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I picked this nice 71 LS5 project up just before Thanksgiving to give my idol hands some much needed wrench therapy. Its been quite a while since I had a project at home that didn't involve a hammer and nails and I missed it. I am still formulating a plan for the outcome but I am in neck deep already. I have stripped down the body inside and out to get ready to pull the body as soon as the weather is nice enough to leave the truck outside.
I did start stripping the paint and managed to razor blade the top Maco layer off. going to switch to chemical stripper soon. Again need to wait till the weather warms up.
Today I scraped about 15 pounds of asphalt undercoat off the inside of the fender wells. Why would anyone put that crap on any car let alone one made of Fiberglass?
Well here are a bunch of pictures to show my progress so far. I will try to keep things up to date from here on out.
Looking good. Quite the hood collection you have going on there! =)
How is the frame/birdcage?
Haha So the car came with the factory hood and one with a big hole in it to clear the intake on the crate motor he had in it. I found the red one here locally in a salvage yard. I like to keep my options open.
Hi Wf,
It looks like you've found a nice solid car for your "idle hands" to get busy with.
Lot's of very interesting details in the photographs!!!
Nice work on the center gauge cluster bezel and shifter console plate!
Should the windshield come out????
I guess the first thing to determine is if it's the original or not. The information etched in the glass in the lower right corner will indicate it's heritage.
If it's an original and in good shape I'd leave it in place and CAREFULLY work around it. 47 year old glass have become VERY fragile and will be very easy to break.
If it's been replaced at some time in the car's life I'd remove it as part of the restoration.
Good Luck as you continue... and again.. nice photos of interesting things to see!
Regards,
Alan
Nice date stamp!
This is the windshield logo and date code (VT) from a mid-January built 71 car.
Hi Wf,
It looks like you've found a nice solid car for your "idle hands" to get busy with.
Lot's of very interesting details in the photographs!!!
Nice work on the center gauge cluster bezel and shifter console plate!
Should the windshield come out????
I guess the first thing to determine is if it's the original or not. The information etched in the glass in the lower right corner will indicate it's heritage.
If it's and original in good shape I'd leave it in place and CAREFULLY work around it. 47 year old glass have become VERY fragile and will be very easy to break.
If it's been replaced at some time in the car's life I'd remove it as part of the restoration.
Good Luck as you continue... and again.. nice photos of interesting things to see!
Regards,
Alan
Nice date stamp!
This is the windshield logo and date code (VT) from a mid-January built 71 car.
Thank you for the reply. Here is a picture of my Windshield etching. I hope you can see it, it is very faint.
You really have found a great specimen to restore, of course I hope you go the stock route...
If I can help you along the way with some LS 5 pictures, feel free to ask!
WB
Thanks War Bonnet.
I am going to keep the body and interior as stock as possible but, I will like go with some upgraded bolt on suspension and wheel/tires. I have most of the original equipment but I don't have a few things in the engine compartment. The engine that is in it currently is a Gen 5 crate motor I am not all that crazy about but, its new and in running condition. The original is here but not together and missing some accessory drive parts and the A/C compressor is missing.
Damn Mice. Can think of a more worthless creature. Asphalt Undercoat just doesn't make sense?
After lots of scraping. This is out of just one fender well. Good Grief! Floors are good. Fiberglass Spring looks like new but is close to 30 years old. Car sat in a Garage since the early 90s. Hope the alarm horn still works. So far I'm not finding any body repairs other than a couple small cracks in the wheel openings
Hi W71,
Wow!
Another interesting group of photos and a wealth of information and details!!!
Just 2 examples... the position of the jute tunnel insulation and the location of the right side courtesy lamp on an a/c car!!!!
Thanks for continuing to post them!
Regards,
Alan
I am going to keep the body and interior as stock as possible but, I will like go with some upgraded bolt on suspension and wheel/tires. I have most of the original equipment but I don't have a few things in the engine compartment. The engine that is in it currently is a Gen 5 crate motor I am not all that crazy about but, its new and in running condition. The original is here but not together and missing some accessory drive parts and the A/C compressor is missing.
Ok, I approve! The upgrades you speak of are "bolt ons". Things that can be easily returned to stock. The tires are a must!
As a quick note, that fan blade shown in your photo is for AC car only and quite expensive, if you need to buy one!
Keep the photos coming, I for one love to see the progress!
Ok, I approve! The upgrades you speak of are "bolt ons". Things that can be easily returned to stock. The tires are a must!
As a quick note, that fan blade shown in your photo is for AC car only and quite expensive, if you need to buy one!
Keep the photos coming, I for one love to see the progress!
Since you mentioned the fan blade, I think I read somewhere many years ago that if the blade/clutch is removed, it should be kept in a vertical position. Whenever I remove mine, I always lean it up against something. Did I dream this?
Found it. It was in my '71 Service Manual, I read it when I replaced the belts in 1975.
Last edited by 71 Green 454; Jan 30, 2018 at 12:51 PM.
Since you mentioned the fan blade, I think I read somewhere many years ago that if the blade/clutch is removed, it should be kept in a vertical position. Whenever I remove mine, I always lean it up against something. Did I dream this?
Thanks,
Whether or not it turns out true, it sounds reasonable to me and I will correct the issue.
Since you mentioned the fan blade, I think I read somewhere many years ago that if the blade/clutch is removed, it should be kept in a vertical position. Whenever I remove mine, I always lean it up against something. Did I dream this?
Found it. It was in my '71 Service Manual, I read it when I replaced the belts in 1975.
Originally Posted by Willforce71
Thanks,
Whether or not it turns out true, it sounds reasonable to me and I will correct the issue.
Yep, I'm familiar with this recommendation, too. They can and do leak, I've seen it.
Willforce71 71 LS5 Resto??
The upgrades you speak of are "bolt ons". Things that can be easily returned to stock. The tires are a must!
