Rebuilt sources

[Don Shirey]

Hello fellow members, I joined the NCRS in Dec. 1998 and just purchased a 63 roadster that needs alot of work. My honey is a 300 HP, Powerglide, with PS and PB. The engine is the original number matching variety but is a basket case. I live in the Detroit area and I'am looking for good reliable sources to have the engine, PB booster, wiper motor, and gauges rebuilt and/or restored. Any advice and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, Don, Member 31553

[John]

Re: Rebuilt sources

Don -

Corvette Specialties of Maryland does outstanding work on wiper motors and gauges, and outfits like Vette Brakes or Master Power are good sources for power brake booster service. Engine shops are everywhere in the Detroit area - check around for quality shops that do good work - just stay away from the low-budget places with the word "exchange" in their name. You want the engine you now have properly rebuilt, not someone else's God-only-knows-what-kind-of-car-it-came-out-of engine in its place. Welcome to the hobby!

[Eric Eade]

Re: Rebuilt sources

Don, As you have already seen, welcome to the club. I joined NCRS a month before you did with my "gem" and a ton of questions. This is a great spot to learn from, and learn you will! A few sources that I have worked with and/or heard positive responses about for guage rebuild and calib. are:

ISI (Inst. Services Inc.) in Roscoe, Il. Clocks by Roger in Tenn.

I am away from my notes at the moment but if you have any problems finding addresses and numbers just drop me an e-mail. Eric

[Jack H.]

Re: Rebuilt sources

Welcome to NCRS! Now that you've joined the club on a National basis, my advice is to join the Michigan Chapter and get active. You can get contact information from the NCRS Membership office in Cincinnatti.

As an ex-Detroiter who escaped to Colorado (Redford High School '66), you happen to be in a Corvette mecca belt! Folks with technical savvy and parts sources abound all around you (Tracey Performance on the north side, Paragon in Flint, and Corvette Central on the East coast).

Build a solid technical library to support your classic Corvette investment including NCRS Judging Guide, Assembly Instruction Manual, Shop Manual. Join your local Chapter and get active! You'll meet a number of people who've been there, done that, got the T-shirt and can give you sound advice on where to go/where not to go in your area. You'll payback your NCRS Chapter/National membership dues in a New York minute and have a potload of fun!!!

[Michael Hogan]

Re: Rebuilt sources

I have just had my wiper motor rebuilt by Corvette Specialties of Maryland and I could not be happier with their work. It took just over 1 week to turn it around, and they actually did it for slightly less then my orignial quote.

Another source I contacted wanted twice as much to do the work and told me it would take 6 weeks to complete.

I believe that Corvette Specialies of Maryland advertises in the NCRS Bulletin.

If you need a source for seat belts - I had mine restored by SSnake Oyl, they also did a fantastic job.

If you are buying interior parts - like door panels, the ones that I got from Corvette America were terrible, and were not close to the right size. I here people talk about Al Knoch for interior parts, but I have not tried them yet. I believe you can find them on the web.

As far as interior paint, I bought black interior paint from Eklers. The paint they supplied was wrong. They sent me a flat black, it should have been semi-gloss. They also supplied the incorrect wheel paint for my 1970 vette.

I know that this is more than you asked, but you can quickly learn some expensive lessons working on a Vette. Good luck

[Don Shirey]

Re: Rebuilt sources

Thanks guys,

I have already purchased several manuals from NCRS, which is a great org. the best $30 I ever spent. The discussion board is super and has you can tell I'll be using it often.

Don, 31553