Please advise
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Grove City Ohio
Please advise
I need some advice from experienced vet guys. Please help. Here is my problem. I have two 1980 corvettes. One is great mechanically and has a good interior, but has a very bad body and the other is just the opposite. I want to take the good body off and put it on the one that is good mechanically, but I'm not sure how big a job this is. My specific questions are:
1) on a scale of 1-10 (10 being most difficult) how tough a job is this for a do-it-yourselfer?
2) can I remove the entire nose as a unit, including both front fenders, bumper,etc. (if so I'm concerned about the two inch strip located near the wipers that runs from fender to fender, it appears to be glued down)
3) can the rear be removed as a unit, from the doors back?
Thanks, in advance for any info. :seeya
1) on a scale of 1-10 (10 being most difficult) how tough a job is this for a do-it-yourselfer?
2) can I remove the entire nose as a unit, including both front fenders, bumper,etc. (if so I'm concerned about the two inch strip located near the wipers that runs from fender to fender, it appears to be glued down)
3) can the rear be removed as a unit, from the doors back?
Thanks, in advance for any info. :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: Please advise (RogerBe)
First of all, Welcome :seeya
I'm afraid I can only offer comments about what I've observed & read because I've never removed the body. There are lots of others here who have personal experience and will hopefully chime in.
I don't think it is beyond the capabilities of a do-it-yourselfer, but I think it is a big job. You'll need lots of space to work, and a few friends to help with the actual removal & reinstall. This place will probably be your best source of info, but there are books out there "Chevrolet Corvette Restoration Guide" by Porter for one, that detail the process.
One other wrinkle you should consider. Both the body and the frame are stamped with the VIN. If you do a swap, you'll have two cars with mismatched VINs (to include any matching number drivetrains, etc.). There may be a correct, legal, official workaround for this, but I doubt it'll be simple.
Good Luck.
[Modified by jerryp58, 6:35 AM 7/16/2002]
I'm afraid I can only offer comments about what I've observed & read because I've never removed the body. There are lots of others here who have personal experience and will hopefully chime in.
I don't think it is beyond the capabilities of a do-it-yourselfer, but I think it is a big job. You'll need lots of space to work, and a few friends to help with the actual removal & reinstall. This place will probably be your best source of info, but there are books out there "Chevrolet Corvette Restoration Guide" by Porter for one, that detail the process.
One other wrinkle you should consider. Both the body and the frame are stamped with the VIN. If you do a swap, you'll have two cars with mismatched VINs (to include any matching number drivetrains, etc.). There may be a correct, legal, official workaround for this, but I doubt it'll be simple.
Good Luck.
[Modified by jerryp58, 6:35 AM 7/16/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 0
From: Elyria Ohio
Re: Please advise (RogerBe)
Welcome RogerBe
What you are considering will take you a lot of time keep you garage a mess for a long time. I had an 80 vette that was pretty ragged and purchased 76 that was wrecked, I dissassembled the 80 kept the parts that would fix the 76. I sold most of the rest of the 80 parts on ebay. I had to then purchase a frame for the 76 so I really stared there on the 76. It took me 11 months to get the 76 on the road. And I was able to work on it 4 day's a week. You can get all your questions along the way answered here. So in closing I say if you have the room go for it. check out my sig
Bob
What you are considering will take you a lot of time keep you garage a mess for a long time. I had an 80 vette that was pretty ragged and purchased 76 that was wrecked, I dissassembled the 80 kept the parts that would fix the 76. I sold most of the rest of the 80 parts on ebay. I had to then purchase a frame for the 76 so I really stared there on the 76. It took me 11 months to get the 76 on the road. And I was able to work on it 4 day's a week. You can get all your questions along the way answered here. So in closing I say if you have the room go for it. check out my sig
Bob
