62 Corvette rebuild

[sselander]

FYI- Here is a pic of an original 62 Corvette tag spot welded on the steering column

This pic is from user WF62 on the Corvette Forum

You can go to this thread to read the thread it came from:
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...2723667-comparing-vin-plates-on-a-1961-a.html

 

[Kevin54]

src60

I didn't realize that I had a vin problem. What did you do to fix yours??

Thanks for the heads up, and for following my project. It's a lot of fun for me
and a lot of work at the same time. I can't wait to drive it around town again.

Don

FYI- Here is a pic of an original 62 Corvette tag spot welded on the steering column

This pic is from user WF62 on the Corvette Forum

You can go to this thread to read the thread it came from:
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...2723667-comparing-vin-plates-on-a-1961-a.html

You may want to check with the DMV. The only reason I say that is that I am fairly certain it is illegal to swap VIN's even though it is going on the same car, so you want too make sure you don't have to fill out some legal paperwork beforehand.

There was a thread a while back where people were getting busted for selling Rosette Rivets that hold on VIN's. I'd hate to see anyone go to all of that work just to get nailed in some sort of inspection. When I bought momma's '64 Cutlass, I had to take it to the DMV on a trailer for an inspection before I could get it titled as it came out of Indiana. The first thing and about the only thing they did was verify the VIN with the Title.

And going with a newer steering column from a newer 'Vette, chances are the VIN's are in a different place from old to new.

Years back, we used to be able to paint a car and change the color and not worry about things. If you were pulled over and they said you were supposed to have a blue car, but you are driving a red car with the correct VIN, all you had to do was tell the law that you had it repainted. After I painted my truck and went from Turquoise and Silver, changed it over to Prowler Orange, I had to go the DMV and get a different title and registration stating that I now had an Orange truck and it was now on file with the State.

Now I can be completely wrong as everything varies from state to state, but it may not hurt to have things checked out.

 

[sselander]

Those plates occasionally would fall off due to rust or age.
They usually were not welded on good in the 1st place.

I don't think he will have an issue, as long as he has all the paperwork.
On the later Vette's the tag was moved. (63 and up)
On my dad's 67 Vette, if I remember right, it was below the glove box

 

[src60]

Don, I used the stock column in my car so the original VIN plate is in its original location. I shortened the column, added a bearing to the end, and welded on an adapter to allow using stock C4 linkage to the rack. I'm pretty sure the parts/directions came from Paul.
Steve

 

[don long]

Don, I used the stock column in my car so the original VIN plate is in its original location. I shortened the column, added a bearing to the end, and welded on an adapter to allow using stock C4 linkage to the rack. I'm pretty sure the parts/directions came from Paul.
Steve

Thanks src60
I'll cover that problem when the time comes.
Thanks for bringing it to the top

 

[don long]

Today is the day I've been looking for. I finally made enough progress on the car that I have something to report.

We have been working on cleaning off the bottom of the car along with putting all the finishing touches to the body so I could swing it over to the booth and give the vette a coat of primer and make it look like we have gotten something done

Before



After



And as long as the car is in the booth and blocked for the first time and I have primer in the gun





I'm pretty happy with the way the engine compartment is turning out

 

[MP&C]

Looks good Don!

 

[don long]

Thanks Robert

Here is the progress of the day



I'm really happy with the engine compartment now

 

[MattVette89]

Great progress!

 

[don long]

Great progress!

Yeah Matt
And I'm tired tonite. But it's getting to be more fun by the day.

 

[-Brent-]

Wow. It looks incredible. The engine bay work is beautiful.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great work Don.

Your right the engine bay looks a treat.

Regards

 

[don long]

Wow. It looks incredible. The engine bay work is beautiful.

Great work Don.

Your right the engine bay looks a treat.

Regards

Thanks guys,
I took the liberty to shoot another shot of the engine bay after cleaning up the motor and adding a little bling!!



Today was spent trying to fab a couple of bumper brackets. Since the front frame horns were modified to except the newer front x member the old bumper brackets don't hook up any more. I like the look of the bumperettes with out the center bar leaving the grille area open

 

[ambenz]

I am in awe...this is gonna be one showstopper!
Alright, back to the sidelines for me....and watching!

 

[msh-r]

This is looking fantastic, great work!

 

[Signal10]

Looking real good! When I see any project in that phase my fingers automatically start to cramp up...lol
They know the sanding that's coming

 

[don long]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

You are spot on Signal10
My finger tips are so raw that they were bleeding this morning.
I have started sanding out the undersides of the hood and decklid along with blocking the right side of the car while Paul is fitting a stainless gas tank and running the fuel lines.

Sorry no pictures my fingers are too sore lol

 

[ss454]

very nice work, very cool.

 

[gahrajmahal]

A tip for you when sanding areas that don't need to be flat but just need a skuff up for paint adhesion like the underside, door jambs etc. buy several of the drill operated nylon wire brushes that come in different sanding grits. The fine grit works excellent for evenly sanding for paint adhesion without knocking all the primer off the high points while missing the valleys. You can find them at the big box stores and the local hardware store. Really enjoying your build and all the photos. My paint job is on the jalopy journal if you want some entertainment.

 

[don long]

Thanks SS454

gahrajmahal
Thanks for the trip however
I'm doing the car as a show car so the undersides and jambs will be as smooth, straight, and shinny as the top surfaces.
So tomorrow I plan to rewrap each finger with masking tape and use a small sanding block as often as possible. This is my second coat of primer and I'm sanding it with 240 grit paper to remove the 120 grit scratches from the first priming then one more time with 600 before spraying color on the undersides.

I know that I have my work cut out for me

Don

 

[akdiesel]

don

The Vette is looking great. That engine looks just right in there also.

