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Hi All, I inherited a '68 and have some concerns! Dad owned it since '71. It started life as a convertible. It was hit front end. Dad replaced with'73 tilt front end. Hit in rear a few years later. Replaced with t-top rear clip. Has 94k on clock. Dad was a master mechanic and he straightened frame. It is a finished car. It sat on car lift for a few years. Now hood pins are about 1 1/2 inches from lining up. I can lift nose and latch it. Unlatching is a huge pain. Also passenger wheel base is a little over an inch shorter than driver side. Any suggestions on either problem would be appreciated. Oh worst part.... He sold a 63 to buy this.
Last edited by James Rogers; Mar 10, 2021 at 01:37 PM.
Reason: Add pic
Hmmm?
If you just replace the whole body with a nice complete convertible body and put a new unbent frame underneath, it could be a great car again.
(sorry)
With all due respect to your father and his abilities and past efforts on this car, the only practical path to take with your FrankenVette is to part it out. I would categorize what you are facing as a Sisyphean effort. No amount of time and money will be worth the effort to try to bring this car to a point where its value exceeds the cost of getting it to that point. Sorry for the blunt assessment.
Anything is possiable if you throw enough money and labor at it and while I understand this was your dads car and you are now trying to enjoy it you have to step back and look at the bigger picture;
1) It started life as a 68 convertible.
2) It was hit front end. Dad replaced with'73 tilt front end.
3) Hit in rear a few years later. Replaced with t-top rear clip.
4) Frame has been straightened somewhere in its life.
5) Hood pins are about 1 1/2 inches from lining up.
6) Passenger wheel base is a little over an inch shorter than driver side.
When dad sold the 63 in 72 to buy this 68 he wasn't selling much, a 9 year old used Chevy. But getting back to FrankenVette as 69L88 called it you are dealing with a parts car really. If it runs and drives and you can keep tires on it than enjoy it as-is and when people look at it funny tell then the story about dad and his 68 Vette.
With all due respect to your father and his abilities and past efforts on this car, the only practical path to take with your FrankenVette is to part it out. I would categorize what you are facing as a Sisyphean effort. No amount of time and money will be worth the effort to try to bring this car to a point where its value exceeds the cost of getting it to that point. Sorry for the blunt assessment.
Perhaps you can make enough money from the sale(s) to buy a car you will enjoy driving and improving. Are there any 68 parts left?
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Is it sitting on the ground or still on the lift. My 68 flexes horribly while in the air but settles again pretty quickly once its on the ground. Has this car been back on the road yet? Are you driving it around town?
Sorry for the tough crowd James. Many have a soft spot in their heart for 68s.
I see this is your first post.
Post a pic of it. That will help us help you.
Put it back on the ground. See if the hood works better.
68s flex more than most and verts flex.
I see that this was your fathers' car.
What is your intention with the car?
Fix it the way he drove it?
Or restore it?
Or just decide what to do with it?
Hi James, welcome to the forum. There are many very helpful members here. We may be a bit blunt at times, but it's almost always meant to be helpful (and sometimes meant to be funny).
As others have suggested, please post some pics - that will really help us help you. Don't be sensitive to comments that you might think are a bit blunt - I've been on this forum long enough to know that the members here are really good people who want to help.
And I get the sentimentality thing. My parents bought a '72 Olds 98 Regency new (they only made 5000 of them). They were going to sell it several years back and I took it instead. Stored it for 6-7 years, and then put about $7k into it and used it for a while (it rides nice like a '72 98 should). We've moved twice and I've paid to have it shipped. It's been in offsite storage at $70/month for the last 14 years. Every year I think I'll get it out of storage, do what needs to be done (again), and drive it occasionally. Does it make sense financially? Heck no (but my wife totally gets it and just ribs me once in a while). But we're blessed enough financially and I'm hanging on to it a bit longer because it brings back good memories of great parents - and because in many ways it's a pretty cool car.
We're here to help - put up some pics and we're in. Best, Paul
Car still has the 68 vin, and is a convertible vin at that. You could do the "whole hog" restoration yourself...but it wont be cheap unless you are very patient. Occasionally bodies show on ebay or craigslist locally that can be used. Any part of the Corvette, including the bodies is possible to be adapted to your car. What you have has value, but to get to a "restored" 68 would be expensive.. Can you post pics and or the vin? Original Engine and transmission and rear end?
