First off thank to everyone for all the great information. I bought my 80 vette about a year ago. I have always loved the corvette with the c3's being my favorites. When I bought this car it was really rough all the suspension was just slap wore out, interior was toast floor pans rusted through, motor smoked so bad I think it used more oil than gas, the transmission slipped in 1st and second. But I still drove it home for 3 hour ride.

I really wanted to do a frame off restoration but with shop space limited I decide to do a frame on. I removed motor and trans and sold them. I ordered all new suspension bushings, ball joints, tie rods, body bushings, all bearing, seals, brakes, and rebuilt rear end. I then picked up a 700r4 rebuilt it with a 2500 stall converter and built a new cross member, I then got a drive shaft from a 82 vette.

Then the motor I already had a 69 chevy 302 I think I came from a z28 so the number says. I had already planned on rebuilding it already had half the parts just needed a crank kit and heads , so I order a scat stroker crank kit and went with the procomp head with 2.05 valves I ported and polished and port matched. I went with a comp cam thumper cam and 1.6 roller rockers. I was so surpised how much power this set up generates.

Im now doing the interior already repaired floor pans added dynamat and have installed new dash and gauges. I will try to put up some pictures

 

The engine code for that year 302 motor will have a "DZ" stamped with a coded date along with a partial VIN. That is, if the pad hasn't been machined down. What's your final CID with the stroker?

Frame-on restorations are performed in situations such as yours. Mine was also. It's more difficult due to accessiblity issues but can be overcome through manual dexterity and perseverance.

Look forward to pictures soon. Good luck.

 

I was doing a body-off in a single car garage with my '80. Planning where to put everything was the biggest challenge. I got to the point where the chassis was completed; then we moved in the summer. Now I have a bigger space for the car. Just completed the Bird Cage; body clips this summer/fall. Looking forward to your pictures.

 

It's the same situation with me regarding the small garage.......I also want to take a trip in my car once it is roadworth before I concentrate on the frame itself.

Post some pics for us when you figure out the process!

 

That's def the most frustrating thing trying to find room for everything, I have been keeping most of the new parts in the house in my office there's just parts everywhere. Its very tough working in a single car garage but will make do. Having trouble posting pictures..

 

 

 

I'm at the point now putting the interior together, finishing up some wiring for the gauges an radio in the new carbon fiber console once I'm done with that I can install the carpet and the interior panels, I have wrapped all the interior trim in black vinyl I thinks it going to look really good. Still need to order a few things single retractable seat belts and lower kick panels. In the back where the speakers are I'm going to make a carbon fiber panel that wraps around the corners to accept the jl audio 6 1/2" speakers and a 10" jl audio woofer, I haven't quit figured how I want it yet but have a idea.

Oh if anyone is interested I am removing the headlight assemblies they have all new actuators, hoses, vac canister, bushings, and spring all basically new I not using them. I'm moving the headlights and putting a different style down in the grill area.

As you can tell I really like to do different and custom things.

 

 

The second picture is the first panel I made but when I went to install it there wasn't enough room for the stereo, so I made a new one I think once I make and install the side panels its going to look awesome.