62 Corvette rebuild

[don long]

Just remember Don, they are PAINLESS wiring harness's.

Thanks for that reminder Leakie

I have managed to route the different wire sections and keep all the wires neat and tight to the inner dash. I think that I'm ready to pull out the headlight switch and the ignition switch and start trimming the wires to length and solder
the clips on the ends. This will be a long and tedious process but worth it in the end. At least that is what I keep telling myself

 

[HD FLHX]

Looks awesome Don

 

[don long]

Looks awesome Don

Thanks your projects are coming along nicely too.

 

[don long]

Well the wiring is almost complete and the gages are being installed.
We worked on the hood release cables due to the custom hood locks the cables needed to be remade using the original hood pull to open the hood.
It sure is an easier job working under the dash when you can stand or sit on a stool and work or get your buddy to get in the tight places
Next will be building the exhaust and plumbing for the a/c then we can marry the body to the frame for the last time before it drives down the road

 

[nine4gmc]

That car started off in better condition than a lot of restorations end up in, great job so far!!

 

[Vette60]

Wow Don. Just read through your thread here and can't say enough about the work that you have done on the Vette! It will be awesome when finished!

It's really great that you have had the Vette for so long and are giving her a new lease on life...our '60 has been in the family since '62.

Time for bed and I'll be sure to check back in.

Randy

 

[don long]

That car started off in better condition than a lot of restorations end up in, great job so far!!

Thanks nine4gmc
When we took the motor out of the car in 1995 it was supposed to only be down for a couple of weeks but plans do change lol

Wow Don. Just read through your thread here and can't say enough about the work that you have done on the Vette! It will be awesome when finished!

It's really great that you have had the Vette for so long and are giving her a new lease on life...our '60 has been in the family since '62.

Time for bed and I'll be sure to check back in.



Randy

Vette60 Randy
Thanks for the visit and spending the time to catch up on my travels through corvette land.
I'm getting a little anxious to drive it again (soon I hope)

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Don you have moxy! Checked out your garage build and found this vette build. Very nice.
I am a vette guy (should be leak fixer) too and have enjoyed this!! Good luck on the finish and how bout a C3 next time?

 

[don long]

Don you have moxy! Checked out your garage build and found this vette build. Very nice.
I am a vette guy (should be leak fixer) too and have enjoyed this!! Good luck on the finish and how bout a C3 next time?

Welcome aboard Legacy
Thanks for those kind thoughts, I glad that you enjoyed the garage.
I owned an 82 black vette in 1990. Only owned it a few months before some guy with a suit case full of $100 bills talked me out of it.
I did take it on my Honeymoon to San Francisco and really enjoyed it with the glass "T" tops

 

[don long]

Felt like we made some pretty good progress today
1ST, I rebuilt the stock pull cables for the hood lock
2ND, I was able to build one side of the exhaust system from
the header to the exhaust tip



And 3RD We hung the a/c and marked and pulled the hoses through the firewall and marked their paths to the pump and condenser

 

[Cheesesteak1]

Don, you sir are a true artist!

 

[RickP]

Wow, that's a great looking chassis and exhaust, Don. You really know how to shine 'er up nice!

I can't wait to see pictures when you get it out on the road.

 

[don long]

Thanks guys
The wiring is 90 % finished. All the holes in the engine compartment are where we want them so it's time to get the engine compartment painted before setting the body down on the chassis for the last time
We're getting closer

 

[IGO2XS]

I love the idea of turning the car on its edge to work on it. I guess as we get a little older we get a little more clever Question, I painted my engine compartment first then the body.....you painted your body first then the engine compartment. There is logic for both ways.....what was your logic doing it your way. Always like to learn from the master.

 

[don long]

I love the idea of turning the car on its edge to work on it. I guess as we get a little older we get a little more clever Question, I painted my engine compartment first then the body.....you painted your body first then the engine compartment. There is logic for both ways.....what was your logic doing it your way. Always like to learn from the master.

Hi Mark
WE are on the same page. I primed and blocked the body several times.
I gave it a last coat of a primer / sealer and went to work getting the body ready to mount on the chassis. I painted the bottom of the body because with the polished suspension and the frame powdercoated red I needed something to complement them I rewired the body while on its side so I could stand rather lay on my back with my feet over my head trying to read the small print on the wires (first time wiring up a car).

I bagged the car so as to not running the risk of overspray in places that would be hard to remove like on the bottom of the car and under the dash where all those pretty new wires are.
Today I painted the engine compartment and will let it sit til next week before touching it again (small vacation from it while I work on some candy scales) and I am waiting on the exhaust to return from the plater getting ceramic coated.

Next will be getting the car driveable before tearing it all back down to paint the body.

Here is today's progress report.

 

[RickP]

That is one good looking engine compartment!

 

[MattVette89]

Car is really coming along, Don! Did you figure our what engine management system you are running yet?

 

[don long]

That is one good looking engine compartment!

Thanks Rick
There are a lot of hours ******* in it

Car is really coming along, Don! Did you figure our what engine management system you are running yet?

Hi Matt
Yes I sent my ECM unit out to the Howell company and they striped it of all the unnecessary uses from it so all the smog stuff is gone and they sent me a new wire harness to use that has all the correct plugs.

