Corvette project car

[280Z Turbo]

New vs. old:


3rd gen Corvette crossmember lowers the mounting points and emphasizes how bent the old one was. They are the same length, ignore the parallax error.

[280Z Turbo]

Due to the previous owner's fuckery, I am forced to buy a new steering coupler and steering shaft. They welded the coupler to the shaft for some reason.

[Soup DeVille]

So, has this become a full on frame off restoration yet, or are you still in denial about where its headed?

[280Z Turbo]

The body is coming off. That's already been established.

And it's not a restoration. Restorations are for NCRS F.O.G.'s with straw hats and too-short khaki shorts. I don't have enough money to fix the body.

[hotrodalex]

Due to the previous owner's fuckery, I am forced to buy a new ______

6 years later and this is still my life on occasion.

[280Z Turbo]

My dad has had this car since 1978. The PO is still fucking us.

[280Z Turbo]

New front shocks on. The fronts were in similar condition as the rears. There was some resistance there, but they wouldn't retract back out due to rust on the shaft.


These are monotubes, but not Bilsteins. MrH will be disappointed in me. Oh well.

Got the steering coupler apart by loosening a clamp and sliding the whole steering shaft backwards. Looks like I can replace the rubber without buying a new shaft and coupler. 

[280Z Turbo]

Finally figured out the issue with the clutch. The PO cut and rewelded the pushrod coming from the pedal so it's too short. To compensate for that, he put washers between the PP and flywheel to raise the fingers up. This caused the clutch to slip badly, but hey, he got the clutch to work...so good for him...bad for us.

The plan is to cut the the pushrod again and use a coupling nut and threaded rod to extend it to its proper length until we can get a new pushrod.





Never assume anything.

[Rupert]

What the shit?

[280Z Turbo]

What the shit?

Well it may have been bent or cracked which is why it was rewelded too short.

[Soup DeVille]

Well, I don't think he cut and welded a perfectly good part.

[Soup DeVille]

Is the thread pitch something standard enough to get a threaded rod to match?

[280Z Turbo]

Is the thread pitch something standard enough to get a threaded rod to match?

It's a Chevrolet, dude.

[Soup DeVille]

It's a Chevrolet, dude.

Yeah, is that who makes those? Crazy man.

[280Z Turbo]

Yeah, is that who makes those? Crazy man.

Well, it's probably not 31/64-21 thread.

[Soup DeVille]

Well, it's probably not 31/64-21 thread.

It might not be 1/2" either.

[280Z Turbo]

It might not be 1/2" either.

Looks like 7/16-14 to me. All of this English thread talk as of late is making me sick. I want my metric back!

[Soup DeVille]

you started it man.

[280Z Turbo]

I see that the pushrod is bent too, I don't know if that's correct or not.

[Soup DeVille]

I see that the pushrod is bent too, I don't know if that's correct or not.

That looks intentional to me.

The threaded portion is a smaller diameter, and I would suspect the failure point on that to most likely be- well exactly where it apparently was.

It does beg the question: how hard do you have to stand on a clutch pedal to bend or break that rod anyways?

[hotrodalex]

PO was granny shifting not double clutching like he should.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

PO was granny shifting not double clutching like he should.

Street racing 101

[280Z Turbo]

Drove the car to the Grand Rapids 28th street Metro Cruise (kinda like the Woodward Dream Cruise).



Seems to run well except for the front wheel bearings need replacement, the shifter needs adjustment and the brand new throwout bearing is being noisy.

[FoMoJo]

It takes a nice picture.

[280Z Turbo]

Also, the 327 feels really weak. It runs OK, but it isn't fast, even with a 4.11 rear.

What modz do I need? I'm thinking cam and possibly new heads. The Quadrajet is rated for 750 cfm so no issue there.

[Rupert]

Rebuild with cam and heads?

[hotrodalex]

What intake does it have?

[280Z Turbo]

What intake does it have?

A cast iron spread bore Quadrajet one. Not much can be done there since hood clearance is almost maxed out as is.

I kind of want to keep the vintage appearance of the 327 with its oil fill tube and finned valve covers.

[280Z Turbo]

I'm thinking these should wake the ol' motor up:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-152123

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-k1103

[FoMoJo]

How's the short block?  Might be a good idea to refresh it before adding stuff.