C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

The Force Awakens...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 6, 2018 | 01:31 PM
  #181  
Auggievf's Avatar
Auggievf
Instructor
 
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 164
Likes: 16
From: Sacramento CA - California
Default

Wow! Great thread. I just read it all and you have made some great progress. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to seeing more!
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2018 | 01:45 PM
  #182  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Thanks
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2018 | 01:57 PM
  #183  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

A story of success and failure.

So I went through the fiber optics. Cleaned the ends and shined a light trough them. The front ones all seemed to work except for one.

It turns out, concealed under some electric tape again, the fiber optic was pinched.





I read somewhere that a fellow here would fix these things on the assembly line in 1970 with some wire sheath with copper removed. So I tried that out... I hollowed our the thickest wire I had in my parts bin. I cut the ends square and moistened (use your imagination) and joined in the hollowed our sheath. It worked very well. Thank problem now is that it’s somewhat brighter than the others





I am exploring solid core fiber 2.5 inner core; 3.5 overall. 30 feet is much more affordable than a reproduction harness. Hmmm
Reply
Old Dec 11, 2018 | 04:24 AM
  #184  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

I am thinking about getting 100ft of 3.5 mm OD for $89

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5mm-to-17...UWw:rk:14:pf:0
Reply
Old Dec 16, 2018 | 03:10 PM
  #185  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Digging a little deeper I’m finding additional reasons for the fiber optics not to work.





Reply
Old Dec 16, 2018 | 03:33 PM
  #186  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Cross shafts to be sent to the machine shop tomorrow to be “slotted” in pursuit of increased caster.



Reply
Old Dec 16, 2018 | 03:37 PM
  #187  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

And my first ever Alibaba order. Solid core end glow fiber optic cable. This is a bit of a Hail Mary, but at $26 for 50 meters, it seems like a good gamble.



Reply
Old Dec 29, 2018 | 04:12 PM
  #188  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

I finally pulled the trigger on a whole bunch of parts from Wilcox. In the meantime, I wait for the fiber optics to come in as well as the order.

Also waiting for the cross shafts to get done.

Still stripping the paint off of the interior panels on my quest to right a terrible dye job. For memory: the dye is on way too thick filling in the grain and flaking off in some spots. It’s also way too dark.

I’m refining the process of stripping off the paint. I ruined so far only the parking brake console. The vinyl is holding up all right to the stripper. The parking brake console is the only panel so far not to have vinyl covering.

Today I took on my speedo/tacho rash. Carefully sanding, masking and painting.





Wet sanded with 180 and 220.



Masking tape peeled off but still some razor tidying to be done. #pleased






Last edited by DorianC3; Dec 29, 2018 at 04:15 PM.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Dec 29, 2018 | 04:46 PM
  #189  
OldCarBum's Avatar
OldCarBum
Race Director
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,449
Likes: 8,245
From: Napa Valley California
Default

Nicely done. Looks great.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2018 | 05:19 PM
  #190  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Let’s get a closer look at that lens. It almost looks like there is some mold on it. Let’s narrow in a bit on a spot and see if Meguiar’s Scratch X and a terry cloth will improve things or ruin...





It seems safe enough to work... let’s try polishing the entire lens. The other lens even seems to have some overspray on it.



45 min later...





#PleasedAgain

Last edited by DorianC3; Dec 29, 2018 at 05:20 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2018 | 06:49 AM
  #191  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Still stripping paint. Sometimes I wonder if it was dyed dark blue, black... or if it’s that and gunk.

This is the dash pad. It looks caked on... whatever “it” is.



Reply
Old Dec 31, 2018 | 03:44 PM
  #192  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Yay. The fiber optic line (2mm core, 3mm OD, end glow, 50 meters) came in and it seems promising. This is my first order from Alibaba, China.





I shined some light through one end and it came out the other brightly if green. Over 50 meters, that has got to be some kind of attenuation.



Over a shorter distance it’s brighter and as white as the LED source.



Reply
Old Dec 31, 2018 | 03:49 PM
  #193  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Size seems to be fine.

Lens needs some cleaning and polishing.




Seens to work fine.







Reply
Old Dec 31, 2018 | 03:59 PM
  #194  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Renewing the center gauge cluster.






Sanding again...






Reply
Old Dec 31, 2018 | 04:02 PM
  #195  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Ready.









Reply
Old Jan 3, 2019 | 04:14 PM
  #196  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

More Bubba





Reply
Old Jan 3, 2019 | 04:20 PM
  #197  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

The solid core fiber optic seems to work well. Bright. The light comes through more red than it appears on the picture.






Reply

Get notified of new replies

To The Force Awakens...

Old Jan 3, 2019 | 04:25 PM
  #198  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

Time to remove carpeting.



Reply
Old Jan 4, 2019 | 11:06 AM
  #199  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

So I blew some compressed air in the vacuum tank and felt obvious leaks.

To drop the tank i needed to remove the clutch rod, brake booster, the horn relay and the harness to get it out.

The tank looks fine. Not rusted at all. It looks like it was pinched. You can see the marks. And this cracked it in three places.

















This looks clean enough for me to to try to JB weld.
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2019 | 05:37 AM
  #200  
DorianC3's Avatar
DorianC3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 520
Default

I found three cracks in the tank. I bought some kneadable epoxy for steel and ‘Hail Mary-ed’ it.






I could only pull out a few inches before my hand got exhausted. The needle held for 5 minutes without budging after which I called it good. Sand and paint maybe tomorrow.





Last edited by DorianC3; Jan 5, 2019 at 05:56 AM.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:01 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE