Mark's Monster Garage....3800 sq ft

[Fastphil]

My thought process of this car has completely changed in the last 3 months. For example, last night my lead body guy said " we can widen the car, lengthen it, and really make it unique. In my mind that is dangerous territory and also an expensive one to gamble to change the car that much and then end up with a very expensive idea. The only serious body modification I would consider is to lengthen the front end by 3 inches to increase the size of the engine compartment but I am not so sure yet. You will see a rendering of the project before I get started and we all will decide what looks good.

I wouldn't play with the proportions of it, except for widened fenders and such. What's the plan for the powertrain?

 

[Bob Heine]

Mark,

I am constantly surprised by custom cars and design exercises that go against conventional wisdom and turn out beautiful. Anything you do to a '63 coupe is going to upset the Corvette purists. Just remember, the '63 Stingray didn't start life as a production car:

1959 Singray Racer

1961 Mako Shark

On the other hand, small changes can make a beautiful car ugly. Most of us are probably glad GM never made the four-seater:

1963 Corvette Stingray 4-Seater Stingray Coupe

There are quite a few C2 restomod project threads on Corvette Forum. If you do a search on "63 corvette with srIII frame" you will get quite a few hits. I think the one closest to what you are thinking of doing is this one:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-...split-window-restomod-sriii-build-thread.html

This one involves a '63 convertible, which has a different set of challenges but has a lot of great ideas:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-...76-the-do-it-myself-63-resto-mod-project.html

 

[Foxxtrot]

Wow! What a great read! I just went through the last 45-50 pages or so since the last time I looked at your thread. Incredible building and even more incredible cars coming out of it! I would love to live that life one day. My dad lives down in Vero Beach, and I grew up in the Orlando area. If I get down to FL again some time, yours and Shopnut's garages are on my must see list! Thank you for sharing!!!

 

[IGO2XS]

Mark,

I am constantly surprised by custom cars and design exercises that go against conventional wisdom and turn out beautiful. Anything you do to a '63 coupe is going to upset the Corvette purists.

Thanks Bob. I will respond in more destabilizing tomorrow. Right now we are in route back to Sarasota with the. 63 vette . We left yesterday after church and drove the 1000 miles straight through to Missouri. Got the car loaded and now a little north of Atlanta heading bac and still in the clothes it wore to church yesterday!!! This car was built in August of 1962 so an early car with some interesting parts I will share later. The frame is in incredible shape and nice clean fiberglass is visible under the car. To say the least
I
Am excited to get it home.

Wow! What a great read! I just went through the last 45-50 pages or so since the last time I looked at your thread. My dad lives down in Vero Beach, and I grew up in the Orlando area. If I get down to FL again some time, yours and Shopnut's garages are on my must see list! Thank you for sharing!!!

Great thank you. Hope you can visit us sometime!

 

[e-tek]

It was the easiest way to get a picture doing a screen shot. I am a apple nerd. I pretty much control my whole house with an iPad. Lighting, A/C, media room, camera's, you name it.

I know - I turned your lights out for you after you left. Then I got bored and watched a movie in your media room, sorry about the LD phone calls!

 

[Re-Volv]

Not sure what you mean by release but here is part of the process. Pulled the cardboard off and shaped by hand the flare profile. Once we have it right it will be covered with fiberglass and finally gel coated........Pretty cool

That answered my question, no need for a release.

 

[ODIS]

Sounds like the '63 Coupe is in great shape. Regardless of how you choose to finish the car, I am certain it will be beautiful.

Looking at the Saddle Tan interior in the above pictures, can only assume it was also Saddle Tan exterior as well. When we show our '63, we get tons of compliments on the paint color. We are lucky too since this is a NCRS Top Flight Car.

Ody.

 

[IGO2XS]

I know - I turned your lights out for you after you left. Then I got bored and watched a movie in your media room, sorry about the LD phone calls!

No problem with the long distance calls but you could have picked up all the popcorn I found in my seat when I got back.

Sounds like the '63 Coupe is in great shape. Regardless of how you choose to finish the car, I am certain it will be beautiful.

