Question: What's Your Winter Project?

[Tom Bryant]

I found a place on the upper right door pillar where there was some rust bleeding out of a crack in the seam sealer. I find that suprising for a car that has never spent any time outdoors setting or ever seen any winter weather. I cut out some of the seam sealer and there was some surface rust on the steel. I need to clean it up and grind out a little of the bonding agent to expose all of the surface rust and get back to clean steel. Once the rust is cleaned off I will need to build up the contour of the bonding agent as original so the door w/strip will seat against it properly again and re-coat with seam sealer.

The funny thing about this is that while searching for a laquer source on the web I found a company in San Diego that sells all types of laquer for restorations; right the middle of the state that outlawed laquer use in body shops first. Laquer is still available at my local DuPont auto paint store too so that is no problem.

The w/strips are not the best either with 2 pieces needing replaced and some cracking in the others. I think I'll just get the 9 piece set and replace them all.

Has anyone ever used the DuPont Krytox w/strip preservative? I have used other products but I could see that I was loosing the battle several years ago.

I also have to replace the valve cover gaskets again. No rubberized cork this time. (I gave up on RTV lasting any more than a few months years ago) I bought 2 sets of the Super Seal blue silicone with the stainless shim reinforcement when I was doing my stepside 355. I hope these fix the problem for a long time. It seems to be the same material that the Fel-Pro one piece pan gasket is made of that I put on the truck.

So what is everyone else doing this winter?

Tom

 

[Vette79]

Hhmmm, it's never over is it? I just pulled my center guage cluster and center console trim. I'm replacing everything but the guages. I also bought new rubber for all four wheels. Just the other day I decided to take her for a cruise and half way through she gave me problems and I limped home. Turns out the #1 cylinder spark plug was oily and not firing so waiting to thoroughly troubleshoot that potential nightmare. Hope it's not as bad as it seems...

 

[Peer81]

Most of them are (lucky for me) only small things so no problem there.
Big things are, reinstalling the brake disc's and check for run out. Installing the calipers and brake fluid. Reassembling the steering column and installing it into the car. Small things are, finding a place for the alarm horn, installing door seals and reinstalling the seats, dash for a first test run

Groeten Peter

 

[bill81vette]

As of right now....
change the L/S window bushings,
2 new door lock switches,
turn signal cruise switch,
and change tranny fluid and filter....
the old girl started acting up on the way back from the last car show,
and were going to try this 1st.
if it doesn't work,pull the tranny out and rebuild it :ugh :ugh
IF I have to pull the tranny,I will pull the rear and change the seals for the half shafts as well....
oil change,grease as well as plugs,wires,cap and rotor.

 

[spikebot 81]

I'm hoping to give my ride a new interior this winter. Seats are my biggest worry. I dont like the factory seats because backs dont adjust. Lookin for C5 seats. Should be a fun project. Looking forward to it.

 

[6880 Mike]

I very much hope it won't be shoveling snow.

:L

 

[LVMYVT76]

replacing the front bumper with a fiberglass one. Getting the cruise control to work again. Replacing the center dash pad with a new one that I had received. Helping a friend swith out new door panels and rebuilding the door regulators(manual ones) on his 73 convert.

 

[Evolution1980]

I may replace the center cluster so I can go back to a "post mount" radio. I cut up my original one years ago so I could install a standard DIN radio.
I found an old headunit I had from years back. It's not the greatest, but it actually has a line-in attached via a lead, so I'm thinking about getting a replacement cluster and then fabricating the line to be flush with the dash.
Not much else. I may tinker with the side panels that run along the tunnel. I picked up some used panels, but the carpet color is off. (No big surprise there.)
The "big" thing will be next spring when I finally make the jump to 17" rims and performance tires. I'll miss my WLR tires... But at least I'll have a notable performance increase!

 

[Tom Bryant]

I have a center guage bezel out of my mother-in-law's '79 that has been around here for years. It is for a clock and the only thing wrong with it is some of the siver line is worn off by the radio knob. I think a paint pen or rub and buff model chrome would make it like new again.

Not a for sale ad, just a FYI if you need one since I see some are fixing up their dashes.

 

[Vette79]

I have a center guage bezel out of my mother-in-law's '79 that has been around here for years. It is for a clock and the only thing wrong with it is some of the siver line is worn off by the radio knob. I think a paint pen or rub and buff model chrome would make it like new again.

Not a for sale ad, just a FYI if you need one since I see some are fixing up their dashes.

Thanks, Tom. I didn't think of that. I wonder how well that would work. For me, this is my first time removing the center guage cluster and center console trim. I had some pieces and parts that needed replacing. Of course the knowlege and experience is valueable. Great idea though if you need to address the silver lines on the trim.