C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

[Norm C.]

Asking for guidance from the restoration guru's out there and thank everyone in advance who offer their opinions!!!!

I'm an original owner of a 72 SB Coupe. Never altered; almost all #'s matching (2 wrong, one in process of correcting) never hit; original paint (sunflower) factory leather, AC, PB, PW. It was a driver for its early years but has had less than 1,000 miles a year for the last several years then was in storage for too long. Now in the process of bringing it back. My direction is to retain originality/restore AFTER hopefully being competitive for possible Bowtie assessment.

I have the judging manual, assembly manual, chassis restoration, Corvette restorer C3 CD, etc. Now need some "how to/what to use/here's how it looks" refernce material. Which books are reliable references? I've looked at the "Original Corvette Restoration Guide 68-82" by Tom Falconer and "How to Restore & Modify Your Corvette" by Richard Newton. (I'm told there's not so much "modify" as it is a good reference) Are these good references to start with and or Please offer other's to consider.

Thanks again for any guidance or suggestions!!!!!!!!!

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

MF dobbins has book on the 68-72 cars you should check out. they have been some new ones by richard newton, check out your local barns & nobel book seller. they have a lot of the ones I am talking about sorry I dont have the names.

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

Norm, if you have aspirations to go for a Bowtie, DO NOT start replacing parts and sprucing the car up. Go to the NCRS.org site and click on awards. It explains what the judges are looking for in Bowtie Judging and it is not new or rebuilt parts, "rattle can" paint, etc. It is original, as left St. Louis or Bowling Green as it may be, finishes and parts. You can carefully clean the car.

Search the archives for threads on Bowtie cars. There are numerous.

[Norm C.]

Re: C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

Dick.... Thanks for the heads up!! Yes, was aware of the Bowtie consideration, so any restoration process would be AFTER any Bowtie considerations. Frankly, while I have been fanatical maintaining the originality of my 72, I'm not sure my Vette meets the Bowtie expectations. I'm still in the learning curve about Bowtie objectives. Oh Oh, here comes the Soap Box

My car was a driver, yet I did then & continue to go to extremes to keep it "original" by using only GM/AC/Delco OEM/NOS "consumable" parts. ie filters, hoses, belts, spark plugs, mufflers, shocks, light bulbs etc. I'm proud to say, any knowledgeable Vette person who has seen the car is amazed that it has the miles it does and yet is so originally correct and looks & drives like one with half or less the miles.

Some of the NCRS credos (which I fully endorse and support) state: "The way it was, NOT the way we wish it was" OR "The PRESERVATION & restoration of Corvettes". NCRS also encourages our beloved Vettes to be driven and even grant add'l Flight points if driven to be judged. I realize I'm most likely missing a bigger picture here, (or being over 50 a little slow to understand). I fully appreciate the goal of "how it was when it rolled of the assembly line. That would seem to be supported by the "restoration/Flight judging process. Yet it appears the Bowtie process is in conflict with those "Preservation" and "Drive Your Vette" credo's when it fails those "Preserved" consumable parts. I'm perplexed to understand how 30+ year old Vettes that aren't "garage queens" are deemed to "fail" the Bowtie assessment, when all possible avenues are used to maintain originality.

Owners who insist and go to considerable efforts and expense to PRESERVE the originality, PRESERVE proper maintenance and PRESERVE safety by using only the best that GM offers/offered for the "consumables" will "fail" each of those components. Of course interiors and exteriors do not fall in the "consumable" parts except for possibly light bulbs. Alterations & updating of those components surely fall under the restoration category. But "driving/safety mechanical maintenance??

Part of the Bowtie description is "....to be historically and educationally significant...". Example: If, in order to continue to function correctly, a 30+ year old factory original alternator is properly "Preserved" by someone say of John Pirkle's reputation & expertise, it appears that per Bowtie standards that part "fails" to be "historically and educationally significant". From a "glass half full" perspective, it would seem that "new" owners of 30+ year old Vettes, (in which many "new" owners weren't born when that alternator was made) would hugely benefit from seeing such a piece of history properly "Preserved" in the equally "Preserved" Vette.

That said,,,, I continue to enjoy the NCRS experience and continue to seek any help "Preserving" my Vette, while maintaining the originality!!! Hopefully haven't stepped on any toes, and the preservation guru's will point me in the right direction with any reference material out there to be educationally beneficial!! Thanks again in advance for all your help!!!!

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

Norm, since the inception of the NCRS Chevrolet Bowtie Award® we have seen cars with less than 5 miles on them and those that have close to 100k. Some of the low mile cars failed to attain 4 stars because of owner inspired touchups. Some of the very high mile cars obtained at least a 3 star award.

If you look at the rules, there are allowances for the expendables, ie, exhaust, tires, belts, hoses, etc. A car does not have to a pristine original, just well preserved and clean enough to see numbers, inspection marks, etc.

I would suggest that if you are very serious about going through the Bowtie® judging, bring your car to a Regional, which BTW is a prerequsite, and have the judges go over your car. More than likely some, if not all, the judges you see at the Regional will be the same ones that do the Bowtie® judging
at the National Convention. Better yet to learn more register and attend the upcoming National Convention in about 5 weeks and sign up to be an observer judge. There are 4 '68-'72 cars registered for Bowtie®

[Jack H.]

Add on...

In addition to what Dick and others have said, remember there's NO requirement for a Bowtie car to actually start and run! That said, if the original battery is there but dysfunctional there's no need to replace it.

Some who've undergone Bowtie judging HURT themselves because they demanded that the car start, run and drive to/from the judging meet. In getting their cars to be roadworthy, they changed factory original components and lost points in their car's score. That's why so many on the board advice fellow owners who think their car might be a Bowtie candidate NOT TO TOUCH IT...

Bowtie cars are discoverd not CREATED by their current owners!

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3 Restoration Guides/Manuals/Books

Norm
You said you would restore the car after Bowtie judging. This is in conflict with the award as you are to keep it the way it is so others can learn from it. If you want to go for flight judging and make it nice I would forget the Bowtie.

Lyle