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I'm committed now! The car cannot go back on the road until I at least install the headers I bought off of Craigslist. The rest of the (front) punchlist:
Install a GTR1999 rebuilt steering box
Install rebuilt upper and lower control arms
Poly bushings on front swaybar
New 550 lb springs
New Bilstein shocks
Install spreader bar
Probably some grinding and painting
Whatever else breaks (brakes?)
I have SPC upper arms and already rebuilt lower arms ready to go in, so I won't be waiting for any parts that I know of (there will be something, I'm sure).
from the looks of it, it would seem I'll be following in your footsteps of restoration haha.
I ran bilsteins on my truck offroading for a few years and really like them (until I blew the rear shock seal twice in 1 season...then I upgraded to Fox all the way around). I am planning on going with bilsteins in the corvette when I get to suspension. I still have too many "just get it driving reliably" upgrades to do first haha.
I’m looking forward to seeing your Corvette on the road with the rebuilt front suspension and headers. The rear suspension looks good, nice work.
Eddy
Thanks! I am looking forward to that, too.
Originally Posted by Skootter14
from the looks of it, it would seem I'll be following in your footsteps of restoration haha.
I ran bilsteins on my truck offroading for a few years and really like them (until I blew the rear shock seal twice in 1 season...then I upgraded to Fox all the way around). I am planning on going with bilsteins in the corvette when I get to suspension. I still have too many "just get it driving reliably" upgrades to do first haha.
I just hope I can stay ahead! These projects always seem to take longer than expected. At least with the front, everything is already new or rebuilt off the car, I just have to take it apart and put it back together. That assumes nothing breaks while I'm in there.
I was thinking I'd do QA-1 double-adjustables in the front, and I probably will eventually, but I got a great deal on springs and shocks. Don't hesitate to post some WTB listings in the C3 Parts For Sale forum. I've gotten some great deals there, and helped a few people out, too, both buying and selling.
Spring started this afternoon! Let's hope it holds for a while. So while it was warm enough to work in the garage, I did as much disassembly as I could without taking off the front wheels.
Front sway bar is off. Pitman arm is off of the steering box. Exhaust manifolds are off (with a working 2" heat riser and actuator, if anyone needs one). Let me just say, I am really glad I had the Kwik-Lift for this task. The heat stove on the drivers side blocks the two center bolts, so I had to disassemble that first. 7mm screws! You can see one in the picture. The AIR pipes were remarkably intact. No gaskets, these may never have been off the car.
I was able to remove the hood by myself using two ratchet straps and the garage's open ceiling. I could then pull out the AC condenser. If anyone needs that, please let me know. the rest of the AC parts went to the dump today.
With stuff out of the way, there's a surprising amount of room in the engine compartment. I'll have to do something about the wiring to the starter. It looks like some of the fusable links have completely melted off their insulation. Now is also a good time to replace any other dodgy wires, and to cut out all of the AC bits.
Does anyone have any thoughts on these images? The plug in the head mirrors the location of the temperature sensor in the driver's head, so I may put my fan switch there. Also, now is a good time to change the valve cover gaskets. The old ones appear to be leaking a bit.
Some progress. I'm at the point that I'm now putting more parts in than I'm taking out. All that is left to come out is the steering column (temporarily), steering box, rag joint, and the starter harness extension. I'm waiting for a few parts, but I had the complete front suspension out of the car.
Here's the stock, original front spring, next to a 550 lb spring (Thanks Techoca!), and the new front suspension, mostly assembled.
No, I did not rebuild the spindles. I want to drive the car, and despite appearances, the brakes work, and I just did the bearings last year. As soon as the brakes start leaking, I'll go with Wilwood D8-6 calipers in the front, and rebuild the spindles on the bench. I'm sure this will bite me in the ***, but whatever.
You are welcome, I am glad to see the springs being used, much better than taking space in my garage. Your front suspension is going to be terrific, I like the SPC upper control arms. Good progress being made, you will be on the road soon.
Eddy
Now that I have the complete front suspension in place, I have upgraded the car to what she would have come with (or better) with the ZN1 package, except for two things: I don't have the better radiator (I'll get a DeWitts if I need it, but I haven't needed it yet), and the trailer hitch.
A 1 1/4" hitch receiver would be pretty cool. I could tow a trailer with race tires, or put on a two-bike rack.
I won't be putting on fake ZN1 (or ZN-1) emblems, though.
I finished the front suspension and bled the brakes again. She's back on her wheels, but still on the Kwik-Lift. I have her steering column out now so I can swap out her steering box. I am also tweaking the column a bit, at least regreasing the lower column bearing. I replaced the one in my wife's 79, but this one isn't nearly as bad.
