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Not really but what I should have done and I eventually did was jack up the back of the car from the bar that runs along the bottom on the rear bumper. I realised that although I’d undone the bumper to the frame as I jacked it up it didn’t move and that’s how I ended up with the stress cracks. I can take a picture tomorrow if you want
As a new owner of a 77, This thread has been fun to read through and has related to a lot of what I have gone through with my vette in the short 2 week time frame I have owned it. I'm finally about done putting interior back together. My next steps is new change fluids. Rebuild Quadra jet and then drive it! Front end rebuild will be my next big project. After that I might attempt boby mounts. Love all the info!
I didn’t do anything at the front other than remove the 3 bolts and one nut at the front that holds the bumper to the frame. I took them out completely on the side I was working on and loosened the others. The nut up bedside near the radiator is impossible to get at so I ended up buying one of those ratchet spanners and using that.
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the thread mia389 and you’re spot on. I’m sure I’m places I never imagined. Feel free to jump on and ask questions and make a few posts as I’m learning as I go too
Thanks for all the info so far. There are not many things I haven't done on this car, but body mount bushings is something I have put off. Seems you cut a few corners according to all the articles I have read. And I can see how. I am still awaiting parts and that could take some time, so repairing my number 4 mount fibreglass problems will be dealt with as I wait.
Any updates Dave? Ya got this thing on the road yet?'
All the body mounts are now in but I'm waiting on a left body protector for number 4 mount. Was supposedly on order but its been over a month and still nothing.
I've been working away on it, about 2 hours a day. Fibreglass work on the number 4 mounts is done on the outside. Will be pouring resin into them tonight to build up and level the inside floors of them tonight. Says my parts have cleared customs. Now there in the hands of Australia post. Depending on how well the horse is will determine how long it will take them to get parts from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast.
(To all you non Aussies, Australia Post is notoriously horrible, and there horse is getting old).
Great news, the Horse is finally in good health. Or perhaps the post finally retired the old nag and purchased a younger horse.
And I have both number 4 reinforcements !
I poured resin into both number 4 mount pockets tonight to level out the floor so my rectangular steel inside supports have a flat surface to sit on and of course fill in the busted out holes. I will install the new reinforcements with a urethane sicaflex and aluminium pop rivets. Should be stronger than new.
I am still working on all the front and rear bumper support bolts. Most everything else is done. Still want to clean out the number 2 mount areas in the bird cage. So a bit to do yet before the lift.
Got both number 4 reinforcements done today. White stuff is a urethane Sicaflex. I didn't care what the colour was. I will be spraying undercoating over the top of them as well. The urethane Sicaflex will not only add strength. But also help keep out water and debris which is what rusts out the originals.
got the drivers side raised up today. Changed out all the mount bushings and set it down. Was a big day. Tomorrow or the next day I'll raise the passengers side. Then I may have to do it a couple more times till I get all the shims just right.
I also cleaned out the number 2 mount areas in the bird cage. Was very pleased with the condition of my birdcage. I sprayed some rust converter in there as well, mostly just because. But they looked great.
Thought I'd bring this back up to the top.
So have you received your last number 4 reinforcement yet?
where did you order it from?
I now have all 8 mounts in place. Just letting the body rest and find it's home before tightening bolts.
Sooooo I called the place I’d order the parts from and they told me it was going to be another 2 weeks so I cancelled the order and ordered if from another supplier and had it in my hand in 2 days.
When I looked at it I realised it was a right and not a left!!!!!!! I called the shop and he did I could come over to his house on Sat morning and swap it.
As of tonight the car is back together and moveable. Put almost everything back together.
Im just waiting on a volt meter to put the dash back in and I need to take the door panels off as I’m getting keys cut for the doors as I don’t have any.
Looks like you’re doing a great job 4 vettes. No cracks in the body like mine?
No cracks Mate. A floor jack on the rear bumper, a floor jack on the front bumper. A scissors jack on the side. Raised the side a 1/4 inch. The rear 1/2 inch. The front just supported. Did that in increments. Passengers side number 3 was a bugger to get out and new one in. But otherwise went smoothly. Not removing the 4th bolt up front meant lifting the body not just side to side, but the rear up and the front pivoting on the one remaining bolt.
last night when I put it down I had a large gap at the number 4 mount drivers side. Today the gap was gone. This afternoon I did the passengers side. Large gap at number 4 again and small gap at drivers number 4. So I'm letting it rest and will start tightening bolts tomorrow. If I need to reshim, back up again
They say to count your shims. But the new shims are thinner than the originals. So I went on thickness not count.
As of right now, door gaps look good. Doors open and close perfect. Yes door bushings are in great shape.
Time will tell. I'm not rushing this. Not a job I want to do again so I will let it rest. Tighten down 1 and 2. Check my gaps and fitness. Then if good. Tighten down 3. Then 4. If any door gaps are out or rear bumper alignment is out. Back apart to reshim.
