'78 project car almost done :)

[BarryK]

Well, the AC system has been completely done thru and serviced.
Replaced the accumulator - drier, new o-rings, new tube, evacuated the system, vacuum checked it and refilled it with original R12. It took 4 of the 5 cans I was able to get my hands on so I still have a spare can just in case I need it. The system is blowing nice and cold! Brrrrr.

Finally got the fan shroud issue fixed (thank god, that one was making me pull my hair out!)

Replaced a number of O- Rings and seals on the tranny to stop some drips from there.

the radiator leaking is finally resolved (keeping my fingers crossed).

Windshield wipers are repaired since they quit on me on Monday.

The only thing left is to replace the aftermarket rear speakers that were installed by a PO without the rear speaker grills with the correct 6x9 size and install the rear speaker grills, repair a T-Top headliner that is hanging low in one corner, and get the car painted.

Just under 2 months (I started working on the car March 4th) and I managed to get the car from a non-running, really BAD looking Vette to a car that has had the entire motor/engine bay/front suspension/ frame refinished, carb rebuild, and now running really nice.
Except for the paint job the car looks like it's suppose to look, like a 28 year old car with only 9600 miles on it rather than how she DID look which was a 28 YO car that had been neglected.

I'm still amazed! My first engine pull on a car and not only did everything go back together again but I got her running. Starting this project I had doubts I would even be able to get all the parts back together again!

 

[67HEAVEN]

Let this be a lesson to any timid folks out there. You CAN do it......with the help of the

Well done, Barry.

 

[gmjunkie]

Barry, it ain't no hill for a Stepper!! !

 

[67HEAVEN]

Barry, it ain't no hill a Stepper!! !

Translation? otfl

 

[gmjunkie]

Translation? otfl

Is not a problem for a person that has his Sh*t together!! or ( Sh*t in one Sack!!) There Ain't No Mountain High enough!!:duh I left the (for) out!!

 

[JJS]

Amazing - simply amazing. And I am one of those timid people when it comes to doing work on their own cars.

Great job, Barry.

 

[BarryK]

Thanks everyone for all your kind words!

JJS, believe me, I used to be scared to death to even CONSIDER working on my own cars, let alone to actually do it. If an idiot like me can do it than ANYONE can, especially like Bob says - with the help of the forum.

Take my word for it. The first time I ever put a wrench to a car to do mechanica l work on them was last August and I needed help on that and that was to just replace a fan clutch which is four easy bolts. With the help of all the generous people on the forum I progressed from that to progressively more challenging projects to finally pulling an engine out and all in less than one year.

Hey, what the worst thing that can happen, you break something? So if you do you fix it or replace it and chalk it up to a learning experience and go on.
Between the shop manual, the AIM, and the forum you CAN do it.

Nest week I get to try to learn something else new that I forgot still needs to get done and that's adjust my parking brake. Hey, how bad can I really mess it up considering it doesn't work at all right now.

 

[leeboy66]

You are an inspiration, Barry!!! I just decided to install the true dual exhaust system myself instead of paying my mechanic to do it for me. By the way, what is the "AIM" you referred to in your last post?

 

[67HEAVEN]

You are an inspiration, Barry!!! I just decided to install the true dual exhaust system myself instead of paying my mechanic to do it for me. By the way, what is the "AIM" you referred to in your last post?

Assembly Instruction Manual. Available for most years from various Corvette suppliers. It's a detailed, page by page parts sketch explosion used in the assembly plant by the workers as an aid in assembly.

 

[BarryK]

Leeboy
Heaven beat me to the answer.
The AIM (assembly manual), The NCRS Techincal Information Manual & Judging Guide (TIM&JG), and the Shop manual for your year car are the three books that i consider the absolute basics of a technical library you should have if you are going to work on your car. I first learned about all three and the importance of them as the basic info needed from JohnZ and as ALWAYS he was dead on accurate.

 

[KANE]

...Next week I get to try to learn something else new that I forgot still needs to get done and that's adjust my parking brake. Hey, how bad can I really mess it up considering it doesn't work at all right now.

It was that same sort of thinking that led me to work on my first car at 15!

Your 78 looks great! Seeing your reminds me how much I miss mine-
http://www.geocities.com/chiphihawk/LF_fr_qtr_lights_up.JPG

 

[BarryK]

Thanks Dark

your old car looks great

 

[82ColEd]

Amazing - simply amazing. And I am one of those timid people when it comes to doing work on their own cars.

Great job, Barry.

I'm with JJS.. Barry !!

Although i am not timid to start thinking of taking her apart, when it's time to do it, i usually chicken out. Once i get all my gear together (ie. a car jack, stands :eyerole), i'll look up your old threads and start digging into it..


-Stefan

 

[BarryK]

I'm with JJS.. Barry !!

Although i am not timid to start thinking of taking her apart, when it's time to do it, i usually chicken out. Once i get all my gear together (ie. a car jack, stands :eyerole), i'll look up your old threads and start digging into it..


-Stefan

you should!
believe me, the indimidation factor of never having done something before and not knowing what i was getting into or what to expect was MUCH worst than almost every project or parts of a project that I've done so far.
With only a few exceptions I made myself start, work thru it, and if I ran into problems or got stuck I'd ask questions on here. A few times I had a buddy or two stop by to give me a hand but I made sure that I paid very close attention to what my buddiy did so I could do it myself the next time.
After I finished it was a GREAT feeling of accomplishment know ing i did it myself and it worked rather than just paying someone else to do it for me.

There were a few times that things I thought would be reaslly easy gave me fits and problems, but for the most part things turned out to be much easier than I had worried myself that they would be.

