2991

Body mounts plates... solid... note the powdery solid bushing... looks like a giant Tums lol

brent319

If you are going to mod the car, my vote would be srIII, flares, and a pro touring theme, but that is my taste. :-)
Whatever you decide, it should be a very nice ride. Keep us posted.

mirage2991

now, the booboo i have to fix... aparantly years ago someone went off road... the trans x-member fixed with a 1/8 c chanel none the less... frame was put on a frame machine from the elongated mushroomed frame holes in that area... x-member at the rear has a dent but is straight so i won't touch that, not worth the agravation...
some rust at the frame upwards some welding will fix that. I may add the later frame stifners out back and add some gussets here and there... I think once it is blasted i will know for sure how good it is... but thus far nothing too scary.

mirage2991

thanks man, will do, that's all i have for now until next week-end...

SB64

what type of welder (pic) and also what type of compressor is driving your air tool.(pics please) Just got the 4 driver side mounts out today #1 body mount came out in my hand when I removed the bolt. I think it gets riveted to be correct???

mirage2991

For welder I have a lincoln electric mig 110v, and for compressor I have a Husky 30 gal... don't have pics and can't take any as I'm away for work now. I do have two 220v outlets for any future compressor/welder upgrades.
The 30 gal is fine for most tools other than cut off wheel or grinder, it doesn't have enough of scfm to run them AND refill, which, thinking about upgrading to a 60 or 80 gal...good ones are not cheap so i've been procrastinating.

As far as the mount I believe you are correct.

DAVID SLUDER

Looking good, keep the pics coming

mirage2991

I spent most of Friday and today finishing unbolting everything from the frame, including lines, I now have a bare frame omit one bracket on the trans x-member and those two darn tire holder bolts (which don't want to come out -what a surprise! (Pun intended)-
I also spent some time moving a couple cars around and tucked the body in the back of the garage out of the way:


Frame:



I also spent an incredible amount of time taking off the a-frame apart thanks to those awesome rivet at the ball joints. The bushings were removed with a torch.



I started sandblasting one of them but my little 30 gal just can't keep up. Now I get to figure out which compressor upgrade I'm gonna need to do, since even my cutting wheel is using too much cfm for what my compressor can support.

I also figured out that I have a 3.08 gear in the pumpkin...haven't opened it, simply counted the turns. Was hoping for more gears so this will be addressed as well.

I still haven't figure out which direction to take but I need to make up my mind pronto, going to have the frame blasted in the next couple weeks or so.

68roadster

Isn't that international blue (the darker 68 blue color) like my car?

Since you have the other modern cars, it would be cool to have the 60's race car set up. Much more easy to do than making a modern car the way I am doing. My chassis is a streetshop with C4 components and should be finished as my Christmas present. Keep up the good work

mirage2991

It is LeMans Blue, supposedly, but the car was originally burgundy.
I hear what you are saying with the resto-mod with later year suspension (though it is very cool none the less! I like it too!).
I'm sure I'll be inspired and will figure it out soon lol

nelson007

Your body dolly is great. I just removed the body off my 70 lt1 and used Nolan Adams plans. His plans did not allow for any support for the rear.
Good luck,
Nelson007

http://s1060.photobucket.com/user/ns...?sort=3&page=1