1963 SWC Restoration Update

[61 Silver]

After asking for an update from Stuidog on his 61 I realized that I have not provided an update in quite a while my self.



1963 Update:



I received the engine back from the machine shop today. I hope to have everything assembled next week.



The rear suspension has been farmed out. A friend will be rebuilding new trailing arms and differential and I hope to have the rear suspension and drive train back in a couple weeks.



The new frame is complete and I will be picking it up this weekend at Vette Products of Michigan along with the front suspension parts needed.



All metal parts including the front suspension has been sandblasted and primed with PPG DP-90. I hope to be painting all parts with the correct sheen paint next week.



All hard to find original parts have been purchased and are currently being restored.



All chrome parts are at the Chromer and should be done by next month.



I purchased all the new parts needed and had them delivered to Carlisle.



Interior form Al Knock

Exhaust from Allen’s

Radiator and expansion tank from DeWitt's

Numerous small parts from Paragon





All the paint has been removed from the body and all metal parts have been rebuilt or repaired and painted. (Birdcage) I am still waiting for an upper left front roof-bonding strip from Corvette Image. (I had to lift the roof panel and remove this section of bonding strip in order to repair the birdcage) They sent the wrong one (lower windshield). Because I am using a new frame my plans are to mount the body on a completed chassis with drive train and then complete any body repairs and gap alignments. I have purchased Ermine White PPG Duraclyr lacquer. The body will be painted on the frame.



That is about it for now.

Ray

​

 

[1KULC7]

AHHHH flashback :W

Man does this brink back the memories.......go for it....

 

[IH2LOSE]

Looks like you have all of your ducks in a row, should be back together in no time

 

[67HEAVEN]

Looks like you have all of your ducks in a row, should be back together in no time

What Larry said.

 

[Z28Canuck]

Incredible! You guys with your organization and planning on such a huge amount of parts never ceases to amaze me. I can appreciate more than ever that you guys need check off lists to co ordinate the assemblies and so much foresight at the very beginning just to be able to do these restorations on such a scale. Fantastic Ray .Thanks for the pics and please keep the updates coming, we love it!

 

[BarryK]

wow Ray, are you going for a new speed record for an NCRS body-off restoration?

Sounds like great progress so far. I love all the parts hanging up ready to go back on

 

[studiog]

Ray, I was going to ask you for an update but felt guilty as I was due for an update myself

You are making great progress and the project is moving along at a fast pace. I know it is because you are very organized and working efficiently and not because you are rushing. It seems that the closer I get to finishing my 61 the less organized I am becomming. Keep up the great work and do keep us posted, I really enjoy your updates and photos.

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Cool..... Looks Like your rocken..!!!


One Question...??? I notice in the pic with the body on the doly... That the nose is not supported......:ugh . I see that the Rad support is not bolted in which is where you would lift to support the nose.

When I had my body off I was cautioned to make sure the nose was supported correctly.....To prevent the Drooping Pee Pee Syndrone.....:L

 

[61 Silver]

Cool..... Looks Like your rocken..!!!


One Question...??? I notice in the pic with the body on the doly... That the nose is not supported......:ugh . I see that the Rad support is not bolted in which is where you would lift to support the nose.

When I had my body off I was cautioned to make sure the nose was supported correctly.....To prevent the Drooping Pee Pee Syndrone.....:L

Viet Nam Vett
I just removed the core support the other day to sandblast and applied DP-90. The coupe seems to have greater rigidity than a roadster and I do keep an eye on it. I plan on painting the core support (I am waiting for the black catalyzed urethane and the flattening agent), hi-build primer in the engine bay area and then black out. I will then re-install the core support and block it to the dolly.



Wow you really can spot the small details. I hope you never judge my car when it is done!



Ray

 

[61 Silver]

Ray, I was going to ask you for an update but felt guilty as I was due for an update myself

You are making great progress and the project is moving along at a fast pace. I know it is because you are very organized and working efficiently and not because you are rushing. It seems that the closer I get to finishing my 61 the less organized I am becomming. Keep up the great work and do keep us posted, I really enjoy your updates and photos.

Hi! Studiog



I can really crank during the summer months, but the work will slow down now that I am back to work. I can't wait to view your 61; I have a soft spot for that year. We need to plan an outing for next spring.



Ray

 

[61 Silver]

wow Ray, are you going for a new speed record for an NCRS body-off restoration?

