Thread: A new era

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My Vette is back in my garage and my son-in-law has started to tear it apart. So far I have a new front end, radiator and most of the headlight parts that were destroyed.
The front end came from a Corvette junk yard in Van Alstyne,Texas and I believe it will provide more parts and pieces as the rebuild progresses.
I have a couple of nieces and nephews in or around Sherman,Texas and one of my nephews loaded up the front end and brought it to me.IMG_7328.jpgIMG_7330.jpgIMG_7334.jpgIMG_7335.jpgIMG_7336.jpg

Just putting it back together or are there some mods also planned?


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Originally Posted by Mike P

Just putting it back together or are there some mods also planned?


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Just getting it back together is going to be quite a challenge. I had already converted to electric headlights and I believe everything is still there, but the mount is beyond repair. It was going to become a 4 speed car though that no longer is an option. Just getting the sidepipes installed will be a hassle.

At one time you mentioned that you'd given the 'vette to grandson Ian, or maybe that it was earmarked for Ian when you're gone. Is Ian involved with the rebuild?

Originally Posted by rspears

At one time you mentioned that you'd given the 'vette to grandson Ian, or maybe that it was earmarked for Ian when you're gone. Is Ian involved with the rebuild?

Yes, Ian will be involved with the rebuild although it sat in his garage for over a year and nothing was done to the car.
The 66 Mustang, which is his, sat in my backyard for over 4 years and is now in his garage. Much of the sheet metal has to be replaced and now he will have time to work on it., maybe.

My son-in-law, Doug, was over last night and finished removing the remainder of the front end

i cut the tips off old screw drivers . i use them to fit the cap. align it and drill a hole so it locates it when you apply the bond.

Oh my


Bill S.

I'm in the garage most everyday working on something even if it's something small. The shroud is in a couple of pieces and I'm going to try and piece it back together. I don't care how it looks as long as it'd functional.
Shine, if you have any pictures of your screwdriver method could you send them this way?

i lost all my pics a while back. when you prefit the front end use the screwdrivers for alignment pins. so when you bond it things will line up. we all have a drawer full of old screwdrivers. cut the tip off then drill holes when your happy with the fit.
another old trick is to cut strips from the old glass and make spacers . i glue them onto the bond area to align the fender and door.

Originally Posted by shine

....use the screwdrivers for alignment pins.

Ken,
Start with a handful of old screwdrivers with the same size round shaft. Phillips are good to go (unless you want them shorter), but cut the straight blade part off of the others to leave a steel dowel on a handle. Maybe break the edge of the cut a bit to make them easier to insert. Same size shaft means all of your alignment holes are the same drill size.

Originally Posted by shine

i lost all my pics a while back. when you prefit the front end use the screwdrivers for alignment pins. so when you bond it things will line up. we all have a drawer full of old screwdrivers. cut the tip off then drill holes when your happy with the fit.
another old trick is to cut strips from the old glass and make spacers . i glue them onto the bond area to align the fender and door.

Originally Posted by rspears

Ken,
Start with a handful of old screwdrivers with the same size round shaft. Phillips are good to go (unless you want them shorter), but cut the straight blade part off of the others to leave a steel dowel on a handle. Maybe break the edge of the cut a bit to make them easier to insert. Same size shaft means all of your alignment holes are the same drill size.

Thanks guys, what I know about fiberglass repair you could write inside a match book with a grease pencil.

i've done more vette work than anything else. i just avoid the "oh shit" problems. once you start the bond you cant screw around trying to align.
the pins locate it and the spaces set the door gaps. bond it and done.