Hey IH2LOSE

John Mcgraw · Mar 23, 2004

Larry,
I have been working so much on my car that I have not been really paying attention to the boards. Have you ever found a C1 car to resto-rod?
Regards, John McGraw

IH2LOSE · Mar 24, 2004

NO

I have been searching high and low.I have followed up on so many bad leads its increadable. I even took a 5 hr run to see an ebay car that ended up having major problems with the title /vin number. and lost a bearing on my trailer on the way home.I actually had to remove the tire and strap up the axel to limp home.

I spent the week end at the atlantic city auction and got rear ended on the way home.

I also was chasing a local fellow who was going to sell me his car and every time I went to pick it up for one reason or another he canceles the appointment.

My wife keeps saying the right car will come along and fall into my lap and I should have more paitence.

I have found plenty of 58 thru 60's and plenty of 63 thru 65's affordable project's cars but I really want a 61/62.

Thank you so much for thinking of me.I had so wanted to ave the car done by now.

I have never had so much trouble trying to spend money.

How are you coming along

Thanks for asking

John Mcgraw · Mar 24, 2004

I will still keep my eyes open for one for you! I also, have seen several 58-60 cars with rotted frames and incorrect engines that would have been good candidates, but have seen no 61-62 cars that weren't pretty complete and correct.

I have almost finished all the body work on the car and should have it completely primed by the end of this next weekend. I glassed up all penetrations in the firewall including most of the wiring holes, the heater hole, and the wiper motor hole. The firewall is looking real slick! There was a fair ammount of damage to repair as well as modifications necessary to clear suspension components and the new seats. Wise Guys finally got the seats done and they really give the look and feel of the original seats. They modified the seat frame and foam of their standard street rod seat to give the shelf at the top of the seat back so you can not see behind the seat like an original.
The exhaust pipes finally came back from stainless works and I will try to get them fitted and welded in the next week or two. after they are all welded, I will pull them back off and polish them to a mirror finish. The wiper system, power windows, air conditioner and many other parts came in this last week, so I should not run out of things to do. I will try to get some progress pics posted in the next few days.
It is becoming painfully apparent that I will not have the car ready to go on the Hot Rod Power Tour in June, but it will be done when it is done! If only I didn't have to work for a living.
Regards, John McGraw

studiog · Mar 24, 2004

John Mcgraw said:
I will still keep my eyes open for one for you! I also, have seen several 58-60 cars with rotted frames and incorrect engines that would have been good candidates, but have seen no 61-62 cars that weren't pretty complete and correct.

I have almost finished all the body work on the car and should have it completely primed by the end of this next weekend. I glassed up all penetrations in the firewall including most of the wiring holes, the heater hole, and the wiper motor hole. The firewall is looking real slick! There was a fair ammount of damage to repair as well as modifications necessary to clear suspension components and the new seats. Wise Guys finally got the seats done and they really give the look and feel of the original seats. They modified the seat frame and foam of their standard street rod seat to give the shelf at the top of the seat back so you can not see behind the seat like an original.
The exhaust pipes finally came back from stainless works and I will try to get them fitted and welded in the next week or two. after they are all welded, I will pull them back off and polish them to a mirror finish. The wiper system, power windows, air conditioner and many other parts came in this last week, so I should not run out of things to do. I will try to get some progress pics posted in the next few days.
It is becoming painfully apparent that I will not have the car ready to go on the Hot Rod Power Tour in June, but it will be done when it is done! If only I didn't have to work for a living.
Regards, John McGraw

Hey John,
I would love to see pics of your recent progess too! Looking forward to it.

IH2LOSE · Mar 25, 2004

Sound like your doing great

Did you always plan on using wise guys for the seats?
I had never even thought of them for my car.A freind use's them and loves dealing with them.As he always tells me "you get what you pay for".They can also install 3 point harness as part of a seats package. Are you going to use the elcectric seat?

The quaility of there leather is secound to NONE excellent choice

What are tou going to do with the wiring harness are you going to build a custome one or work with the orginal.

Me or my partner may have to be out in dallas/fort worth texas for buisness from may 5th to the 9th are you close to there?

Sorry you cant make the power tour.We know 2 couples that did the power tour and said its a life time memeory and meet alot of great people and some great engineered cars.

The one gental man explained of the power tour.

That we have hot rods,street rods.pro street,muscle cars,ect ect. there needs to be a new name for the cars on the power tour called
POWER TOURING He was explaing the cars are porpousely built to tour,
Good gas milage,tall gears, powerfull motors,over drive trans,a/c, cruise control. just built to run the roads all day.

Best of luck with your continued sucess on your car.

IH2LOSE · Mar 25, 2004

When you post a picture link on this site using the INSERT IMAGE ICON you dont need to insert the extra brakets Highlighted in red

Thanks again for sharing.

Email me your favorite photo and Ill get it posted for you.

John Mcgraw · Mar 25, 2004

I started out knowing that I wanted to use something different than the original seats, but had a hard time finding someone who would build a seat that works in a C1 due to the unusual design of the seat back. All the seats on the market had a straight-up back on them and the look would have been odd. You would have been able to see behind the seat when looking from above and that was not the look I wanted. I contacted all the major street rod seat makers like Glide Engineering, Tea's design, and Wise Guys and no one was interested in making a seat for this application. I had about given up when a friend over in Seguin Tx, decided to buy a set of Wise Guys seats and modify them himself. He was so pleased with the final product that he sent them back to Wise Guys to look at and asked them if they would modify their basic seat to match his. It took them several months to get around to it, but now they have the product in their lineup of seats.

