mtcraigco

Howdy all

I know its been a while (like a year) since I have been active here but as is the case sometime, life threw a couple curves and my 79 project stalled out.

I almost sold it off for whatever I could get but just could not take the beating. So I got some help to get it moving forward again and am back at it.

I am sooo glad I decided to get back to it and finish her, I get more stoked by the day. The plan is still to go vette-rod with it and the HO454/ZZ502 hybrid is on the engine stand waiting to go in!


Hoping for a spring shake out run and will be posting project updates as I go along.

Thanks to all those who helped me make so many decision and offered so much help when I started this project, looking forward to lots more great conversations!

dbeall1968

Hey, a restart is better than a quit any day. Keep us posted, and good luck with the project

mtcraigco

Update:

Now that things are underway again, I thought I might bring folks up to speed. I'm not big on lengthy descriptions so a few words and lots of pics should do!

The car, a fairly well cared for but very worn 79 L48, bought from my Aunt.


Out with the old.........





The pit crew...



Interior had to go too.



So that's the tear down recap, on with the current stuff!

Alan 71

Hi mtc,
Well this looks pretty promising.
A PLAN and HELP!!!!
That's about as good as it gets.
Regards,
Alan

ZoraC3

The car looks like a solid foundation. Looks good enough for may people to drive and enjoy. The Big Block will be awesome.

It is great to see you have help. And girls, no less

It is always fun to work in the garage and make progress. Keep us updated with pictures!

mtcraigco

The rebuild calls fro a fresh interior, HO454/ZZ502 hybrid BB transplant with a Bowtie Overdrives 765r4 and some other stuff....

Steeroids Rack and Pinion, I went with a manual rack to save weight and plumbing hassles




The rest of the suspension had already been upgraded with what looks like the standard Corvette Central/Ecklers kit with bigger sway bars, mono rear spring etc. A polyurethane bushing kit and new shocks will round that out.


Interior calls for two tone door panels and seats, changing over to black and tan from the "white and grime" colors she was wearing.



Nasty old dash...





Elbow grease and quality vinyl dye yields a very passable reconditioning




ON to the motor.....

eastltd

Good looking project and great looking pit crew!

I bet they are easier on the beer fridge

mtcraigco

Short block from Scoggin Dickey.
HO454 with zz502 cam degreed straight up



zz502 Heads purchased from a member here.....add crane roller rockers and bolt 'em on!



Edelbrock RPM air gap intake, water pump etc, she's ready to drop in.....




In and on the mounts with some nice billet stuff from March, cost just a bit more than fdning all the original parts and looks waayyy better! (remember, this is a vette-rod, not a resto )




Add a Holley 750 vac secondary from same member heads are from, fresh off a zz502, start figuring out fuel lines and such....



Stock hood is never gonna clear that! Time to order a 4 inch cowl from Jegs and do some body work! LOL!



Wrapping headers in preparation for mock up and exhaust routing....



OK, that's where it is now. I'll keep the thread going as the project comes along.

Thanks fer lookin'

mtcraigco

Thanks for the replies and comments, yeah its awesome to have my girls involved. They aren't there every time, but they are in it more than lots of kids, especially the younger one.
She already knows more about cars than alot of grown men.

She has been buggin me BAD for a bracket car!
(Yes, she'll get one, next year prolly..... shes not 16 yet and has some wheel time to put in first)

CorvetteMike2024

Suscribed it. Nice build.

Mike

rudolph schenker

Very nice !!

GPGG70

Glad you didnt drop back 10 yards and punt the vette. I've enjoyed the work your doing in this thread. That engine is a Hoss. Going to watch this for sure.

mtcraigco

Update:

I fixed the broken links from where I moved some photobucket files around

Ill be adding some new pics soon, the project has taken a turn toward the road racer/L88 flavor as I'll be driving it in the Cannonball run in Sept!



Stay tuned as the project has now taken on some urgency.



PS THanks to Gkull for some recent wheel/tire advice, it is appreciated.

corvettdreamin

Gotta love that name, Scoggin Dickey..
I'm staying tuned, this is gunna be good..

mtcraigco

Sorry to be so long but it's been busy, heres an update

Just a few little things left to do and then she get's fired up for the first time







Billet alternator, AC compressor pulley








Trans cooler and Be Cool 4 core alum rad with twin spals





More in next post

mtcraigco

Sound n heat barrier ( from a vendor here, cant recall off hand)





Vintage Air AC/Heat unit installed





B&M ratchet shifter installed, floor had to be notched and lowered to get correct geometry





Cool suspension stuf next!!

mtcraigco

Sharkbite rear end and Duntov bulletproof diff installed





Vintage Wheel Works 17" wheels and massive rubber front and rear (Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's all around $$ouch!$$)



Rears




Fronts





upcoming stuff next post

mtcraigco

Seat buckets and cushions ready to go waiting till after after body work, no sense gettin it all dirty





And a new front bumper without those stupid rubber bumper guards, a nasty front spoiler, and some L88 flares to cover all that rubber!






If all goes well, we'll fire it up next week and shake it down for leaks or other major issues and then on to the flat bed and off to the body shop!!

Stay tuned, more to come :-)

UberLegend

I can respect this build.

wan2run

Awesome work! Consider me subscribed...