Looking at the Saddle Tan interior in the above pictures, can only assume it was also Saddle Tan exterior as well. When we show our '63, we get tons of compliments on the paint color. We are lucky too since this is a NCRS Top Flight Car.

Ody.

Beautiful car Ody, you have such nice vehicles!! My car originally was the saddle tan with white exterior.


This has certainly been a month of Corvettes for me. We have 4 Corvettes in the garage and with the new 63 split window I bought you might think I was a corvette nerd. Yesterday I was presented an opportunity to broker a Corvette deal. Not any Corvette but the first 2014 Corvette delivered by a dealer in Sarasota. I did not make much money but I did negotiate use of the car for 1 day. I put 24 miles on the car and had a blast.....7 speed manual trans is fun!! The vette spent most of its time out in front of my garage while I tried to figure out what parts I could use off of it on my 63 project!!

 

[Homebody]

Sweet Deal!!

 

[Wingnut65]

So, was the 2014 put all back together completely before you returned it??? Parts would probably still work with a little help from an adapter kit. Just do it 'one piece at a time!' (pun intended)

So I get myself up to my neck in an entertainment center project and you go out and not only get a C3 in the shop, you sell the Willy's AND the Burb, but you go out an buy a Split C2 for your next pet project. Wow! And then the Boat, Bike and Bolts... Double Wow! I'm out of breath just catching up. I can see why nothing in your shop has much time to collect dust. So much happening that in the Monster Garage that the dust never settles.

That hood and fender project is looking good. Venturing into new territory with the glass mods. Could lead to many more projects, once word gets out!

Our Entertainment Center is installed and the whole project is nearing completion. Now we are down to repainting the inside of the house and cleaning all the dust out of everything. I'll update my post before long with build pix. And we are now Apple people as well... Took 7 remotes and put them into 1 iPad Mini!

BTW, It's that time of year again... you bringing anything to NSRA SE next weekend? After seeing your toys, both my girls are interested in going to drool and dream. I might talk Mrs. W into going as well.

 

[Skyline]

I wouldn't play with the proportions of it, except for widened fenders and such. What's the plan for the powertrain?

X2. Why lengthen the nose, when we know that a big block will fit without any mods to the body? Certainly an LSX motor should give you plenty of room, and more than enough power. But then again, enough power is a relative term. If you're thinking twin turbo set up, maybe you do need room. But this will certainly foul up the look of the car, which is so beautiful to start with.

 

[jusstin4171]

X2. Certainly an LSX motor should give you plenty of room, and more than enough power. But then again, enough power is a relative term. .

There's another forum slap full of endless information about LSX motors. I've seen everything from the stock 325 -ish hp to over 500 hp at the crank on daily drivable n/a set ups with only 346 ci. Then there's the actual LSX block that can give you all the cubes of a big block in the small block size.

There's really no NEED for forced induction unless you are wanting to have 600+ hp. In that little C2 - you'd be hard pressed to put it all to the ground anyway.

 

[IGO2XS]

Our Entertainment Center is installed and the whole project is nearing completion. Now we are down to repainting the inside of the house and cleaning all the dust out of everything. I'll update my post before long with build pix. And we are now Apple people as well... Took 7 remotes and put them into 1 iPad Mini!

BTW, It's that time of year again... you bringing anything to NSRA SE next weekend? After seeing your toys, both my girls are interested in going to drool and dream. I might talk Mrs. W into going as well.

Sounds good Wingnut. Did you go with the iRule for your control? Now if you get the girls iPhones they can control everything through their phones.

Wow it is time for the NSRA show in Tampa. I had forgotten all about it. I have the guy buying the Willys arriving in the 4 or 5 days and I am probably staying around here. If I change my mind I will let you know. The nice little car show in Sarasota will be next month so hope you and the family can come down again this year.

 

[IGO2XS]

There's really no NEED for forced induction unless you are wanting to have 600+ hp. In that little C2 - you'd be hard pressed to put it all to the ground anyway.

