62 Corvette rebuild

[don long]

I bought this corvette back in 1981with less than 30,000miles on it. I drove it as my daily driver for several years.
In 1995 after well over 100,000 miles had been racked up on it the motor gave out and the car got parked in my garage.

In 1997 I had moved into a new house with a great garage in the back yard.
After getting the garage set up I pulled the Vette in and started the long process of restoration.

Here is how it started out




The old 327 motor was removed





The body was separated from the frame





And the frame was sent out to be sand blasted.

I wanted something a bit different and more modern
for the car so I started researching my possibilities.
I found a company that was just starting up converting C1 series corvette frames to except late model C4 (independent suspension)
So when the 62 frame came back from the blaster I went on the hunt for a 1986 to 1996 corvette front and rear suspension along with the front x member

 

[don long]

After finding my new suspension the frame and parts were loaded onto my trailer and I went on a road trip to Templton Ca.
The frame was dropped of at Paul Newmans garage for the transplant
While the frame was there Paul agreed to redue the motor mounts to fit an LT1
chevy motor.

6 weeks later the call came in to pick up the frame. So back in the truck

This is what the frame looked like after all the grafting


You can see where the front X member was grafted to the 62 frame.




The next step was to fit the C4 suspension to the frame
So the fun begins

 

[don long]

Next step was to run all the plumbing for the NEW DISC BRAKES

Now that everything fits well it doesn't pop like I wanted it to, So I took it all back apart.

With the frame bare, it was time to clean up all the weld splatter and fill unneeded holes before sending it out to the powdercoater

While the frame was out the aluminum suspension needed some attention

All the casting marks on the suspension were smoothed before sending all the pieces to the polisher

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Don, As always, enjoy reading about all your projects!

 

[don long]

Don, As always, enjoy reading about all your projects!

Thanks TimeWarpF100

This one started a while ago and now I'm focused again and the progress is starting to show

 

[don long]

The polished pieces came back looking like a million bucks





The frame came back to the garage about the same time


now it is time to start the final assembly of the frame
so I started with the front A arms



The rear end and suspension came next!





I found an LT1 motor in a swap meet so it came home with me
and new headers were located.



And the engine was installed into the frame along with the trans and a polished driveshaft.



The body was fitted back onto the frame and that's where the project died for a few more years

 

[Hephaestus29]

Looks like it's going to be modified instead of restored. Looks great but how will the value hold up compared to an original ?

 

[don long]

Looks like it's going to be modified instead of restored. Looks great but how will the value hold up compared to an original ?

I agree that the title of this thread could have been more discriptive.
As for the value I've seen these modified vettes bring BIG bucks
but as for me, it's my car and money is not the motive for me.
I want a show stopper that is not a trailer queen but drives as good as it looks
I have plenty of time behind the wheel of the original car and now it's time to make it better!!

 

[Kevin54]

Now that is just flat out pretty. Well, possibly beautiful. Or it might be just damn super nice!!!!!! There are some words in there that has to describe it.

 

[don long]

Well it's 8 years later another house and a garage make over have taken place

A friend says to me that he dreams of rebuilding an old Vette some day.
I ask him why he doesn't buy one and rebuild it. He responded with. "I have no place to work on it." I suggested that he buy one bring it over here and we could work on it together He says "Why don't we just pull one of your's in and lets work on that" The next day when he dropped by this is what he saw





Here is a shot of the motor sitting in the engine compartment It looks pretty bad and we discussed what it needs to make it pretty. Notice the LT1 has polished 327 corvette valve covers on it with the help of adapters.



So we started dismantling the car. First we took the body off the frame again
and mounted it on a dolly that has large wheels for rolling the body around



and here is the frame ready to put aside while we work on the body.



So a complete teardown gets under way



After everything possible has been removed it's time to clean up the body
so we pulled it out and gave it a good pressure wash





Now it's ready to work on so we let it dry out the rest of the day

 

[don long]

Now that is just flat out pretty. Well, possibly beautiful. Or it might be just damn super nice!!!!!! There are some words in there that has to describe it.

Thanks Kev.you snuck in while I was preparing my last post

That Chassis has brought in quite a bit of attention as we displayed it during the last few parties at the party garage. It still looks that good after 10 years of sitting around.

 

[nimrag]

What is the Ford van/truck in the background? It looks pretty cool.

 

[don long]

What is the Ford van/truck in the background? It looks pretty cool.

nimrag

Check out my COE thread. It's all about that truck

Finally back to work in the shop My C.O.E.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=221122

 

[930dreamer]

Just curious why it's being dismantled again? Very nice work by the way.

 

[don long]

Just curious why it's being dismantled again? Very nice work by the way.