I also retrieved her build sheet, which was just hanging there. It confirms that she was an L48, 4-speed car, with a red interior. The exterior color is still stuck to the tank on a silver-dollar sized dollop of glue.
Sadly, no evidence of the FE7 gymkhana suspension or the ZN1 trailer package (which I knew to be the case, but I looked anyway). Also, the destination dealership was completely unreadable. The options were only barely readable.
I finished the front suspension and bled the brakes again. She's back on her wheels, but still on the Kwik-Lift. I have her steering column out now so I can swap out her steering box. I am also tweaking the column a bit, at least regreasing the lower column bearing. I replaced the one in my wife's 79, but this one isn't nearly as bad.
I also retrieved her build sheet, which was just hanging there. It confirms that she was an L48, 4-speed car, with a red interior. The exterior color is still stuck to the tank on a silver-dollar sized dollop of glue.
Sadly, no evidence of the FE7 gymkhana suspension or the ZN1 trailer package (which I knew to be the case, but I looked anyway). Also, the destination dealership was completely unreadable. The options were only barely readable.
Brother, I can identify with where you are in the project. I bet it will not be too much longer before you are done with this phase of mods.
Your finding the build sheet is a great bonus, and readable to a good degree. I have mine, the PO salvaged it, unfortunately it’s mostly a black sheet of paper. I have thought about scanning the document to see if the scanner can pickup some detail my eye cannot see.
Eddy
Brother, I can identify with where you are in the project. I bet it will not be too much longer before you are done with this phase of mods.
Your finding the build sheet is a great bonus, and readable to a good degree. I have mine, the PO salvaged it, unfortunately it’s mostly a black sheet of paper. I have thought about scanning the document to see if the scanner can pickup some detail my eye cannot see.
Eddy
I'll try the scanner idea. It came off in two crumpled chunks. I'm flattening them out now.
With stuff out of the way, there's a surprising amount of room in the engine compartment. I'll have to do something about the wiring to the starter. It looks like some of the fusable links have completely melted off their insulation. Now is also a good time to replace any other dodgy wires, and to cut out all of the AC bits.
Does anyone have any thoughts on these images? The plug in the head mirrors the location of the temperature sensor in the driver's head, so I may put my fan switch there. Also, now is a good time to change the valve cover gaskets. The old ones appear to be leaking a bit.
It appears to me that you need valve guide seals from the way oil is baked on the exhaust valve. Since you are going to replace the valve cover gaskets and you have a lot of parts out of the way, this would be a good time to do it. You'll need a spring compressor and a fitting to put air into each cylinder as you take the springs off to keep the valves from dropping in the cylinder. The umbrella seals will work fine.
It appears to me that you need valve guide seals from the way oil is baked on the exhaust valve. Since you are going to replace the valve cover gaskets and you have a lot of parts out of the way, this would be a good time to do it. You'll need a spring compressor and a fitting to put air into each cylinder as you take the springs off to keep the valves from dropping in the cylinder. The umbrella seals will work fine.
Mike
Thanks! That's not quite what I expected when I posted that, but I'll take it.
I have the plugs out now. I'll try to post a photo, but they are as black as you'd imagine. One probably wasn't firing at all.
The fusable links are without insulation in that image. I ordered a new L82 starter extension harness, thinking that I could get that plug out on the head. Even with Kano Kroil and an impact driver, it won't budge. I'll try some heat next, but I may have to put the switch for the Spal fans on the intake instead.
I didn't get much done in April, but today I got the steering box installed, and a few other things. Thanks to @GTR1999 ! The car isn't quite drivable yet, but I can turn the wheels again!
She's back on the road! I put the hood on yesterday, and went for another test drive. I still need to hook up the new electric fan, but the upper radiator hose was cooler than after a test drive without the hood, showing that the hood, foam, and L82 CAI seem to do something.
Still lots of electrical stuff to do, but the hard part is done, and I can sell my Kwik-Lift. I'll post some more impressions once I refine my alignment a bit.
Big thanks to many on this Forum from whom I sourced parts and advice!
Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 4, 2019 at 09:01 AM.
She's back on the road! I put the hood on yesterday, and went for another test drive. I still need to hook up the new electric fan, but the upper radiator hose was cooler than after a test drive without the hood, showing that the hood, foam, and L82 CAI seem to do something.
Still lots of electrical stuff to do, but the hard part is done, and I can sell my Kwik-Lift. I'll post some more impressions once I refine my alignment a bit.
Big thanks to many on this Forum from whom I sourced parts and advice!
Glad to hear that you are back on the road. I would hate to think about selling my Kwik Lift
