C3 restoration nightmare

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

I haven't paid a shop for anything for years, but that doesn't surprise me. At $125/h that means the labor estimate she got is for 240-360 hours to take what she has and completely finish it. If anything that's low.

Under warranty. Dealer does all, after 99% by me including FGT except this year with shocks, alignment etc. shipped to expert.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I think she needs to break it all down into manageable groups/sub-systems vs one big car restoration or put back together.

Organize ALL the headlight stuff into a pile. Take pics, make list of what is there and what is known missing, compare to AIM. Only headlight stuff. Source parts and let a mobile mechanic install.

Interior - same, find a upholstery shop that will reinstall dash, soft/hard items, top. Let them take care of all that.

Mobile mechanic - how much does he want to tackle? Get it running? Install headlights? Driveshaft? Fuel tank? Lines? Brake system( lines, calipers, booster, cylinders, hoses, etc?) Ignition system (is it timed, HEI ign?, ignition tumbler/keys, tilt/tele rebuild?) Fuel system (tank, lines, pump,carb,filters?) Break each system down into it's own section. Radiator good? Water pump? Hoses? Heater core?

Autobody shop - all outside trim, emblems, windshield trim. Doors, hood, decklid, headlight doors all aligned to correct panel gap.

Electrical - mobile mechanic or shop. All new harnesses. Probably now, while things are easy to access.

All body lines should be perfect. DUB said prior to painting he had all the parts on and off MANY times to ensure that. He was known for his paint /body work so I can only assume that is top knotch.

As far as I can tell, only body work left is buffing out. Decklid has been buffed to mirror surface. All parts need to be put on car door/decklid/hood/bumpers/emblems.

None of interior is done besides the carpet removed and painted rear compartments (we did that before left for NC)

Engine/tranny/suspension/radiator/gas tank/fuel lines should be good but will need tightened down on sus. Parts and aligned. Brake stuff was removed for some reason so that that all needs to be redone.

Headlight ASM are put together/painted but not installed.

I work till Friday so will update better punch list then.

Thank you for the detailed list of things to consider.

Also have a good friend that has a Ford shop and he is going to have a couple corvette experts he knows come by the house to help us understand better where we are.

The hardest parts is not understanding what was/wasn’t completed and why he undid things we already paid to have done.

[C3C7NIC]

In this picture below, what goes here (yellow circle)

[Rodnok1]

Shock goes there

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

I’m this picture below, what goes here (yellow circle)

Attachment 69387

Attachment 69388

A bolt.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

Shock goes there

Thanks. It’s strange, there are shocks on the back but not the front.

Originally Posted by dvarapala

A bolt.

[Rodnok1]

I would recommend someone checks all the fasteners on vehicle since you've already found a loose tie rod sleeve. A loose A arm will ruin your day. All suspension parts need to have a wrench put on and make sure cotter pins installed. I'd bet things are loose.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

I would recommend someone checks all the fasteners on vehicle since you've already found a loose tie rod sleeve. A loose A arm will ruin your day. All suspension parts need to have a wrench put on and make sure cotter pins installed. I'd bet things are loose.

Any explanation why he had things loose? Shocks are on the back but missing from front.

Also, we had just had brakes and suspension done in OKC before taking there and all that is off the car now too.

I know the engine had just been rebuilt here, but he pulled it when he did the powder coating of the chassis and repainted as it was already chipping off paint due to poor prep.

Dub is not here to ask any questions but boy do I have A LOT!

[Grey Ghost]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Any explanation why he had things loose? Shocks are on the back but missing from front.

Also, we had just had brakes and suspension done in OKC before taking there and all that is off the car now too.

I know the engine had just been rebuilt here, but he pulled it when he did the powder coating of the chassis and repainted as it was already chipping off paint due to poor prep.

Dub is not here to ask any questions but boy do I have A LOT!

You torque to spec. suspension parts when the car is on the ground. Not in the air.

That would be my guess.

Bumpers?

