62 Corvette rebuild

[don long]

NICE! That engine compartment looks awesome.

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

Thanks Rick
It has been quite the challenge but it is fun seeing it come together

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.

Thanks AK
The tip should will come out through the lower body panel.
The frame is powdercoated so I don't expect any heat problems
I will be coating the exhaust with ceramic coat to help with the heat as well

Thanks for the visits guys

 

[Bob Heine]

I know this is a terrible idea but they make an electric cutout that just might fit in the area where you have the oval outlet. I'm putting a pair on my '72 Corvette just to annoy my grandchildren. Its overall length is about 11-inches (the clamp in the picture is for marking a square cut line).

 

[don long]

Thanks Bob
But I think this monster will be loud enough with the shorty mufflers I'm putting on it.

I just finished up welding all the exhaust pipes and smoothing out the welds.
And I am working on the plumbing of the a/c - heater lines hiding them inside the right fender Pics tomorrow (to tired tonight to go back out with my camera

 

[don long]

NICE! That engine compartment looks awesome.

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

Thanks Rick
This is the first time I have ever tried to build an exhaust

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.

AK
I hope not I will be looking closer at that after the body is on the chassis

 

[don long]

I finally finished up the stainless tube bending for the a/c and moved on to the heater hoses.



The water pump has too many holes in it so I need to decide which ones to use and which ones to plug



I removed the two tubes because they were pointing in the wrong direction
And will drill and tap the holes for brass fittings



The water pump is bolted to a 2x6 so I can grab it in the vice and hold it tight while I work on it without leaving a mark

 

[Bob Heine]

Don, are you making those beautiful bends with a manual tubing bender? Or do you have a hydraulic/pneumatic bender.

I upgraded to a Rigid 38048 1/2" bender designed for stainless steel but I still have kinking issues. Rigid's videos make it look simple but the process just makes me look simple.

 

[don long]

Hi Bob
I have the same bender as you have and I get a bit of kinking if I pull the bend tight. You can see some in the above picture if you look closely

 

[Bob Heine]

The water pump is bolted to a 2x6 so I can grab it in the vice and hold it tight while I work on it without leaving a mark

Brilliant! When I'm polishing an aluminum part I always have to spend extra time at the end to get rid of the vise or clamp marks. I'm going to print that picture and tape it on the wall over my vises so I don't forget. Now where did I put that tape dispenser......

 

[don long]

Yeh Bob
I spent over 1/2 hour staring at that pump trying to decide how to hold it while
I pryed on it to get the pipes off the pump. Then it hit me bolt it to something like it was on the motor

 

[jayoldschool]

Don, there's three different versions of that water pump. Y body (Corvette), F (Camaro), and B (Caprice). One might have the right openings for you! Check the pics on rockauto.com or google images.

 

[don long]

Don, there's three different versions of that water pump. Y body (Corvette), F (Camaro), and B (Caprice). One might have the right openings for you! Check the pics on rockauto.com or google images.

Mine is the (F) body model, and the pump came with the pulley system. I'm trying to route the water hoses to be the least noticable inside the engine compartment

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Don I just saw you in an episode of Extreme Car Hoarders! Pretty cool

 

[don long]

You must be out of the country!
They started showing the series in late July in the UK and my show is set to be the fourth one. The series just started last Monday evening. They posted the time to be 10 PM however they showed it twice that night. once at 6:30 and again at 9PM

I'm quite curious as to what shots stuck and which ones hit the edit floor.

The next show is Monday night 9/14

 

[don long]

We are still working on the Vette but nothing to show just trying to finish up the plumbing, wiring, exhaust, and motor issues before I drop the body down on the frame again

We have started fitting the chrome on the nose and door jambs

 

[1949 caddyman]

Boy you do nice work, don't you sleep?

 

[akdiesel]

Don, are you making those beautiful bends with a manual tubing bender? Or do you have a hydraulic/pneumatic bender.

I upgraded to a Rigid 38048 1/2" bender designed for stainless steel but I still have kinking issues. Rigid's videos make it look simple but the process just makes me look simple.

Bob and Don,
If you are using .035 or thinner wall tubing in 1/2" or larger you can get the kinking results. .049 wall or even better yet .065 wall shows nice clean bends. I use Swagelok tubing. It is a 316 stainless tubing. It can polish up nice and easy enough to remove the wording through out the tubing.

On the original thread topic, the vette is looking good.

 

[don long]

Boy you do nice work, don't you sleep?

Thanks caddyman

This job is causing me many sleepless nights thats for sure!!

Bob and Don,
If you are using .035 or thinner wall tubing in 1/2" or larger you can get the kinking results. .049 wall or even better yet .065 wall shows nice clean bends. I use Swagelok tubing. It is a 316 stainless tubing. It can polish up nice and easy enough to remove the wording through out the tubing.

On the original thread topic, the vette is looking good.

Thanks AK
You posted a picture of my tube bender
Thanks for the tech info

I am stuck on this project at the current time, The motor came without a coil or I removed it when I put the polished pulleys on it and lost it 20 years ago, either way I need one now so I went to O'Reillys and ordered one and got it only to find out that I also needed an ignition control module so I got that but neither piece came with a mounting bracket so on to the internet to find one only to find out that the part I need is not available any longer and this has eaten up all last week.
Tonight I remembered that I have another LT1 motor in the barn so tomorrow I hope to be back in business.

