Restoration of the '69 L-88 starts Feb.23rd

[67HEAVEN]

Most of you know that Dream Car Garage is showing their restoration of a 1969 L-88. It starts Sunday, Feb. 23rd on Speed Channel.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23980

No it's not a C2. YES it's a L-88. :eek

 

[Robert N]

Dang! That's 8 am my time and I have some repair work to do at my Mom's place. Guess she loses out - priorities an all!

Should be a re-broadcast 3/1 at 4pm EST

 

[IH2LOSE]

I have to go into work in the morning but I think I have the vcr programmed properly to tape the show

 

[Chainshot]

HVN - Thanks for the heads up. I watched it this a.m. It was a pretty nice car to start with. The funny thing they said the guy wanted more hp/torque out of the L88 :BOW

 

[67HEAVEN]

Chainshot (the old CF GreyGhost),

What I'm waiting for is when they pull the final test wring-out to see how she feels after it's all done. :eek

Didn't that cruise sound wonderful through those sidepipes. :dance

 

[jonstr]

How frequently do they change episodes? I've never seen Dream Car Garage before today, but according to the speedtv.com website that it's on 4 times per week.

Is it a new episode every Sunday with 3 rebroadcasts or do they do a couple of episodes per week. I'd like to tape all the shows, but am not sure how often to set the VCR.

And yes, that cruise sounded great through the side pipes. But it sounds even better from inside the car.

 

[IH2LOSE]

What would you clasify that car as ?
It looked perfect to me And sounded SWEET

 

[c5vetter]

same episode repeated during the week they have new episodes every Sunday

 

[Tom Bryant]

What would you classify that car as ?
It looked perfect to me And sounded SWEET

That car was obviously a survivor quality car that was showing a little wear. A very nice and historically significant car as it was that could have been used for reference and education as to what these cars were like when new.

I would classify that car as a very important piece of Corvette history that was totally destroyed for the sake of biulding yet another "perfect" restoration. A Corvette is only original once and that beautiful car is no longer in that classification. Very sad.

Tom

 

[SolidLifters]

Tom, I agree with you 100%. Actually I've had the feeling about DCG since I first saw the show several years ago. It seems like the tendency has always been either over restoration, or deviation from traditional restoration practices which obviously damage the cars, if originality is the priority. I don't critisize anyone who chooses to deviate from stock with their own car, but "how to" shows that showcase unconventional techniques as acceptable alternative to original restoration have always bugged me.

The first car that I paid attention to along these lines was the straight axle Corvette done a year or so ago. The chassis was removed, but for whatever reason, they did some clean and spray process with no suspension disassembly or removal which seemed band aidish at best. There were also some pre paint body prep steps showcased which seemed to deviate from generally accepted Corvette prep when originality is the goal, although I don't recall the specifics.

It's really sad when original Survivor quality cars are restored unnecessarily.

 

[jonstr]

One thing I did notice was that, in describing what they were going to do to the car, the host repeatedly said something like 'this is what the customer wants'.

It gave me the impression he was apologizing to the viewers for what they were going to be doing to the car.

 

[Robert N]

Hey SolidLifters. I agree with the fact that the car did not seem to need restoration. The owner wants the car to look NCRS, but it sounded as if they would be tweaking the suspension though. Doesn't make sense to me.

I had the same issue with the Mustang.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Welcome to the CAC SolidLifters. Just how many Corvettes do you have? Any Solid axles?

As to the L88:

They also said that they would be stroking the engine while leaving it appear original on the outside. If I could own a legend like a real L88 I would want to experience the car like it was designed. If you want a hot rod big block car why not buy a more common example needing restoration, throw in a 572 crate motor, do all of the suspension and brake mods you want and end up with the car of your desires. Then in the process you can leave the survivor L88 alone.

I know it is his car and he can do what he wants to it but sometimes people have more money than brains.

Tom

 

[John Doe]

Here is the schedule from their website. I will have to figure out which one I can watch or tape. JD

Sundays, 10am
Tuesdays, 7:30am
Wednesdays, 12 noon
Fridays, 8:30am

All times Eastern
Subject to pre-emption by event programming.

 

[67HEAVEN]

SolidLifters,

I agree with you and with Tom. Certainly if I hadn't done so much work to mine three decades ago, I would likely have gone back to original.

And, good survivor cars are so rare now that it's too bad to lose another one.

By the way, glad you dropped in to

 

[SolidLifters]

Thanks for the welcome Tom. 3 straight axles.

I guess I'm sensitive about restoring/modifying rare cars. It's always possible to find modified cars to personalize to one's taste, but the pool of true originals grows smaller and smaller.

 

[SBR]

While I enjoy watching DCG I am disturbed at the fact that the owner is are taking a rare and valuable car like an L88 and customizing it. For the price of the restoration he could have had another 69BB roadster with a stroker motor and left the L88 alone. The only consolation is that when I saw the stamp pad and casting #s, I knew that the motor was a replacement. To each his own.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Welcome aboard, SBR. :cool

 

[IH2LOSE]

I missed this weeks episode I was at work again =,What did I miss?

I used to enjoy the show but I am anoyed and missing the humor when he imitates the italian car repairer

I was watching one day when he was test driving (I think a testorosa) And I could hear and feel his excitement in driving the car it almost felt as if I was in the car with him.That I felt was a great connection with there audeance

Any of you guys catching the old road and track shows on the same channel when there throwing them old boats through the twisties and the hub caps are flying off.The way those old boats handel I think I can get my wifes truck thru the turns safer and quicker then the old muscle cars

 

[IH2LOSE]

Quote
There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band,
One more sad story's one more than I can stand,
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say,
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say"...........
........we sure could use a little good news today.


Hey 67 the newyork area is morning the loss of two more of out finast guys in the line of duty.As I was sitting on my bed after work tonight with my son (9years old )watching the news for about a half hour After it was over he asked why there is never good news on only bad.

I was confused as to what to say to him,I wanted to exspain that most people only want to hear about the bad things happening to make them selfs feel better about them self and the world around them .But instead I exsplained that maybee there are no reporters around when the good stuff happens .