At least for me, the biggest worries beforehand is if I'm not sure how something works or is put together than I'm concerned if i'll be able to figure out how to put it together again after taking it apart but in most cases things become clean and understandable AS you take it apart and make a lot more sense so putting it back together isn't usually a problem afterall so the worries were for nothing.

Ther biggest thing to help you start working on your car yourself my be this: There is little that you can do to break something and VERY little that you can actually manage to break that you can't easily repair or replace if you do so once you realize that it take a lot of the intimidation factor away.

The gradification of accomplishing the work yourself far exceeds what hassles you come across as you are doing it. :

 

[JJS]

Barry, what did it cost you in tools? I mean, I have basics for the house - Allen/socket/crescent wrenches, etc, but did you have to go out and purchase tools specifically for the job (other than the engine hoist(sp?))?

 

[BarryK]

All I had was the basics also which was a very old set of tools I had that had been my fathers. It was screwdrivers, 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" sockets, assorted wrenches, pliers, and some misc others.
These covered the vast majority of what I needed but as I was working on the cars if I needed anything else I would just run out to Sears and pick it up.
Instead of spending a lot of money on a new complete tool "set" I decided to just buy individual tools as I find I need them.
I ended up needing a Ft/Lb and In/Lb torque wrenches, a timing light and vacuum gauge, and just a few other misc small tools. My biggest tool expense so far was "splurging" on a nice tool box to help keep things organized and the tools easier to find and access.
Of course I needed to buy a nice floor jack and jack stands and creeper also.
I looked at it as what I've spent on the tools I needed is still a LOT less than than what I would have spent on paying a "professional" mechanic to work on my car on pretty much ANY of the projects I've done so far. I guess I'm still under $1,000 so far in tool expenditures.

When I needed it, I borrowed an engine hoist and a motor stand from friends

 

[82ColEd]

Thats an excellent list, Barry.
I think i'll go and start there, at least i get rid of my one "excuse", ie. not having the tools i need (the jack and stands specifically). Could you give me a hint as to what floor jack you bought ?

Also: I need to get a dummy question off of my chest (and sorry, we're hijacking your thread): When you want to put the car on stands, where do you place the floor jack ? Under the block, then place the stands? I know where the lift points are in my car, but if i put the floor jack there, i cant put the stands there.. :confused

And, while i think i have mentioned that in the past, let me reiterate: You are an inspiration! (Seriously!) ... (and i'll blame you if the wifey asks why i spend more time in the garage.. )

 

[BarryK]

I got both my jack and my stands at sears.

I went with an aluminum jack for lieghter weight to move around the garage and one with a "quick lift" so it doesn't take as many pumps to lift the car.
This is the jack I got:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...subcat=Lift+Equipment&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

On the jackstands, I went with one that are rated more than I knew i needed but did it for extra safety margin.
I went with the 6-ton stands rather than the 2-ton ot 3.5-ton stands. One of the biggest reasons was that the 6-ton stands have a larger footprint therefore I figured they would be more stable. They are only a very small amount more money than the 3.5-ton stands so for me it was a no-brainer.
One thing that was pounded into me over and over again on the C1/C2 forum when I first started working on my '65 was "ALWAYS THINK SAFETY".
I took that warning VERY seriously so the few extra bucks on the heavier duty stands was well worth it even on the tight budget I'm on.
Here are the 6-ton stands I got: (you will need two sets for 4 stands total.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...al=TOOL&pid=00950150000&subcat=Lift+Equipment

you will also want a creeper and sears has a nice selection you can choose from. .

I jack up my cars by putting the saddle of the jack on the main side rail right next to the tranns cross member. Don't put it on the crossmember itself as you will dent it.
I than jack up the car to get the stands underneath at the lowest setting and carefully lower the car down on them on that side. I use a piece of carper on the top of the stand to keep from scratching the paint on the frame.
Than I do the same on the other side.
Once the car is up on all four stands, than I'll jack the car up again on each side and raise the height of the stands to get the car higher.
I just feel safer doing it this way than jacking the car all the up to maximum height on on side while the other side is still on the ground. It takes an extra 5 minutes this way but it's how I'm comfortable doing it.

I place the rear stands on the main side rail just in front of the rear kick-up area and I place the front stands also under the main side rail just behind where the frame starts to curve inward at the front wheels.
People have different location they like to use but these locations work well for me.

once the car is fully up on the jackstands I push and pull on each side and the front and back of the car to make sure it's nice and stable. I'm about 210-220lbs so I figure if my bodyweight won't make the car fall off the stands than she is stable and safe to go under.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go under your car unless you have stands. I don't care if it's only for 10 seconds, don't get underneath a car that is held up only by the jack. If the jack failed the car will come down fast and there itsn't enough room for you underneath it so you can figure out the results for yourself............
And don't worry about thinking that was a dummy question. Back in Sept in asked the same question myself in the C1/C2 forum.
i'm famous in the C1/C2 forum for some of my threads asking such basic questions a 3yo kids should probably know but I'd rather risk looking like an idiot by having to ask basic questions than not asking and than getting injured or killed by something stupid that could have been avoided by simply asking first.

 

[JJS]

I have that very same (2 ton) jack. It's AWESOME. It's made out of billet aluminum.

 

[82ColEd]

Awesome Barry.. I feel the same way about asking questions, same reasons. Could you point me to the jack again? The link doesnt seem to work for me, and there are a few 2 ton aluminum ones on that page. But i guess most 2+ton jacks will do fine..

I guess, a trip to Sears is in order soon..


-Stefan

PS: I will also wiggle on it, i have a little kid, that might bump into the car to see what Papa is doing down there.. :eek