Body is off!

[61 Silver]

The body is now off the 63.

 

[Vette66AirCoupe]

Let the games begin!

 

[Z28Canuck]

Did the body lift go smoothly? Good luck with your restoration and please keep the pics coming as you progress, we all enjoy them.

 

[Fuelie]

Ray,

Glad to see you have it all seperated. Now the real fun begins and before you know it you will be showing us pics of the chassis all ready to go. Keep all the pics and info coming, we love it!

BTW what is the fan / evacuation setup on top of your blasting cabinet?

Take care,
Brian

 

[BarryK]

Hi Ray

looks good on the body lift.
shouldn't take you more than a week or so to get it all redone and ready for the body drop back on her right?


how is the paint coming on the '65?

Barry

 

[61 Silver]

63 body lift

Z28 Cannuc,



The lift went very well. This is my third body off restoration and I gain a little more knowledge after each one. I only had a senior moment once during this lift. I had checked off that all body mount bolts were removed, but forgot the two at the kick-ups. After a couple of minutes of rechecking my work and then removing the bolts the body came off very easily; the two post lift really helped.



Fuelie,



I made the sandblast cabinet as a welding learning project. The fan on top of the cabinet was an exhaust removal fan that was being thrown away. I applied it to the top of the cabinet and it exhaust the dust to the out side of the shop, Works great! Trash for some was gold to others. I also cut a hole in the side of the cabinet and made a long canvas sock or tube. This allows me to sandblast long parts like springs and other items.



Barry,



The 65 should be painted tomorrow. All minor body touch-up and repairs are completed and the last coat of primer/sealer was applied Wednesday. Body looks great. I can't wait to see the finial product after months of work. I have been following your post on selecting the correct paint color (shade) for you car. Since I have chosen to use base coat/clear coat on this re-paint and it will not meet NCRS standards, I have decided to error on the darker side of the Glen Green. I seen a darker shade Gleen Green 65 at Carlisle a few year back and it was stunning with the saddle interior. Good luck with your paint project.



Ray

 

[Fuelie]

Thanks for the info on the cabinet Ray. That is a neat project for welding class, you did a great job. I will look around for a used fan set-o-up like that, as I have been using a shop vac for now.

I really like the idea of the canvas sock for larger items. My old blaster was over 4 feet wide and everything fit in it, the one I have now is only about 3 feet.

Take care,
Brian

 

[BarryK]

Barry
The 65 should be painted tomorrow. All minor body touch-up and repairs are completed and the last coat of primer/sealer was applied Wednesday. Body looks great. I can't wait to see the finial product after months of work. I have been following your post on selecting the correct paint color (shade) for you car. Since I have chosen to use base coat/clear coat on this re-paint and it will not meet NCRS standards, I have decided to error on the darker side of the Glen Green. I seen a darker shade Gleen Green 65 at Carlisle a few year back and it was stunning with the saddle interior. Good luck with your paint project.

Ray, your car should look great. I really like the Glen Green and the saddle interior is a really nice combination. The lighter saddle color really helps to contrast against the green.
Good luck with the painting tomorrow

Barry

 

[IH2LOSE]

NO TURNING BACK NOW



Best of luck and remember to have fun

 

[John Mcgraw]

Ray,
Don't you ever take a break between projects? I know, look who is talking!


Regards, John McGraw

 

[61 Silver]

Hi! John



I have been hooked on Corvettes for over 37 years and like working on them almost as much as driving them, almost. I learn more about Corvettes, with help from people like your self, John Z. and others on every project. I hope to meet and thank all of you at one of the future car shows.



John, how many projects are you currently working on?



Ray

 

[studiog]

Ray, Congrats on the milestone of body removal on the 63. You guys with multiple major projects going make my head spin. After I finish the 61 I am going to have to get myself a better "shop" setup before I start another Vette project. A 63 project is seeming more and more interesting all the time. What color are you going to paint the 63?

