C3 restoration nightmare

[C3C7NIC]

Another interesting “find” was this rusty looking brake booster was installed but this nice new one was next to the car. I believe this to be the one I sent with the car as it was new.

I have so many questions.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Another interesting “find” was this rusty looking brake booster was installed but this nice new one was next to the car. I believe this to be the one I sent with the car as it was new.

I have so many questions.

Attachment 69878

Attachment 69879

Could be he needed to measure the travel on the old one to set up the new one. I have never had to do it, but I believe the post that presses into the MC is adjustable.

[Grey Ghost]

I would also get some proper length or cut to made spark plug wires. Those hideous things are either way out of order or wrong for your car.

[Steve_R]

You keep saying the guy was a Corvette restoration expert. From the pics you keep posting I’m not believing it.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I would also get some proper length or cut to made spark plug wires. Those hideous things are either way out of order or wrong for your car.

I need to find my old pictures from my thread over there and see if these are the wires I had put on it when the engine was rebuilt here in OKC, or if like everything else, he took of the new stuff I had just had installed.

I’m clueless….. so many WTF questions.

Originally Posted by Steve_R

You keep saying the guy was a Corvette restoration expert. From the pics you keep posting I’m not believing it.

The frame/body work is amazing. But I agree.

From what I can gather something happened the last 2 yrs. Clearly he had major health issues.

[C3C7NIC]

Here are the wires as they were before going to Charlotte




In case any of you missed my thread in the C3 section over there. Starts my journey with the Polar Princess from day 1.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ey-begins.html

[markids77]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Here are the wires as they were before going to Charlotte

Attachment 69889


In case any of you missed my thread in the C3 section over there. Starts my journey with the Polar Princess from day 1.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ey-begins.html

Holy crap, you have pics of the thing before it got zorked? Get the album out or download the phone to a zip... forget the AIM... compare "then" to "now"!
BTW, Ghost is correct about the wires, and possibly the location of your coil as there is supposed to be a chrome cover over the container shown in this photo.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by markids77

Holy crap, you have pics of the thing before it got zorked? Get the album out or download the phone to a zip... forget the AIM... compare "then" to "now"!
BTW, Ghost is correct about the wires, and possibly the location of your coil as there is supposed to be a chrome cover over the container shown in this photo.

Yes. We had not yet put the chrome top on.

There are lots of pictures and videos. We had bagged and tagged every single part, but Dub disassembled many things that had been put back tighter and he did not…. So there in lies the problem we are in now.

[Rodnok1]

Booster may have needed changed for column(doubtful) or newer looking is wrong size. Just a guess without looking hands on.

[Big bob]

If you're going to put the original steering column back in. You have easy access to the pinch bolt now. Just make sure you pull the bolt all the way out. I had a friend call me once he beat and sprayed it for two days.

[Grey Ghost]

Do you have other books?

Some love and go by Clymer, etc...vs. AIM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265612714498

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Do you have other books?

Some love and go by Clymer, etc...vs. AIM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265612714498

👍 I need to go look through manuals out in the garage, there is a box of all kinds of manuals my dad had. That one looks familiar. If not I’ll place EBay order! Thank you.

Dad was a proponent of Haynes (so?) and AIM. Much like you guys, dad did nearly everything on his cars. Unless it was under warranty he was “the guy”.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Big bob

If you're going to put the original steering column back in. You have easy access to the pinch bolt now. Just make sure you pull the bolt all the way out. I had a friend call me once he beat and sprayed it for two days.

I’ll research where the pinch bolt is. 🤓😂

[Big bob]

Look right where it is attached to your steering gear pull that bolt and most likely four fasteners under the dash and maybe some at the floor. Then pull the column. You will think of me fondly when you put in the sound mat and the carpeting and not bouncing your head off the steering wheel.

[Rodnok1]

Bob has a very good point.... Now without column is most excellent time to put dynamat down. Worse case you have to trim a little later on for something. It'd be nice to have behind the dash done since usually doesn't get any.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

Bob has a very good point.... Now without column is most excellent time to put dynamat down. Worse case you have to trim a little later on for something. It'd be nice to have behind the dash done since usually doesn't get any.

Do you recommend that I use dynamat as opposed to getting the insulation from one of the regulars?

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Look right where it is attached to your steering gear pull that bolt and most likely four fasteners under the dash and maybe some at the floor. Then pull the column. You will think of me fondly when you put in the sound mat and the carpeting and not bouncing your head off the steering wheel.

Oh yes, when I did the mat in the jag, small spaces were super fun!

I worked inside the car as Tim was underneath.

[Big bob]

Damn that is my dream car. I fell in love with it watching the movie Harold and Maude. Have you seen the movie? Back then you could buy them for 2 or 3 thousand. If I only knew what I know now.

[Rodnok1]

Dynamat sound deadening and insulation so I'd use both if was me, they're so damn hot inside.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Damn that is my dream car. I fell in love with it watching the movie Harold and Maude. Have you seen the movie? Back then you could buy them for 2 or 3 thousand. If I only knew what I know now.

The car has an interesting history.

Cliffs: a doctor was owner #1. My “uncle Bill” ; my dads best childhood friend and band mate was owner #2. Uncle Bill went to Vietnam, when he came back the car was not running and uncle Bill knew nothing about cars, and he was in need of money. Someone offered to buy the jag for an absurd low amount of money, my dad told Bill that he shouldn't just give the car away. My dad said he would pay Bill what the car was worth, get it running and when Bill was back on his feet, he could buy the car back for what my dad had paid.

Uncle Bill never bought the car back. Dad never drove the car more than once a year other than to take it around the block or pull out of the garage to wash it.

About 17 yrs ago, dad decided to do a complete restoration of the all original jag.

He was about done when he passed away. It was heart wrenching, as about 3 weeks before he died, knowing his last days were near, he went out to the shop to have a last look at the car.

The shop owner, and “friend” of my dad, promised my dad he would Finish the car. Those words proved to be empty. So Tim and I have picked up the torch. Why we had sent the Vette to be completed in NC as we don’t have the time with full time jobs to keep up with 2 restorations….. yet. Here we are.