I did not opt for the power seat, as this would be almost usless for me in a C1 since I drive with the seat all the way back. They do have the standard cable-operated tilt setup, and I did not opt to have them cover them. I wanted my local upholstery shop do the entire job from start to finish so that all the leather matched on the doors, seats and dash.

I have been thinking about whether there is any real advantage to using an original-style harness and I think that I would be better off with a completely built from scratch harness for both the body and the engine. I think that trying to modify an existing harness would be more troublre than it is worth.

I am about 2.5 hours straight south of Dallas on 35, so yes, I am pretty close to dallas by Texas standards. You are allways welcome to stop by and visit anytime you are in the area. Just drop me an Email.

I have not completely written off the Power Tour, but it is looking less likely by the day! You know how it is, You allways under-budget both time and money on any such project.

That pic link is in my signature and is a pic of my old 60 that no longer resides at that location. I have just been to lazy to remove it from my sig.

Regards, John McGraw

IH2LOSE · Mar 25, 2004

I am about 2.5 hours straight south of Dallas on 35, so yes, I am pretty close to dallas by Texas standards.

Well by the standards of New York We call that a LONG HALL

I just made resevations for my partner to go on this trip instead of me

You know you could have them do the the seats and they will sell you the hides to finish the balance of the car.

I had purchased a set of used C5 seats and was planning on getting a C5's rear deck lid and water fall and then grafting that to the C1 to blend the seats in.I never thought to go the other way around have custom seats built to the car.

Whats the old saying you cant see the forest thru the trees.

Thanks Again Please do share some photos with us.And also keep us up to date on your progress.

Mac · Mar 25, 2004

John Mcgraw said:
If only I didn't have to work for a living.

No kidding. My wife has used the "W" word a couple of times lately (workaholic) and, although she knows that's not true, it sure seems that way. My crew of eight guys is currently operating with one guy on paternity leave (8 months), three with work-related injuries (two bad backs & one broken finger) one in the penalty box (naughty, naughty) and one on vacation, which leaves me and one other guy "able-bodied" so to speak. I'm busier than a dog with two hooches.

John, have you changed photo-hosts? I tried to look for recent updates and I couldn't get access. Maybe I have the e-address wrong??

John Mcgraw · Mar 26, 2004

Hi Mac,

I will try to get some new pics posted in the next couple of days. I had held off on posting any new ones since I had been thrashing on the body and figured that I would not post new ones until all the fiberglass work was done an the car was in primer!

Regards, John McGraw

Mac · Mar 26, 2004

One of the best part about Vettes is that with a bit of fibreglass, some sweat and knowledge, you can do many minor customizations which make the car totally unique. Not that a tube-framed C1 isn't already pretty custom & unique. Of course, you know which holes can be smoothed over and which need to be left alone.

I wish life would slow down a bit for me. I bought heat/noise insulation for my Vette and I have a new console tunnel (old one was beaten to death) and rear storage door frame (same thing). I want to pull out the seats & carpets, go through everything to try to kill some of the minor squeaks (grrrr) and put it back together right. Also I wanted to go through my doors to clean & regrease my window mechanisms, clean up, minor paint if necessary. It seems like work is my enemy because everytime I try to set up some Vette-play time, I get called in. I appreciate the overtime $$$ but I'm reluctant to take the car apart unless I know I'll have time to put it back together.

John Mcgraw · Mar 27, 2004

Mac,

You assume that I know which holes to fill and which to leave alone! LOL
Actually, I glassed up almost every penetration including the steering column hole. I figured that I would re-drill any new holes that I need at the place I want them. I am going with glue-in firewall insulation, so I don't need any of the holes for the rubber plugs. I am using a hidden heater and air, so the heater hole is glassed over. The throttle will come from under the car, so all throttle holes are filled. Last but not least, I will relocate all wiring penetrations from the harness to areas that are not as obvious as the original firewall penetrations. The factory steering column hole was huge and requires a large metal plate to cover the hole. Hopefully, I will be able to machine a nice slim trim to go around the column.

I know what you mean about not having the time. I used to work all kinds of hours, but I now have a great group of people working under me that are quite capable and they love the overtime. I am exempt and do not get paid for overtime, so I finally just turned loose of the reins a little and let my subordinates take some of my workload.
Regards, John Mcraw

Mac · Mar 27, 2004

I be subordinate, so I don't have any subordinate... I'm not at the bottom rung but I'm close enough. :L

I'm trying to visualize how smooth your firewall will be without the usual collection of holes & hoses... it sounds too good to be true. I await the pictures eagerly. Hidden cool & heat, eh? Plumbed from below??

IH2LOSE · Mar 28, 2004

You know its so important for us to share the projects we are working on.From the small amount of information John has shared with us on this post.It has given me alot of different ideas for my future project.

You know some folks might be bashfull.But for sure if your making progress on your vette,Although you might not find it so interseting to your self share it with us I definatly find it interesting.I mean thats why I am here.

PS MAC the word of the month is

THINK

Mac · Mar 28, 2004

IH2LOSE said:
PS MAC the word of the month is

THINK

Thanks for the PM, IH2LOSE, and you're right. I think. :L

IH2LOSE · Mar 28, 2004

PS folks I am working on a website (with the advice of 67heaven) to document the work I have done on my 1966.

This is a link to some photos of the parts I have done on my car allready

http://members19.clubphoto.com/lawrence748455/1950330/guest.phtml

And this is a link to some photos from corvettes of carlilse last year

http://members19.clubphoto.com/lawrence748455/1559094/guest.phtml