 

[jbmatth]

Don it sounds to me like you need to take a tour of a couple of your local junk yards, I'm sure those brackets will turn up in one somewhere out there.
JB

 

[don long]

Don it sounds to me like you need to take a tour of a couple of your local junk yards, I'm sure those brackets will turn up in one somewhere out there.
JB

Good plan JB

That thought is what made me think of my other motor
I have the part in hand tonite so Monday it's business as usual in the vette garage


Thanks
Don

 

[christopher7390]

MAANNNNN good luck. looking good

 

[don long]

We made a little headway today
we brought the car down from the rotisserie and stuck the body back on the frame.

we checked the steering linkage, the a/c lines under the right fender and the power steering reservoir all fits as planned
and we mounted the rear bumpers on the car

 

[akdiesel]

Oh, that looks so good.

 

[MP&C]

Looks sharp Don!

 

[bonneyman]

Dang that engine compartment looks super smooth!

 

[CNGsaves]

That's some deliciously awesome primer . . . LOVIN the '62 !!
Can only imagine how it will pop with the final paint !!

Keep the pics coming and enjoy the journey.

 

[Leakie]

Nice work Don. I also like the Lincoln in your avatar, sweet ride. Was that all Rick's design or did you have input on that?

 

[cesarbee440]

Awesome project! Thanks for sharing!
I had a 1962 Corvette and sold it to my uncle in 1987,time to find a new project!
You have lots of energy!

 

[dcastine]

This endeavor is nothing short of amazing, you and your buds are extremely talented - SUBSCRIBED!!!

 

[jayoldschool]

Home stretch! Great work, Don. Thanks for the updates.

 

[don long]

Thanks for checking in guys.
I know its been a while since I had much to post about

Leakie
I had no input what so ever on how the Zephyr would be built

I did get to work on the Vette for a while today and cut the holes for my exhaust tips. Next I will be welding some mount brackets to the pipes and the exhaust will be complete

 

[Kevin54]

Don.....I may have missed it somewhere, but is that the same Corvette that was shown on rusted development that you and your wife were leaning on? If so, how long have you owned it, or did you buy it new?

BTW....totally awesome work. I can't wait to see it in paint. I sure hope the tips don't blister the paint like mentioned by another member. If it does, maybe put some polished stainless around the tips?

 

[don long]

Don.....I may have missed it somewhere, but is that the same Corvette that was shown on rusted development that you and your wife were leaning on? If so, how long have you owned it, or did you buy it new?

BTW....totally awesome work. I can't wait to see it in paint. I sure hope the tips don't blister the paint like mentioned by another member. If it does, maybe put some polished stainless around the tips?

Hi Kevin
Yes it is the same car. I dated Ann in that car and we have many great memories from that time in our lives with the Vette.
I bought the car in 1981 with 33,000 miles on her and it was my daily driver until 1996 when the motor gave out.

I'm not too sure about the heat and the F/glass but I plan on putting some heat absorber on the back side of the panel in hopes to lessen the problem
I want to drive the car before I paint it to work out any problems
so paint is down the road a bit

Thanks for checking in this morning Kevin.

Don

 

[sselander]

bump, Don it's been awhile.

 

[don long]

Thanks sselander

Nothing really worthy of posting!!
I have been working on the wiring for way too long and
i think it's close, the doors are in the booth to get the inside areas painted and the exhaust is ceramic coated to look like chrome and I just got them back this week

I will update with pics when I have something to share

Don

 

[Duke55]

Corvette has came a long ways since I was their. Looking good. Have you got the Lincoln out any?

 

[whatme]

mr long: i'am going to make some wheel wells for a drag roadster there is a lot of flat areas ,do they still make a sheet of fiber glass that can be lamaneted to the old glass? if so were can you pick some up in so calif

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Hey Don!

Here is an FYI for you.

Remove and clean the fuel injectors before you do the paint work. They have a real bad habit of sticking after setting a bit. Mine in my tune port, stuck shut in 6 months.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[don long]

Corvette has came a long ways since I was their. Looking good. Have you got the Lincoln out any?

Hi Duke

Yes We think we are on the home stretch with getting the vette running before we dismantle it for paint

The Zephyr has been in 2 different shops getting an engine makeover and more chrome around the windshield and down the sides.
I got it home yesterday and took it to its first show today and came home with a top 10 trophy

mr long: i'am going to make some wheel wells for a drag roadster there is a lot of flat areas ,do they still make a sheet of fiber glass that can be lamaneted to the old glass? if so were can you pick some up in so calif

Hi whatme
Try this place first
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

Hey Don!

Here is an FYI for you.

Remove and clean the fuel injectors before you do the paint work. They have a real bad habit of sticking after setting a bit. Mine in my tune port, stuck shut in 6 months.

Capt. Chrysler

Thanks for the tip Capt

 

[theglassman]

Hey buddy,

The exhaust is immaculate!...it will match the rest of the car perfectly. The car looks great and the Zephyr is sweet.

 

[akdiesel]

don

I missed the pics of the pipes side exit. They turned out great.
I have to say you make my head spin with everything you have going on. Very impressive.