There has been some concern voiced to me about the size & amount of
pictures in the original Sassi thread. Rather than go back through each
photo & substitute URL links I decided to put all the photos to
date on a different photo server. When you click the three links you
will be taken to a Webshots gallery where thumbnails of each pic will
be shown. If you see something that you'd like to see in greater detail
then click the picture. A 640 x 480 picture will open up with
commentary below it. I hope that this will be a good alternative for
y'all on dial up. The photos in these links are actually more up to
date than the photos in the other thread.

http://
community.webshots.com/album/93634483fFeYEN

http://community.webshots.com/album/165184331cURbPT
http://
community.webshots.com/album/187468223kuiEUV

Here's the latest gallery of pics...

http://
community.webshots.com/album/468328722IlkDFS

There are 7 new pics up of Sassi.Barkingowl38879.4703472222

Chris, this looks great.  It's a nice way to keep up with the projects.  Thanks.

Looking good. I don't know some mind the pics but for me it was no problem.
Be sure to keep us updated on the project. I don't want to miss a thing. You are going to have a sweet car when it is finally finished.

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback. I have to go take the weatherstripping down to the body shop sometime later this week & I'll see if there's been more progress.

Things sure are coming along.  I noticed that you have the mono leaf front spring setup.  If you do not mind my asking, what drove your decision to use that.  I am seriously considering a complete suspension rebuild with the max performance suspension kit (mono leaf) or the new kit with coil overs by Van Steel.  Just curious what you have to say. 

[QUOTE=StreetShark]Things sure are coming along.  I noticed that you have the mono leaf front spring setup.  If you do not mind my asking, what drove your decision to use that.  I am seriously considering a complete suspension rebuild with the max performance suspension kit (mono leaf) or the new kit with coil overs by Van Steel.  Just curious what you have to say. [/QUOTE]

Hmm... Not really sure, a friend of mine on the corvette forum recommended Van Steel & I was flipping through their catalog & thought that their high performance package looked good & ordered it.

When you get it all done, I would love to hear how she rides and handles.  I started a thread about suspension enhancements, but no one had any first hand experience with the mono spring front end.  I like the idea that it is a complete (contol arms, bushings the works) kit.  The coil over from van steel looks good too, about the same price.  The ride and handling will be what makes up my mind.

[QUOTE=StreetShark]When you get it all done, I would love to hear how she rides and handles. [/QUOTE]

I'll get my wife's impressions & post them. I'm actually to tall to fit in the driver's seat comfortably. The 74 is her baby. She does plan on taking it to the dragstrip as well.

Update: Well I called up the body shop this morning & was
informed that the right door jamb is completed. All the holes
that weren't supposed to be there have been filled in. The
doors are apparently done & are ready to be picked up from
being bead blasted. Hopefully they are in good shape.

Now for the bad news... Apprently the A pillar behind the
vertical pieces that were riveted into place on each side is not
in the best of shape. When they exposed the right side of the
pillar they found lots of rust & rot. I'm going down
there on Wednesday to have a look for myself.

nice work man! all i can say is thank god for the internet! its
amazing what you can do with a car from mail order and
websites!

gotta tell ya, looking over all those parts being bolted on your
vette makes me drool with delight! its like a candy store of parts
you got. i especially like your choice of using steeroids and the
mono spring! cant wait to see the final "show" pics!

Looking very sweet!!!!!!!!!

I've updated the bottom link. Its current up to yesterday & shows the latest rust problem as well as a few other patched areas.

Well I went to the body shop yesterday. They have a guy working on her full time. Mark showed me that they were trying to put the front end together but the bumper was leaving an inch gap on both sides. They got the right side to fit, then the left side would bulge out. When both sides fit then the middle would bulge.  The lower valance was shot too. I found one at Zip but I've also been offered a used one. There are more cracks appearing along the shelf where the hood rests as well. They have taken the headlight assemblies apart & they are painting the rear surrounds & the front pieces.

The 4 door ajar & hood alarm switches went bad & they are being replaced as well. There's still the windshield that needs to be replaced & all the weatherstripping, but she is coming along & there is an end in sight.