Frame issues are pretty serious...so to start on a restoration really needs you to prepare to take the car completely apart and start there. The rear clip thats a coupe...what year was that?
Last edited by international blue; Mar 10, 2021 at 11:04 AM.
Sorry for the tough crowd James. Many have a soft spot in their heart for 68s.
I see this is your first post.
Post a pic of it. That will help us help you.
Put it back on the ground. See if the hood works better.
68s flex more than most and verts flex.
I see that this was your fathers' car.
What is your intention with the car?
Fix it the way he drove it?
Or restore it?
Or just decide what to do with it?
im trying to decide. It runs and drives. Looks great. Viper red metallic, original side pipes. I'm hoping alignment can fix wheelbase issue. It had dual quads. I went to single edelbrock to simplify my life. I'm a bit sad that everything he did has just complicated my life.
Last edited by James Rogers; Mar 10, 2021 at 12:47 PM.
Sorry for the tough crowd James. Many have a soft spot in their heart for 68s.
I see this is your first post.
Post a pic of it. That will help us help you.
Put it back on the ground. See if the hood works better.
68s flex more than most and verts flex.
I see that this was your fathers' car.
What is your intention with the car?
Fix it the way he drove it?
Or restore it?
Or just decide what to do with it?
Originally Posted by Hopper12
Hi James, welcome to the forum. There are many very helpful members here. We may be a bit blunt at times, but it's almost always meant to be helpful (and sometimes meant to be funny).
As others have suggested, please post some pics - that will really help us help you. Don't be sensitive to comments that you might think are a bit blunt - I've been on this forum long enough to know that the members here are really good people who want to help.
And I get the sentimentality thing. My parents bought a '72 Olds 98 Regency new (they only made 5000 of them). They were going to sell it several years back and I took it instead. Stored it for 6-7 years, and then put about $7k into it and used it for a while (it rides nice like a '72 98 should). We've moved twice and I've paid to have it shipped. It's been in offsite storage at $70/month for the last 14 years. Every year I think I'll get it out of storage, do what needs to be done (again), and drive it occasionally. Does it make sense financially? Heck no (but my wife totally gets it and just ribs me once in a while). But we're blessed enough financially and I'm hanging on to it a bit longer because it brings back good memories of great parents - and because in many ways it's a pretty cool car.
We're here to help - put up some pics and we're in. Best, Paul
Wholeheartedly agree with augiedoggy that for many, the only reason to own a C3 is for collector value. If having a low mileage, matching number, Duntov award winner, etc., etc., is what floats your boat, as the Aussies say, “Good On Ya”.
However, I would submit that there are far more who own a C3 for which their enjoyment comes from years of wanting to own one, learning about an iconic car, relishing the notion that we can pick up a wrench and work on it ourselves and sharing that experience with others.
That said, as anyone who reads and contributes on this forum, there are countless ways to get oneself into trouble in tackling projects that are either too complicated, too costly, or ill-advised. Those of us who can be blunt want to be sure that the member asking the questions knows what he or she will be getting into and offering straightforward advice to avoid an untenable situation. We’ve seen too many instances where people step into a quagmire with false expectations. We don’t want to see failure and disappointment.
Wholeheartedly agree with augiedoggy that for many, the only reason to own a C3 is for collector value. If having a low mileage, matching number, Duntov award winner, etc., etc., is what floats your boat, as the Aussies say, “Good On Ya”.
However, I would submit that there are far more who own a C3 for which their enjoyment comes from years of wanting to own one, learning about an iconic car, relishing the notion that we can pick up a wrench and work on it ourselves and sharing that experience with others.
That said, as anyone who reads and contributes on this forum, there are countless ways to get oneself into trouble in tackling projects that are either too complicated, too costly, or ill-advised. Those of us who can be blunt want to be sure that the member asking the questions knows what he or she will be getting into and offering straightforward advice to avoid an untenable situation. We’ve seen too many instances where people step into a quagmire with false expectations. We don’t want to see failure and disappointment.
It Looks great!
And it Drives etc.
Why don't you keep it as-is as a tribute to your father?
It's got a lot of "70s-cool" mods that you don't see much anymore.
But for sure check out the alignment and suspension bushings and make sure it's safe.
A frame can be straightened if needed. Had to do mine.
C3 frame problems
