PROJECT "Z069" - LS7 powered '69 Stingray....

[JHT67]

Nice ride, and awesome work. I had a 69' in my early 20's, it was a project, but I'm still kicking myself for letting it go.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Wow Chief, that car is looking great!

I commend your patience on this build. Corvettes are hands-down the hardest Chevy to restore because they share essentially nothing with any of the other models. They are extremely difficult to restore. Lots of unique little clips and brackets, and the wire and hose routings aren't like anything you've ever seen.

I helped a neighbor restore his '64 Corvette 327/365 horse (with A/C) roadster. There is no way you can put these cars back together without a build manual, and even that isn't enough sometimes.

Can't wait to see more!!

YOU ARE ABSOULTELY RIGHT !!

I only have half the vacuum lines done too .....

Originally Posted by FRENCHBLUE72

Vette looks great glad to see it in black..

Originally Posted by inovermyhead

Great work. Glad to see you're still at it and updating us all.

The paint is nice, I cringe everytime I have to get close to it ...

Originally Posted by JHT67

Nice ride, and awesome work. I had a 69' in my early 20's, it was a project, but I'm still kicking myself for letting it go.

They are nice ... personaly, I cant stand them (mabey just this one)

[ChiefRocka]

Back on it with a few more pics .... Couple more Chevy's for Ya .....
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[ChiefRocka]

A truck load of moving boxes came with the Vette, as well as the coated exhaust system .....
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[ChiefRocka]

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Drivers side in ....
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Pass. side in ....
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[ChiefRocka]

About 20 years ago, Rich ordered a 'polishing kit' from JC Whitney. It consisted of three wheels, and four different compounds.

For some reason, it managed to stick around all these years. Haven't used it since then.

I needed to send out the stainless clamps to be polished, but that would of been a week turn-around. I decided to give it a shot with the old kit....
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3" pipes are a tight squeeze....
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[ChiefRocka]

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[ChiefRocka]

After loosely fitting exhaust (waiting on new leaf-spring), I moved onto the taillights:
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One of them needed a stud repaired:
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Painted Silver and Black ....
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[ChiefRocka]

Next came the super nice, Genuine GM Guide Lens ..... and some other goodies ....


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OG and NEW Radio antenna "ground plate" :
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These are all the parts that make up a 'Vette' radio antenna :
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Sometimes, you need a helping hand :
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Under shot of ground plate and antenna base :
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[ChiefRocka]

The owner of the car (Harry,father-n-law) claims "I dont need a frick'n radio, the Ls7 is all the music my ears need !" ....

Ya, well ... it's gonna have a decent stereo, even if it is a small amp, with an Ipod.

Besides, it needs an antenna to fill the hole ...
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Another NEW and perfect part, the license light assembly :
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Gently cleaning out the holes :
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These letters are TOTAL junk .... these are not A GM Licensed part, thats for sure... Gonna have to source something different. The chrome is ****, and they are made crooked ....
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Nice speed nut kit ....
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NOSE RING .....
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Another shot of the 61 Parkwood ... My favs in the shop right now ...
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[ChiefRocka]

Next I moved on to the doors. Took a peek inside, and it wasnt too bad ... except for the latches and related linkages.

Old, nasty, gummed up from old grease.... No stone is left unturned with this build, so lets go thru these as well ....
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Pics are crappy. but this is a shot of the latch inside :
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Nasty latches :
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After a dunk in my old can of ChemTool (still amazing after ALL these years), a pressure wash, and an air dry ... these are as good as new !!
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[inovermyhead]

love the progress. great work

[Jonboy]

The '61 is flippin' sweet!!!!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

The '61 is flippin' sweet!!!!

Yes sir it is !!!!

[ChiefRocka]

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Getting everyone back up to speed...
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All the lock rods got a good cleaning and lube...
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All the anti-rattle bushings were old and in need of replacement. Rather than wait for an order, I use good ol grommets...
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[ChiefRocka]

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I tried some MSD boot ends, but not quite big enough...
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Since I have plenty left ... I decided to apply some mat to doors as well ... No stereo here, just a little more 'thud'... what the heck ?
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[ChiefRocka]

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Back up for leaf-spring swap out ...
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340lb from Zip....
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[ChiefRocka]

Finally sourced a nice grommet for my lower firewall (where ECM harness entered)
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[CAL 58 GMC]

Is the leaf spring swap from a newer Vette or is it a up grade made for your year of Vette? By the way nice build!

[Jonboy]

Where did you find the grommet, John?

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by CAL 58 GMC

Is the leaf spring swap from a newer Vette or is it a up grade made for your year of Vette? By the way nice build!

The spring is an aftermarket designed for the C3 ... 340lb (midrange)

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Where did you find the grommet, John?

You like that huh ???

I had drilled a 2" hole directly under the column in the firewall to sneak the engine harness in outta site.

I could of 'unpinned' all the connector for the harness plug, but I decided to save time and holesaw a large enough hole, in hopes of finding a large enough grommmet of this type.

Low and behold, by partner source this one for me .... Summit of all places !!

[ChiefRocka]

Now that the leaf-spring saga is over, I was able to finalize the rear section of the exhaust ... Align it all up with the cutouts, and clamp it down tight.

During the initial mock up, I didn't have the cutouts in place, so now was faced with some adjustment of the hangers. No big deal ... just some shiming of the hanger mounts is all...
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[ChiefRocka]

Back to the driver door ...

Carefully tapping and filing away body work 'cheese' from the openings:
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The GM reproduction mirrors are AWESOME ... however, a little sanding of the base was needed to get them to sit nicely:
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[ChiefRocka]

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I am adding a passenger side mirror to this Vette (did not have one originally) and the mirror was nice enough to come with a tape on template to mark the door...
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However, some research led me to find that the well-nuts in the pass. side kit come loose after a while. (the drivers side has a metal plate in the door)

I think a little re-inforceing plate and epoxy will be in my future.
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Cleaning up the lock cylinder hardware...
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and a little polish too, why not ??
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Chrome on door ....
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[ChiefRocka]

So ... back on the Vette. This time the rear panel SAGA !!

After the painter dropped the ball and didnt check the fit to the rear panel (as I told him too many times) I had to take it into my own hands.
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PM after market panel:
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Gap-o-rama...
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So we decide to try a Used Original piece...better, but still need some work (a lot less)...
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The center section corners had some stress cracks that I glassed first...
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Then, started the layering...
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