It's Alive.....yipppeeeee!!!!

[mike weyman]

i finally got to the point in my rebuild when there was no reason why not to start the vette,it's been sleeping since 18 months,and she's ready to be painted, the interior is out and the new interior is ready to install along with the new seats and carpets, door panels etc.it feels so good to have this part over.
i havent heard it run since i bought it (first week)the engine was pulled, bored , rebuilt, heads ported and polished etc,the carb came off a 68 mopar 440 and i wasn't sure of condition. i decided to go for it. i turned it over for a while to get the oil around. as soon as i put the wires to the distributor, she started like right off, after 10 seconds i let it idle down and she did without stalling. i can reach in the window and start it now, what a relief .I would like to thank everyone who offered help since i found this place. don't worry , i won't leave the sight cause i still need you guys to help me get the interior back in. lol.mike

 

[Scooter76]

Mike :

Did you install a new camshaft during your rebuild? If so you need to break it in.
Start it & run it for at least 15-20 min at 1500 -2000rpm. The lifters need to "mate " to the lobes & the rpm needs to be high enough to insure that the cam gets pleanty of oil splash during this period. Failure to do this can result in early labe failure. If you are running a roller lifter cam you do not need to break it in . This applies to flat tappet only. Good luck.

 

[Jack]

That's right & so very important ... and do not let NEW flat tappet (hydraulic or solid) cam idle at all during 20-30 minute break in. Go to any of the big cam mfg sites (crane, comp etc) ... there you will find explicit instructions for cam break in.
JACK:gap

 

[mike weyman]

followed procedures for break in. there's a small oil leak in the oil pan,first thought it was the seals, got lucky though.now on to the body and paint.mike

 

[Maverick402]

I know how you feel. I have just recently finished an engine rebuild and got it back in. Finishing up on body work and it should be ready for paint within a week. I have ready new carpet, door panels, weatherstrip, and freshly dyed interior to go in after the paintjob.

 

[mike weyman]

sounds like we're on the same track.how long have you been building it??mines about 18 months . it's a frame on job so i didn't get tied up with the body mounts.is your e brake working??or is the backer plate worn?? i can now fix it without taking it all apart.i'll tell you how if you wanna know.mike

 

[Maverick402]

I bought my vette during the summer of last year and drove it for the remainder of the summer. It was in pretty bad shape when i bought it. Started working on it about the end of january this year. The metal where the body mounts go in the front was rusted out pretty bad and the rocker channel was completely gone. For some odd reason the previous owner decided to spray a ton of Great Stuff between the channel and the frame. Got some new channels bent up and put into place. replaced any other metal that was rusted in that area too. The body lines were terrible along the doors, but one is fixed now and the other is next. My e-brake has never worked and during the rebuild of most of the car i never really had a desire to fix it. The pic is before i started tearing it apart to fix it. I can post updated pics if anyone cares to see what it looks like after.

 

[76okievette]

Please post some pic's, I always like to see what everyone has done. I am still in the planning stage with my 1976. My car runs great interior and paint are great from 5 feet but start to show some ware up close. I don't have any rust, I can find. I have just finished replacing things like, u-joints, rear wheel bearings, read end oil, front suspension bushings, shocks, etc. Now I think I will just drive it until something breaks then decide how extensive a renooviation I want to do.

 

[mike weyman]

mine is still a ways from done, i started a frame on restoration about 1 1/2 years ago, will be on the road in a month or so.i'll post a few pics.mike

 

[mike weyman]

ans after some work

 

[mike weyman]

try againhttp://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38452

 

[Maverick402]

Just took these pictures. Not really one job completely done yet. (body work, door jambs, front body mount areas) Need to get driver side door jamb fixed up and some sanding on the body and it should be ready for primer soon.

 

[mike weyman]

would you believe it, we both have the identical interiors.lol mike

 

[Maverick402]

Yea its a bit more roomy with the interior out. Door jambs are done and so are the body mount areas. Also got the metal part under the front nose cone straightened out. Looks like it ate a curb pretty good at one time. Got the dash in and the floor pans covered with some POR-15. Bit more sanding on the body and its prime time.

 

[mike weyman]

the undercarriage and drive line are finished. the door bottoms are re-attached, the streess cracks and etc are fiberglassed but not finish sanded.
the big body thing left is to mount the new bumpers,the old ones are off so i'm half way there.mike

 

[Maverick402]

Got a shiny new windshield in today. More sanding to be done. Hope to have the car completely finished for a parade called the krusin klassics. June 4th

 

[johnd]

hey I know what you are going through except I did not have to miss a summer of driving but I have over 200 hours in the paint and body alone...kinda grueling but just think of the first ride...it will all be worth it trust me...

John Dykstra

 

[mike weyman]

i've been waiting to drive it for so long now, i hope it's not a letdown.
my windshield is still out, i'll get it put in when the car is painted.i bought the paint today,i think it's more just for inspiration cause the body work isn't finished yet.i was planning for the first of june, but my birthday is june 9th so it would be great to have it then.mike

 

[Maverick402]

Didnt get much work done on my car today... but i did put in a new power brake booster for a friend's 81. gonna try for primer tomorrow.

Mine on the left(before i tore it apart), friend's on the right.

 

[mike weyman]

started work on the hood yesterday,man those aftermarket hoods are cheesier than chester cheetah.i got a quart of resin and some cloth and just recoated the entire undersurface of it. and then put it on thicker on the corners near the windshield . it's all painted black again as with the underbelly of the t-tops,the top of the hood and the t-tops are ready for primer . starting on the doors this evening(the inside of the doors are already painted to color) .lots of sanding yet oh well dinners over, back to the lab, ahem , i mean garage. mike