1962 Corvette driver/partial restoration

[JTR70]

Here is my '62 driver that I bought a couple of years ago. My initial plan was to leave as is and putt it around after I got it but the previous owners had done such shotty mechanical repairs to it that it was really unsafe to drive. It needed a fuel pump but when I got it but once I saw how the gas line from the tank to pump was run well one thing led to another and before you know it the gas tank was out along with seats etc. Now I am fighting myself not to go any further so its not 20 years or never before I get to put at least a mile on this thing!


Here it is the day it came off the truck from Michigan. Just a tired old car which is what I was expecting.


car was originally red with black interior. It was originally a 340HP car but a non-original 350 stand in motor is what came in it. Once I removed the seats and topframe to get at the tank the grime and shity overspray yellow paint proved too hard to just leave alone.


I began stripping the floors back down to the fiberglass.


I also decided I'd restore "just" the glovebox while I was in here. This is how its starts; this is how it snowballs! before you know it the whole damn car is apart.

[restore1]

Mate,

Life is too short, just make it safe and drive it.

Forget the finer details, they can't be seen at 80mph

At least one of us can be driving our toys!

[JTR70]

You're so right Jason! Thats the battle I've been having with myself. I'm at the point where I'm just going to finish cleaning the floors and put it back together.


Since this photo was taken I've restored the glove compartment and stripped the jambs down to the bare glass. I thought I'd do all the unpleasant detail stuff now but will leave the body alone.



Glovebox almost ready for primer


Everything and I mean everything that was metal was severally rusty or missing. The original seat track mounts were long gone. The old owners had these homemade flat-plate type footings in there instead. I would be making it all like original again. The chassis on this car is in great condition which means it has had a new frame put under it at some point. It had to have. C1 vette chassis are Known to rust out. All the metal brackets on this body were missing or badly rotted. The chassis had to have went years prior.

[JTR70]

Heres a perfect example. These are the reinforcing plates for the convertible top mounts and outer lap belt anchor point. It took some doing to get these free. These are heavy plate and that chunk of rust that fell of left that section like swiss-cheese. Some of the bolt-heads were so rusted that a wrench would no longer turn them. Its a good thing the body was glass or this would have been in the dead and bloated section in the other forum.


Both plates would later be cleaned and lower rusted sections would be welded back up.

[JTR70]

First part I complete was the glove box door. As you can see the car is going Black; triple black to be precise. Though originally a red car I have no interest in owning a red corvette.

Detailed both front and back. So much nicer than when I got it with that red and yellow color combo going.


The stainless trim pieces were missing but I bought a set of GM NOS replacements. One thing about these cars, its amazing how much NOS stuff is still floating around for sale. Shocking because my mind is geared toward 356 stuff and its rarity.

Also got this factory NOS lock tumbler with correct keys. Penny's on the dollar compared to a 356. It was wierd but fun!

[JTR70]

Glove box painted and all related hardware replated. decided to finish it first for better detail and because its easy to mask and seal out. The box itself has screws on the perimeter and seems removable but is actually glued in and not so easily removed so I sprayed in position.

All hardware that was zinc plated originally I had nickle plated instead. no polish, just straight nickle

Original door hinge; everything hardware wise got nickle

glove box interior I shot in a mat-black finish. note the rust stains on the floor where the metal brackets died.

[Bahumbug356]

Cool Justin
I thought I was the only one. Corvette is go fast in a straight line and never run out of power. 356 is go faster around the corners. It's the best of both.

I have some shiny and other parts left over. PM me if you are interested.

[JTR70]

Hey Bruce, Welcome!

Fantastic, Another solid axle corvette/356 fan. I thought I might be the only one too. I'm with you; the 356 is my first love but there is that primal streak in me that only the sound and power of a V8 with a four speed can satisfy. What better car to house it in than a vintage corvette. Beautiful Vette you have BTW! 1960? Nice speedster too!!!
Thanks for posting and WELCOME once again!! Justin

The dream...

[JTR70]

I forgot I still had these but I was so happy to see them. These were taken by the last owner as my new car was being loaded onto the transport for its journey out west from Grosse pointe Farms Michigan to Las Vegas.









I was so excited the day I got these pics.
Justin

[badsix]

your vintage Corvette brings back memories , as I had a 58 back in the mid 60s. what a great car, a 2 - 4 carb 270 hp with a 4spd. and 411 rear what an ANIMAL. this was back in the mid 60's when there were more performance cars and hot rods than you imagine. The small town I lived in would be packed on Friday and Saturday nights with a 100 or more hot rods. street drags were the norm and cruze'n was steady. we had a few roads that we would race at and the local sheriff would get his radar gun out and get our speeds. what a great time in life, I'll see if I can find a picture of my old 58

[JTR70]

Great Story Jay, those were the golden years for sure! Would love to see some shots of your old Vette or any cool old photos from that period if you can round them up. Thanks! Justin

[Bill Sampson]

My first car, purchased in 1966 when I worked two full time jobs all summer to buy it, was a 1956 Vette with a 1960 engine. Dual quads just SUCKED up Custom Supreme, raging at about 33 cents a gallon Lost the car to a drunk driver (I guess, it was hit and run while parked).

I'd sure like another, although now I'd go for a 57 fuelie. Forget it. I just lied. I'd yank the 283 and I'd put a 427 in it.

All it takes is more time and more money. I'd do a wheel stand in front of the East Pasadena Bob's if it is still there and go to jail with a smile on my face. Kate - if you're out there - I KNOW you'd go with me.

[jim nelson]

Mine was an old drag racer that had seen its day, a green '59 with a very tired 283. Went down to the junkyard and pulled a 327, built it into a 327-version of the Z28, put a 4-speed into it, and away we went. In Upstate New York in the very early '70's, it defined the words "chick magnet", it was magic. A great car, shame I don't have any pictures.

[JTR70]

Great Stories you guys! Yes, there is just something about an old Corvette; They don't handle or have the build quality of a Porsche but they do carry an "it" factor. Which is why owning one was on the bucket list...

[badsix]

"CHICK MAGNET" I'll second that. the old vet that's what I used for bait to catch my wife 45 years ago