I was talking to a friend in PA all cold and nasty...I was looking at my projects on the burner and waiting for life and stuff so I can start on the frame swap,

So for motivation I was thinking perhaps a thread of arm chair builds would be fun, the only rules...okay, guidelines, keep it c3 and keep it real, like the build you desire to do...your plans.....

In my case my 69 convertible has a 73-79 front clip and frame rot, I am going to pull the front clip because I have no doubts that the pillars and base of pillars are rusty hopefully not too bad...

Then with the clip off pull the rest of the body off, pull the 454 and detail it really nice, install it on the new chassis which has a few things that still need paint, it's powder coated and runs the vette brakes goodies like transverse front spring.

I will go ahead and do the 4 speed auto tranny at that time, and my chassis is 68 so no rear guessets I believe it would be well spent time to install them,

I will reinstall the body and run a maco/mako front clip I have for now while I look for a 68-69 front clip, which I will mod into a full tilt while still looking stock,

I want my ZL-1 rear flares and 68/69 Firebird tail lights, I dont recall which year they are, bought years ago,

The interior is good for a driver and I will get mike to shoot the body flat satin black or shiny black I cant decide.

so whats your plans?

 

My desktop build is a Revell 78 Corvette Pace Car kit, that I am going to paint up like my '79.

 

If I was gonna fantasize, it would be a MOPAR

 

I'm in a slump right now as my extra funds are going towards my 3 sons college education . . . can't wait until they are out . . . getting close -- about another 18 months. In the meantime, I've been thinking about my next steps.

I want to build a ~475HP 383 or 396 SBC with a TH2004R OD tranny and maybe 3000 stall converter with 3.70 gears out back. Brakes and suspension are already upgraded and I will probably do a Borgeson steering box upgrade. The tranny will be next since my TH350 bit the dust and I'm tired of throwing money at it. So the car sits and I arm chair build for now.

I'm still working on smaller projects like weatherstripping replacement and adding relays to my headlights.

 

Well lets see.....

This is already built and ready to drop in when the weather gets better:





And the interior refresh (recovered seats, carpet and door panels):



After that, it will be paint and some suspension work. Cant wait for spring!

 

Looks awesome Ontario73.

 

Thanks and another Ontario 73 I see!

 

Can I use your build in my daydream and change the color of the seats to match my car? Then I would only have to add chrome coil-over rear shocks to my desktop.......ohhhh--and add 13Bats tilt front cap

 

68 Charger R/T and as long as I'm fantasizing it would be a Hemi 4 speed

 

How did you two get the same Username?

One must be a January build, and the other an April build



OOOOOOOOOOPS.......back to the desktop topic!

 

The Hot Rod black in my opinion has just been done to death, so for me the classic tuxedo black with a whack clear coat, what I can't decide on is shiny or brushed chrome / stainless? In the interior I have just picked up a nice pair of c4 seats but will have to figure out how to retain the factory console but also incorporate a modern Head unit with Nav and back up cam.

The running gear will get a Steeroids treatment, mono leaf with Bilsteins on the corners. A 200r4 Monster od tranny will back a 355ci, all this I hope will get her down the road in a hurry on her 16" TT2s.

The body and paint will have to wait though ... does anyone need an 85 Z28 with lots of attitude, you know; I heard a robin today!!!!

Dave

oh and Bats ... Like this???

 

Of course you knew I would love it, you even named the pic bats13 how cool is that, is it just me or did they shave down the rear duck tail?...the L-88 flares are the nice kick out and the rear edge style, very sweet....

 

I'm kind of diggin the frenched in licence plate, you know you could simulate the early bird taillights with a red plexi inlay's, then sanded flush with no trim, they would just disappear into the rear pan when not in use. Maybe some western turbines and just a bit of a drop in the springs.

I carry touch up for my Camaro, never fear driving, that's what they are for!!

Thought you'd love this one!

Dave

 

Before I even bought my 69 in '09 I had bought a cherry pair of 68 fire bird tail lights ( both lights same size ) for my car, nothing against stock vettes, but IMHO they should have had 'bird tail lights to start with they lend to the wide low look of the vettes far better than the round lights, the round lights were all in that trying to make the new 68 look like a Dino.
I originally planned to swipe a mold off a 68 bird tail panel to make the raised area around the lamps then I got hot with the flush look and decided to actually recess mine about 1/2 to 3/4 inch...the key is cutting the holes perfect so they dont look 1/2 assed.

On my 66 it had weird crappy tail lights what I did was get a pair of 78 Monza hatchback tail lights, I used them on the opposite sides upside down, made it look like they came on the car.....


Back in the 80's I made a custom license plate "thing" for a buddies kit car and might do one on my 69, it starts with a deep recessed mount, then I made a bracket that had 3 plates on it one his legal plate one said " you wish" the other was the cars logo,
It was like on that James bond car, you turned a **** and it would go from first, second then third plate, for show only...

I hear you preaching to the quire but I had so much paint and so much money in the car ( 81 wide body ) that it took the fun out of it, when I sold it to a cop freind if I ran down what his nephew did to that poor car you wouldn't believe me....
The 69 IS a driver I will grossly insure it and.....

 

In high school this guy had a 64 with a straight axle, b/b.
I what that with the greenwood flares, no chrome, and metal-flake candy red.

The real metal-flake, not the in-poster stuff.

Yes it might look strange, but hey, its my money.

Just saying, and yes i am old.

 

Had a buddy do a 66 chev van with flake so heavy it was spitting out of the gun! With no clear on it it was like sand paper, your not that old!!!

Dave

 

I hear you, back around 79-80 i recall a fellow pulls in with what people thought was an odd modded ac cobra, but no, it was a wild radical 54 vette wicked flared, scoop etc, it has this mean look, black metal flake...what a car


Real metal flake paint ( not gel coat like bass boats and dune buggies ) is not always understood even by some painters, there are different size flakes the flakes came in colors, it was a multi part idea, a base color normally gold, silver, bronze....then you had some candy shot on that, shooting flakes and or candy was an art too much too little it didnt work, then comes the flakes which you needed a special gun to shoot, then more color and clear to make it deep...it would sometimes get spider webbing shot on that to help hide the crazing that almost always came on within a few years, around here was a sad trend years ago born at the ghetto scuff and shoot paint places, they would scuff the cars finish then hit it with clear then hand toss craft store glitter into the wet clear....depending on the person that was it or they would pay a buck more to have more clear over the glitter, it looked horrible and is not to me real metal flake....