Corvette Build for 16 year old
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
Hey guys, don't mean to step on any toes here but maybe we should lighten up on the kid a little. He is only 16 years old and is obviously proud of whatever work he has done on the car. We all know he could not have completely restored a beat up Corvette in a year.
Maybe when he is a few years older or even 10 or 20 years older, he will look back and realize his bravado was overblown. Maybe by then, he will also be very knowledgable about auto restoration, go fast mods, and many other worldly things.
He has enthusiasm only impeded by youth and has a lot to learn. Many of us have been there a few years ago.
Terry
Maybe when he is a few years older or even 10 or 20 years older, he will look back and realize his bravado was overblown. Maybe by then, he will also be very knowledgable about auto restoration, go fast mods, and many other worldly things.
He has enthusiasm only impeded by youth and has a lot to learn. Many of us have been there a few years ago.
Terry
Do some of you get jealous of others? Especially if they are younger? That is the vibe that I've been getting for over a year on this forum! Lighten up! Ones perception of a full restoration is different from another person's. Hell for all we know, this '78 could've just had a fresh coat of paint, new seat covers and door panels, and maybe some brake and shocks replaced! Is that a restoration to me? No. However, one who knows little about cars that might be a restoration!
Tweeter - Before we can help you out give us some info. We need to know the 5 digit of the Vin #. It should be an L or a 4. If it is an L it is an L48. If it is a 4 then it is an L82. The 2nd thing we need to know is if the numbers on the engine pad match with the vin#. If so, then you can conclude it is the original engine (for all you doubters - I doubt a '78 would be worth restamping a block). The reason why we need to know this is because the L82 can easily accept any mods you want to throw at it. The L48, however, is a bit more sensitive towards mods, but can still be made into a great performer. Also, is you car an auto or a manual?
Last edited by FRSTR90; Nov 10, 2009 at 08:53 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Who knows maybe he did restore it in a year, nothing is impossible in this country (thank you veterans!). Give the young man some props for chosing a Vette instead of a Civic with a chrome coffee can for a muffler. I would have to agree with L88Plus " a vette for a 16-year old has to be a chick magnet". Troll for the sweet stuff while you still can !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Huum seems like some posters have just made assumptions based on 16yrs old. Seems resonable a 16 yr old would be living at home had help from his father maybe even an older brother or two to get the car up in good shape in a yrs time. I saw nothing in tweeter4 post that said I did all the work totaly myself only that he picked up an old 78 fixed the car up in yrs time. It may well be that father or whatever other help has no real experience in drag racing or what mods it takes to do it, so tweeter4 comes on a corvette forum for some help gets his chops busted for no good reason.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Nov 12, 2009 at 06:19 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
I knew nothing about Corvettes when I bought my '77 earlier this year though I've probably restored 15+ cars in my lifetime - to factory condition or better & won many awards for them - & I'll guarantee you none was done in a year!
I started disassembly of my Corvette immediately after I bought it; some 5+ months later, my frame is completely new, my 200-4R transmission is rebuilt as is my '86 TPI engine & my wiring harness/computer are redone to work properly with my '77 car....I'm painting my engine & getting everything ready to bolt onto the frame which probably won't happen for a few weeks!
Oh, I've worked on the car steadily, every day, without concern about costs..........I said all that to point out how much a retired guy with deep pockets can get completed spending at a minimum 4 hours per day (usually 7 hours except on Sunday) working on a car he knew nothing about ....
...and I've not touched the body yet (other than removing it from the frame)!
Now, I could believe a 15 year old got an old Corvette & cleaned it up & did some maintenance to get it running better, but "restored it to factory condition" in a year knowing nothing about Corvettes? I'm sorry, can't buy it. I'm willing to help anybody if I have the knowledge & am not afraid to ask questions when I don't understand; but,.....
& I agree with Alan 71...I've gotta see before, during & after photos so, with my limited knowledge, I can better understand the car & its' owner.....and you're abilities to modify it, Tweeter4.....& so I can kick myself in the @ss for not getting as much done on my Corvette, in the same timeframe !
