How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

[Frank D.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

You'll have to fill me in on Oct 3rd vette show Stu - I know nothing about it.

[Stuart F.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Frank;

The annual October Vettefest at Old Town, usually sponsored by Eckler's - not sure this year. I will google it for more details.

Stu fox

[Stuart F.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Brief ad appears in latest "Mike Kelly's Cruise News" States; the VetteFest X will be held on October 3, 2015 at Old Town. Registration begins at 10:00 am with special "Corvettes Only" cruise at 3:00pm. They also have Vettefest pre-party on Friday evening.

Stu Fox

[Frank D.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Brief ad appears in latest "Mike Kelly's Cruise News" States; the VetteFest X will be held on October 3, 2015 at Old Town. Registration begins at 10:00 am with special "Corvettes Only" cruise at 3:00pm. They also have Vettefest pre-party on Friday evening.

Stu Fox

Dang, I should have known....took my '61 there with daughter/granddaughter a few years back....my C1 was awash in C5/C6 cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhKeNtUIrZ8

[Jim T.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Having a 1970 Corvette bought new near Dallas still in my garage. From your list of stuff the one item that I changed on my 1970 350/300 turbo 400 when less than less than a month old was the TCS when I read the owners manual to find out about what my 1970 had come with. I completely disconnected the TCS function and since SEP 1970 have used 100% full time vacuum from the carburetor to the vacuum advance unit. Immediate benefit was better gas mileage in Dallas traffic and cooler running engine. Never a significant higher engine temperature in Dallas traffic using the cold R12 factory air conditioning in July with my change to full 100% vacuum to the advance unit. Don't need exhaust wrapping on the exhaust for my air conditioned 1970, the factory air has its benefits. Like my factory steering wheel just fine.

[Jim H.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Here's two changes not mentioned yet. One of them may or may not apply to your body type. My C2 original seats, while resplendent in their Al Knoch red leather, placed my right knee at an uncomfortable angle for long distance touring. Since the top and bottom sections are removable at the hinges, I secured a derelict C2 driver seat, removed the top section, had it cut down by about 2-3 inches, and recovered it w/an original style cover. The seatback won't fit but we fabricated a flat rear board covered in matching material. This placed my hips and legs an equivalent distance from the throttle. Plenty of extra room to stretch my right leg and avoid cramping. Reversal is a breeze - unbolt the seat, remove the cut-down top section, and bolt on the original. This can also be done with the bottom section if vertical headroom is a problem. Second mod is to run an aluminum space saver spare from a '05 GTO in lieu of the very heavy steel wheel and full size tire. Easily half the weight, easier to place into the tub, and the wheel offset and tire width fit perfectly on my car. You need to use a hub centric adaptor to adjust for the 120mm bolt circle of the GTO spare, but they can be obtained or fabricated. Finally, while not easily reversed, the best mod I made to my '66 was a Tremec TKO600 5-speed w..68 overdrive. No more running in the slow lane watching my temp gauge rise at the constant 3800 rpm while Hondas flew by giving me the middle finger salute.

JCH

[Mark E.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Having a 1970 Corvette bought new near Dallas ...

Jim- Are you still in Dallas? Your profile says Tennessee. I also have a 1970 with AC and live in Dallas. Yes, recurving the distributor and using manifold vacuum for VAC makes a big difference.

Regarding cockpit heat, that's a big problem in my car. I disconnected the heater and plugged/sealed all holes and gaps in the firewall. That helped with the amount of hot air in the interior. But a HUGE remaining source of heat in my car is radiant heat along the base of the tunnel. There are hot spots on the floor are where the exhaust pipes run closely along the tunnel- the floor actually gets too hot to touch.

So my remedy is floor insulation and exhaust wrap. I'm in the middle of installing Dynamat throughout most of the interior plus 1/2" Dynaliner along the floors and console. But I'm also checking the exhaust itself: first, I want to check how close the exhaust pipes SHOULD be routed along the floor/tunnel and reroute my pipes accordingly (right now they get within 1/2" of the fiberglass which seems too close); second, wrap the pipes to reduce the amount of heat radiating from them.

[Gene M.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

I did just what you are asking about and drove over 4,000 miles to Denver on the road tour in our 65 coupe. Everything I did is total reversible with NO CUTTING or DRILLING on car. It requires a lot of custom fabrication. Added are 5 speed, air conditioning, 105 amp alternator, power drum brakes, rack & pinion manual steering, Dewitt radiator, halogen seal beams, wiper blades, radial tires on 67 aluminum wheels, and harness conversions. I also have provisions for chaining the car at night. Experience has shown all the above necessary for an enjoyable trip, others are optional.

[Bill M.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Rebuild the existing motor
rebuild the tranny
radiator pressure tested and cleaned
new radial tires
replace all of the rubber bushings universal joints
replace dried out wiring harness's
replace headlights
you are on your way to a pleasant mid year to drive.

[Gary B.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Mark,

What about a simple swap to a solid-state voltage regulator, like the ones Bill Caldwell advertises in the Driveline?

Gary

[William F.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

I agree with Keith .PLEASE don't put "shoes" on a nice Corvette unless you're a rapper.

[Mark E.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

Mark,

What about a simple swap to a solid-state voltage regulator, like the ones Bill Caldwell advertises in the Driveline?

Gary

I haven't owned a car with a mechanical regulator in a long time. Are they trouble prone? If yes, then a solid-state one may make sense. That's what Chevy did with the 10SI alternator in the late '60s.

[Douglas L.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

For weekend cruising and a occasional drive to work I don't think you need to change anything, I drive my 68 w/ 3.70 gears, points, bias plys and no A/C or P/S all the time and its not a issue. As long as everything is in good working order the way they came from the general works fine. Its the long drives that are the problem. Its not that I worry about it not making it but more that its just not that comfortable. If I had intentions on driving my car cross country more than once I would definitely put on radials and think long and hard about a 5 speed and A/C.

I've owned cars in the past that just wouldn't work on modern roads but the vettes, unless you have a really tall rear gear, work fine. Both my 51 willys and 63 VW bug just couldn't handle freeway speeds. Both had stock powertrains and you be stuck in the slow lane on the freeway and any kind of incline would slow you dangerously below the normal traffic speed.

[Jim D.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

All my old cars have radial tires. That's it. No other changes.
I just don't see the need to modify these old cars so we can pretend they are something they can never be.

Jim

Well said Jim. The addition of radials is the only thing I've ever changed. I've owned many Corvettes over the last 40+ years, C-1's, 2's, 3's & 5. Big blocks, small blocks, coupes and convertibles. With the exception of the C-5, the rest were/are dinosaurs and can't compare to today's cars regardless of what is done. Simply enjoy the antiques for what they are and when you want comfort AND unmatched performance, drive a newer one.

[Michael J.]

Re: How would you modify an original car that will be driven?

+1, I agree that is the best, and cheapest course to take to have it all.