Paging MrViperGTS
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
Re: Paging MrViperGTS (89VetteWIP)
She's doing Ok... very much ripped apart at this point, but I'm starting to put 'er back together rather than doing more ripping apart.
The entire interior has been removed... I cut out some of the floorpanels and re-fiberglassed some parts, since they were cracked in places and the carpet and noise dampener was wet. I'm changing the guts to black also. I got new...
-carpet
-seats
-console cover
-steering wheel
-stereo
-dash pad
-shift plate/****/lens/indicator
-horn button
-tires
-brakes
-brake lines
-door panels
-climate control computer
-transmission
-windshield moldings
-sunvisors
-trunk lock solenoid
-fuse panel door
-door lock bezels
-trunk storage compartments
-armrests
-speaker covers
-power antenna
-weatherstripping
-spare tire
-spare jack/wrench
-left and right headlight bezels
-plate insert
-passenger door
I also *completely* disassembled all the electronics - the red carpet was falling apart or something... there was this red fur stuff *everywhere* - to the point where it made operating the switches and controls difficult. So I disassembled everything and cleaned it all with swabs and re-assembled. All the switches are silky smooth now.
You're not the original owner, right Rob? Did you have the car when it was hit in the passenger quarterpanel? It doesn't bother me that it was hit - the car is 15 years old :) but it wasn't repaired very well. The repairer used steel sheetmetal behind the quarterpanel to bond the fiberglass to the frame - this sheetmetal rusted and was falling apart. Soooo, I pulled off the passenger 1/4 panel and lower door jamb. I put about 50lbs of sound deadener inside the car just this morning and installed the new carper. Most of the new interior panels are in and I'm waiting for my new wheel, A/C module and stereo to finish up the dash. When the new seats arrive, the interior will be finished.
Then I will move onto the mechanical stuff - removing the 700R4 transmission and installing the 4L80E, including a computer and shorter driveshaft.
Oh, I also stripped the yellowing clearcoat off the rims, and I'm going to give them a high polish and take them to be clearcoated soon.
I'm going to post before-and-after pictures. You would be amazed how bad the exterior looks right now (no rear bumper on it, no front bumper, no 1/4 panel, no door jamb, no right door), but you would be equally amazed at what the interior looks like - it looks new inside, just missing some parts.
I got your email about the alternator - I'm going to check around locally since one of the local guys gave me a line on where to get a decent one for short money - I'll let you know.
When all the mechanical stuff is done, I'm going to strip the car, prep it and repaint it.
Were you chasing an electrical gremlin in the car Rob? I noticed you installed a new computer, new MAF and some new sensors. I found a couple of bad ground connections, and a couple of wires that were corroded. Everything works now - but it was a real biotch to track it all down. Only weird thing now is the Security light blinks always, but I haven't tried to even diagnose that yet... next week perhaps :).
So that's the long answer to your question!
The entire interior has been removed... I cut out some of the floorpanels and re-fiberglassed some parts, since they were cracked in places and the carpet and noise dampener was wet. I'm changing the guts to black also. I got new...
-carpet
-seats
-console cover
-steering wheel
-stereo
-dash pad
-shift plate/****/lens/indicator
-horn button
-tires
-brakes
-brake lines
-door panels
-climate control computer
-transmission
-windshield moldings
-sunvisors
-trunk lock solenoid
-fuse panel door
-door lock bezels
-trunk storage compartments
-armrests
-speaker covers
-power antenna
-weatherstripping
-spare tire
-spare jack/wrench
-left and right headlight bezels
-plate insert
-passenger door
I also *completely* disassembled all the electronics - the red carpet was falling apart or something... there was this red fur stuff *everywhere* - to the point where it made operating the switches and controls difficult. So I disassembled everything and cleaned it all with swabs and re-assembled. All the switches are silky smooth now.
You're not the original owner, right Rob? Did you have the car when it was hit in the passenger quarterpanel? It doesn't bother me that it was hit - the car is 15 years old :) but it wasn't repaired very well. The repairer used steel sheetmetal behind the quarterpanel to bond the fiberglass to the frame - this sheetmetal rusted and was falling apart. Soooo, I pulled off the passenger 1/4 panel and lower door jamb. I put about 50lbs of sound deadener inside the car just this morning and installed the new carper. Most of the new interior panels are in and I'm waiting for my new wheel, A/C module and stereo to finish up the dash. When the new seats arrive, the interior will be finished.
Then I will move onto the mechanical stuff - removing the 700R4 transmission and installing the 4L80E, including a computer and shorter driveshaft.
Oh, I also stripped the yellowing clearcoat off the rims, and I'm going to give them a high polish and take them to be clearcoated soon.
I'm going to post before-and-after pictures. You would be amazed how bad the exterior looks right now (no rear bumper on it, no front bumper, no 1/4 panel, no door jamb, no right door), but you would be equally amazed at what the interior looks like - it looks new inside, just missing some parts.
I got your email about the alternator - I'm going to check around locally since one of the local guys gave me a line on where to get a decent one for short money - I'll let you know.
When all the mechanical stuff is done, I'm going to strip the car, prep it and repaint it.
Were you chasing an electrical gremlin in the car Rob? I noticed you installed a new computer, new MAF and some new sensors. I found a couple of bad ground connections, and a couple of wires that were corroded. Everything works now - but it was a real biotch to track it all down. Only weird thing now is the Security light blinks always, but I haven't tried to even diagnose that yet... next week perhaps :).
So that's the long answer to your question!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Hampstead,MD,US
Re: Paging MrViperGTS (MrViperGTS)
1st answer.... 15 yrs ago... I was 9..., No not the first owner. Actually I only had it for 2-3 yrs. Yes I was tracking a gremlin down, SO GLAD you found it. I can't believe that butt used sheetmetal on the door.. :mad
Glad things are going well and I'd love to see her when she's done.. PS, I'd also like to see the final bill so I don't feel toooo bad :jester
Let me know how things go,
Rob
Glad things are going well and I'd love to see her when she's done.. PS, I'd also like to see the final bill so I don't feel toooo bad :jester
Let me know how things go,
Rob
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
Re: Paging MrViperGTS (89VetteWIP)
15 years ago? Ahh, so if you had it for 2-3 years, was the car owned by someone in the family? The metal in the repair rusted bad so I knew it was many years. I'm putting up a website with pics of the work-in-progress, so you should check it out when I'm done.
As for the price... well, I've already spend at least $4,000 on the car above what I paid for it - so it's definately going to end up costing some $$'s.... but when done it will be a mint condition car in and out. Then the twin turbo motor will go in :D
As for the price... well, I've already spend at least $4,000 on the car above what I paid for it - so it's definately going to end up costing some $$'s.... but when done it will be a mint condition car in and out. Then the twin turbo motor will go in :D
