Im just wondering what everyones plans are for the winter for there vette?.

Mine are pretty major(in my opinion).
-fix headlights(middle of that now)
-next month it will go into the paint booth(also getting a new hood, looking at L-88)
-when it gets out Im going to restore the interior
-upgrade the radio while Im doing interior resto(replacing speakers and head unit, maybe an amp and a 10' or 2)
-install a hot cam and headers, maybe intake and carb(depending on how good I've been, and how giving santa wants to be)
-clean up engine compartment while doing cam/headers
-replace rubber bushing with polyurethane(everywhere)
-chassis repaint(starting to surface rust)
-convert to 134R AC, well, I hardly have any of my AC system still in the car(only the ducts)...so I will basically be "installing 134R" instead of "converting"
-install 17" rims(this will be in june, so I have plenty of time to pick out a set)
EDIT:-maybe instead of the cam/headers I'll look at a big block for a "project" motor to rebuild and install in a year or two.

Hopefully those will be the only projects I run into. Its basically going to be a frame-on restoration. But hopefully I will get at least a weeks time to drive the car before my next project starts(a cold winter here is mid 40's, no snow).


What do you guys have planned?

Daniel
PS. when I go to the paint shop Im going to ask about a baldwin style rear window, and how much he'd run me to do that... :D :D


[Modified by daniel77350, 4:36 AM 9/4/2001]

 

Well down here we don't put off our repairs until winter because we stop driving then, we put them off until then because it is hard to work on your car in 115+ degree heat !!
Winter is our best driving season, but it is also the only time it is bearable to work on the car.
With that said here is my project list and time table.
What I have done since buying the car in 11/00
Had all transmission seals replaced
Installed CD player and dash speakers
Fixed power windows
Fixed power locks
Fixed factory alarm
Fixed QJet
Replaced entire front suspension, all poly bushings, 550 lb springs, idler arm -- all of it.
Replaced factory rear spring with 340 lb mono fiberglass spring
Fixed cruise control transducer

Between now and Sept 29th.
Upgrade alternator to 110 AMP unit
Replace rear speakers

Sept 29 - October 7:
Replace original L-48 engine with ZZ4 and all the trimings.
Replace original 3.08 rear gears with 3.73 gears.
Fix rear suspension bushings.
Replace A/C compressor.
Replace all vacuum hoses under hood and clean up all electrical items.
General underhood cleanup
Replace half shaft u-joints.


Sometime between Sept 29 and October 17th:
have glass t-tops (1 broken) sent in for replacement with acylic pieces.

October 18th - 21st -- KICK A SS at the RT. 66 Ralley in Chandler Arizona.

 

I am way too impatient to wait until winter, so I just tore down the top end of my engine for new solid cam and thin head gaskets for increased compression. If I can manage to sell all of my Mopar big blocks and other spare parts, then I will have enough cash to spend this winter for leather seats, new seat foam, door panels, carpet, seat belts, and anyhting else that I can think of.

 

That's sure the truth!!
Seriously looking at a hopped up ZZ4 from Sallee Chevrolet with TH400 mods and higher stall converter. Then we'll break out the factory side pipes.

 

When I get my car back together I'm going to drive it for a couple of weeks. I spent most of the summer working on the damn thing for one reason or another. I couldn't even drive it to Carlisle :(

After that I'm going to gut the interior and sand the car down and give it a fair to good paint job. Just something to hold me over until after I get my big block and other mechanicals out of the way. I can't see hovering two engines over a car with a pristine paint job.

I plan on painting early next month. Mainly because I just bought a used Big block hood (actually in june, but shipping arrangements with a complete airhead [not you Will ] have delayed it, I still don't have it). Early october is perfect temperature wise and the humidity should be down enough to be conducive to spraying.

The hood is red, and I refuse to drive a yellow car with a red hood and blue seats. Do I look like Cheech? I might as well paint "Love Machine" on the rear window.

After the paint I'm going to spend the rest of the winter completely redoing the interior. Some fool put cut pile carpeting in the car and it has blue seats from when it spent a brief period of time as a LeMans blue car. The Center console is warped out of shape and stuff. I should have a decent looking car by Spring.

The big block project should happen next winter, but I'm looking for an engine right now. If I can spread the spending out over a wide period of time that might keep the wife happy.

 

You're going to pull all that off in 9 days?!?!?

 

Yeah. And when are you coming over ??

I did the entire front suspension (if you don't count the day waiting for the machine shop) in 2 days. And that was working for 1 hour - break for at least 1/2 hour and then work for an hour -- so on. I also didn't work early morning or after about 6 p.m.

Sept 29th - Remove engine and transmission. Remove all brackets and accesories that need powder coating.
Sept 30th - Replace all hoses and clean up engine compartment.
October 1 - drop off brackets and parts to be powder coated, replace A/C compressor, dryer, EV.
October 2 - Remove and replace rear end. Re-do bushings in control arms. Clean up rear area and do u-joints.
October 3 - Catch up day - get parts back from powder coating
October 4 - Install items on new motor, connect new motor and transmission.
October 5 - Install engine and transmission -- replace radiator, connect all items. Fire it up and break it in if possible.
October 6 - Finish install and start up.
October 7 - Catch up day -- clean tools - go for a drive -- drink beer.

On Sept 29th and October 6th I hope to have some of the local Corvette Forum guys over for what we call Corvette Saturday - a day where we work on others cars, :bs, and have some beers. So that gives me some extra hands on those two days.

I will be doing updates every evening and all of you will be able to see if I hold to the time line above. The rear end is optional and may be put at the end of the list if time gets tight.

Any wagers?

 

Driving driving and more driving :D