63 SWC Corvette build
 

All,

About time for an update/build thread...4 years and counting, but I feel like it could get finished in the not too distant future...all the fab work is done so it is just assembly, which I know the devil is in the details...

So here is what I started with (bought the car on ebay, which was actually a really good deal)
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/StartingPoint#

And then things start taking a turn for the worse...the original plan was to update the engine and redo the suspension...as with most projects, it started to spiral out of control and well beyond the booger-eating-moron who was doing the work's ability...first attempt was a C5 front suspension and 05 GTO IRS...then a C5 rear double wishbone was attempted...some decent work coupled with a lot of crap...
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...tockFrameMods#

So I basically repo the car and drag it home...the paint is being shot as I pull up with trailer to pull it out of the shop...the paint is beautiful except it needs a Sunkist label on it with all the orange peel...
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...tColorSanding#

From the ashes and tears, plan B is hatched...a new SRIII chassis setup for C5 front and rear suspension/LS2 and T56...most everything the BEM (booger-eating-moron for those keeping track) did has to be undone/redone...firewall mods, trans tunnel mods, rear storage area mods...
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...ionOnNewFrame#

Engine in chassis:
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...otorInChassis#

Which brings us to where we are at now...car is back on the ground...body is on the new chassis for test fitting (see firewall, trans tunnel mods, rear storage area comments above)...once the glass work is mocked up then we run lines and electrical and disassemble to send everything off to the powdercoater...
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...ckOnTheGround#

A quick list of highlights:
SRIII chassis
C5 front and rear suspension
Dana 44 diff
Pfadt engineering C5 coilovers and adjustable swaybars
Hydraboost braking
LS2 with custom cam
T56
Kooks long tubes with 3" x-pipe out the rear of the car
Macintosh Mini running HP-Tuners with 7" touch screen mounted in 3rd hump in dash

Enjoy :cheers: .

Jim

Nice project.

I am glad you went with SRIII frame..the gto rear suspension looked...well different:unibrow:

Thank you for the pics!!!

Very cool...thanks for sharing!!

yeah that was one of those things the BEM surprised me with...I was kinda like "ummm...neato...I guess..."...in the end we went with the Dana so that if I break anything a couple years from now I will easily be able to find parts where the GTO stuff is going to become scarce pretty quick...

:cheers:

Wow, that's awesome. I'll have to spend some more time looking through your pics. Cool stuff. :cheers:

Sweet looking 63- my fav-o-rite C2!

Any updates?:thumbsup:

Well...of course things never move along as quickly as you expect or hope...but there is still progress being made...the new pedal cluster/box has been made and test fit. The hydroboost, Wilwood master cylinder, and Flaming River steering column have been mocked up and fit nicely...and the beginning stages of the the firewall have been started...the firewall and pedal cluster have been pushed forward 3 inches to get me additional leg room and we are looking at ways to lower the seat so that I don't have headroom problems with a helmet on...the drive shaft and half shafts have been fitted and work perfectly...gas tank has been mounted so that fuel lines can be run...brake lines are in the works as well...

Here are some photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...lsAndFirewall#

enjoy :cheers:

Looks great. Those SR3 chassis are very nice pieces.

Woohoo. Another SRIII Vette on the site.

I'm jealous of all that room for the headers. The SRIII frame for 60 Vette isn't quite so accomdating. :_paranoid

Looks great. If I ever get mine done - I'm putting a mid-year on my to-do list.

There looks like there is plenty of room, but unfortunately we are still going to have to hack the headers up and move them around...have to get them closer to the tranny tunnel so that they line up better with the crossmember...right now it would take 2 hard 90 degree bends to get it through there...

Yours is going to be pretty sweet too...I plan to take the car down your way when it is finished to put some miles on it and enjoy it for a while...

Later,

J

You might try laying back the floor panel directly behind the drivers seat (wedge cut). We recently cut that out and layed it back about 3 inches at the top and got some room for a 6.2 driver (we also installed an SRIII rear exhaust frame) and it lays about .5 inch off the cross member. We also moved the pedal cluster forward 3 inches like you did - Still not enough room to be really comfortable - but that's all the squeeze you can get without modifying the SR3 chassis a ton.

Jim

He ended up dropping the rear of the seat pan 2 inches to gain the necessary headroom for me to fit comfortably with a helmet on...the front of the seat pan is still plenty high enough for the exhaust to clear without heating up the pan too much...pics here:

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=17572

The firewall/pedal cluster/wiper housing are coming along nicely...pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...lsAndFirewall#

should have more pics/updates this weekend if I can get to the shop...they should have the firewall/tunnel buttoned up and brake/fuel lines run...

not holding my breath though...

:cheers:

The 'vette is looking great! Good thing you got the project away from the BEM! Someone should take away his welder.
Nice project and I can't wait for more updates.:thumbsup:

looking great !!!!!Ialso looked at the GTo rear,, went witha Cobra IRS,, Check out my 66 coupe,on this site ,,,

Your car is pretty sweet! I saw that you went with the Cobra IRS, but figured once we were going to bail on the GTO control arm arrangement I might as well go full tilt boogie and go with the full double wishbone IRS...now we have even replaced the GTO differential with a stouter and more serviceable/durable Dana 44...

:cheers:

Finally some more progress... the body has been pulled off the from and the frame will go to in for powder coating this week. The fire wall and floor pans are done, just need to be final riveted and seam sealed...

After 5 years of endless missed deadlines and broken promises (not so much from the current builder) I shouldn't get excited, but I am because I know that the major fabrication is done...now it should be just assembling the car...

