Look what followed us home - wife says I can keep it!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Don- I was honored to follow along and I'm so pleased for you. You and I both stayed on the forum some time posting away and waiting on our Sting Ray.
I'll echo what I've said on email - buy a good used rolling chassis that came out from someone's restomod, roll yours out, roll that one in, hook it up and drive!
I cant wait to see more of your progress.
Benton
I'll echo what I've said on email - buy a good used rolling chassis that came out from someone's restomod, roll yours out, roll that one in, hook it up and drive!
I cant wait to see more of your progress.
Benton
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,757
Likes: 2,375
From: McKinney Texas
I would say you are the third physical and fifth technical. I would bet the odds are that anything changed on the car was by the hubby. Even though you don't know the first owner, you do know the history and that's way cool. I have a nine year gap to fill. Original owner, car lot in 1976, owner my brother bought it from, brother then me. The owner my brother bought it from said he didn't change anything but head gaskets so I have no clue when the big block and hood disappeared or when the 65 hard top was added.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 384
Likes: 36
From: Huntsville AL
Cliff notes - details of the transaction and trip. Feel free to skip if you don't care to read it all! 
Y'all might enjoy hearing a few details of the process. As I said, I was not even sure what it was like. Seller was the niece of the previous owner, and while they were wonderful people neither she nor her husband are "car guys". To complicate things after the previous buyer backed out when he saw the bad kickups, the couple was headed to Vegas for a few days and could not take more pics. And as I said the hood would not open.
So we arranged to make the trip, they agreed since we were making that much effort they would not sell it till we got there. (the guy said once the Craigslist ad went up he was bombarded with replies, and was having a time of it responding to all). So I loaded every possible thing in the truck "just in case" - jack, jack stands, cordless drill, PB Blaster, every hand tool I could think of, and more.
When we got there and met them at 8:30AM the car had not moved in 10 years at least, she said it may have been 20. The uncle had bought a '93 Vette and I think after than he didn't bother with the '64. Right front was flat and I jacked it up and the wheel would not turn, no surprise. They really seemed like straight shooters and she assured me the car was running when parked so I didn't even bother trying to open the hood.
The previous lookers who backed out, or called and made offers and never showed up, helped because I was able to say "I am here now, I can pay now, and it will be out of here by tonight". We made the deal - we came to a number that they would accept, but which recognized I was taking some risk with the unknown parts.
I hit Harbor Freight for a come-along and a set of the sliding wheel dollies. Sprayed the heck out of the brake drums with PB Blaster - and managed to free up that right front. Jacked it up and put the dollies under, swung the car around to the garage door. Picked up the U-haul which I had reserved and used a chain and the come-along to crank it up the ramps. Tires were so shot we had to keep airing them up so it would roll (did I mention I also brought along a small pancake air compressor?)
So we had arrived at the shop at 8:32AM, and at 2:52 PM we pulled out onto the highway to begin the trip home. The seller had tears in her eyes several times during the process, she remembers riding in the car as a kid and as I mentioned the uncle had the car from the mid-60's until he passed away a year or so ago. After the deal and some work the husband asked half joking, half serious "Have you got it sold yet?" I assured them both I am not flipping it and will be giving it as good a home as I can. I could see her perk up at that.
Sorry to ramble but some of you guys asked for more details so there you go. They ARE still out there, and once in a while the whole thing comes together. I know there is a ton of work and expense ahead, but I'm looking forward to it!
Y'all might enjoy hearing a few details of the process. As I said, I was not even sure what it was like. Seller was the niece of the previous owner, and while they were wonderful people neither she nor her husband are "car guys". To complicate things after the previous buyer backed out when he saw the bad kickups, the couple was headed to Vegas for a few days and could not take more pics. And as I said the hood would not open.
So we arranged to make the trip, they agreed since we were making that much effort they would not sell it till we got there. (the guy said once the Craigslist ad went up he was bombarded with replies, and was having a time of it responding to all). So I loaded every possible thing in the truck "just in case" - jack, jack stands, cordless drill, PB Blaster, every hand tool I could think of, and more.