Well Dreamer
It was never put back together way back when. The body was only sitting on the frame unbolted and the body needs a bit of work to make it nice

 

[don long]

With a dry body we pulled the Vette back into the shop and went to work finding all of the stress cracks and damage on the body.

we found several





And since we were putting a/c into the build we didn't need the vent any more

 

[don long]

While my friend glassed in the vent I started blocking the waves out on the body



Looking at the thread Marks monster garage I noticed that Mark was working on a Vette and he had done something special with the headlights. He had molded the headlight bezels to the fenders so I started looking into doing that to mine

We lifted the body off the dolly and slid the frame back under the car to look at the engine compartment





We wanted to put an a/c unit under the dash so with the motor back in the
engine compartment we could see what needed to be addressed to make it happen



I finished up the headlight alteration and now its time for the first coat of primer

 

[don long]

We looked at the engine compartment with the idea to clean it up and where to run the a/c lines. We knew that the big heater hole needed to be filled in and that the side aprons should be smoothed

We took the body back off the frame put it back on the dolly and pushed it into the booth for primer.





While I was getting the body ready to prime Paul installed new shocks on the front of the frame

The doors and hood and trunk were put in next



The body came out of the booth and I started blocking it for a second time while Paul worked on the mounts for the a/c

 

[don long]

After I blocked the body for the second time



I made sure that the front grille moldings would fit snugly after we paint the
body. I made several small alterations to the nose to get the moldings to line up perfectly (most stock Vettes aren't even close)



and this week we worked on the hole in the firewall and the right apron
and we are now current with the Vette project.

 

[MP&C]

Looking good Don, nice project. We worked on a 54 and the biggest challenge seemed to be the hood, trunk lid, and doors not being consistent in shape to the surrounding adjacent panels. The hood and trunk lid's structural channel on the underside were sliced in a few spots to change the shape on the outside and re-glassed to keep that shape. As you said, not much fits well at all...

 

[grinditout]

Want a LT4?

 

[Capt Chrysler]

If you would like to upgrade the LT-1 engine electronics check this out.

https://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/24xLT1.aspx



Capt. Chrysler

 

[don long]

Want a LT4?

grinditout

I'm not aware of an LT4 What is it

If you would like to upgrade the LT-1 engine electronics check this out.
https://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/24xLT1.aspx
Capt. Chrysler

Thanks Capt.

I looked at the attachment but it is WAY above my pay grade. I'm an old body man not a mechanic but it looks worth investigating
Good to hear from you again
Have a happy new year

Looking good Don, nice project. We worked on a 54 and the biggest challenge seemed to be the hood, trunk lid, and doors not being consistent in shape to the surrounding adjacent panels. The hood and trunk lid's structural channel on the underside were sliced in a few spots to change the shape on the outside and re-glassed to keep that shape. As you said, not much fits well at all...

MP&C
Thanks for checking out my Vette
AS I recall it looked pretty good before we tore the motor out of it so I'm not too concerned about that fit issue, but it is very wavey and will take a bunch of work to meet my new standards

The early Vettes were all hand built in a hurry and not to accurate and no Q.C. i'm sure

Thanks for the visits guys

Happy New Year Every One

Don

 

[CNGsaves]

Wow OP you are building my "Dream Car" that could have been.

As teenager, my neighbor's dad had '62 Vette similar to yours half apart / half together (but stock) and never worked on it for a decade. At one point, could have got it for $2K . . . but of course at time in late 70's that felt like a million bucks ! They were going through divorce and everything was chaos. Somehow it just disappeared one day and I never saw it again.

Keep up the good work making tasteful modifications. It will be awesome driver when you're done !!

 

[1949 caddyman]

Subscribed, another great project of yours!

 

[Uncle_Charlie]

Another subscriber. 62 was my favorite year for the vette.

 

[8man]

Nice job, subscribed.

 

[don long]

Wow OP you are building my "Dream Car" that could have been.

As teenager, my neighbor's dad had '62 Vette similar to yours half apart / half together (but stock) and never worked on it for a decade. At one point, could have got it for $2K . . . but of course at time in late 70's that felt like a million bucks ! They were going through divorce and everything was chaos. Somehow it just disappeared one day and I never saw it again.

Keep up the good work making tasteful modifications. It will be awesome driver when you're done !!

Thanks CNG
I to remember these cars from my youth. I was very happy to get this one when I did and my oldest Daughter is hot after it today

I am looking forward to driving it when we get it back on the road

Subscribed, another great project of yours!

Another subscriber. 62 was my favorite year for the vette.

Nice job, subscribed.

1949 caddyman

Uncle_Charlie

8man

Thanks for tagging along I will try to stay up to date with my progress.


Today we worked on placement of the brake master cylinder.
We think it will fit on the frame under the floorboard but we want to look at it after we set the body back on the frame. we dont want it to hang below the body line.

 

[Ohmthis]

Don, I'm always impressed with your skills. That car will be something that will start another child's dream of having cool cars and trucks! I know you will be very happy cruising it. I love the people that build badass rides and then drive them!

 

[nimrag]

nimrag

Check out my COE thread. It's all about that truck

Finally back to work in the shop My C.O.E.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=221122

Thanks for the link.