I would tend to agree with you on adding a supercharger. Probably just a waste of money and a lot more engineering. I am not going to add a hood scoop because that doesnt work with the 63 hood vents which are very important on the car so keeping the motor low is important. A slight body drop is also a concept so the space under the hood might be tight. The C7 vette has around 480 hp and as I was driving it I was thinking pretty much the same thing as you are saying.......why would I every need 700 or more hp in the car. it would just be a waste. Right now I am tossing around the economics of this build and where money should be spent.

X2. Why lengthen the nose, when we know that a big block will fit without any mods to the body? Certainly an LSX motor should give you plenty of room, and more than enough power. But then again, enough power is a relative term. If you're thinking twin turbo set up, maybe you do need room. But this will certainly foul up the look of the car, which is so beautiful to start with.

YOu and justin4171 are throwing out some good questions and ones I am tossing around right now. I am in the concept stage so a lot of ideas are coming out. There are some really important aspects of the car that need to preserved. However I do want to step just a little out of the box.

Stretching the front end slightly was just a concept and could be a cool factor or screw the car up blunder. Primary purpose was cosmetics and not lack of engine space. Today I hired a designer in California to work on some renderings of the car and my ideas. There is really no way I can start this car without a plan. I will let you guys see where we are going and see what you think.

 

[JCQuick]

heres a video of a 2014 vette at the track today
sorry for the FB link its the only place i know of it

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=530868493656830&set=vb.412183895525291&type=2&theater

 

[Thedoc14]

Almost looks like a Ferrari from the side profile...

 

[JCQuick]

ok how bout something like this

http://blogs.hotrod.com/amazing-70s...e-barn-find-for-sale-85765.html#axzz2h48Ey0tL

 

[IGO2XS]

Almost looks like a Ferrari from the side profile...

Yes it does have some europeon supercar styling and for a lot less money!!

ok how bout something like this

dude that is cool!!

 

[IGO2XS]

We are getting the front end mocked up on the 71. Dwayne is going to start laying some fiberglass on those rear fenders. Next on the agenda is to build the flares for the front tires. The front end will be one piece with the front bumper molded into the front end. It should look pretty clean. This is going to be one radical ride!!

 

[dave_ramkumar]

Just read page 1 to 79 and it left my jaw on the floor , all i can say is WOW,you are blessed

 

[Wingnut65]

dave_ramkumar, Welcome to GJ! You picked an Awsome shop to take the plunge with your first post! Mark pulls another one into the GJ family!

That is realy looking Sick! And the height of that hood Hope the driver is tall enough to see over it! Or take a navigator to cover the starboard side!

Sounds good Wingnut. Did you go with the iRule for your control? Now if you get the girls iPhones they can control everything through their phones.

Wow it is time for the NSRA show in Tampa. I had forgotten all about it. I have the guy buying the Willys arriving in the 4 or 5 days and I am probably staying around here. If I change my mind I will let you know. The nice little car show in Sarasota will be next month so hope you and the family can come down again this year.

No, we went with the Universal Remote Control MRX-1 in the rack and the App on the iPad Mini. I think he wanted to go this route because we have some old equipment connected that does not have WiFi or RF connections. It is a pretty easy remote system to figure our. We are really enjoying it!

I still have the Fairgrounds on the plans for this weekend. Althought Mrs W still wants us to finish cleaning up our house for relatives arriving next week. But that Sarasota car show may work out again. If not, I hear there is a Vette show coming up as well...

 

[Audicon]

Almost looks like a Ferrari from the side profile...

Headlights remind me of Ferrari, rear end reminds em of LFA. In general, Looks like the child of Italian and Japanese parents.

A pretty decent looking car. I just don't like the taillights.

How do the interior plastics feel Mark? I know that has been one of the big complaints with the 'Vette for the last few iterations.

 

[bashr52]

We are getting the front end mocked up on the 71. Dwayne is going to start laying some fiberglass on those rear fenders. Next on the agenda is to build the flares for the front tires. The front end will be one piece with the front bumper molded into the front end. It should look pretty clean. This is going to be one radical ride!!

