More progress on the restoration

[Chris E.]

The body should meet up with the frame sometime in July. Wish me luck!

http://www.vetteaction.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=40

[Ian S.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Good Luck Chris, it's looking great.

Ian

[Stewart A.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Wow only 300 hours !! I spent 150 just on my hood ? I must get faster at working if you have only done 300 hrs and got this far.
That alternator is a work of art, I hope you still drive it and not trailer queen it everywhere.
It looks real clean Chris good luck with getting it done on time. Chris did you paint the body off the chassis. Stewy

[Greg G.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Great photos Chris. Thanks for sharing them - it's always educational to see Vettes in various stages of (de)construction. Good luck with the last push towards the finish line.

[Graeme B.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Very pretty Chris .You don't need luck,just your hard work.Cheers,Graeme from Oz.

[Timothy B.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris, Your attention to detail is very obvious, beautiful job!!

Be sure to use the correct grade eight bolts in various locations as they were used from the factory. I see what looks like grade five bolts on the water pump hub and these are grade eight application, also remember the spacer inside the W/P pulley hub..

Just a suggestion, have you considered running the engine before installing the body? It's very easy to do and gives you the opportunity to shake down any issues while access is easy to repair..

[Chris E.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Wow only 300 hours !! I spent 150 just on my hood ? I must get faster at working if you have only done 300 hrs and got this far.
That alternator is a work of art, I hope you still drive it and not trailer queen it everywhere.
It looks real clean Chris good luck with getting it done on time. Chris did you paint the body off the chassis. Stewy

I have help. That's why I'm only at 300 hours. My local expert has over 125 hours into it as well.

The body was painted ON the chassis, with the doors and decklid on. The chassis and body were completely stripped though.

And yes, as soon as I'm done judging the car next year, it will get driven. Look for me in the Sportsman category at one of the 2010 events.

[Chris E.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris, Your attention to detail is very obvious, beautiful job!!

Be sure to use the correct grade eight bolts in various locations as they were used from the factory. I see what looks like grade five bolts on the water pump hub and these are grade eight application, also remember the spacer inside the W/P pulley hub..

Just a suggestion, have you considered running the engine before installing the body? It's very easy to do and gives you the opportunity to shake down any issues while access is easy to repair..

Tim, thanks. I'll check on the grade 8 bolts for the water pump. My guy that is helping me is usually pretty good about that kind of thing. And yes, the WP Pulley already has the spacer behind it.

Yes, we thought about running the engine first, but my guy has done a lot of engines with this particular local shop and has had flawless luck. So, we're just going to drop the body and fire her up.

[Rick A.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris,

really looking great! can't wait to see the finished product in person somewhere's next year!

[Chris E.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris,

really looking great! can't wait to see the finished product in person somewhere's next year!

Thanks! Hopefully the judges will like my 'big block delete' 67......

She'll be at the Iowa Regional in May 2010, if you're coming. Still trying to figure out if I can make this fall's Texas regional or not. Stay tuned on that one.

[Henry S.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris, Excellent job!! Keep us posted. Shooter

[Stephen L.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris, The shifter arms on the transmission should be natural....
Chassis looks great.

[Chris E.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Chris, The shifter arms on the transmission should be natural....
Chassis looks great.

Thanks Stephen. Do you mean the levers that sit on the transmission side case, the rods that go to the shifter mechanism, or the arms immediately below the shift handle, inside that "cage".

[Stephen L.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

From the photo it looks like the shifter rods are not painted.

IMHO, the transmission arms, the shift rods, and the shifter arms would all be natural as well as the shifter arm "housing". They probably had some sort of anti-rust coating that made them look natural as opposed to black or ???? like the clutch rods

[Chris E.]

Re: More progress on the restoration

Do you think someone would deduct for that? There isn't any mention of finish for the shift linkage in the TIM/JG.