Well, what a difference a year or so makes… Tomorrow is my 1969 triple black, L71 tri power, M21 close ratio 4 sp, 4:11, F41’s birthday (Q16). About a year ago I introduced myself and the car to this board. I was very excited about my recent purchase and wanted to share my enthusiasm with a band of brothers. Well just being honest, I didn’t get as warm of welcome as I thought I would have. Maybe I was a little too excited and my expectations were too high. But I was somewhat shocked as to how some wanted me to prove my car was real and not a fake. But, it is what it is…. Yes, I feel like I was very lucky to have found this car as I was very naïve to say the least about my purchase. Yes, I have bought and sold numerous C3’s and C4’s over the years. But never a big block vert. All were 350 t-tops or targas…. But thanks to a few guys on the board I began to find out more of what I actually had purchased. And can’t help but say I am very lucky to have had this car fall into my lap. Yes, the purchase condition seemed very rough as the car sat for over 17 years after a drive train restoration. And I got the “It’s going to cost you a lot to fix that car comment a bunch”… And it will and has…. But, I was buying from a neighbor that I felt was trust worthy and honest as to what he knew it was and what he had already done to the car. So I bought it… And I can say now that my neighbor was very honest as to what he had already done to the car and to what he actually knew to be correct about the car. Once I bought it I then had a very tough time deciding what I was going to do with it as for as making it unique to me. But because it was such a special car I didn’t want to go to crazy with mods. So I decided to keep it as original as possible, while doing some small mods that would be easily reversible to go back to original. I am certain that others would already painted it but that wasn’t my first concern. I wanted to be able to drive it. My first goal was to have it drive able by fall of this year. Well, I was driving it way before then. (Early January)… And so this is what has been done in a year.
Note: I have saved all original parts and have restored some already…
Changed all oils and tune up etc., replaced valve covers and breather, rebuilt carbs, replaced tires and wheels, new calipers, brakes, and lines, new tank and sending unit, new carpet and seats, repaired gauges that weren’t working, fixed headlight vacuum issues, fixed dash lights, repaired e brake issue, pulled lifters cleaned and replaced, added side exhaust but not originally a side pipe car, replaced fuel pump, fixed tach, fixed wipers, fixed right tail light and blinker. Bought many of the little chrome pieces that need to be replaced.


What’s left on my list to do:
Fix wiper door, paint, new vert top, re chrome bumpers, have F41 shocks restored, detail engine compartment,

My car is running great now and I just want to be able to drive it and have some fun with it. And that is exactly what I am doing. Some may not approve of my taste, buy hey, it’s my car….. In a few years I may pull the body and detail the frame. But for now, I will enjoy driving it on pretty days and go to our local Saturday night meet….
I have since found the tank sticker (although in rough condition, I am able to make out enough of the important stuff). Found the second owner that bought it in 1972 and got some paperwork from him, the third owner is my neighbor, and I am the 4th….

All in all its been a good year as far as I am concerned. And I am very pleased with my purchase and progress at this point. I would like to suggest maybe showing a little more grace to us new guys and give us a chance to catch up…. I really do appreciate the help that I have received from this board. Some of the help was from just reading old post that helped me pin point how to fix some of these issues. Additional help was received by one on one conversation that really saved me a ton of time repairing these issues. Thanks a million to the guys that helped and to the ones that helped and don’t know it…… Let’s see what happens in the new year… Ok.. Its time for a Birthday celebration drive... Gonna let the side pipes talk to the tires…. Thanks again to this forum as there is a wealth of info that is shared… Most of it is with a good brother hood comradery…..r




This is where it began....





Sitting for 17 years does its damage cosmetically. But drive-train only had 5K miles since restoration 17 years prior.





Rebuilt tri power..





Interior as I received it.





Some starter tires for inspection...





Ripped the interior out to replace and repair a few guages.





A little new chrome to help with cosmetics.





A repaired guage cluster.





New carpet, seats, etc..





Tires and wheels,,, I save originals...





Had to put side pipes....

 

It's good to hear that you are sticking with it. Maybe you could continue this thread with more pics and updates.

 

You've done alot of work in one year,the interior alone is a major pain.Tri-powers really run great when they're set up right.I really don't remember your first post when you got the car but 69 435's really are one nice car.Icouldn't help but notice your carb linkage,do you get full gas pedal with it set up like that?I know it's correct but set up that way I couldn't get the center carb to open completely.I have checked with other owners and they had the same issue.Do yourself a favor and have someone step on the pedal and see if the center carb is totally open.Anyway,lots of luck with your vette and have fun.

