78Vette-SA

As a follow-up to my previous thread on the chassis and engine, I started to tear the body down today and remove it. It took about 7 hours to get the body off. That was using a sawzall and a sharp razor for anything that was in the way and not ever going to be reused (hoses belts, exhaust, rusted bolts, etc).

The chassis and engine will be parted out (see parts for sale). Everything that will be used will be cleaned or sandblasted and painted or powdercoated. The rear storage and battery compartment removed and the rear wheelwells will be tubbed. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to get this thing ready for paint and to installed on the chassis.

Related Links:

C5 Seat Install - Wiring

SRIII Chassis Arrival and prep

Chassis and Engine Assembly
-------

When found:



After media blasting:



The bottom after sitting in mud for a while:



Ripping it apart:







What do you think about using a midyear dash with the C5 sports seats? Would take some doing to fabricate some mounts and convert the speedo and tach to electrical. I bought the dash at Carlisle for $40 just to see if it would fit. Bottom line, it can be done but I'm still not convinced about doing it.





Final resting place:



Complete Picture Journal:

Durango_Boy

I like the dash and seat combo for that C3. Very good look integrating the C2 dash and C5 seats. I can't wait to see what transpires from here so keep the pics and progress coming.

chevy69

That chassis set up is awesome!!!

chevy69

Forgot to ask: What kind of media and how did it come out? Many horror stories I've read about this over the past year and a half.

litevette

If you don't end up convinced on that dash, this dash may look good in a there!

I'm Batman

The C2 dash looks at home in there.

PatsLs1vette

i like the c2 dash go for it.

Jims79

awesome project nice C3 resque. I like th C5 seats but not w/the C2 dash. I would keep the project one or the other. How about digital dash. that's my 02cents keep up the fine job.

Glassbowtie77

I think that combo should look really good, I personally like C5 seats in our cars. The C2 dash is certainly different, never saw one in a C3 but I think it should look very cool with the C5 seats, certainly unique that's for sure.

84rzv500r

I'm not to impressed with the upper a-arm mounts on that tube frame...

The rest is really Really REALLY nice..

78Vette-SA

Won't argue that one. The C5 setup is slicker but I had the C4 suspension so that's what I had it configured for.

LiteVette - Love the dash. Good work. Have seen your pics before. I'm still torn on which way to go. More so because I want to ge tthis done relatively quickly and the cost of the conversion is probably around $3k in parts alone (Steering, Glove Box, Gauge Conversion, Fabrication, etc.).


Chevy69 - We used Plastic Media to blast the car. This is the 3rd one I've done and I wouldn't do it any other way. Note though that I would not do it with the Engine or interior in the car. There is little doubt that it makes a BIG mess and takes a lot of cleaning to get it all out. It will be coming out of cracks and crevices for a long time. With my 63 we had the engine out and wrapped the frame in plastic. Everything was out of the body including dash and heater box. I did this one the way I did because I new I was just going to use the body and rip it apart afterwards anyway.

Put the body on the "dolly" yesterday. Now the fun begins of cleaning and painting all the trim and the modifications necessary for the chassis.

69camfrk

What he said! Man, that is killer!

Glenn"Mr.Blue"Smith

about using the C2 dash..
One point to make. BRACE the nose with a support down to the dolly. That's a lot of weight trying to 'bend' the glass down in the front now that the supports are gone. Glenn

litevette

Thanks for the compliment. I only showed that to you as an alternative. I'm in agreeance with others here that the C2 dash would look killer. I think people will look into your car and say "Woah" once they realize what they are looking at. I'm all for modifications that are off the "norm", but that are done well (see Glenn's car). By the looks of what you have done so far (Chassis & motor), you're going to have a show winner there when you get done. Please continue to post the pics as you progress.
P.S. I hope you'll run it at the strip a few times, I'm curious to see how fast it'll be!!!

stingraymaniac

that c2 dash looks great in there,and with some autometer gauges it will be

78Vette-SA

Anyone know where these go?



Or this stuff?



Firewall ready for cleaning, smoothing, prepping, and painting.

I'm Batman

Put a spreader bar across there and it would be more than strong enough.

SILVERSIXX

Good job Joe.

my72vette454

Subscribing

Durango_Boy

Ebay. Or save it for the Christmas give-away time here.