Sleeping Beauty - bringing my '64 back to life
 

The story of finding, buying, and bringing home my '64 has been told. ( https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-keep-it.html ). I'm starting this separate thread to add to as the days, weeks and months (and hopefully years) go by. I'm not going to detail every nut and bolt I turn, but in that thread several members asked to be kept informed of how this project goes. Hopefully it will be interesting, and I also hope it helps others who are, or will be, doing a similar project. There are a couple similar threads working and I'm always amazed at the progress, the obstacles and the determination we exhibit.

Somebody had a thread about car names, and while I don't normally do so I figured I'd name this one - "Sleeping Beauty", since it slept for somewhere between 10 and 20 years before being bought, moved, and transported about 1,000 miles away. I'm not Prince Charming so I'm not going to kiss it, but hopefully I can wake it up, patch some of its problems, and put some more miles on it.

I'm not going NCRS with it, but will keep it reasonably stock. And finances are limited so I won't always be taking the top-shelf choice. I'll probably solicit advice often, but quite possibly I'll wind up ignoring some of it.

The other thread has lots of pics of the move so I won't dupe them all. Here are two for whoever didn't read that one - the car as it was sitting years, and loaded up ready to travel home.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b91913347f.jpg


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...cd8c1f09b0.jpg

So here it sits today! :willy: :banghead:

The garage is half full with a lawnmower, snowblower, garden cart and stuff. The other half has one of our son's 300ZX's. (that's the other one next to the Vette). I will be taking most of the lawn stuff out to a shed, moving the Z over, and getting the Vette indoors. Hoping to get that done by the weekend, but this place is about 25 minutes from our home and I'm not sure just what our schedule will allow. The weather is calling for a warm-up, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I DID spend a bit of time today sitting inside and just looking things over. Ratty for sure but not terrible. Removed the console and adjacent panels for cleaning.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...71fb9f6ba2.jpg

Cool!

I see what you did there! :rofl::lol:

I agree - TOO damn cool! Supposed to finally hit the 50's next week.

I’m looking forward to the resurrection story of your ‘64. I’m sure the family you bought it from would also cherish the process/progress to being streetable again. Will you share this thread with them?

We will be staying in touch with them. They own and operate a seasonal restaurant on a lake, and opening day for them is May 1. They mentioned a couple times during our morning with them that with the car gone, they have to go full-bore on getting ready. So for the time being, this is low priority for them. And while there is an emotional attachment - the car belonged to her uncle - they are not "car people" and would care more about overall results rather than the nuts-and-bolts of each step along the way.

As progress is made I'll shoot them a brief email and a picture or two. And next fall, when they close for the season, we have extended an invite to come visit us, see Niagara Falls which is only an hour and a half away...and weather permitting, take a ride in the Vette.

MAJOR accomplishment today - got it into the garage! :woohoo:

I agree,I admire you guys that have the capabilities to bring a car back to life.
Thanks for sharing,Rick

Looks good Don!

Pat

:thumbs: Nice you got it out of the elements. Looks Like the weather has been pretty nasty and I know hogheads get cold easy.

Thanks guys! :cheers:

My plans at this point are:

1. Give it a decent cleaning
2. Give it a real good look-over, just get to know it
3. Make a list - or several - of various "to do" items
4. Get underneath and evaluate whether this frame can be fixed or just get another.
5. All through this, I may be cleaning or painting a few minor parts. I look at those as "morale builders" - you say "Well at least I have THAT done"

It will be a driver so at this point I'm not looking at a paint job. Not crazy about the black hood bulge, would not have done it myself, but it's not terrible and for the time being I'll leave it. Got to see about buffing the paint - at present it's about "patina-ed" beyond belief! :lol:

:rofl: Well, I did my share of braking too, nothing like riding the ladder of a boxcar INTO the wind and snow for a half mile at about 11PM! BTDT!

I told my wife if we get any more snow, I'm going to put the damn Christmas lights back up! :willy:

Hang in there Railroadman! Warmer, drier weather is coming this week!

Congrats again on your approach to small steps at a time. That's the way to keep your sanity/a good therapy approach to enjoying our passion!

:thumbs:

Jim
In God We Trust!

The inscription on the underside of the air cleaner lid. In pretty good shape for 54 years old!


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b0af336112.jpg

I told my wife if we get any more snow, I'm going to put the damn Christmas lights back up! :willy:[/QUOTE]

That's funny! :rofl: Dennis

I'll be in the crowd admiring the steady progress and looking forward to pics! :cool:

I've been following since the beginning, wish you all the best.