You said, y'all lifted the hood off for pics. Are there scribe marks or something to show you exactly where it aligns? You still have to those gaps perfect for it to look good. And that takes fumbling around with it. Same for doors and any removable body work.

Ship it to Norm. He has some friends over every Wed.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

You torque to spec. suspension parts when the car is on the ground. Not in the air.

That would be my guess.

Bumpers?

You said, y'all lifted the hood off for pics. Are there scribe marks or something to show you exactly where it aligns? You still have to those gaps perfect for it to look good. And that takes fumbling around with it. Same for doors and any removable body work.

Ship it to Norm. He has some friends over every Wed.

Have the bumpers, but as paint is not buffed yet they are not installed.

How far is Norm from OKC. there are not many corvette folks in my area, we’ll not classic corvette folks. Most people around here drive the newer ones. Starting to understand why. 😩


Oh shit, I looked, he is in Delaware, yea, that’s not happening. This last 2300 mile round trip to Charlotte sucked. No more long road trips with a trailer for this girl. NOPE NOPE NOPE.

[Grey Ghost]

Maybe the guy was older that did the work? Couldn't crawl around under the car to torque the suspension while on the ground.

Torque specs. should be in your AIM. Get a torque wrench and look in the steering, suspension, chassis sections.

Where is the ign. switch? Was the column rebuilt?

[Rodnok1]

Not uncommon to just loosely assemble stuff for fitment(get assembled enough to roll it also) at all so not surprising really.
But everyone is different...

Doors are going to be a challenge to assemble and get on car without damage, they suck on good day.
Painters tape is your friend, luckily paint is hardened 100% so there's that.
Interior isn't really hard to do, just time consuming.
The top however I would have done professionally if it was me. Finding a good convertible top guy familiar with corvettes of that era a must. He'll know the ins and outs, weak points, do and don't do's that could save damage/money and time. If they haven't done any of those I'd pass...

Might seem simple but all fluid need checked also, rear diff especially I'd say since easist to forget to check.
Master cylinder is missing but those are cheap enough.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Maybe the guy was older that did the work? Couldn't crawl around under the car to torque the suspension while on the ground.

Torque specs. should be in your AIM. Get a torque wrench and look in the steering, suspension, chassis sections.

Where is the ign. switch? Was the column rebuilt?

IIRC '68 ignition switch is on the dash. Didn't move to the column until '69.

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Have the bumpers, but as paint is not buffed yet they are not installed.

How far is Norm from OKC. there are not many corvette folks in my area, we’ll not classic corvette folks. Most people around here drive the newer ones. Starting to understand why. 😩


Oh shit, I looked, he is in Delaware, yea, that’s not happening. This last 2300 mile round trip to Charlotte sucked. No more long road trips with a trailer for this girl. NOPE NOPE NOPE.

@C3C7NIC Call my buddy Steve, ya have his. #. Plenty of places and clubs in N Texas

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by Mick

IIRC '68 ignition switch is on the dash. Didn't move to the column until '69.

Video in post 43 clearly shows a column mounted ignition switch.

[ToolMaker]

I have a center gage cluster that I will give you!

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Video in post 43 clearly shows a column mounted ignition switch.

Yea, he did some weird shit.

Pulled my steering column, the original ignition was on the dash not column. He also had custom C5 seats made for the car as he knew I had bad back and they have lumbar support.

May pull all that and go back to original.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by ToolMaker

I have a center gage cluster that I will give you!

Thank you!

Need to take a video of what I have.

Still trying to get things inventoried. Hard to do when I’m not sure what strange things he did on the car.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Video in post 43 clearly shows a column mounted ignition switch.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by ToolMaker

I have a center gage cluster that I will give you!

Thank you!

Need to take a video of what I have.

Still trying to get things inventoried. Hard to do when I’m not sure what strange things he did on the car.

Lots of smaller parts in boxes. We plan to get some tables to lay everything out maybe this weekend.

Horrible video quality but may be informative as to what we do and do not have.

https://youtu.be/LzN1L3rbg4k

https://youtu.be/ayQnqO3aY04

https://youtu.be/lzIW9XdbXpA