WackyBob

I just finished restoring my wife's 1978 L48. All new paint, decals, gaskets, plugs, cap, rotor, belts, hoses and filters.

All stock except for MSD wires and cap and some chrome pieces. We also did an AC conversion to R134 and installed a new more efficient radiator. The car is a Pace Car with 37,000 miles and it starts on the first crank every time.


This is not meant to be a NCRS quality restoration. It's just a nice refreshing.

AdamMeh

Nice job! Turned out great.

hpxt

Looking good! How about pics of the rest of the Vette.

Andy Tuttle

Very clean and nice indeed!

JimLentz

That looks great!

Tooch1

Excellent job! Having recently just finished an engine restoration on my 73 L48 I know and appreciate all the hard work, time and expense it took you to get it to look that nice.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

Rescue Rogers

Very JEALOUS. I mean very nice job. That does look assembly line fresh.

WackyBob

I'm working on the interior right now and that should be done this week but here are Before and After pics of the wheels that I refurbished.

Before:



After:

Vette-kid

Very nice! I never bothered took, was the original color for an l48 (1978) GM blue?

WackyBob

Yes.....it was Blue

PapaRaia

nice job

jim in oregon

qid you rebuild the Rochester QuaDRajet car with new float etc..and change timinf and rep all vacuum lines etc..??

I thot the '78 Pace Cars all had the L82 350 CID engion?..Jim

WackyBob

I did not rebuild the carb....just a can of cleaner. All the vac lines are in great condition. I'm not sure when they were replaced but the didn't need to be replaced again. We have had the car since October.....bought it without seeing it in person. It was $13,000 on FleaBay.

It's was an honest car in need of some TLC.

WackyBob

The L82 was not standard. It was an option.

The most desirable Pace Cars are L82 4 speeds with CB radios. Ours is a L48 auto with the 8 track.

Not the most desirable options but the extra 20 hp and different transmission makes no difference when we're cruising down the road listening to Bob Segar and Journey with the T Tops off. If I want power we'll drive the 2014 Z51

jim in oregon

Bob..very nicely done..I know what you mean about power..The old L48 350 goes down the road quick and fast enuf for this old fellow(and the laws here..)I will say that the rebuild I did on the QuadraJet with an upgraded brass float bowl.Really made a difference on my 58K motor..Considering the primary malady afflicting the old QuadraJet is a time-gasoline saturated original float and that with 37K originsal miles the car wasn't driven alot in 38 years..The rebuild is a well worth it project done with checks oin about 13 carb points, vac line p[ressures, plugs..timing..idle adjust etc by A mech familiar with ptoperly rebuilding the old Rochester QuadraJets..

Write down the Number stamped on your carb and go to a good NAPA store..They can still order up the proper stuff for YOUR carburetor..I adjusted the timing beyond stock settings also.About 9 degrees advanced really helped response and efficiecy of the motor..
I've never seen them pace car wheels up close..you did a bang up job cleaning-detailing them..Jim

Doughan

Wow really nice..that's a clean machine!

VistaVette

Beautiful. How did you restore the wheel?

CV62Air

Engine bay looks great! Can't wait for pics of the rest.

Ha! Back when I had an 8- track, we cruised listening to the Fab Four--(Rush, Journey, Van Halen, The Police) and the fifth that changes- Triumph, Pat Benatar, ac/dc, Led Zepp, etc.!

WackyBob

Thanks....good advice

WackyBob

I took each one off and polished it with Blue Magic Metal Polish. Two rounds with a Mother's Power Ball and 3 rounds by hand (polishing with a soft cloth between rounds).

Then I took rubbing alcohol and cleaned the face of the wheel around each hole so that masking tape would stick to the face really well. I also cleaned inside each hole with rubbing alcohol so the spray paint would adhere well. I then covered all the holes with masking tape and firmly pressed around the perimeter of the hole.

After that I flipped the wheel on its face and spray painted the inside of the holes semi-gloss black from the backside with rustoleum spray paint.

Then flipped the wheel back over and pulled off the masking tape.

I then cleaned the outside edge of each wheel with rubbing alcohol all around the faded painted red stripe. Then I applied 1/4" red vinyl pinstripe from AutoZone.

Finish them off with a fresh set of center caps.

Total Cost: $99
New Center Caps- $55
Rustoleum semi-gloss black spray paint- $4
Blue Magic Metal Cream Polish- $6
Blue Painters Masking Tape- $7
90% Rubbing Alcohol- $2
1/4" Red Vinyl pinstripe- $5
Mother's Power Ball- $20

Total Time: 5 hours

Total Beers: 9