427/435 Resto back underway!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
427/435 Resto back underway!
Screw the problems with my 4-post lift. Life goes on!
I started the restoration on my black/black L71 way back in 98. I managed to get the body off and complete the chassis restoration before I bought my 69 convert as a 'turn key' driver. Well, the convertible got WAY out of hand and turned into a body off restoration itself. The poor coupe got sidelined. According to the dates on my pics the body was reinstalled on 2/27/99. Well progress resumed today.
A little history:
This a 47Kmi car that lived its life in the VA/MD area. Speaking to the original owners its fairly clear it had a rough life. It changed owners MANY times and supposedly spent time as a race car for a while. Back in '89 or '90 it was involved in a drug bust and was impounded. The owner went to jail and the car sat on the impound lot where the local Montgomery County police decided that some of the parts on the car were too good to pass up. It was sold at auction in '90. The man who bought it purchased a handful of parts for it with intent to restore, but it wound up sitting for seven years under a tarp under a tree. I followed up on an ad in the Washington Post in 98 and bought it.
Today pulled the windshield and all related trim, removed all weatherstripping, and finished gutting the interior. The only real disappointment was the discovery of rot in the windshield frame. Not down in the corners but dead center on top. I guess I'll need to add that repair to the list.... Anyway, I'll be stripping the paint and getting it ready to pull the body again. I had originally intended to paint it on the frame. That's why you'll see lots of plastic wrap under the car. The whole chassis was wrapped to keep paint overspray off. Lasty year I decided not to do it this way. I just had a new body dolly fabricated to hold the body when it goes to the shop. Stay tuned for updates and pics of the dolly. Its awesome!
I started the restoration on my black/black L71 way back in 98. I managed to get the body off and complete the chassis restoration before I bought my 69 convert as a 'turn key' driver. Well, the convertible got WAY out of hand and turned into a body off restoration itself. The poor coupe got sidelined. According to the dates on my pics the body was reinstalled on 2/27/99. Well progress resumed today.
A little history:
This a 47Kmi car that lived its life in the VA/MD area. Speaking to the original owners its fairly clear it had a rough life. It changed owners MANY times and supposedly spent time as a race car for a while. Back in '89 or '90 it was involved in a drug bust and was impounded. The owner went to jail and the car sat on the impound lot where the local Montgomery County police decided that some of the parts on the car were too good to pass up. It was sold at auction in '90. The man who bought it purchased a handful of parts for it with intent to restore, but it wound up sitting for seven years under a tarp under a tree. I followed up on an ad in the Washington Post in 98 and bought it.
Today pulled the windshield and all related trim, removed all weatherstripping, and finished gutting the interior. The only real disappointment was the discovery of rot in the windshield frame. Not down in the corners but dead center on top. I guess I'll need to add that repair to the list.... Anyway, I'll be stripping the paint and getting it ready to pull the body again. I had originally intended to paint it on the frame. That's why you'll see lots of plastic wrap under the car. The whole chassis was wrapped to keep paint overspray off. Lasty year I decided not to do it this way. I just had a new body dolly fabricated to hold the body when it goes to the shop. Stay tuned for updates and pics of the dolly. Its awesome!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: 427/435 Resto back underway! (69L71)
Hats off to you. I wish i had your energy and thank-you for restoring the Vette, it's people like you that make it possible for us to buy and enjoy quailty Vettes. Hope you will have the time to restore many more vettes
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Re: 427/435 Resto back underway! (73-454)
73-454:
Thanks for the kind words. Sometimes I think I'm possessed. Or maybe just insane....
Daniel:
The convertible was damaged in my lift accident (see my other posts). I should have a good estimate of the extent of the damage after April 1. Depending on the damage and the insurance payments, I'll come up with a sale price. Right now I'd be happy to get the insurance money and sell the car to someone looking to do the repairs themselves. They'd get a great, body-off car that just needs cosmetic repairs to the nose. Stay tuned if you're interested..
Thanks for the kind words. Sometimes I think I'm possessed. Or maybe just insane....
Daniel:
The convertible was damaged in my lift accident (see my other posts). I should have a good estimate of the extent of the damage after April 1. Depending on the damage and the insurance payments, I'll come up with a sale price. Right now I'd be happy to get the insurance money and sell the car to someone looking to do the repairs themselves. They'd get a great, body-off car that just needs cosmetic repairs to the nose. Stay tuned if you're interested..