I was at the body shop yesterday. The price has gone all the way up to what I was initially quoted. So much for saving money. 

Here are some new pics that I took yesterday. Enjoy!

Hmm... Apparently I can't post a hyperlink. You'll have to copy/paste this code...

http://community.webshots.com/album/468328722IlkDFS

(fixed the link - Norsky)

Norsky38629.4426041667

Thanks Norsky! Can you PM me how you did it? I couldn't get it to work.

Ok everybody if you take a look at the first post you'll see that a new gallery
has been added. Sassi has been painted & is currently being reassembled.
What we've been currently working on is redoing the seats & ordering
more trim parts & bolts. The driver's seat should be in the car next week.
That's a big step forward! I have to order new interior windshield
pillars since the old ones are either rotted or rusted out. I also have to get
new mounting studs & discs for the hood insulator mat. Someone just glued
the thing right to the underside of the hood.

There are five new pics of Sassi up in the last gallery. She is 99.9% complete.
Thank God! I was getting sick of eating Spaghetti Os & Ramen Soups.

Not that's getting close!   I bet your right foot is getting itchy!   Looking good

Sassi has left the body shop. We picked her up on Saturday! there are 7 new
pics in the last link in the first post.

Thanks for all the great pictures of your adventure. Really enjoyed them.

Apparently the adventure continues. I spoke to the owner of the body shop
this morning. He told me that. " there were a bunch of wires & other stuff
that we disconnected but didn't connect again because we didn't know
where they go."

On the other hand I just got a working left hand wiper regulator in from a
fellow North Carolinian today, so that's a step in the right direction.

Just a little update... I had bought new power window motors for both
doors. The passenger side one was installed without any problems, but
the driver's side one & the new window regulator had me It seems
that when you have to replace both pieces that when reassembled a 1/8"
gap exists between the teeth of the gear on the motor & the teeth on the
gear of the regulator. We tried switching out the new gear on the
motor with the old gear from the old motor. That dropped the gap to
about 1/16". You could get the window halfway down only to have it close
right up. The solution to this problem was welding the holes closed
on the regulator & moving the assembly forward till the two gears were in
close contact. Then the positions of the new holes were marked, drilled &
the regulator was bolted to the door.

The wiper regulator was installed without a problem. I know some of y'all
are thinking that was too easy. I know I was.

You may remember that the headlights were sleepy before the car went in
the body shop. After she came out they were up & running but wouldn't
go down. We got the vacuum issues sorted out so that the lights would
close & open using the switch under the dash, but only when the car was
idling between 1800-2000rpms. But I wanted to use the switch on the
dash, being a purist & all. Much to my surprise not only did the
switch on the dash have to be replaced, but so did both actuators.

The turn signals & the horn all work so that was another bit of good luck.
However we're now getting down & dirty under the dash & sorting out
which wires go to what gauges.

Adam was kind enough to send us our shirts from the gathering. We will
be there next year come hell or high water.

Apparently the car is finished!

Well maybe finished was the wrong word to use. My wife wanted an audio
system installed, so right now that's being worked on.

I just posted 5 new pics of Sassi's audio system that was added last fall. After a bout of trouble with the odometer & speedometer cables Sassi is back on the road.

Norsky2007-03-10 21:00:00

I just love the color.. It's just great when the project is done and you get to show it off..Terry

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   "I Love all Corvettes! LifeTime Member #60..Terry"

But...but...It's GREEN!?!?!

Looks Great!!!! It's so nice to "finish" a major project, ain't it? I do like the bubble tail lights. Congrats!!

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] But...but...It's GREEN!?!?! [ [/QUOTE]

Well the wife wanted the cars to match... I draw the line at wearing matching clothes though...

Well... I got some very bad news last night. My wife was driving Sassi north of Charlotte. She said there was a loud bang from the left sidepipe. The car came to a halt. Fortunately she got it off the road. We had it towed back to the house. This morning it was towed to the dealership. The engine grenaded itself.
There was no oil on the dipstick. The mechanic said that the end cap had come off & that the bearing rod had spun & wrapped itself around the camshaft.