Your setup and projects leave me speechless.

 

[MattVette89]

Beautiful work!

What will you be running for engine management?

 

[don long]

Don, I'm always impressed with your skills. That car will be something that will start another child's dream of having cool cars and trucks! I know you will be very happy cruising it. I love the people that build badass rides and then drive them!

Ohmthis
Thanks for that complement. I am looking forward to the time that I can put my **** in that seat and hit the pavement again

Thanks for the link.
Your setup and projects leave me speechless.

You are welcome nimrag

I'm glad you enjoyed it

Beautiful work!
What will you be running for engine management?

Thanks MattVette89

Engine management ??
I'm in no way a mechanic so I will be looking for a ton of help in the getting it running department.

 

[don long]

It's getting cold out in the garage so we called it a day a bit early

We managed to marry the body to the chassis today to start working on the steering linkage and the placement of the brake booster.



After Figuring out what to order for the steering we put the dash back together for final measurements on the column length.



While Paul put the dash together I worked on the shifter tunnel







The Engine compartment is starting to take shape with the LT1 sitting in it

 

[Ohmthis]

Don, what's cold in southern California, 70*? lol, it was in the low thirties here and I still got out and got some things done. I'm sure some of our friends from the north would love to have my temps while I might want yours! Great work on the car.

 

[Horror Business]

Excellent work, this is a great project! Thanks for posting, keep it coming.

 

[MattVette89]

Thanks MattVette89

Engine management ??
I'm in no way a mechanic so I will be looking for a ton of help in the getting it running department.

The LT1 has some variances from a standard SBC...reverse cooling, optispark distributor, etc.

I am not recommending these items/pages specifically, but it will give you an idea of what you will need to run the motor. What are your plans for the dashboard to interface with the newer motor/electronics?

http://www.efisupply.com/xfi.htm

http://www.dfperformance.com/LT1_inj.html

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/113-0504-standalone-efi-systems/

http://lt1swap.com/wiringharness.htm

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/lt1-47-chevy-180106.html

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Don, what's cold in southern California, 70*? lol.

It actually HAS been cold, at least here in Pasadena. I don't know what city Don's in but it was 38 overnight the last couple nights. And when I left for work the last few days it's been between 48 and 52. That's probably laughable to some of you guys but out here THAT'S **** cold!

EDIT: Just checked. It'll be 41 overnight tonight and a high of 57 tomorrow. NOT pleasant compared to what we're used to.

 

[Ohmthis]

Dan, I'd take those temps all day long and twice on Sunday. It's going to be 19-21 overnight and high of 30 for tomorrow. It's mild compared to last year though.

 

[don long]

Don, what's cold in southern California, 70*? lol, it was in the low thirties here and I still got out and got some things done. I'm sure some of our friends from the north would love to have my temps while I might want yours! Great work on the car.

Thanks Ohmthis
It was Ice on the windshield this morning when I went out at 7:10 AM
and windy at 4PM so I had a choice, put on a jacket and keep working or call it a day and sit in the house and order parts from the internet.
I chose the latter

Excellent work, this is a great project! Thanks for posting, keep it coming.

HB
Thanks for joining in to my garage fun
I will try to keep this project going to completion (not an easy task for me)

The LT1 has some variances from a standard SBC...reverse cooling, optispark distributor, etc.

I am not recommending these items/pages specifically, but it will give you an idea of what you will need to run the motor. What are your plans for the dashboard to interface with the newer motor/electronics?

http://www.efisupply.com/xfi.htm

http://www.dfperformance.com/LT1_inj.html

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/113-0504-standalone-efi-systems/

http://lt1swap.com/wiringharness.htm

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/lt1-47-chevy-180106.html

Whoa Whoa Whoa Matt
You are confusing me with all of these details

I will surely have to do some research now (for a mechanic)
I make em look good, Don't know how to make em run!!
(Thanks for the heads up. But seriously I can't answer your questions.

It actually HAS been cold, at least here in Pasadena. I don't know what city Don's in but it was 38 overnight the last couple nights. And when I left for work the last few days it's been between 48 and 52. That's probably laughable to some of you guys but out here THAT'S **** cold!

EDIT: Just checked. It'll be 41 overnight tonight and a high of 57 tomorrow. NOT pleasant compared to what we're used to.

Hi Dan
I'm in the Inland Empire and you are right if we need a jacket to stay comfortable then it's cold in So Cal.

 

[MattVette89]

Whoa Whoa Whoa Matt
You are confusing me with all of these details

I will surely have to do some research now (for a mechanic)
I make em look good, Don't know how to make em run!!
(Thanks for the heads up. But seriously I can't answer your questions.

Never meant to cause confusion! Just wanted to point out that you will need:
1) A wiring harness
2) A computer control system

There are a lot of variables you can control, just be aware that retrofitting a modern fuel injected motor takes slightly more work than throwing a carburetor on.