 

I will have to check that out.. Thanks.... Any photos of how you set your linkage up? Russell

 

Nice progress on a very desirable car.
Looking good!

 

Well said and done. Expecting similar results.

 

Thx for words of encouragement...

 

 

Looks like you've made some great progress in a year. Well done! Shame about all those rear tires that you'll burn up with that beast

Don't take your reception to the forum too personally. It may have been the way you presented the car or more likely one or two members that were either in a pissy mood or jealous. Also, I look at the original under hood pic that you posted and I see spinning dollar signs like on a Canadian gas pump. Well worth it in the long run but sticker shock to the uninitiated.

 

Thanks.... Fuel consumption is definitely an issue.... As far as the PISSY ones.. Every site has them... Some more than others... I just think when someone new comes to the board with what seems to be a large project, there are ways to be honest to help make sure they understand the potential issues and still encourage them if they decide to take on the project. I have seem cars that look pristine in the photos and then turn out to have some serious bird cage issues.. And that has to suck. And I feel for those guys... But I have also seen in my case where I wanted a weekend warrior and I wasn't as concern with the cosmetics as I was with dependability and drive-ability and thats' what I got... I can fix as I go... I have seen several members cars on this board that are so pristine I wouldn't want to own them because I would be to concern I would scratch it if I drove it... That's not the kind of car I want... I want one that I can drive and not be so concern about a rock chip every now again.. I have also seen cars posted on here that people were talked out of buying that I would have been glad to own...Every ones capabilities and financial situation are different and some don't mind being upside down in one of these cars. And yes there are plenty of fakes out there that people need to be cautious about. But there is just no reason to be a Dick just because you own a "Vette".....

 

As long as is fiscal and not physical I'm with you.

 

Super nice 69 for sure, I like the 69 very much (see under my profil- )
And a black 427 convertible, well as I see it, it can' be better !!

Also nice to see that it is back on the road, where it belongs, NO corvette belong in a garage for years !
They are made for driving.

Enjoy you lovely 427 BB

 

Great looking car and you do some nice work!

 

What an awesome car you have! Love the fact that your driving it so soon. I know what you mean about the warm reception or lack of on this site. Its just a certain few that are pretty negative about any ones project. For the most part you have to learn to ignore those ones. Anyway love the car and keep up the good work!

 

Thanks Yeah, I just want to try to "ENCOURAGE" the few that its gonna be OK if we make a few mistakes in life.. Lord knows I have made mine. Its just part of living.. Now we do want to help each other so maybe if we listen there will be one less mistake made... Over all this is a fantastic board and I have learn a lot and been helped a lot. Even from those few.. Those few have a lot of knowledge and I hope one day I will have the knowledge that they have about these cars and share it freely and humbly.... Knowledge shouldn't make you a richard... As no one knew everything since birth....

 

My linkage was set up like yours and I couldn't get a full pedal so what I did was cut the vertical leg off the triangular accel brkt and moved it back and tig welded it back on.It looks stock and allows the accel cable to sit properly and gives a full pedal.

 

Nice car! Very nicely optioned. It's awesome to find a gem like that right next door, very lucky!

I gotta say the reception I got here in the C3 section was just stupid when I bought my 68. I had the illusion that I could get some advice on the purchase but instead I just got a bunch of moronic **** from a bunch of real a-holes. Here's what I learned instead by asking the forum for help...

corvetteforum rule #1: your car's fake and your matching numbers are restamps (even though I've never seen the car)

corvetteforum rule #2: the guy who is selling you the car is a con-man (even though I never met him and don't even know who he is).

corvetteforum rule #3: your car is not worth fixing (because the rule is once you invest more than the car is worth, you are a giant idiot for not just going out and buying a different car- because said different car will NEVER need work... )

There was some helpful advice though, I do have to say to be fair. AND I have gotten lots of helpful advice here since then. It just seems the newcomers get beat up for nothing... There's a reason everybody hates Corvette guys.

In the end my 68 turned out to be a great car and because I did the work myself I'm not terribly upside down on it. As I went through it I recorded every date code I could find and found the car to be incredibly original and rust free, even appearing to have the original carbs, alternator, starter, etc... I enjoy the car and have to say it was the right car for me.

Good luck with yours!

 

It's a very nice ride and found a good home. Outstandng work to get her back on the street where she belongs and looking tough too.

Later,

Lee

P.S. As for the boo birds yeah there are always a few. It bows when you get that kind of treatment but there are a BUNCH of good fellas here as you know. Avoids the TACOs and enjoy!

 

 

Tacos... Now that some funny sh*t....