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I’ve been busy working on the small stuff and trying to figure out some problems I’m having. Started installing the Corvette America dash today and that has been the worst job on this frame off resto yet. This dash is a garbage rendition of the original and is a pain in the rear, doesn’t seem like anything fits right. The windshield defrost vent does not even touch the center dash opening with a 3/4” inch gap. The heat gun is your friend but go easy. Patience is an understatement on this leg of the journey.....any tips would be appreciated. Could be me but I don’t think so😔
The only advice I can give is to put the dash pad in the sun before beginning your installation, but you may well be past that point. Assuming you’re already committed, Heat and patience is your friend. Be extra careful that you don’t have something preventing the pad from going into place, like a wiring harness that you moved earlier. Amazing how things migrate while you’re in there.
The only advice I can give is to put the dash pad in the sun before beginning your installation, but you may well be past that point. Assuming you’re already committed, Heat and patience is your friend. Be extra careful that you don’t have something preventing the pad from going into place, like a wiring harness that you moved earlier. Amazing how things migrate while you’re in there.
Dash is in and now working on shifter plate and switches. Turns out the dash just needed a little more caressing than other parts of this build. Getting a new windshield installed this week and then trailer to the body shop for a paint quote. If we can agree then it will stay there and hopefully be back in a month or two. I still need to get my upholstery and carpets done but I’ll work on that while it’s at paint along with all the other “little things” that are needed. I’ll post a few pics later.
Heading out for a paint quote in the morning and if we can agree, I will leave it for the zen masters to make it pretty. New glass and dash makes it look like a car now, don’t laugh at my printed upholstery, just the wife’s old shirt to cover the foam.😁Don’t need a show car paint scheme but not the $599 special either. I want a nice daily driver paint job with base and clear. I’ve read some good advice on paint here and will discuss with manager and tech what we want done. Payment in a 3 or 4 step plan to keep them motivated. Also have an old buddy who was in body work before getting sick and he is willing to take a look and make sure they are staying on plans.
Been awhile since I posted here but have been busy with so much going on. Decided to paint the car myself and have an ex body shop painter to oversee some of my work and give feedback. Planning to prime this weekend and paint the following if weather holds up. Then we will clean up and paint interior panels and get them installed. Still a few months from being done but it’s looking like we could be driving by summer.
Last edited by Gman81; Apr 21, 2020 at 09:41 PM.
Reason: Typo
Coming along nicely , can you please let us see how you paint it ? There's a few guys here going to do similar at home so it would be good to see how it's done.
Is that back to the original colour of the car ?
Coming along nicely , can you please let us see how you paint it ? There's a few guys here going to do similar at home so it would be good to see how it's done.
Is that back to the original colour of the car ?
I’ll try to take pics as I go and post them up each day. Spent a lot of time with sandpaper and body filler to repair all the nicks from razor blade paint removal. Got everything taped up except for the windshield and wheels, I’ll be getting rid of the wheels for 18’s if all goes well.
Last edited by Gman81; Apr 22, 2020 at 09:31 PM.
Reason: Adding
Well, it’s been raining since yesterday so prime is put off for another week. Last night I rebuilt my headlight actuators and will recheck and fix any body issues while getting the cab area masked off since I’m also painting jams. Started looking for 18” wheels also...
Primer Time? If all goes well in the morning we will start on bringing out the beauty of this beast. I’ve got the plastic sheeting on the walls mainly to protect my stuff in the garage. When I paint though I’ll also cover the ceiling and garage door.
Two coats of primer done, now it’s time to fix all the things that show up once primed. Thankfully it’s not that bad for a first timer. Prep prep prep.
Heard a ticking/pinging type sound and pulled the valve covers😭🙏🏽😠😡. Have to push paint back to get engine right. Push rods wore into the rod guide plates a bit. Just can’t figure out why the rockers moved off center. I guess valve adjustments were too loose.
Heard a ticking/pinging type sound and pulled the valve covers😭🙏🏽😠😡. Have to push paint back to get engine right. Push rods wore into the rod guide plates a bit. Just can’t figure out why the rockers moved off center. I guess valve adjustments were too loose.
Gonna take a stab at it.
Those are 113 L98 heads. Some L98 came OE with a so-called guide plate BUT also w/ self-guided aka self-aligning aka rail-type rockers ... those appear Not.
The so-called OE guide plates were an anomaly ... they were installed on heads to aide engine assembly ...Not to guide PRs when running ... that's what the rail rockers were for. Those plates look like the slots may be too wide to properly guide PRs when running.
Perhaps yours has the OE fake guide plates and you're running plain rockers? If so, get some rail rockers and maybe that solves it.
Thanks Jackson, good to know. Yes, the heads are later model Chevy purchased from the machine shop I used in Ybor City, FL. I may not be going back there for various reasons. I will look into the rail rockers and see what I can find out. The rockers seemed to be a little askew, running off to one side. Thanks for the info.
Wow GMan , your coming right along with your build !
Sorry to see the rockers are acting up !
Primer looks great !
Hopefully the problems with the heads will get resolved sooner than later and you’ll be back on schedule for finishing paint and body !
Wow GMan , your coming right along with your build !
Sorry to see the rockers are acting up !
Primer looks great !
Hopefully the problems with the heads will get resolved sooner than later and you’ll be back on schedule for finishing paint and body !
Thanks SPCL. A lot of work for sure but enjoyable for the most part.
Gonna take a stab at it.
Those are 113 L98 heads. Some L98 came OE with a so-called guide plate BUT also w/ self-guided aka self-aligning aka rail-type rockers ... those appear Not.
The so-called OE guide plates were an anomaly ... they were installed on heads to aide engine assembly ...Not to guide PRs when running ... that's what the rail rockers were for. Those plates look like the slots may be too wide to properly guide PRs when running.
Perhaps yours has the OE fake guide plates and you're running plain rockers? If so, get some rail rockers and maybe that solves it.
Jackson, any thoughts on rockers arms needed? Roller or not? It’s a mild cam with 1.5 rockers. I guess I could use them with proper guide plates and hardened push rods.
Jackson, any thoughts on rockers arms needed? Roller or not? It’s a mild cam with 1.5 rockers. I guess I could use them with proper guide plates and hardened push rods.
Dunno if your PRs are OK or been scarred up.
Yup, you could get some real plates & use your stamped rockers ... or ... my preference
you could get some stamped self-guide rockers like those that were OE in virtually every sbc since mid-eighties.
Thank you again Jackson. You were on point with the SA rockers, even my so called machinist was no help. I will place order tonight. PR’s are fine but I will check each for straightness. Also need to replace one rocker stud. Should be good to go after that. Thanks
don't recall if those L98 heads' studs go into water or not ... maybe sealant ... if threads are deep enough, with SA you can dump the fake plates. hope that gets ya going again.
I've no doubt the machinist knows lotsa stuff I don't