Wow that thing is looking mean. Not sure why, but the first thing I thought of when I saw this shot was this:

 

[eatpasta]

new to this site and I was instantly drawn to this thread! It's taken me an entire day just to comb through it and the garage alone is astonishing, let alone some of the projects you have been able to undertake.
You are incredibly lucky to be able to do what you're doing..... it would take the course of some of us our natural lives to a frame up restoration!



I doubt I'll ever have the facilities/time/know how to undertake such a dream project! Since I was a kid Ive always wanted to build a GT-350 replica. That's my big dream build.

maybe when im long retired....

at any rate, well done and keep us updated with pics!!

 

[IGO2XS]

Just read page 1 to 79 and it left my jaw on the floor , all i can say is WOW,you are blessed

I am blessed because I have good health (except for the mind its a little worn out) and I have a great family and loving wife. The garage is the icing on the cake!

That is realy looking Sick! And the height of that hood Hope the driver is tall enough to see over it! Or take a navigator to cover the starboard side!

I still have the Fairgrounds on the plans for this weekend. If not, I hear there is a Vette show coming up as well...

When we put the hood on we thought We sent the pictures to the owner who is overseas right now and he was happy so its all that matters. However, those right turns are going to be a *****!! I am still thinking of the NSRA show this weekend too.

Headlights remind me of Ferrari, rear end reminds em of LFA. In general, Looks like the child of Italian and Japanese parents.

A pretty decent looking car. I just don't like the taillights.

How do the interior plastics feel Mark? I know that has been one of the big complaints with the 'Vette for the last few iterations.

I must completely agree with you on the euro look of the car. I am not completely in love with the rear end as you said. The interior of the car feels good. Its not the refined exotic interior of one of the supercars but its pretty cool. I like the gauges and the layout of the dash board. Not alot of buttons so its pretty simple for all of the luxuries.

Wow that thing is looking mean. Not sure why, but the first thing I thought of when I saw this shot was this:

new to this site and I was instantly drawn to this thread! It's taken me an entire day just to comb through it and the garage alone is astonishing, let alone some of the projects you have been able to undertake.

I doubt I'll ever have the facilities/time/know how to undertake such a dream project! Since I was a kid Ive always wanted to build a GT-350 replica. That's my big dream build.

Glad to have you aboard! You have alot more patience than me reading the entire thread because my attention span is pretty short. On your dream build never say never. You have plenty of time to live out your dream.

 

[IPACA9]

However, those right turns are going to be a *****!!

I was thinking the same thing. Even my engine gets in the way but I can kind of see around it in front and back of the scoop. In the corvette's case that cowl runs full length of the hood like a wall.

I will say I do like it though. Got me thinking. I almost sprung for a wide body kit for my camaro years ago.

Also that vette is screaming for some custom made side pipes!

 

[Skyline]

The hood on the Vette is going to make it impossible to drive. Such a high rise manifold might work with a drag car, or perhaps with a lower engine position. But I thought the plan was to emulate a road race Vette? You could never road race a car with a hood like that, much less drive safely it on the street. You guys did a great job creating it, and I'm glad the owner likes it, but wouldn't it be better to sacrifice a few HP to bring the hood down to a drivable level? It would be a shame to confine this car to becoming a trailer queen. It begs to be driven.

 

[thoraudio]

The first thing you thought of was the Batmobile?

I thought of this.

 

[mattmatt300]

I just read through all 80 pages and all I can say is WOW. Amazing garage and some awesome cars coming out of there. I can't believe the Willy's and the Burb are gone. You must have some huge plans!

 

[bashr52]

Mark, did you see what conversion Callaway is offering for the 2014 Corvette?

Think of the fun you could have with yours Of course it would ruin those perfect rear window/body lines.

 

[mrgm]

The first thing you thought of was the Batmobile?

I thought of this.

I love that car. I need to remake that sucker!

 

[IGO2XS]

I was thinking the same thing. Even my engine gets in the way but I can kind of see around it in front and back of the scoop. In the corvette's case that cowl runs full length of the hood like a wall.