Sounds like great progress so far. I love all the parts hanging up ready to go back on

Hi! Barry



Actually I think it will take about one year to complete the 63. If I don’t get it painted before the cold weather sets in I will have to wait until spring and that will put me behind my intended completion date. After you have done a couple of body offs you sort of know where the parts go and what order to work on them. One of the problems that slowed me down in the past was out sourcing of some of the work and back orders. I now order parts in advance of when needed and I have learned what vendors to trust. Some times you save a nickel but loose a month.



Thanks for the email on the 62



Ray

 

[IH2LOSE]

Ray your use of the wall space is very clever, whats better then a list is the visual of being able to see the parts all there.


I have to start working on a garage at my house

 

[67HEAVEN]

I have to start working on a garage at my house

Okay. How many Larrys are there? You're working on the '62. You're starting back on the '66. You're running a business. You spend lots of time with your wife and kids. Now, you want to start on the garage.

Man, Larry, you're a human....

buzzsaw!!!

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Viet Nam Vett
I just removed the core support the other day to sandblast and applied DP-90. The coupe seems to have greater rigidity than a roadster and I do keep an eye on it. I plan on painting the core support (I am waiting for the black catalyzed urethane and the flattening agent), hi-build primer in the engine bay area and then black out. I will then re-install the core support and block it to the dolly.



Wow you really can spot the small details. I hope you never judge my car when it is done!



Ray

I had to remove my rad core when my Coupe body was on a metal dolly due to a broken Radiator bracket at the bottom. It was only out of the car for about 3 hours and when I went to reinstall it...the nose was 3/4 of an inch away from the mounting holes in the side fendor wells. This was with the radiator support returned to the metal dolly front support bolts.

The Nose had drifted down from it's own weight. I put some heavey carpet under the parking lamp boss's and a long ..2X4 across both boss's and had to floor jack the nose back up to align the holes.

That scared me...!!!

My point.......??? Better put some support under the nose now to prevnt any stress on the back end of the clip...I'm not an expert but the only thing holding the nose on is the bonding area's near and around the birdcage. You don't want to crack any glass.....

Maybe one of our experts could jump in here and comment on this subject...

 

[IH2LOSE]

Okay. How many Larrys are there? You're working on the '62. You're starting back on the '66. You're running a business. You spend lots of time with your wife and kids. Now, you want to start on the garage.

Man, Larry, you're a human....

buzzsaw!!!

Bob I said it before I cant sit still,

You should have seen me when I was younger. My doctor says I didnt brake my knees I just wore them out.When I was sitting under your tent in carlilse that was probably the most I sat all weekend.And Icant explain how relaxed I actually was.

We will all have an eternity to rest,for now make the most out of every day,as stephin wolf say in another post

"BTW work, or additional projects will never kill us. Sitting around on our hands with nothing to do, will take care of that. This is why I plan on doing this till I drop."

Ray is a good example.It seems he was just dicussing the completion on the other midyear he just painted and he is into a new car already.

We only go around once,It funney but another fellow on this forum some where has a motto saying something like when he hits the finish line he want to come skidding in totally spent ,thats not excactly what it said but what I understand it as.

As I said I am afraid to sit still as old age will catch up to me

 

[67HEAVEN]

I know exactly what you mean, Larry. I just heard about a full-size '67 in fairly good shape that's for sale about 30 miles north of here.

 

[61 Silver]

Viet Nam Vett

The nose is now supported!

Thanks Ray

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Viet Nam Vett

The nose is now supported!

Thanks Ray

Cool...Better Safe Then sorry.................

 

[61 Silver]

IH2LOSE

I will have to meet you at Carlisle some day. We could walk the fair grounds in search of anything Corvette; I spend most of my time searching for that elusive part or the next project. My wife was happy that we parked our 61 with the Solid Axel Club so she could sit and read a book while I was hunting for the part. I believe in education that would label us as ADD.



About 10 years ago before I was back into the Corvette hobby I moved a Circa 1825 house 6 miles and restored it back to it's 1825 condition including three fireplaces, Corvette restoration seems like a much smaller project compared to the house project.






Ray

 

[studiog]

IH2LOSE

I will have to meet you at Carlisle some day. We could walk the fair grounds in search of anything Corvette; I spend most of my time searching for that elusive part or the next project. My wife was happy that we parked our 61 with the Solid Axel Club so she could sit and read a book while I was hunting for the part. I believe in education that would label us as ADD.



About 10 years ago before I was back into the Corvette hobby I moved a Circa 1825 house 6 miles and restored it back to it's 1825 condition including three fireplaces, Corvette restoration seems like a much smaller project compared to the house project.








Ray

You guys that were recorded at 33 1/3 and played back at 78 drive me nuts! I can barely keep my one project going never mind 2 or 3 as some of you are doing.