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First, thank you to ALL of the posters here! This was my first ever build and the information gleaned from this forum was invaluable nearly every step of the way. Yes, I purchased the AIM and it had its place, but nothing can replace the hands-on knuckle-busting experience of actually doing it — which y’all provided.
In spring 2021 I purchased my dream car, a 1972 LS5 4-speed numbers matching with 48,xxx original miles with loads of documentation, receipts, build sheet, tank sticker, protect-o-plate, manuals, etc. The car was beautiful and even won an award at my first local show…but it wasn’t “perfect”. And, being my “dream car” I wanted it to be “perfect”. So in the fall of 2022 I decided to pull the engine to redo/detail the engine bay. Well now I’ve exposed the frame so I needed to clean it up…but the frame runs the whole length of the car, so now I have to work my way back. “Project creep” at its finest, next thing I know I have the car completely gutted, body to bare fiberglass and frame & EVERY part blasted to bare metal. Being a numbers matching low mileage car, I had to restrain myself from going wild with engine swaps and suspension upgrades as I wanted to be able to return to “stock” with very limited work and parts.
17 months and 1100 hours later I finished it doing everything myself aside from paint (and having my brother help me install the new windshield). I’d say 98% of every nut, bolt and washer was replaced with stainless or grade 8. All hoses and vac lines were replaced while making sure all exposed wiring was covered for a clean look. Using Torch Red as an accent color, I coated the engine and calipers along with a metal flake in the clear to give an extra “pop” that the non-metallic factory white on the body was missing. While the red looked great, those big block valve covers had a LOT of blank real estate, so I airbrushed the “Stingray” script on them to give that extra detail. New bearings at all four corners, new rubber bushings front to back, lowering springs in the front with lowering bolts in the rear. Additions to the engine were minimal, adding only an aluminum radiator and Vintage Air system while resealing the big block with new gaskets. The body received all new weatherstripping throughout, while the stainless was polished and some small chrome parts not replaced were sent for re-chrome. The interior received new upholstery and foam, center console, carpet and heat shield/sound deadener throughout - along with the torch red seatbelts and wood wheel to set it off.
The wheel and tire combo is 18” aluminum rally wheels with 245/40 fronts and 255/45 rears. Paint and body work was done by Mark’s Fiberglass in Belton, MO - and he’s incredible.
I am sure I’m forgetting so much, but you get the gist of it. I am super proud to be able to finally post my own car and experience to the site after the last few years of enjoying the education it provided for the process. Thank you to everyone who helped along the way (and you didn’t even know you were)!
Curious on the wheel & tire specs?
Width? bsp? tire size?
Sorry for the delay, I had to research this as I’ve been through two sets of rear wheels to get all the clearances right. Fronts are 18x8 w/4.5 BS and 245/45 tires. Rear are 18x8 w/4.5 BS and 255/45 tires. I did use a 5/8” (I think) spacer on the rears and 3/8” (I think) spacer on the fronts.
Build Complete - with pics
