9/2/07 update on '80 frame replacement project

[BarryK]

got the entire rear suspension installed today. The rebuilt trailing arms, half shafts, and strut rods from Van Steel came out GREAT and we got those, the differential, new KYB GR2 shocks, and the Van Steel composite leaf spring installed along with the Muskegon Brakes on the rear.
Muskegon supplied an entire "Super Brake Kit" including the calipers, pads, rear hard lines, front / rear flex hoses, master cylinder, and brake fluid.
we also got one of the #4 body mount cages from the underside of the body swapped out today.

next week we should have the complete front suspension and front brakes installed along with the drive shaft, install the other #4 body mount cage, and a few other items on the body that we need to do. By the end of next Sunday we should have a rolling chassis again and the replacement frame should be off the stands and back on it's own wheels. Hopefully a good day on the following week and we should have the body dropped back on (fingers crossed).

Here are pics from today:
http://www.vetteclub.org/1980_Project/projectpics7.html

 

[navy2kcoupe]

Barry, thanks for the updates and pictures on this project! I really enjoy reading about, and looking at, the progress that you guys are making on the car, and find that I'm getting an education in the process as well. Not only about how a Vette comes apart and goes back together, but what it means to be a member of this great community as well!
Thanks again...........
Andy Anderson

 

[gmjunkie]

Dayyyyyam!!!!

That Looks Fantastic!!!!!Awesome Job Guy's!!!

 

[BarryK]

thanks guys

Andy, it's quite an education for all of us actually. Even the guy on the project that has most of the experience of all of us working on this, while having done most everything on his own two C3's has never done a body off or a frame swap, so we are all learning as we go along.
Seeing how everyone, from our club members helping to wrench, to forum members contributing Paypal donations, vendors donating rebuild services and parts, etc to help this young man out is really great and what the real story behind this project is all about. It started off simply to try to help give this young man a better introduction into the Corvette community that he had been shown by the seller of the car and to get his car on the road and safe, but it's turned into something much greater than that with so much of the Vette community showing support.

 

[Eddie 70]

Sounds like a cool story. Seems like I recall a little about it from a while back. You guys are doing some nice work. Keep it up.

 

[BarryK]

thank Eddie
there is a new thread with the update from the work yesterday - 9/9/07
the car is now a rolling chassis again

 

[AGVI]

Looks awesome so far. You should be driving soon man.