New Member
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
New Member
Hello everyone,
After using the site many times I have finally become a member. I saw my first Sting Ray in 1963, I was 18 years old. It was sitting at a stop light in downtown San Diego. I rememer thinking, this thing looks and sounds better than a go go girl in a mini skirt, some day I'll own one of my own.
Fast forward 50 years. We had a motor home that was costing me more than the USS Enterprise to own and operate and was depreciating faster than the national debt was increasing.
A friend of mine wanted the motor home and said he would buy it if I would take his 1963 vette convertable in trade. So here I am 18 again looking at this Riverside red convertable and wiping the drool of my face.
We dicker for a while and I ask him if has had any problems with the car. Nope just like new, a little shimmy, and the gas gauge jumps around a bit. We make the trade and he gives me all the receipts he has collected over the years and a wiring schematic. (first clue) missed it. Instead of asking self, why does he have a wiring schematic, Im thinking, man those Crager Wheels look good.
So, I look through the receipts and find he has put about 10 grand in this pup. Rebuilt engine,less than 5000 miles on rebuild. All new front end running gear, ball joints, shocks, bushing shims etc. New dash wiring harness and fuse block, a couple new gauges. All new brakes,new lines, and cylinders. New top still in the box.( wonder why he didn't install it?) New clock rebuild,right hand dash pad,after market radio, and cd system.
Ok, so far so good. Lets find that shimmy. Off to the local shop where I hear there is this old guy that works on old vetts. Hi jack, I think this car needs a rear end alignment. One of the wheels is leaning out a lot and it is shimming. No porb bud leave the car and I will call you when its ready.
The phone rings it's Jack. Hay Chris how you doing? Great whats up?
You need to come to the shop and take a look at the car with me.
It turns out the car spent a good part of it's live back east, The rust capital of the world!!!. Bottom line Mr Bannon is you need to replace everything you can see under the rear of the car and some things you can't see.
So, new spring, all new bushings new strut rods (bent) new shims etc. Any one need a new set of shims for the rear of their vett? turns out the 63 uses a set only used in the 63. I have a set used in 64 through 67. The 63 has a lot of only for 63 parts (spendy).
Ok the rear suspension is rebuilt and the car is aligned. What the hell is that hole in the frame, its rusted through %$#@&^.
Well I can buy a new rear frame section and have it welded in. While I am at it ill have the new top installed and check all the u-joints and have the drive line balanced. Since the carb has the choke wired open??? i will have an electric choke added. I think I will take to this custom shop that charges $100 an hour, but they shurly know what they are doing.
Phone call, Mr Bannon this is bubba, all the bearings in the u-joints have turned to powder, or are rusted solid. One of the yokes is wallowed out and needs to be replaced.
I call my soon to be x friend; did you ever use a grease gun on this car? You had the car ten years don't you think it should have been greased? "I only put three thosand miles on the car".
OK bubba thanks, oh buy the way have you changed the oil since the last receipt dated five years ago. " I only had three thosand miles on the car".
I am now replacing the engine wiring harness. What a cluster it was.
I love the car, have learned a lot, but have learned buyer beware. The forum has helped me many times. I am running out of room so I will end this. One last thing. I have redone many of the things the $100 an hour shop did for me. They my charge a lot. That doesn't mean they know what they are doing.
Have fun everyone, I am
Chris
After using the site many times I have finally become a member. I saw my first Sting Ray in 1963, I was 18 years old. It was sitting at a stop light in downtown San Diego. I rememer thinking, this thing looks and sounds better than a go go girl in a mini skirt, some day I'll own one of my own.
Fast forward 50 years. We had a motor home that was costing me more than the USS Enterprise to own and operate and was depreciating faster than the national debt was increasing.
A friend of mine wanted the motor home and said he would buy it if I would take his 1963 vette convertable in trade. So here I am 18 again looking at this Riverside red convertable and wiping the drool of my face.
We dicker for a while and I ask him if has had any problems with the car. Nope just like new, a little shimmy, and the gas gauge jumps around a bit. We make the trade and he gives me all the receipts he has collected over the years and a wiring schematic. (first clue) missed it. Instead of asking self, why does he have a wiring schematic, Im thinking, man those Crager Wheels look good.
So, I look through the receipts and find he has put about 10 grand in this pup. Rebuilt engine,less than 5000 miles on rebuild. All new front end running gear, ball joints, shocks, bushing shims etc. New dash wiring harness and fuse block, a couple new gauges. All new brakes,new lines, and cylinders. New top still in the box.( wonder why he didn't install it?) New clock rebuild,right hand dash pad,after market radio, and cd system.
Ok, so far so good. Lets find that shimmy. Off to the local shop where I hear there is this old guy that works on old vetts. Hi jack, I think this car needs a rear end alignment. One of the wheels is leaning out a lot and it is shimming. No porb bud leave the car and I will call you when its ready.
The phone rings it's Jack. Hay Chris how you doing? Great whats up?
You need to come to the shop and take a look at the car with me.
It turns out the car spent a good part of it's live back east, The rust capital of the world!!!. Bottom line Mr Bannon is you need to replace everything you can see under the rear of the car and some things you can't see.
