I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
08-08-2014, 01:30 AM
#1
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Another 1968 Coupe Restoration story,
Where do I begin? It began with my purchase of the car seven years ago. I bought a running and driving 68 Coupe in need of repair. It had the wrong motor in it, the paint was horrible, the interior showing its age, but it had potential and I was hooked.
I made a few modifications and repairs to it righ off the bat, tune up, water pump, tighten a loose bolt or two here and there and then I decided it was time to change the paint. I have a buddy who is a retired Corvette bodyman by trade who offered to do the paint and bodywork. Mine needed plenty of the later. It was a several hit body, some repairs were good, and some were done by bubba. All of it needed to be correct for the car to look good. As I planned on putting in a new motor, I pulled the 396 motor out of it and shipped it off to the paint shop.
My buddy would work on it when he could, he was running a bodyshop at the time and my house was under remodel so I really did not nag him too much about how much time he was taking on it. I was visiting the car five months later and noticed some surface rust on the frame. I asked him the magic words "how much more to pull the body off the frame? He cut me deal and off it came. Just for a goof, he even put in some re-inforcements on the frame to make it a bit stiffer.
I picked up the frame and suspension parts and had them sandblasted and powdercoated. Got them back and sent them to the shop. Now all my suspension was redone and looking good. The body was put back on it and my buddy gets let go from the body shop. He got the car and took it home and began working on it there in his home shop. All it needed was stripping and repair at this time.
He took it down to bare glass and would call me for parts once in a while, but he finally got all the body lines perfect on the car and wanted me to pick out a color. The car was Lemans Blue out of the factory and I was going to keep it blue, just a different blue. I went with Jet Stream Metalic Sky blue after seeing it on an 08 Vette. We took the car to a buddies shop and laid the paint down in his boothe. Color came out better than I hoped, and I finally brought the car back to my garage.
I had a problem with the first replacement engine I got, and got it resolved and got another motor. It had to be rebuilt and I had a local builder I discovered and dropped the motor off a month ago for rebuild. While I was in his shop, I walked into a deal on a set of GM alumium heads for a smoking deal. Motor was rebuilt and broke in and dyno'ed at 482 hp, and 517 ftlbs or torque. Now were talking! I also discovered it is much easier to install a clutch, transmission and starter on an engine when it not in the car.
This Saturday, that engine and transmisson are going into my car. All I have left is some odds and ends engine bay wise, and a complete interior.
But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This website has been a huge help. From parts reference's to installations of various stuff, you guys have been a huge help and I look forward to posting completed pictures of my car when it is all done. Here are some for the moment.
Where do I begin? It began with my purchase of the car seven years ago. I bought a running and driving 68 Coupe in need of repair. It had the wrong motor in it, the paint was horrible, the interior showing its age, but it had potential and I was hooked.
I made a few modifications and repairs to it righ off the bat, tune up, water pump, tighten a loose bolt or two here and there and then I decided it was time to change the paint. I have a buddy who is a retired Corvette bodyman by trade who offered to do the paint and bodywork. Mine needed plenty of the later. It was a several hit body, some repairs were good, and some were done by bubba. All of it needed to be correct for the car to look good. As I planned on putting in a new motor, I pulled the 396 motor out of it and shipped it off to the paint shop.
My buddy would work on it when he could, he was running a bodyshop at the time and my house was under remodel so I really did not nag him too much about how much time he was taking on it. I was visiting the car five months later and noticed some surface rust on the frame. I asked him the magic words "how much more to pull the body off the frame? He cut me deal and off it came. Just for a goof, he even put in some re-inforcements on the frame to make it a bit stiffer.
I picked up the frame and suspension parts and had them sandblasted and powdercoated. Got them back and sent them to the shop. Now all my suspension was redone and looking good. The body was put back on it and my buddy gets let go from the body shop. He got the car and took it home and began working on it there in his home shop. All it needed was stripping and repair at this time.
He took it down to bare glass and would call me for parts once in a while, but he finally got all the body lines perfect on the car and wanted me to pick out a color. The car was Lemans Blue out of the factory and I was going to keep it blue, just a different blue. I went with Jet Stream Metalic Sky blue after seeing it on an 08 Vette. We took the car to a buddies shop and laid the paint down in his boothe. Color came out better than I hoped, and I finally brought the car back to my garage.
I had a problem with the first replacement engine I got, and got it resolved and got another motor. It had to be rebuilt and I had a local builder I discovered and dropped the motor off a month ago for rebuild. While I was in his shop, I walked into a deal on a set of GM alumium heads for a smoking deal. Motor was rebuilt and broke in and dyno'ed at 482 hp, and 517 ftlbs or torque. Now were talking! I also discovered it is much easier to install a clutch, transmission and starter on an engine when it not in the car.
This Saturday, that engine and transmisson are going into my car. All I have left is some odds and ends engine bay wise, and a complete interior.
But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This website has been a huge help. From parts reference's to installations of various stuff, you guys have been a huge help and I look forward to posting completed pictures of my car when it is all done. Here are some for the moment.
08-08-2014, 03:44 AM
#6
Burning Brakes
Liked the story. When you said that he got let go from his job and took the car home....I really did not want this to turn into one of those "it sat at his house without anything getting done for years and years" stories. Happy he kept on chugging along to get the car looking good. Love that color! Can't wait to see some finished pics! 
08-08-2014, 08:38 AM
#7
Interior is going to be black with blue accents. I picked up a set of full power/lumbar ones out of a 97 Vette and modded the frames to fit. Much improved over the stock 68 seats! Have been wire wheeling out the old factory insulation. Run the drill till the battery dies, recharge both it and myself and move on. Next project is Lizzard Skin coat and then dyomat over that. Just nice to be at a point where stuff is starting to go back into the car. My neighbor has been giving me stereo tips on what wires to run prior to putting the carpet in. Oh the light is getting brighter!
08-08-2014, 10:12 AM
#8
Pro
Great to see the progress and car is looking terrific. We have very similar cars. The body repairs to the surround area and back end are almost exactly like mine. When I bought mine about 9 years ago it was sitting under cover and had been up on a trailer for several years. A frame off had been started by the PO, even though it had the original 327 I pulled that and dropped in a 454 I had already built even before I bought the Vette. My current status is: paint complete (Silverston Silver), Dynamat is installed, new wire harnesses installed, center console installed, in the process of installing the dash, then I will finish the carpet (it is laying in now) the door panels and seats. There will be a few other clean up items but like you say, the light at the end of the tunnel is now visible. You can see pics of my project in my profile page if intersted. BTW I love that color blue you picked. It really pops. Congrats on your progress.
Last edited by 68/BB; 08-08-2014 at 10:14 AM.
08-08-2014, 05:09 PM
#9
Drifting
Member Since: Jun 2011
Location: iowa city iowa
Posts: 1,540
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C3 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
It has been a long wait, but it will be worth it. That vette is going to be sweet.
But your body work looks great.
08-09-2014, 08:36 AM
#15
I have no idea, my buddy the bodyman did all the bodywork for me and I went up and helped him on ocasion. Fiberglass mating and lots of sanding and some special filler he told me about, but I cannot remember at this time. I will ask and get back to you.
08-17-2014, 08:45 AM
#19
Race Director
Your car is coming along great! That's a real nice combination you're putting together, a chrome bumper, blue, big block Corvette is certainly one of my favorites.
