swtato

First a little history. This 1978 L82 4spd Pace Car literally fell into my lap 3 years ago. I got it from a girl who's ex husband owed her back child support. The court awarded her his corvette, and I bought it from her at a great price! I have spent the last couple of years rebuilding the entire suspension and other little things that needed to be replaced.

I could have never done this (I probably would have sold the car due to my lack of knowledge and money) with out the help from this forum, but especially without the help from my friends in the Houston C3 Club. Thank god I met them they are a wealth of knowledge and literally helped me do everything on this car.

The motor is running great with only 80k on the clock when I bought it. We got her mechanically fit to drive and she has never let me down or stranded. So I have been enjoying driving it but it really needed paint. It looks good from 20 feet but is embarrassing compared to my buddies Vettes. I have 2 small children and I have never been able to get anywhere near the 6k to 10k (without some emergency draining my fund)it would cost to paint the car a get it back to looking new.

This is where Little Jake steps in. God Bless him and his generosity in the Christmas give away thread. He offered me a paint job, but I did not know it till after the 1st of January so I was really behind on the prep work to get the car ready for Jake.

Jake suggested I start this thread to show where the car was, is and will be. He is going to post progress pics as he paints the car.

So enough of the text and on to the pics!

Day she came home:





Club over to go on a cruise & meets over the years









Starting the stripping after one day of work thanks to the guys help!







As she sits on 2-4-08 ready to go to Little Jakes on the 20th










I can't wait to see what is next!

blue by you

That's alot of work, it helps to have friends. Can't wait to see more pics

spedaleden

Little Jake will do a great job on your car. He is one great member. You have also been very busy. Keep the pics of progress coming.

rayluka

Doesnt the rear bumper normally have a spoiler molded into it? Or is it separate?

GD70

They were separate.

Your moving along quite quickly! Great work!
I'm curious about the yellow primer on the nose. Was there repair work done before? The rest of the primer is grey. Which is the factory primer?
Keep the pics coming!
Glenn

rudolph schenker

Great pics!!! Keep them coming!!

swtato

Yes, I could tell the front had been worked on at sometime due to the fitment of some of the origional nose, and there is a small crack on the fender that will need to be fixed. Frame is straight and never had any issues when redoing the front end or allignment.

Jake suggested leaving the yellow primer so he could see what had been done to the car.

jr9170

spedaleden

How far to litte Jakes shop. That's got to be a pretty good tow.

swtato

About 900 miles. But I will do it to save 7k on paint! Actually, me and a buddy are going to hump it straight from Houston to Nashville. Get in that night, get up early am and drop off the car to Jake. we are then going to head north 60 miles to Bowling Green and do a factory tour and do the museum. Head back to Memphis that night for some BBQ and Beale St. Then the next morning drive to New Orleans and spend Saturday in NO and head back to Houston Sunday. It is a fast trip but we are going to have fun at the same time!

spedaleden

I love a road trip. I tow it too. Again Little Jake is a great guy. I was at his shop last spring and I also went to the factory in Bowling Green. Remember last tour is 1:00PM. Make sure Little Jake post pis of your car and tell him Dennis from Chicago says hello.

swtato

Here are a few road trip pics! Left Houston at 5:30 am on Feb. 21st and arrived in Nashville around 7:30 pm. Had a little bad weather along the way but made it with no problems!

This is right before we left.




Putting her in a bay at LittleJakes shop that night!





For those of you who don't know LitteJake is a Homicide and Robbery Detective for Metro Nashville PD also. Well I called him and he said he would meet us at the shop, so my buddy and I pick up a few cold ones for the short drive over. after 13+ hours on the road we were ready for a cold one. Well as we turn on the road for his shop all of a sudden there are blue flashing lights behind us. I figured it was LittleJake, but my buddy was like Great! all this way now we get busted and we have an open beer! Well sure enough it was Jake and he escorted us to the shop.

Well let the games begin!

ruby76

Sounds like a good time - probably pretty anxious to see her in her new coat of paint. Keep posting pics of the progress.

Belgian1979vette

Swtato,

Nice work, but I have a little request if you would have the time. I would like to know where they drilled the holes for the front spoiler and how it is attached (the side pieces)

Many thanks in advance.

spedaleden

Make sure little Jake posts some pics of the porgress

LittleJake

It was great meeting you guys!

The car is safe and sound in its hole and we are planning on starting on it Monday.

A few buddies of mine came over and we made a road track in our back parking lot, the 78 holds its own pretty good against the other muscle cars we had on site. jk

Im glad you guys made it safe and sound, I had to hit the blue lights seeing how there wasnt any other stripped 78's being towed on the road at that hour hahaha.

Updated pics of the progress to come, I just hope this one doesnt get kidnapped like the 68 ...

swtato

It really likes the dirt track ovals!

vettepilot68

Be afraid...be very afraid...

swtato

I just hope they don't turn it into a Ford like yours! If my car turns out as good as yours I will be in Heaven!

vettepilot68

Hey, let me tell you something...that paint job has been on my car for about a year now and to LJ and crews credit, that paint looks as good as it did the day I picked up the car. I could not be happier with it...after a year, no bubbles, chips, cracks...you will be very happy. ...only smudges where jclgodale3 drools on it