SVXr

Okay gentlemen, winter is coming and I would like to know of some projects that I could do for
little $$ while having an effective result. I just bought another Vette so my budget is drained
but I still want to work on the '66. I am getting ready to do the headlights as one doesn't feel like
showing itself (can't blame it, it's old). I was also thinking of putting on a new soft top from Al
Knock. The seats and door panels could be done but that's a little outside my monetary envelope.
All ideas welcome SVXr

firstgear

Inexpensive and Corvette are like oil and water....they are not used together.....

ghostrider20

If need be here are some things that cost little, but are time consuming as all get out.

Detail the frame. For the cost of paint, tape, newspaper, plastic sheets, a wire wheel, cleaners, and tons of time, can be done for around a hundred bucks.

If your engine has a leak, buy the gasket and replace. Oil pans, timing covers, etc.

Pull the trans linkage down, shim and lube.

Adjust the clutch pedal

Take the carb apart and clean it out, service it!

Bleed and change the brake fluid.

Grease all the zerks, then wipe all the excess off.

Replace worn out ball joint rubber covers.

Replace worn out rubber link arm bushings.

Vacuum the car

Wash, wax and detail.

Change the coolant and flush.

Change oil and filter

Lube tack and Speedo cables.

Replace any dash light bulbs that are inop.

Check and make sure all grounding straps are intact, and clean the contacts on them.

Pull the starter off and bench check it, clean and detail it, same with alternator.

Detail engine compartment and engine.

Check your shock bushings, and shocks.

Pull the drive shafts off and balance them.

Check camber rod bushings.

Change diff lube

Change Trans lube

Clean and lube the antennae

Clean bulb sockets and lube with di-electric grease.

Clean grounding contacts under the hood.

Clean contacts on the horn relay.

Clean the contacts on the main cannon plug to the fuse block.

Lube the ignition switch.

Pull the plugs and do a compression test, check the lash, install new plugs, check the wires with a VOM.

Check for frayed or damaged wires under the hood/dash.

Take your tires down and have them balanced.


If you need more ideas, let me know.

SVXr

Wow! that's what I'm looking for. That should pretty much take my winter months away. Thank ya much, SVX

DansYellow66

No kidding. Excellent list though.

Dan

piper

How do you check the plug wires with a( check the wires with a VOM.)
Thank You

crw41

If you have a black interior and would like to buy some decent driver quality parts (not expensive) drop me an e-mail.

PeteZ

Hi Dustin,

Another winter project you may wish to consider would be to remove the steering column for a close examination of the column shaft, upper and lower bearings, turn-signal switch/components, etc. .

Also, check out the clutch and brake pedal linkage push rods, shaft bushings, return springs and rubber bumper, firewall boots, etc. Scrutinize the interface between where the clutch push rod to pedal/pedal pin bracket is fitted. This interface is prone to mechanical wear to the extent of damaging the integrity of same .

Because your health and safety as a driver or passenger is directly related to the dependability and trustworthiness of your 'Vette, these two projects rank very high on any list of tasks to accomplish . IMHO, for peace-of-mind .

With the excellent list provided by ghostrider20 and other suggestions, I hope you enjoy your time and effort to bring back your great 'Vette to like-new condition .

Best Regards,

Pete

Ron Miller

Coupe or convertiblel?

62Jeff

Earlier this year as I got my 65 back on the road for the first time in years, I was checking something under the dash and knocked the clutch push rod off it it's pivot shaft.

1) There was no retaining clip of any sort on it and
2) The pivot shaft was worn > 50% of the way through. I'm very glad I knocked that rod off in the garage instead of having it fall off during a shift on the highway.

Jeff

67L36Driver

The distributor is the most neglected piece of equipment that is easily refurbished for very little cost. You can have a large increase in performance by making it perform up to factory specs.

Disassembly, carefull cleaning and relube on assembly costs very little but affects power and driveablility.

AZDoug

Set the VOM to Ohms.

fiberglas/carbon core wires should have about 1000 ohms per inch of length. So a 24" wire should be 24K ohms or less. Also, visual checks for cracking etc, should be performed.

steel core wires should be essentially zero ohms.

Doug

ghostrider20

VOM stand for "Volt Ohm Meter"

You can buy one at Radio Shack for around 10 bucks.


Mark

ghostrider20

I agree, put this on the top of the list.

Mark

Mike Terry

And when you get that all finished, you can do my car next.

PeteZ

Hey Mark,

I would argue that the wellbeing of the driver, passenger and other cars out on the highways and byways, safety would be more important than anything else .

If a distributer or some other component poops out, the car can be easily pulled over to the side of the road ... maybe only to be towed back to home-base for further analysis.

But, if the steering column shaft or the brake/clutch pedal breaks off, then very serious and immediate affects take control ... often resulting in deleterious consequences and possible loss of life . WHY??? ... because the driver has lost control over his/her vehicle at highway speeds.

My two-bits worth here is to first distinguish the ultimate consideration for 'personal/vehicle safety' in all possible regards from other things that do not compromise the immediate safety of an operator or others within their immediate environment .

Please keep me honest here as my post to this thread is based upon personal opinions that may not be be founded upon current conjecture.

If anything, I always 'err' on the side of complete and total integrity no matter the situation .

Best Regards,

Pete

Paul L

Put one of these (Halotron) on your Christmas Wish List.

http://www.vetteworksonline.com/

SVXr

All great ideas. Check on the fire extinguisher. I got one of those the first day I visited this site
and saw the many horrific pictures of what used to be a Corvette. Check also on the distributor. I
very nice gentleman on this site (forgot his name but thanks ) referred me to a member
who rebuilt and restored it to factory specs. Carb. has been done as has been all the standard
tune-up items. I would like to jump right in on Ghostrider’s list but am now thinking of hitting
the brake and clutch pedal re-conditioning first. It just makes sense. Keep em coming guys, my plan
is to register it next year and actually drive it.

piper

Thank You Doug