I started disassembly of my Corvette immediately after I bought it; some 5+ months later, my frame is completely new, my 200-4R transmission is rebuilt as is my '86 TPI engine & my wiring harness/computer are redone to work properly with my '77 car....I'm painting my engine & getting everything ready to bolt onto the frame which probably won't happen for a few weeks!
Oh, I've worked on the car steadily, every day, without concern about costs..........I said all that to point out how much a retired guy with deep pockets can get completed spending at a minimum 4 hours per day (usually 7 hours except on Sunday) working on a car he knew nothing about ....
...and I've not touched the body yet (other than removing it from the frame)!
Now, I could believe a 15 year old got an old Corvette & cleaned it up & did some maintenance to get it running better, but "restored it to factory condition" in a year knowing nothing about Corvettes? I'm sorry, can't buy it. I'm willing to help anybody if I have the knowledge & am not afraid to ask questions when I don't understand; but,.....
& I agree with Alan 71...I've gotta see before, during & after photos so, with my limited knowledge, I can better understand the car & its' owner.....and you're abilities to modify it, Tweeter4.....& so I can kick myself in the @ss for not getting as much done on my Corvette, in the same timeframe !
I decided to do a full body-off restoration (as a tribute) which I started a month later after joining the forum, April 2006.
1 year and 4 months later, August 2007, it was fired up for the first time since '84 and back on the road.
Took it down to a bare frame and rebuilt/restored every nut and bolt, stripped/repainted (same color, black), rebuilt original engine, and put it all back pretty dam close to factory via NCRS Judging manual I was using as a guide.
I did this restoration while also finishing my last year of college (graduated April 2007, OSU), so if I wasn't studying for tests I was studying the AIM/Chiltons/NCRS Manual, and here on the forum...and if I wasn't in the classroom I was in the shop.
So anything is possible, and have some video proof of the timeline which is date stamped for each video:
www.youtube.com/69Stingray427
Who knows maybe he did restore it in a year, nothing is impossible in this country (thank you veterans!). Give the young man some props for chosing a Vette instead of a Civic with a chrome coffee can for a muffler. I would have to agree with L88Plus " a vette for a 16-year old has to be a chick magnet". Troll for the sweet stuff while you still can !
You're welcome (Marine Corps veteran)! 
I even got a free meal from Applebee's that day, as all veterans ate for free, and there were a lot there; was also very cool hearing all the stories people were telling from young to old.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 172
Likes: 2
From: Cumming GA
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Huum seems like some posters have just made assumptions based on 16yrs old. Seems resonable a 16 yr old would be living at home had help from his father maybe even an older brother or two to get the car up in good shape in a yrs time. I saw nothing in tweeter4 post that said I did all the work totaly myself only that he picked up an old 78 fixed the car up in yrs time. It may well be that father or whatever other help has no real experience in drag racing or what mods it takes to do it, so tweeter4 comes on a corvette forum for some help gets his chops busted for no good reason.
Btw where is tweeter4 these days ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
He could have come on the forum with you bunch of over the hill folks know anything about how to get my car down the strip fast that kind of atitude he did not seem to do that but he quickly got ridculed I guess for being 16.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Nov 15, 2009 at 02:10 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Anything is possible he could be pulling our leg, I saw nothing in what he said that he did all the work himself.
He could have come on the forum with you bunch of over the hill folks know anything about how to get my car down the strip fast that kind of atitude he did not seem to do that but he quickly got ridculed I guess for being 16.
He could have come on the forum with you bunch of over the hill folks know anything about how to get my car down the strip fast that kind of atitude he did not seem to do that but he quickly got ridculed I guess for being 16.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
My son and I have restored a 70' El Camino, 73' Vette, and a 55' Chevy in the last 24 months (body off restos). He is 17 and is still in school, I work two jobs. We got it done. Be nice to the younger generation of car guys. Working on cars and then taking them to car shows is the best thing that I have ever done with my son. Tweeter is the future of this hobby, sport, passion whatever you want to call it. He is on this site to be accepted by other car guys. I am somewhat embarassed to be a member of this site because of the lack of tackedfullness that some of you have. More power to you Tweeter!