 

[vintagespeed1956]

man, the vette looks great! very nice work!

i have one critique tho...can you take that idler bearing (heim) supporting the steering shaft and flip it over so it mounts under that frame mount? looks like plenty of header clearance down there and will improve your angles alot.

 

[don long]

don

The Vette is looking great. That engine looks just right in there also.

Thanks A K
I'm pretty happy with the way that engine bay turned out
Now on to more sanding

man, the vette looks great! very nice work!

i have one critique tho...can you take that idler bearing (heim) supporting the steering shaft and flip it over so it mounts under that frame mount? looks like plenty of header clearance down there and will improve your angles alot.

Thanks vintagespeed
A second pair of eyes are always welcome so feel free to jump in with any ideas you may have.
I looked at what you mentioned and the heim joint won't fit under the bracket but I did modify it to alter the angle just a bit and it helped out and gave me a bit more clearance from the header.



The decision has been made the car is going VIPER RED and i'm all over it today!! Sand Sand Sand

 

[Leakie]

Don't sand your fingers off Don, we need you to be able to still type so you can keep us updated! Good luck!

 

[don long]

Don't sand your fingers off Don, we need you to be able to still type so you can keep us updated! Good luck!

Ok leakie

I took the weekend off and went to a car show hoping my fingers would heal.

But today it's back to the sand paper
I managed to sand the bottom of the car, along with mounting the fuel tank, making up fuel lines and starting the fiberglass patch on the tire well.

The under carriage was a bit gauged up from removing the undercoat so I spread a thin coat of bondo on the ruff spots.





the gas tank is only temporary while the fuel lines are bent to form



And the tire well is being patched after determining where the rear bars will fit

 

[RickP]

Looking good Don! That is going to be one smooth ride after all your blocking and hand sanding. I can't wait to see the Viper Red on it.

 

[1949 caddyman]

Hey Don, I also took off the weekend &went to Midnite at the oasis in Yuma.

 

[Aaron P.]

man gotta love the work going on with this build....as ya said it makes it so much easier when you have the tools to do the jobs need doing.....the extra work in the bay looks factory....really nicely done....when ya hoping to ave it in paint????

whats the story with the truck on the ramp in the garage???? i like that....

 

[56vette461]

Ok leakie

I took the weekend off and went to a car show hoping my fingers would heal.

But today it's back to the sand paper
I managed to sand the bottom of the car, along with mounting the fuel tank, making up fuel lines and starting the fiberglass patch on the tire well.

The under carriage was a bit gauged up from removing the undercoat so I ]

And the tire well is being patched after determining where the rear bars will fit

Hi Don, the work is looking good.

I have a quick question. When you did the wheel well opening for the clearance on suspension, how much additional glass space did you remove to account for any movement of the arms??

I have the 56 on the rotisserie and we are looking at the cut out and new glass replacement now. OH, and I do hate sanding!!

 

[don long]

Hi Don, the work is looking good.

I have a quick question. When you did the wheel well opening for the clearance on suspension, how much additional glass space did you remove to account for any movement of the arms??

I have the 56 on the rotisserie and we are looking at the cut out and new glass replacement now. OH, and I do hate sanding!!

Hi AJ
Sorry it took soo long to get back to you
I thought that I had replied but remembered getting pulled away before submitting my post

I cut about an inch and a half out of the orig aprons where the "A" arm goes through. Then I built another side shield that covers most of the suspension leaving it about 3/4" above the frame

Hope that helps

Don

P.S.
I'm still sanding the undercarriage

 

[56vette461]

Hi Don, Thanks for the info. I figured you would be lost at the FairPlex for the car show.

I'm just finished with the re glass of the inner rear fenders and cleaning up a lot of the old repairs that were pulling loose or cracking' I have to say that my buddy Willy, (the last owner of the vette) and his drag racing at Pomona, definitely took it's toll on the original fiberglass. The stress and beating of road use left quite a mess.

If all goes well I will be finished on the underside of the body and will spray the Lizard Skin late this week or early next week. I hope to be in primer by the end of the month. I'll sneak in a couple of photos in a couple of days. aj

OH, did I say I hate sanding!!!

 

[whatme]

my first post on here 75 yr old auto nut just have to say FANTASTIC BUILD on your sore fingers cover them with super glue heavy coating

 

[don long]

Hi Rick, Caddy man and Aron
I jumped right by you guys to answer AJ
Thanks for joining in on the build and for your votes of confidence.

The big question is when is color going to hit the vette??

Today I applied the final coat of primer to the bottom of the car
and will fine sand it sometime next week
I have been derailed by one of my boys wanting a paint job on his black chev truck
So today we pulled the bed off and while I did a little body work on the bed he sanded it and took the doors apart for preping

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Capt. Says,

Viper Red on a Vette.............................................................

I love it!

 

[don long]

Capt. Says,

Viper Red on a Vette.............................................................

I love it!

Hi Capt.

SOON VERY SOON
Should have color in the engine compartment and under side before the party on the 28th of this month

Don

 

[vintagespeed1956]

..P.S..I'm still sanding the undercarriage..

if u wipe a little more vigorously, you wont have to sand!

 

[sselander]

bump, fingers healed yet Don?
progress report with pics requested, please ...

 

[don long]

sselander
Thanks for the "bump"
I was just getting ready to update today when I found the hit.
I lost a week of working on the vette when my son showed up to paint his truck and a second week getting ready for a big party at the garage, but today was spent working on the vette.

The bottom of the car is final primed and sitting back on the frame to start blocking out the body.

My picture server is down so I can't post any pictures right now
I will try again later

 

[don long]

Ok were back at it

Here is a shot of the engine compartment before and after

 

[vwracer]

Awesome Don just awesome! What do you use for primer?