Stripping down to frame....

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Jul 22, 2004 | 11:15 AM

Derrick

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2004

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Stripping down to frame....

Alright everyone, I'm soon going to be stripping my car off the frame and refinishing the frame. I like you guys, so I'm going to take all the advice I can get from you......without using a manual or guide. Strictly YOUR advice. Ok, it's an '81 Vette. You may begin giving instuctions.............NOW!

(16 month Iraqi Freedom veteran. Got back 2 weeks ago.)

Jul 22, 2004 | 11:36 AM

Chumpzilla

Pro

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 642

Likes: 0

From: Dallas Texas

Okay.

First instructions then..... Get an assembly manual.

Jul 22, 2004 | 11:41 AM

FeedVaal

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,166

Likes: 0

From: Tulsa Ok

...and a digital camera. Photograph everything in place to help with reassembly.

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:16 PM

markdtn

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 7,720

Likes: 12

From: Chattanooga TN

Several large, strong friends will help when it's time to actually remove it....

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:21 PM

stpman

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,865

Likes: 1

From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up

Sandwich or freezer bags and a small note pad to keep track of what part/bolts are from where. A note book to keep notes to refer back on with the pictures.

Steve

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:23 PM

Chumpzilla

Pro

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 642

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From: Dallas Texas

Oh yeah..... don't forget beer. You'll need it. Lot's of it.

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:33 PM

Twin_Turbo

Race Director

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 16,945

Likes: 9

A cherry picker is a great tool for lifting the body, I do it like that all the time (and I've had mine on and off a lot of times, in fact today I pulled it off again since my birdcage is finished and I need to finish welding the frame)

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:43 PM

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

Likes: 1,481

From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chumpzilla

Okay.

First instructions then..... Get an assembly manual.

Sounds a little naive not to have some reference material on hand.

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Jul 22, 2004 | 12:45 PM

Twin_Turbo

Race Director

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 16,945

Likes: 9

I don't have one either. I know how to assemble the thing from the top of my head. I didn't keep records either., However, it's not something I'd recommend unless you know what you are doing.

Jul 22, 2004 | 12:49 PM

#10

stpman

Melting Slicks

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 2,865

Likes: 1

From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo

I know how to assemble the thing from the top of my head. I didn't keep records either., However, it's not something I'd recommend unless you know what you are doing.

I did that with a 77 GMC pickup but I wouldn't recommend doing a Vette that way. I found myself looking at the AIM just to see how it was put together before I tried to take it apart.

Steve

Jul 22, 2004 | 01:00 PM

#11

Twin_Turbo

Race Director

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 16,945

Likes: 9

I don't have an AIM for my 83 stepper either

Jul 22, 2004 | 01:03 PM

#12

checklst

Racer

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 271

Likes: 0

From: Alpharette GA

Most important, Sandwich Bags, Black Marker, DIGITAL CAMERA, and Assembly Manual.

Label and bag everything, label all wires, and PHOTO EVERYTHING. The photos will save your back side TRUST ME on this one.

Oh!! Good Luck and thanks for the effort in Iraq

Jul 22, 2004 | 01:05 PM

#13

Twin_Turbo

Race Director

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 16,945

Likes: 9

yup...don't do this with your bolts (this is only a small portion, I have 2 very large buckets full of bolts

)

Jul 22, 2004 | 01:06 PM

#14

76-L82

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 28

Likes: 0

Derrick, start a Webpage!!

Document everything to a word document and save it to HTML..
them just post it to a webserver.

That way I can learn from your mistakes..

Just document the PoopSanwich out of it and procure a digital Camera.
So you will know where everything goes..

Jul 22, 2004 | 01:31 PM

#15

Derrick

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 25

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76-L82

Document everything to a word document and save it to HTML..
them just post it to a webserver.

That way I can learn from your mistakes..

Just document the PoopSanwich out of it and procure a digital Camera.
So you will know where everything goes..

Alrighty, I'll make a webpage out of it. Mind you....it's gonna take a while for me to do this. I'm not starting on it for another month or so. I have the assembly manual, but it's one of those "millineum industry" copies from the original Chevy assembly manual. Some of it is hard to read.

Jul 22, 2004 | 02:20 PM

#16

redwingvette

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 3,681

Likes: 200

From: Waterford Mi

There are a few web sites out there and each one has good info. Do a search here and at http://www.corvettefaq.com/

Jul 22, 2004 | 02:40 PM

#17

Mr.Gearhead

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 892

Likes: 0

From: GA

TIME & MONEY.... Did I mention MONEY... yeah... oh and a lot of time. Wait.. did I mention MONEY? Expect to pay 3 times your budget... and a lot of time.

Jul 22, 2004 | 02:48 PM

#18

Chumpzilla

Pro

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 642

Likes: 0

From: Dallas Texas

My final suggestion... is to follow the link below.... read it carefully. It's worth it.

http://www.octm.com/dane/index20.htm

Jul 22, 2004 | 03:52 PM

#19

NHvette

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 8,339

Likes: 24

From: I can walk to MA

A rarely access my AIM - but I'm like Marck - by the seat of my pants.

Tools needed to tear apart a 30 year old car:

Some kind of torch
Can of PB Blaster - or better penetrating oil
4" angle grinder (grinding wheels, cutoff wheels, wire brushes)
Air impact wrench (1/2") and air ratchet (3/8")
4'x4' sections of carpet to place where working/kneeling
Sawzall with good blades
BF hammer
Parts cleaner - or big tub to fill with kerosene
dust masks
safety glasses
duct tape with sharpie (for labelling big stuff)
small tool box (filled with 20s)

That's all I can think of for now.
Oh - you will need at least the space of a 2 car garage - more like 3.

Jul 22, 2004 | 06:29 PM

#20

Big Fish

Safety Car

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 4,269

Likes: 3

From: St. Charles IL

Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran

A CI-6 Car Show Winner

I'm surprised nobody mentioned bandaids. You'll use all kinds, butterfly for the deep ones, (super glue works in a real emergency) Large ones, small ones, and plenty of disinfectant.There is also an article I wrote on doing a frame off restoration right here: http://www.crossedflags.com/nuke/htm...howpage&pid=24

2 more things I would want if I were to do it again: A bead blaster cabinet (you will need a pretty good sized air compressor to run it) and a plating kit to re-plate the original fasteners.

Last edited by Big Fish; Jul 22, 2004 at 06:41 PM.

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