Super bright led should have the LEDs you need
https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle-lights

 

Do your speedo and tach work? If so, you can re-face them. Otherwise, you may have noticed that they are an odd size. Your best (cheap) bet might be to find a take-out set on this Forum or eBay. Otherwise, I think Dakota Digital sells a replacement. If you see an LS swap in your future, you could get a Holley digital dash, though that's crazy stupid expensive.

LEDs, absolutely. Try warm (3000K), and hopefully dimmable for the period look. Otherwise, there are a few threads where folks have lined the buckets with strip lights, then they can easily control the intensity and color.

Obvously replace that flexible circuit board while you're in there.

 

Thanks Bikespace,
for taking the time to share valued insights.

I don’t know. I’ve suddenly had to redirect priorities away from the Vette.

“If so, you can re-face them.”

How do you re-face them? Does someone sell guage rebuild parts?

“Otherwise, I think Dakota Digital”

Thanks…leaning toward this, eventually.

 

I've seen faces for sale on eBay. I can only find white stickers there now, but at one point I followed a link to someone that was selling gauge face stickers in all colors, including stock black. I should have bookmarked it.

Here's an old listing on this site to give you an idea what that might look like. Your eBay search skills may be better than mine.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-overlays.html

 

Springtime at Hillbilly Garage has brought changes. I’m having to move soon, so I’m trying to simplify.

I’ve decided to sell my Corvette project car.

Anyone interested can find my listing on Craigslist Medford.

https://medford.craigslist.org/pts/d...738433702.html

 

You’ve pu in a lot of time and hard work. Best of luck with the sale.

 

Kinda Sad to hear. Best of luck to you.

 

Thanks guys, I truly appreciate your support. It’s been fun & worthwhile bringing the Vette to this point.

I’m okay with letting the project go to someone who can complete the work with the level of ability & resources that it deserves.

 

Springtime has made working on the ‘78 a real pleasure again. I took another stab at covering the old dash in vinyl. It was tricky, but it turned out pretty well. A few wrinkles in the corners of the air vents & gauges, but it looks kinda cool that way. More “leathery.”

I removed the steering wheel to install the dash which isn’t difficult. I fixed the telescoping feature, which wasn’t unlocking. Now it does.

Mercy & CJ helped me pull the Vette back outside, into the warm sunshine.

Bathed in fine spring 🌞 sunshine, life is born anew. Wrenching on a classic beauty in the shade of oak trees again. Grace, too sweet to ignore. I’ve decided to follow through on the project to the extent that I can, as long as I can. As it turns out, I’ve got about a year before I’ll have to leave this place. My original plan was to finish the car, drive it down to San Diego & trade it for a bluewater sailboat. Then I’ll go diving for sunken treasure in warm waters until something eats me.

Putting dash components into place before cutting the vinyl keeps it in position as you work the material. I used a small paint brush to apply contact cement, working very slowly. It took me about five hours to do it.

CJ standing-by, in case I need a helping paw.

 

Nice to see your back at it. A cat may not be able to lift much but do provide a calming influence. Mine also keeps the rodent population in check - she’s a killer.
Beat of luck moving forward.

 

Ope you get that sailboat...sounds like a perfect plan

 

Seat rails were solid rust. Now they’re prepped with a wire brush & primed with acid-etching Rustoleum.

Finished with two coats of gloss black, high temp, cuz that’s what I had.

 

yep, It’s as perfect a plan for my final chapters as I can dream-up. I love life in the ocean. Especially warm oceans.

It’s been challenging to keep the momentum going with an occasional bout of overwhelm. Having a plan helps a lot.

Checking out sailboats on Craigslist San Diego & watching sailing videos on YouTube keeps the vision alive. There are several live-aboard sailors making amazing chronicles of their experiences, fixing up & sailing small boats.

What I find particularly ironic & interesting in the context of this forum, is the origin & meaning of the word “Corvette.”


mid 17th century: from French, from Dutch korf, denoting a kind of ship, + the diminutive suffix -ette .

a warship ranking in the old sailing navies next below a frigate. 2. : a highly maneuverable armed escort ship that is smaller than a destroyer.

###

So I’m thinkin it’ll be appropo to name my boat

🌊🌊⛵️“La Corvette”🌊🌊

My redneck son turns 18 in a year, & will probably bolt for Montana or Texas (in his new 2002 F250 clubcab) as soon as he graduates from high school. At that point, if I don’t have a challenge, I’ll turn into a couch potato.

I rather turn salty & get back into life at sea. In the ‘80s & ‘90s I was a commercial diver & underwater photographer. CJ will have to adjust, to life onboard, but she’ll like the warm weather & fresh fish.

 

After filling holes & cracks with silicone sealer, I used 1/16” foam padding to smooth out the top of the dash. Contact cement secured the faux leather stretchy vinyl, which came out pretty well after my second attempt. Installed the dash, heating ducts, heater controls, center console & plugged-in the three steering column connectors, running power through the wiring harness into the engine compartment. I can now crank the engine over with the key, rather than having to hot-wire it.

This photo shows one of two plugs connected, at the top of the steering column. The second plug fits onto the three prongs to the right, in front of the first plug. These two plugs are located on top of the steering column, just behind the mounting brackets. There’s a third connector that’s long & thin on the right side of the column. It would have been a lot easier if I’d plugged these in before I installed the dash.

 

Progress. The dash looks good in the photo - hope that dealing with the plugs doesn’t mess it up any. Good luck.

 

Another great place to find a really nice yacht for an inexpensive price is at marinas.
Over the past several years there have been several really nice ones abandoned because people don’t pay the slip rental fees and after several months the marinas do lien sales for the unpaid rental fees.
The Sacramento City owned marina is at least one near me that sells them on a regular basis.
They aren’t the new pristine ones but some only need a little trim or brass work and maybe some engine work to get them sea worthy and in tip top shape.
Good luck!

 

Thats good to know

 

After installing a new coil & module, and figuring out the correct, key-on power lead to the BAT 🦇 terminal on the distributor, I finally started the engine using the key…
👇🏽
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0b6A...YrbtsKdNAQeruQ

 

The good news is, the new engine sounds great. Timed at idle to 12 degrees before tdc, adjusted the two fuel mixture screws on the front of the Edelbrock 1406 carburetor using a vacuum guage to measure, setting them to create max pressure.

The racing shop machinist in Medford who built the engine recommended I plug the vacuum advance port to keep from over-advancing at high speeds & blowing the engine. Apparently that’s a thing. Anybody out there ever hear of that?

The hood won’t close with the stock air cleaner on, so will have to switch it out to one with a slightly slimmer profile. 🤔Chrome dome?

The really bad news is, after topping off the transmission with ATF, removing both back wheels & putting the car in gear, there was no reverse & no drive, though the hubs turned in the two low gears⚙️. Expensive noises.😖💨

Looks like I’ll have to pull the engine & transmission, after saving up for a rebuild.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to reassemble the doors, vacuum lines, front & rear lights nose & tail covers, strip paint, sand & prep.

 

You should set your vacuum advance so it's limited to give you only 48 to 52 degrees of total advance including your intial, mechanical and vacuum advance. You cant over advance at wot as your motor isn't giving you manifold vacuum at wot