We are getting closer

 

[vintagespeed1956]

wow that's looking nice! dont drive it, you'll never tear it down & finish it!!

 

[don long]

wow that's looking nice! dont drive it, you'll never tear it down & finish it!!

Yes that will be a challenge

 

[iajonesy]

Hi,Don. Your Corvette is really coming together nicely. That is going to be one sweet ride when she's done.
Can I be nosey and ask how much Howell gets for the work they did to your ECM and wiring harness? I have heard they are the best when it come to wiring up computers in hot rods.
Thanks for your time and trouble. Keep on truckin.

Mike

 

[don long]

Hi,Don. Your Corvette is really coming together nicely. That is going to be one sweet ride when she's done.
Can I be nosey and ask how much Howell gets for the work they did to your ECM and wiring harness? I have heard they are the best when it come to wiring up computers in hot rods.
Thanks for your time and trouble. Keep on truckin.

Mike

Hi Mike
Thanks for that vote of confidence on my project.
It is just taking me a long time to do what I did for such a long time so long ago lol

The harness was $550.00 and the rework on my ECM was $200.00 then I bought from them some relays and sensors and my total was just south of a grand

 

[don long]

We have been delayed by a party in the garage yesterday but I have made a little progress on the dash and engine compartment

The gage cluster is ready to go back in the car for the last time



And the engine compartment is all color sanded and polished

 

[HOTFR8]

That gauge set up looks nice.

 

[Duke55]

WOW! Don you have made a lot of progress since I stopped by. Looking very good.

 

[Zeke]

We have been delayed by a party in the garage yesterday but I have made a little progress ob the dash and engine compartment

Party on Wednesday? I'm not living well enough.

 

[don long]

That guage set up looks nice.

Thanks Simon
I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I had forgotten about the digital gages that I bought back in the mid nineties

WOW! Don you have made a lot of progress since I stopped by. Looking very good.

Thanks Royce
I looked for you at the goodguys show in Del Mar but didn't find you.
Yes we are slow but steady in our progress, maybe by the end of this year it will be completed
Thanks for the visit to my thread

Party on Wednesday? I'm not living well enough.

Alright Zeke
It's like this (the party)
about 40 hot rodders showed up Wednesday morning with their cars and their wives to hang out in the party garage.
Several of them had been here before and wanted to share it with their friends so we agreed on Wednesday morning.

I want to thank everyone that is following my build, I enjoy sharing it with you

Don

 

[vintagespeed1956]

gonna be purdy.

 

[don long]

gonna be purdy.

Thanks vintagespeed

I took the day off today and chased down an old blackhawk jack for the 30s garage but tomorrow will be hitting it hard

We'll see what gets done

 

[CNGsaves]

That instrument cluster is a Work Of Art . . . . AWESOME !!

Don't forget to post a pic of Blackhawk jack in the vintage jack thread.

 

[Jsf721]

I have not posted but have followed you. It's one of my favorite cars. I can't wait to see it completed. I've seen enough to say it going to be a beauty. It is already.

I wish I had the skills to do something 1/2 a nice. Just awesome.

Enjoy it in the best of health.

 

[akdiesel]

Don

Everything is looking great. Won't be long till your in the drivers seat.
What color red is that? Factory or your own blend?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Piece de resistance Don

Regards

 

[flyng_fool]

Just gorgeous Don! I wish I had a 10th the skill you do. It is truly a work of art.

 

[terry603]

GM never made a cluster that nice

 

[don long]

That instrument cluster is a Work Of Art . . . . AWESOME !!
Don't forget to post a pic of Blackhawk jack in the vintage jack thread.

Thanks CNG
I'm really enjoying this build
I found another old jack today at a swap meet so I will take some good shots and get them posted up.

I have not posted but have followed you. It's one of my favorite cars. I can't wait to see it completed. I've seen enough to say it going to be a beauty. It is already.
I wish I had the skills to do something 1/2 a nice. Just awesome.
Enjoy it in the best of health.

Jsf thanks for the post
It's nice to know that you are on board. I am getting more anxious every day
to take her for a run again.

Don

Everything is looking great. Won't be long till your in the drivers seat.
What color red is that? Factory or your own blend?

Hi AK
Thanks for the visit. The color on the vette is Viper red (chrysler color)

 

[don long]

Piece de resistance Don

Regards

Hi 1/2 cup

Thanks for checking in

Just gorgeous Don! I wish I had a 10th the skill you do. It is truly a work of art.

flyng_fool

Thanks for those nice thoughts, I wish I had 1/2 the talent you think I have
I struggle each day figuring out what to do next lol.

GM never made a cluster that nice

terry603

I agree, This one looks pretty good

 

[don long]

Started putting the car back together after painting the engine compartment

The radiator is back in and the hod locks are in for the last time
All the dash switches have been wired and waiting for the script plates before mounting them

The A/C condenser is mounted and now it's time to run the hoses

The body can't go back on the chassis until I get the exhaust finished so I spent the afternoon cutting and welding pipe. I think the right side is ready to be finish welded. Now for the left side

 

[RickP]

NICE! That engine compartment looks awesome.

I really like the way you're fabbing the exhaust system.

 

[akdiesel]

don

The exhaust looks great. Like the straight oval look.
Cant tell from this angle but do you think the heat from the pipes will start to bubble / de-laminate the frame paint.