NHvette

Well, time for another installment in the project that seems to creep along.
I'm gonna have to start getting less picky, but for now - I want to make sure
that the underlying body framework is gonna last.

Last time we saw, I had the firewall all ground and washed. I had it sitting
in the livingroom, with the Vermont Castings woodstove assuring a dry
piece.




Starting Friday night, I began by coating all of the metal (steel and aluminum)
with POR-15 (silver). Here are a few shots of the coated areas:











That last picture shows the area that I have roughed up to accept the
polyurethane adhesive that I'm using to help secure the #1 body
reinforcements. Here is a shot of the reinforcement and a couple backing
plates - freshly cleaned, POR-ed and painted.

This is my best McGyver trick in the book for painting small parts:
Take a pre-tied fishing hook (with nylon leader) - and tie it to a few feet
of twine or string. Tie the string to an overhanging structure, and use the
fishhook to hold the piece in the air while painting and drying.




These painted brackets will now be installed. Here are the tools and materials
required:







After a dry-fit of the pieces as shown here:






... I applied a liberal amount of polyurethane adhesive to the mounting surfaces
of both the bracket and the backing plate.




... and installed them with the SS pop rivets. NOTE: The backing plate holes
are close to 3/16 - but slightly larger. The first five rivets pulled through the
backing plate without 'popping'. They are deformed sufficiently to hold the
piece, but on the other side, I found some small washers to back up the
rivets. I had to dig in the old bolt bucket to find a couple that were long
enough to fit through thge new poly body mounts and hold the bracket in
place (down) while the adhesive dries.










I would have gotten more done, but the weather was nice, and I just HAD
to go outside and play with my boys. We made a skiing jump out of snow.
Well - OK - I made it. They watched. The thing is about 5 feet high.
You can check out several pics at :
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/skijumping.htm

Here is some of the action that my little guys (6 and 8) saw:







They were a bit scared at first, but I talked them out of their fear.
Hmmm - any idea why I got the nickname "Danger Dave" ?

Here I am - getting some minor air. (I still may need some dentist work after the landing).



NEXT: Firewall is getting sealed to the WS frame and bonded to the floorboards ... sometime this week.

:seeya


[Modified by NHvette, 3:30 PM 3/10/2003]

77Dream

Wow, vette work and fun in the snow. Sounds like you had a great weekend. I really like the detailed pics, we all learn allot from posts like this.
:cheers:

mpro71vette

Looks good Dave! By the way I have some new parts you may be interested in. Since I bought the steeroids I have stuff I don't need from the VBP plus system. tierods, pitmin arm and some other stuff. If your interested I'll give you first shot cheap. Let me know.

NHvette

I'll get back soon on the parts, Mark. Truth be told, I need a full front suspension
kit - which usually comes with everything but the pitman arm. and PS components.

Did you have power steering ? I may need some of that stuff. Mine worked,
but leaked (even though I rebuilt the ram).

Alwyn678

I am getting red X's

77Dream

Right click on red X and select show picture, I had to do this a couple of times to see. The pics are large and the server they are on isnt very fast so they dont load quick enough, thats why you see the red x.

mpro71vette

Dave, I do have power steering. I'm not sure if it was leaking or not, it may be all the junk that piled up over the years. Your welcome to check it out. When you get to that stage give me a ring! I have been wanting to come up and check out your work but I have been busy on mine. I'v been going full throttle working Saturday and Sundays! The wife isn't to happy but she is understanding! :yesnod: Of course if I had kids I would be out like you and having fun and working on the vette!! :yesnod: :cheers:

NHvette

Sorry all for the Xs. I serve up from home - over my cable connection.
One or two people hooking up - it's OK. When many try at once, it's just too
much to keep up. I only have a 512K connection. :bb
I think - from now on - I'll be posting only 4-5 pictures max (per thread).


[Modified by NHvette, 4:50 PM 3/10/2003]

Avette4me

You're the man Dave - it's really excellent to see it done RIGHT! :cheers:

NHvette

You mean the ski jump, right ? :D
Actually, I put those brackets on all wrong. The factory didn't use adhesive,
as best I can tell from disassembly and the AIM. The factory also used
the aluminum compression rivets, not stainless pop rivets.
So, I did it all wrong, but I think it's gonna turn out all good.

Thanks for all the nice comments. We're gonna get serious later this week. :yesnod:

Avette4me

Actually, the boys were doing the jump correctly. It appeared that you might have been taking the easy way out. :D

79Corvette02

Now all we have to do is wait for the weather to get nicer!

BeachinVette

Dave the car parts stuff was cool,,,, but I really learned from the pics of the boy's ski jumping :lol: What was that sissy thing you were doing? :jester :jester

Great pics all of them Dave. :thumbs:

Bob

NHvette

That's enough Bob. Don't make me tell everyone about your snowboarding adventure.
:D :jester :nono: :lolg:

We need a new icon - little guy bustin' his azz - literally.