New member intro
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Run, PA
New member intro
Hi I'm Doug from very rural Northeastern PA. I taught for 35 years and at the age of 75 have decided to start restoring my big block 68 convertible I bought in 1988( good things take time). I have it at a local small garage that a former student owns and he has begun some of the mechanical work that I wanted to do for years. First he got the vette running because it had not been started for a few years. This when the surprise happened. I purchase the car knowing it was not matching numbers, but was told it had a 67 427. It seemed correct because the engine code is JA. It turned out to be a 69 block 396 with the JA. At the present time I'm having a true 4 bolt 427 built to replace it. I joined the forum to hopefully pick the brains of the members of the forum during the engine build and the restoration. Doug
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 1,283
From: Phoenix, AZ to Quakertown, PA.
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Welcome and that sounds like a fantastic project you got going on there. Good luck and keep us updated , also pics are required too.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,199
Likes: 7,796
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like a great project and your right, ya can't rush these things! Best of luck to you!
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
Welcome, Doug! It’s never too late to restore a classic Corvette! We’re glad to have you on the forum and look forward to seeing your car progress in the future. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out. Take care, ~ Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,060
Likes: 101
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
you are a youngster, LOL (i'm 81). never too old to enjoy a corvette!. my second in my lifetime 1969 350/350 convertible should be done with it's safety and appearance restoration by the early spring (fingers crossed). i have owned at least one corvette my entire adult lifetime starting way back with a 63 split window in the day. sorry to say it was sold for my first 69 convertible in early 1970 which was sold for....... you get the idea. at one time i had rebuilt the pace car in my information box to the left while i also owned a 2004 commemorative convertible. all that sold for the current 69 lol. what goes around i guess really does come around. lots of luck with your project and as you have probably already read, we love pictures!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 1,173
From: CLEVELAND STUCK IN OHIO
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Welcome Doug. Happy you’re getting it done. When a Corvette bites ya, it’s a deep one. My first one was a 1968 L-68 427 convertible. {purchased in 1978} Only ever owned convertibles. And only have two convertibles (corvettes) now. You’ll love it……
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Run, PA
Thanks for all the great welcome messages. I would love to include pictures, but the corvette is 1200 miles away. The vette is in PA and I'm in FL. In early April when I go north, hopefully the main mechanical work will be done. I already have learned that one thing lead to another. The mechanic call in changing the gears in the rear from 4:11 to 3:55's we need a different differential carrier which I never heard of. In watching a differential rebuild on you tube I now what he's talking about. I found a Yukon posi case new for have half what some are selling for. I think I will need to go the tech forum to see what members think of Yukon Gear products. The motor is out of the car and the man building my 427 is picking it up next week. He is buying the my 396 to use the heads for another build he's going to do. Thank again
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,726
Likes: 1,900
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Sugarhill, reach out / message Gary, ( GTR1999 ) he is the rear end, trailing arm, steering box KING / GOOOOH ROOOOOH !!