 

[Z28Canuck]

The accumulated experiences and various info from other restorers doing their projects helps everyone but especially helps the guy that's just about to tackle his first total restoration. The start of these projects must sometimes feel overwhelming when the amount of work required is much larger than anticipated or hoped for. The trials and tribulations you guys have been through... you could probably write a few books I imagine. Thanks for displaying your pics, we all enjoy following these projects and learning from you guys as you go. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience and good luck with your "latest" project. May everything go smoothly for you or at least as smooth as a restoration can go! . Please keep the pics coming as you continue so we can continue to enjoy this with you.
Doug

 

[John Mcgraw]

Ray,
I am only working on 2 projects right now, the 59 and a 65 convertible. They are both tube frame modernizations with LS1 and LS2 engines. I am looking for the right 58-60 car to do another NCRS judged car, but have not found the right candidate yet. I have been off my feet for a while after surgery, but should be able to hobble back out to the shop before too many more days go by! Once I get back into the saddle, the 59 should only take another couple of weeks to finish up. The chassis for the 65 went on the jig today to start welding up, so I should see it within the next 2 weeks. I am looking forward to putting some miles on the 59 this summer, and hope to go to Carlisle with it.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[Gary Jaynes]

John

Didn't know you had surgery. Hope everything is OK now. Take your time easing back into the shop. I know you can't stand not being out there, but give yourself plenty of time to heal.

I am interested in seeing the '59 finished. I am wantng to hear your input on the performance and handling of the car.

What kind of NCRS project are you looking for?

Gary

 

[61 Silver]

Hi! John



Sorry to hear about your surgery, that explains why we have seen any updated photos of your projects. I hope everything is OK and you are back to work soon. Maybe a few of us can meet at Carlisle PA in August.



Hi! Studiog



The 63 is a matching number original white with black interior 340HP car. The main reason that I purchased it was that 98 % of the original parts were still with the car and it had the higher HP engine. I hope to restore this to NCRS or as it left the factory standards. My wife is already after me to sell the 65 and buy another solid axel with an automatic transmission. So if anyone runs across a solid axel project please post. I am Looking forward to seeing more pictures of your 61. How is the progress on the 61 coming and will you have it ready for Carlisle in August?



Ray

 

[studiog]

Ray,
I am only working on 2 projects right now, the 59 and a 65 convertible. They are both tube frame modernizations with LS1 and LS2 engines. I am looking for the right 58-60 car to do another NCRS judged car, but have not found the right candidate yet. I have been off my feet for a while after surgery, but should be able to hobble back out to the shop before too many more days go by! Once I get back into the saddle, the 59 should only take another couple of weeks to finish up. The chassis for the 65 went on the jig today to start welding up, so I should see it within the next 2 weeks. I am looking forward to putting some miles on the 59 this summer, and hope to go to Carlisle with it.

Regards, John McGraw

John, Just want to wish you a speedy recovery. Take it slow and steady. I'm sure you'll be back up to full speed soon. Working on your Vettes will be that much sweeter once your recovery is complete.

 

[studiog]

Hi! John



Sorry to hear about your surgery, that explains why we have seen any updated photos of your projects. I hope everything is OK and you are back to work soon. Maybe a few of us can meet at Carlisle PA in August.



Hi! Studiog



The 63 is a matching number original white with black interior 340HP car. The main reason that I purchased it was that 98 % of the original parts were still with the car and it had the higher HP engine. I hope to restore this to NCRS or as it left the factory standards. My wife is already after me to sell the 65 and buy another solid axel with an automatic transmission. So if anyone runs across a solid axel project please post. I am Looking forward to seeing more pictures of your 61. How is the progress on the 61 coming and will you have it ready for Carlisle in August?



Ray

I'm really pushing for Carlisle. Hope I make it. I really want to meet all you people from the forum who have helped me so much over the past year or so.
I need to take some more photos and post them. The 61 is really starting to look like something now. Interior is my next focus. I am still finishing up bumpers and trim right now but so much stuff is on backorder I have to keep jumping around to different sub projects. It is really slowing me down. NCRS for the SWC, now I get it. It should go pretty smooth with such a complete car. I'll let you know if I spot a good solid axle project

 

[John Mcgraw]

Thanks guys,

I hope to back up to speed in short order. I have been living with the pain for the last 5 years, and finally just could not stand it anymore. I shattered both my ankles in a construction accident, and they just never got right again. There is no guarantee that this will allow me to walk relatively pain free, but the next stop is total joint repalcement, so it is worth a try!
The 59 is getting close to being done, and I should see the chassis for the 65 week after next. I got a nice low-milage D44 rear end, and a 2003 Corvette front suspension for it, and hope to have an LS2 and a trans for it by next week. The 59 is down to bolting on the bumpers and trim, and making one more pass through the upholstery shop to have the carpet installed.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[61 Silver]

The drive train is removed

Yesterday was a very long day in the shop but the drive train is now out of the 1963:

Now to clean the shop!

Ray