Can you help a new guy?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville Florida
Can you help a new guy?
Well, I'm hooked now! Bought my first Vette a few months back and I'm discovering all the "joys" of resurrecting it, especially from the last few Bubba owners. It's a 71 Coupe 350/TH400. I'm sure I'll have LOTS of questions to ask here but here's my first one....Bubba had the entire front end of the car burn many years ago so he replaced the whole front cap including new non-vaccuum headlights, no wiper door, etc. He also got rid of that pesky A/C compressor and all A/C accessories. What a genius. Looks like he pulled the vacuum cannister out too since he didn't need it anymore. Now I have the whole interior torn out of the car. I'm redoing everything but I'm wondering what I can do to restore any kind of vacuum function for at least the defroster, heater, vents, etc. I assume I need to find a new vacuum cannister and then try to rehook things or would I be just wasting my time? Can I get those things to function without having any A/C stuff hooked up?
And yes, of course he cut the fiber optics, spliced new wires in all over the place and generally made a huge mess! Glad I bought a shop manual! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Ken
And yes, of course he cut the fiber optics, spliced new wires in all over the place and generally made a huge mess! Glad I bought a shop manual! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Ken
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 3
From: South Central Louisiana
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Can you help a new guy? (71VetteKen)
Hello fellow 71 owner, glad to have you aboard. You should be able to hook your small vacuum line going into the firewall to get vacuum going to the interior. I really dont think you need a canister just for that. The a/c components, both coils and the compressor, are only going to stop you from getting cool air, you should be able to get everything else to work, unlees he tore the fan and the heater core out too.Fiber optics is neat, I like mine, but you are looking at a lot of trouble to fix it if its been cut. Wires??? A wire is a wire. A new wire is better than an old wire, provided he used the right size, the right temperature rating, routed them correctly, and made good connections. Good luck, ask away when you need to. :p:
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Md USA
Re: Can you help a new guy? (71VetteKen)
Sorry i can offer any help but I CAN wish you good luck . sounds like you have a jobe ahead of you.
make sure you have a GM shop manuel with you and that should make it a little better.
once again GOOD LUCK.
make sure you have a GM shop manuel with you and that should make it a little better.
once again GOOD LUCK.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Re: Can you help a new guy? (MrK9)
I own a 71 convertible 350. WOW Bubba did a job on your car. If you want to get it back to factory buy and Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM). You can get it from Ecklers and any of the usual catalogs. Get the index that they offer also because it takes Rocket Scientists to figure out how GM numbered the thing. Are you going to go for the vacuum headlight and wiper door or are you just concerned about the heater functions. If just the heater stuff I think 71,454,4sp is on the right track. Also post everything here. There are plenty of people that have done anything you try to tackle. We are all just one big happy family!!!!!
GOOD LUCK
John
GOOD LUCK
John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Re: Can you help a new guy? (71VetteKen)
Welcom Aboard :yesnod:
You sure bit off a mouthful for your first Vette! I've had more than a couple C3's and the first thing I got after the car was that model's AIM. Those are worth their weight in gold.
You sure bit off a mouthful for your first Vette! I've had more than a couple C3's and the first thing I got after the car was that model's AIM. Those are worth their weight in gold.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Re: Can you help a new guy? (71VetteKen)
Yeah know that now your on here you'll get to be an adict
Whats the technical name for this disease we've all got?? :jester
Sounds like bubba did a good job of making it run maybe not well but it ran right :rolleyes:
Whats the technical name for this disease we've all got?? :jester
Sounds like bubba did a good job of making it run maybe not well but it ran right :rolleyes:
