Beautiful! I love those wheels too!

 

In Tucson.!!!....would have sure like to have meet Mom and Dad and of course to see the finished car for myself.

 

Great Job!

 

There is a guy near me with a 65 442 which has sat for about 15 years in his driveway with a car cover. I never saw the car moved. One day I see it parked out in the street. The paint looked great and all those stories are bad gas and brake fluid and mice seemed to be myths in this case. You just never know. Some guys get lucky I guess and some guys get all kinds of problems storing a car one year under a cover outside. You just never know.

 

Tim (TGTINT) posted the photo of us leaving Oceanside enroute to Holden Beach, NC where we will spend a week before heading home to Midland, MI.

We are currently in Madison, GA., having stopped in Tucson, AZ. (highly recommend the Arizona Inn for unabashed luxury), Big Spring, TX. (from sublime to ridiculous: the only good restaurant closed at 8:00PM, and the motel was pretty dreadful) , and West Monroe, LA. (busy but a lot better than Big Spring) on our way east.

The car is running like a dream ... averaging 25.9mpg and approx. 70mph. The oil and water temps have never risen from the first quadrant marks (I have a 180degF thermostat, but have not had the ECU reflashed to turn the fans on at a lower temp), even though we drove through 102f in Arizona (for about 3 hours) and 100f in east Texas.

We are getting lots of comments on the car (want to sell it? $15K? ... a guy at the gas station). Met with one C5 owner in a gas station ... have seen few Corvettes so far (about 1 or 2 a day ...). Lot's of Mustangs ... clearly the southern states are Mustang country.

Photo opposite Tinseltown in W Monroe, LA



Arizona Inn

 

I gotta admit, I miss that car. Especially now the wheels and tint are done, it just looks perfect.

 

Arrived in Holden Beach after 5 full days on the road. 2499.1 miles to cross from coast-to-coast (Oceanside, CA to Holden Beach, NC) and 26.3mpg overall consumption. Needed less than a quart of oil.

One week in North Carolina visiting family, before completing the journey home to Michigan.

Running like a dream and a lot of fun to drive. I LOVE my first Corvette!

 

Best color for a vet.

 

Wow what a brilliant finale to a great story. Enjoyed the thread again - forgot about this one.
I am interested in the cam - do you have the specs? How does it compare to the GM Hotcam ?
Cheers

 

The Cam is one of CompCams Hydraulic Roller type (CompCams 260 XFI), designed to be used with the standard ECU. Click for the specs.

The story isn't quite over ... my last post will be a photo outside of our home in Michigan in a week or so, then Tim and I can safely put this thread to rest.

 

What an awesome story! once I started reading ...I couldnt stop... lol great job guys and a what a beauty!!!!

 

Great Story. I am in the process of reviving my 1993 Corvette, to give to my son one day.

If you are still in NC, make sure to hit the Blue Ridge PRKY or maybe Deal's Gap on the way home. It is worth the little extra drive!!!

 

My 96 sat inside for 6 years drove around block 1-2 times year. The guy I got it from changed the oil and aired the tires ..I payed him and drove it 2,000 miles.. on a trip with my Corvette club.. I was just thinking about it the other day and what was I thinking.I had good luck and the 96 has now been restored.. These old C-4s all but the Ele. are tuff rides ..The hardware will stay good for a long time ..hoses and oil and such will need to be changed ..If you are worried about the money in a C-4 .It's wery rare you can get your money out of one all you can do is just drive it and have fun..My 96 Lt-4 is a fun ride the looks on there faces when the guy and girls driveing newer ones can't shake me off there tail at the track..PRICELESS ..Go for it give you something to talk about when you get older...

 

Just watching him drive to Homecoming in the Corvette will make it all worthwhile!

We didn't have time to hit either this time, but we have hit the BLPW before with family from NC, and look forward to doing Deal's Gap in the Corvette next year when we return to NC.

 

Wow...just read the entire thread and I must say I admire what you have done so save this Vette ! And the fact that you did it both as a father and son is really an inspiration

Even though comparatively my father and I are both newbies (mecanically speaking), we are trying to repair my own Vette with the help of all the awesome people here on the forum willing to help and are learning a lot at the same time, plus it creates bonding between us two, so I can understand how you felt

Looking forward to reading more on your thread

 

Thank you!

 

I as well have just found this thread. Great read. I bought my father's Vette a couple years ago and I only wish I could do half the stuff you and your dad accomplished. My Vette has always run great great but when major things break, because of the lack of skills I end up taking "Kyla" to the stealership. Congratulations on a great father and son project.

 

Just saw via facebook they made if back home in one piece. 4200 miles total, coast to coast in a Corvette. Pretty pumped to think we took this thing from a field in California to looking great and in the hands of a loving owner.

I'm sure Dad will post some more pictures of its arrival in Michigan.

 

The final chapter in a quest that started on September 17, 2010 in a field in Escondido, CA, when I became the owner of a very sad and neglected Corvette.





After four trips to San Diego to work on the car, and after a 4228 mile round trip from Oceanside, CA, via Holden Beach, NC, she has arrived home in Midland, MI.





This has been a truly memorable project. I loved every minute of working on the car with my son Tim, and I am so grateful that he found the only color Corvette that my wife likes!

The car is a pleasure to drive and I look forward to many miles of fun motoring in the future. I know that the family of the previous owner, George, who sadly passed away after a short illness a few years back having started the rebuild, are delighted to know that their dad's pride and joy is now up and running and is bring great pleasure to a new owner and his family.

I cannot finish without mentioning that after 4226 trouble free miles, I suffered from "get home-itus" and didn't notice the fuel gauge ... I ran her out of gas 2 miles from home! She started just fine after being replenished and made the final 2 miles just as she had the previous 4226.

I hope all that have followed this endeavor will be pleased to learn that Tim and I have successfully completed the task we started upon last September.

Finally, as I wrap up the last posting on this topic, I would like to pay tribute to the C4 forum and its wonderful members, who have helped Tim and me at every turn and twist as we brought the car back to life. We couldn't have done it without your help and encouragement! Tony and Tim Gordon.