When we got there and met them at 8:30AM the car had not moved in 10 years at least, she said it may have been 20. The uncle had bought a '93 Vette and I think after than he didn't bother with the '64. Right front was flat and I jacked it up and the wheel would not turn, no surprise. They really seemed like straight shooters and she assured me the car was running when parked so I didn't even bother trying to open the hood.
The previous lookers who backed out, or called and made offers and never showed up, helped because I was able to say "I am here now, I can pay now, and it will be out of here by tonight". We made the deal - we came to a number that they would accept, but which recognized I was taking some risk with the unknown parts.
I hit Harbor Freight for a come-along and a set of the sliding wheel dollies. Sprayed the heck out of the brake drums with PB Blaster - and managed to free up that right front. Jacked it up and put the dollies under, swung the car around to the garage door. Picked up the U-haul which I had reserved and used a chain and the come-along to crank it up the ramps. Tires were so shot we had to keep airing them up so it would roll (did I mention I also brought along a small pancake air compressor?)
So we had arrived at the shop at 8:32AM, and at 2:52 PM we pulled out onto the highway to begin the trip home. The seller had tears in her eyes several times during the process, she remembers riding in the car as a kid and as I mentioned the uncle had the car from the mid-60's until he passed away a year or so ago. After the deal and some work the husband asked half joking, half serious "Have you got it sold yet?" I assured them both I am not flipping it and will be giving it as good a home as I can. I could see her perk up at that.
Sorry to ramble but some of you guys asked for more details so there you go. They ARE still out there, and once in a while the whole thing comes together. I know there is a ton of work and expense ahead, but I'm looking forward to it!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 103
Likes: 9
From: In The Woods Northern AZ
I'll echo that. You guys and your recently acquired projects are lighting a fire under my butt to get going on mine! I'll be watching your progress. Oh and it's nice to see another pedal steel player on the Corvette forum. Are you on the Steel Guitar forum?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
It's killing me, I have to do some reconstruction in a garage to get the Vette indoors. I want to be working on it today but we have a steady rain and it's about 40 degrees out.
I feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony - I know what to do, I just can't decide where to start!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Don- I was honored to follow along and I'm so pleased for you. You and I both stayed on the forum some time posting away and waiting on our Sting Ray.
I'll echo what I've said on email - buy a good used rolling chassis that came out from someone's restomod, roll yours out, roll that one in, hook it up and drive!
I cant wait to see more of your progress.
Benton
I'll echo what I've said on email - buy a good used rolling chassis that came out from someone's restomod, roll yours out, roll that one in, hook it up and drive!
I cant wait to see more of your progress.
Benton
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,757
Likes: 2,375
From: McKinney Texas
Thats funny and true. Garage is out for me now, but I think I can modify my storage building to keep her protected. I think mine is going backwards as my wife seems more concerned about the smell of the interior vs getting it driving.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 31,140
Likes: 461
From: Wilmington N C
St. Jude Donor '14 thru '26
Kudos!
Let me add my congratulations on your recent purchase of the '64. Welcome to the '64 "Club". I'm enjoying your continuing story & pix. There can never be too many details, or pix, so, keep them coming.
Again, Kudos to you!
Again, Kudos to you!
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Let me extend an offer at this point. From what I know so far, the car is reasonably close to original. From time to time people on here need detailed pics of various parts.
If anybody needs a close-up pic or report on how some part looks or whatever, let me know and I'll try to help. I have not done so yet, but it's on my list to post a pic of the trim tag in that thread just to help the cause.
If anybody needs a close-up pic or report on how some part looks or whatever, let me know and I'll try to help. I have not done so yet, but it's on my list to post a pic of the trim tag in that thread just to help the cause.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 939
From: Chattanooga Tennessee
Just want to add a public thanks to Benton in addition to the off-forum thanks I have given. Since we have met in person, and since he has a '64 as well, I contacted him for advice when considering this purchase. There were a lot of emails, texts and phone calls as this deal progressed. He is just one of the great many helpful people on here - which is what makes this forum great!
the forum is better for nice folks like you Don. Just when I was cooling off on posting you came along with the car!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
)
Last edited by Railroadman; Apr 17, 2018 at 08:03 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Today I will be fixing a rider mower to get it out of the garage, and working on making room to get this baby inside where she belongs.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,045
Likes: 6,551
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Hope your making a deal to get closer to your car Matt. Keep us updated.