The hood on the Vette is going to make it impossible to drive. Such a high rise manifold might work with a drag car, or perhaps with a lower engine position. But I thought the plan was to emulate a road race Vette? You could never road race a car with a hood like that, much less drive safely it on the street.

Yes it is definitely going to be in the way. I had a blower motor car once and the motor was definitely an obstacle. We are going to wait on bonding the hood until the owner sits in the seat of the car.

I just read through all 80 pages and all I can say is WOW. Amazing garage and some awesome cars coming out of there. I can't believe the Willy's and the Burb are gone. You must have some huge plans!

I do have the 63 vette which is my next project. It is going to take some time until I can get to it. It is going to take 4 months to get the frame built. I do have some other things coming up though to share with you guys.

Mark, did you see what conversion Callaway is offering for the 2014 Corvette?

no this is the first I have seen of it. Pretty nice looking. I know all the big guys are all over this new Corvette to come up with their version. I know some of the big Corvette motor builders are already taken delivery and are busy making modifications to this new body style.

I love that car. I need to remake that sucker!

ya man it is cool isnt it!!

 

[IGO2XS]

I thought i would take some progress photos. The car is finally coming together pretty nice. Obviously wiring is a very tedious process and really not much excitement in posting those pictures. We did get the lowered coilovers from Van Steel and swapped the suspension around a little bit. Right now I have the new set up at its lowest point and the vette is about 4 inches lower all the way around. Just playing around at this height but we will be raising it back up 1.5 to 2 inches. I am a hot rodder by background and I like um sitting a little lower for the good stance. All new carpet and recovered the seats in leather with new foam. All the knobs on the interior of the car are new as well as the bumpers, and door handles.

I have always liked Billet Specialty pulleys and we did pick up a Tru Trac serpentine belt system by them. Nice and clean with all of the accessories on the front of the motor. A word of caution. The crank pulley of the Billet Specialties system is too big and will hit the frame. We had our machine shop mill a custom spacer and we then used a slightly smaller March pulley for the crank. We have it taped up right now to keep it shiny.

Today I just recieved the Billet Specialties valve covers and air cleaner for the dual quads. I know the air clean may look funny but I still have the plastic on the top while we handle it. We have limited clearance so we are going to have to do some work on it. We might have to go as far as trim a little off the K&N air filter. Its awful tight up there.

The cloth top I have ordered should be in the first of next week. I am really excited to see it on the car. We are close to getting the hood on and this should make the car. We are holding off on emblems for the final buff. The paint is deep and looks awesome.

 

[Skyline]

Wow. That Vette ragtop is really looking sweet. Great work!

 

[smsteve]

Mark, the Vette is looking awesome. I really like that you guys decided to leave the doors off and go for the full "top down - no doors" experience. Very Jeep Wrangleresque! I'd recommend removing those door hinges though, someone's going to smack a knee on one of those!


That is soon to be a fine restomod example of the breed! Well done sirs, yet again. Really waiting for your '63 though, that is going to have us all spinning I am sure.

 

[nmcqueen469]

Looking GOOD Mark, the build is progressing quickly!

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

SWEET BABY JESUS!!!!! That is a thing of pure beauty.

 

[IGO2XS]

thanks guys!!! It is getting close. We are just plug wires and antifreeze away from starting this bad boy. The suspension needs adjusted and alignment done. The doors have to be hung, convertible top frame installed with all new weatherstrips.......hoping cloth top gets in this week so it can be installed. We have the hardtop painted and today we buffed the rear window. We have to install the rear glass, headliner, interior hardtop trim, and all new weatherstrip for the hardtop. The last act is to install a 10 inch sub in the back, amp, and some rear speakers. whew......looking forward to rolling it out.

 

[Audicon]

Mark, did you see what conversion Callaway is offering for the 2014 Corvette?

Think of the fun you could have with yours Of course it would ruin those perfect rear window/body lines.

Could they not come up with something original, rather than copy the Ferrari FF?

It does look nice though.

Loving the progress Mark.

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

As they all chase the highest performance with the lowest drag, they all converge on the same shape.