Firewall:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/52009#

Seat tubs:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/SeatTubs#

Body back off:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/BodyOff#

:cheers:

J

A little more progress....The frame is back from the powder coater and the firewall and rear floor pan are being sealed up and smoothed (get rid of runs).

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/72009#

Random pics of steering wheel and adapter included.

:cheers:

More progress....the frame and body are now joined together (hopefully for the last time)...the suspension is mostly back in place, fuel and brake lines have been run...and most importantly, the motor, trans, and rear are in place!!!

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and am beginning to have confidence that this thing may actually run one day. All the credit goes to Robby Hooper (and his crew Chris, George, and Ken) at Corvette Masters in Maitland FL. Robby and his guys have done some incredible fabrication and innovation to get this thing back on track and make it once again the car of my dreams. They have also been instrumental in keeping my spirits high, expectations in check, and most of all keeping me involved in the project.

Here are the latest pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/82009#

It's good to see it's coming along so well. Boy, that master cylinder looks like a tight fit to the valve cover. But as long as it clears it's all good. :thumbsup:

I have seen your car at Corvette Masters and it is going to be nice. I always walked over to check it out when I am there. Robby and the gang are great and do the job right the first time. They are currently building my motor for my GTO.

That's almost too nice to cover up with a body, should be a blast to drive.

Why is the steering rack tilted like that (highter on the passenger side)?

That pedal box set up is pretty cool. But do you have any worries about getting your feet caught up in the steering column during "spirited" driving?

I agree with the last post, it is so nice it's almost a shame to cover it all up with a body.

70rs, the master cylinder is a bit tight to the valve cover, I may not be able to run the "Corvette" labeled plastic coil/valve covers (at the very least we are going to have to trim them around the MC/hydroboost. The pedal box is something Robby fab'd up and is amazing. Part of the reason the pedals look closer to the column than normal is that the entire firewall/pedal box has been push forward almost 3 inches so that I have additional leg room 9pedals closer to the downward slope of the column). I am not worried about getting my feet tangled during track events (the pedals sit high enough that my heel is just off where the carpet/pad will be and the ball of my foot is resting on the pedal), the only concern is left foot braking may be a bit challenging.

SickSpeedMonte, the rack is tilted in the pic because it had not been bolted down yet. Now that it is bolted in, all is level and one with the world!!! And sadly yes, there are a lot of incredibly nice handy work that won't be seen very often when final assembly is done.

69CamaroPT, I think I have heard Robby mention your car several times. It is going to be fun when it is complete.

:cheers:

Robby continues to impress. The passenger side header has been modified and completely welded back together and the driver's side is tacked in place ready for final welding. He has managed to snake the pipes around the starter which will drop out easily, the oil filter with plenty of room to add lines for an oil cooler and kept them snug to the underside of the car so that they won't drag on anything. This week he will fab the X-pipe and remaining piping out the back.

:cheers:

All the pics here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...eadersExhaust#

Robby and the gang have made some good progress recently...the X-pipe and exhaust are pretty well in the final stages before sending off for aluminizing...I now have door hardware (interior/exterior handles, mirrors, and window regulators)...he also started the process of buffing out the paint on the doors, the pictures pick up a lot of swirl marks that will hopefully buff out in the final wax/polish...but I was encouraged that it appears I didn't completely fubar the paint when I started the wet sanding process...the vintage air front runner kit is mostly installed on the front of the motor...the engine and body harness have started to be installed as well (some shortening of wire runs will be needed on the engine harness)...

all the pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/92009#

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovet...eadersExhaust#

:cheers:

chassis is cool...:thumbsup:

Moving along...the radiator, fans, and hoses have been installed...lines from the Hydroboost to power steering rack have been installed...fuel line has been terminated at the rail...exhaust has been final welded, hanger brackets installed, and rehung under its own weight/bracketing for final fit and dimpling under the frame crossmembers (will be sent out for coating after the motor has been fired for the first time)...ECU and fuse box have been mounted in passenger fender well...headlights and turn signals have begun to be installed...side windows, mirrors, and door handles installed...

Robby and the crew at Corvette Masters continue to pour their heart into this thing and exceed my expectations...

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/102009#

http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/92009#

:cheers:

All,

It has been a while since I've sent an update....the car actually runs and I can say I have driven it (like Rainman, slow in the shop...but it moves under its own power!!!)...The air bridge/filter in the video were just "Bubba'd" together just to get the car running, we are going to fab something for the permanent arrangement...the tune is just enough to get the car to start and idle (Robby and the crew at Corvette Masters will get it on the dyno soon)...but it is coming together...the goal is to have it at a Corvette event in mid January...

video of start up here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7xNZTHsrN8

latest pics here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/restovette63/122009#

:cheers:

J

The Corvette has come a LOOONG way. Almost there!:cheers:

Very nice, glad things turned for the better after the booger eatin moron.

Did you bury the old frame? That thing was murdered.

The frame was hacked up (even further) and given a proper burial...we even tried to do the responsible thing by taking one of the very few servicable sections and donated it a fellow enthusiast who needed
to patch his stock frame...

Need all the good charma I can get...

:cheers:

Good for you, I just wish people who do stuff like that would step up and just say "I can't do it".

Then again if he thought it was a good job........ :faint:

Just stumbled on to this build.... so went back to look at the OP.... I'm certain, after looking at the pictures of the "first" build - that the guy that was working on this is the same guy that worked on my 37 Ford chassis! The welds are so similar! And the "hackie motto special" fabrication skills are right there! :rofl: :rofl:

New new build looks great!