So, new spring, all new bushings new strut rods (bent) new shims etc. Any one need a new set of shims for the rear of their vett? turns out the 63 uses a set only used in the 63. I have a set used in 64 through 67. The 63 has a lot of only for 63 parts (spendy).
Ok the rear suspension is rebuilt and the car is aligned. What the hell is that hole in the frame, its rusted through %$#@&^.
Well I can buy a new rear frame section and have it welded in. While I am at it ill have the new top installed and check all the u-joints and have the drive line balanced. Since the carb has the choke wired open??? i will have an electric choke added. I think I will take to this custom shop that charges $100 an hour, but they shurly know what they are doing.
Phone call, Mr Bannon this is bubba, all the bearings in the u-joints have turned to powder, or are rusted solid. One of the yokes is wallowed out and needs to be replaced.
I call my soon to be x friend; did you ever use a grease gun on this car? You had the car ten years don't you think it should have been greased? "I only put three thosand miles on the car".
OK bubba thanks, oh buy the way have you changed the oil since the last receipt dated five years ago. " I only had three thosand miles on the car".
I am now replacing the engine wiring harness. What a cluster it was.
I love the car, have learned a lot, but have learned buyer beware. The forum has helped me many times. I am running out of room so I will end this. One last thing. I have redone many of the things the $100 an hour shop did for me. They my charge a lot. That doesn't mean they know what they are doing.
Have fun everyone, I am
Chris
Last edited by chris bannon; Mar 9, 2013 at 02:17 PM.
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Lago Vista TX
Hey Chris. We are of the same vintage. I turned down a trade of my 64 Impala (300hp 327 & 4) for a 1964 Vette. Don't recall the engine but was much higher hp and the guy was tired of constantly tuning to keep it running good.
So like you flash forward 50 yrs and I'm a Corvette owner. Only difference is I opted for a 03 Z06 with 12K mi. Picked it up last Fri and did a 500mi road trip home. What a blast. Didn't quite feel 18 again (joint pain took care of that) but darn close. Absolutely no regrets !! Sorry your experience hasn't turned out like you expected.
Larry
So like you flash forward 50 yrs and I'm a Corvette owner. Only difference is I opted for a 03 Z06 with 12K mi. Picked it up last Fri and did a 500mi road trip home. What a blast. Didn't quite feel 18 again (joint pain took care of that) but darn close. Absolutely no regrets !! Sorry your experience hasn't turned out like you expected.
Larry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,311
C3 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
[QUOTE=LVTX03;1583320242 ...
Picked it up ... did a 500mi road trip home. What a blast. ...
Larry[/QUOTE]
First of all, welcome Chris.
Quoting Larry ... When I bought my 03 AE I did a 700 + mile trip home. Besides almost running out of gas because the seller left me with fumes in the tank, and I got caught in rush hour traffic in an unfamiliar area, man- did I have one hell-uva blast driving that baby home.
When we ever grow up .
Picked it up ... did a 500mi road trip home. What a blast. ...
Larry[/QUOTE]
First of all, welcome Chris.
Quoting Larry ... When I bought my 03 AE I did a 700 + mile trip home. Besides almost running out of gas because the seller left me with fumes in the tank, and I got caught in rush hour traffic in an unfamiliar area, man- did I have one hell-uva blast driving that baby home.
When we ever grow up .
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Thanks for the welcome guys. It's not all bad news, I enjoy working on the car. I should have been more aware before I traded for the car. The car is 50 years old, I knew that.
I just replaced the bubba wiring job under the hood. After I took the after market harness cover off and could see the wiring harness it looked like it had been hit with blow torch. I think I found my electrical problem. Replaced everything, harness,alternator, voltage reg, and horn relay. Now where do these pink wires go. I don't have any. hmmmm I wonder where these black wires with white strips go I dont have any. What are all these extra ground wires bubba put in?
Just kidding I figured it all out thanks to you guys and the forum. It was puzzling for a while. The last owner really liked red wires.
I just replaced the bubba wiring job under the hood. After I took the after market harness cover off and could see the wiring harness it looked like it had been hit with blow torch. I think I found my electrical problem. Replaced everything, harness,alternator, voltage reg, and horn relay. Now where do these pink wires go. I don't have any. hmmmm I wonder where these black wires with white strips go I dont have any. What are all these extra ground wires bubba put in?
Just kidding I figured it all out thanks to you guys and the forum. It was puzzling for a while. The last owner really liked red wires.
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Enjoy while you can.
Joined: May 2008
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From: 10th District Court OHIO
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Saw my first midyear in '62 at the age of 12. 4O years later I bought one. Its never too late and enjoy em while you can
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 211
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From: Corvette Owner since 1971 - 2004 Z06 Florida
Congratulations and welcome. My first Corvette was a Glen Green '65 fuelie coupe with the offroad side exhausts that I drove off the showroom floor at Barford Chevrolet in Clayton, MO in April of 1965 and it's been a love affair with Corvettes ever since. I know how they can get in your blood and stay there!