They wanted to put a 383 into the car, but the cheapest that they could give it to me was $5398.80 + tax! GM Performance parts brought the price down to a little over $4k. I ordered an engine from Year One down in Georgia for a little over $3k delivered. The only problem is that they don't carry that engine in stock & it'll take 3-5 weeks for it to get here.

I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet & go with the GM motor even though its more expensive... Any thoughts?

Man that really sucks.

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[QUOTE=dwright]Man that really sucks. [/QUOTE]

I've been wondering about that. I put in an order for the Year One engine, but I really think I should've waited...

Man...that REALLY sux!!! You seem to be taking it well, tho...but...how is the little woman? Still breathing?
Just kiddin...

I don't know of anyone using an engine from Year One. If it's already on order, just make sure you get all the info you can on it. Warranty, specs, etc.
Good luck with it, and be sure to keep us posted on how it turns out.

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]Man...that REALLY sux!!! You seem to be taking it well, tho...but...how is the little woman? Still breathing?
Just kiddin...

I don't know of anyone using an engine from Year One. If it's already on order, just make sure you get all the info you can on it. Warranty, specs, etc.
Good luck with it, and be sure to keep us posted on how it turns out. [/QUOTE]

I planned for the worst case scenario which in my mind was a blown engine. The year One engine has a 12 month/12k warranty Its a 350 SB, but it produces 400hp. I'll have to have a look at the specs as soon as their site comes up again.

The GM crate engine that the dealership suggested was almost $2000 more than this one.

My wife is very angry that the motor failed...
Barkingowl2007-07-06 21:28:25

Man, that's a lot of money either way you go. If Year One is having to order the engine and there is a five week wait, is there a way for you to back out of the deal? To me it would be more important to get exactly what I want even if there was a small penalty for cancelling the order. You have put all the time and effort into the body and paint work. The car is beautiful. Shouldn't you be completely comfortable with your engine choice?

Scott

Check into Jegs...that's where I ended up buying mine.

______________

Lifetime Member #73

The Money Pit.... and my niece

(click to see a slightly larger version)

[QUOTE=ranger3]Man, that's a lot of money either way you go. If Year One is having to order the engine and there is a five week wait, is there a way for you to back out of the deal? To me it would be more important to get exactly what I want even if there was a small penalty for cancelling the order. You have put all the time and effort into the body and paint work. The car is beautiful. Shouldn't you be completely comfortable with your engine choice?

Scott
[/QUOTE]

Scott, the engine from Year One showed up 3 days after I ordered it! Its already been installed in the car. Some of the gauges were faulty & my wife has decided to replace them with green digital gauges. She ordered those from Summit. They should be here by the second week in August. Our mechanic told us that some of the wiring was shorting out so we're also replacing the under hood & dash wiring with a Painless kit. I suppose that the real pain is in my bank account. The mechanic told us that after this round, the only time he expects to see us back will be for oil changes.

I'll get some new pics on Monday.
Barkingowl2007-07-28 12:19:34

Oh... Before I forget I had a look at the old motor before a friend scarfed it up. DBP had put the flywheel on backwards & the transmission had three bolts holding it in place. 

[QUOTE=Barkingowl]The mechanic told us that after this round, the only time he expects to see us back will be for oil changes.[/QUOTE]

Well the Year One engine lasted approximately 600 miles before it seized.
This time the 74 died about 60 miles fron the house in York County SC. Hagerty's couldn't get their act together so we had to have a local company tow it back to the house & then tow it to the dealership on the Monday before Thanksgiving. The dealership took off the heads & discovered that #8 rod had punched through the oil pan. The engine manufacturer called the dealership & had them pull the engine. It was shipped back to them in California right before I went in the hospital for brain surgery. So far only one good thing has come out of this latest episode, I bought a pair of black Z06 seats with their tracks in like new condition from a guy on corvetteforum for $700. They are going to be installed in Sassi sometime next week. The digital gauges really look cool in the car as well.

So let's see, car's dead... I had a tumor removed from my head, its almost Christmas. Seems like a typical year.

Hang in there Chris! Life is what you make it so make it good.

I am a brain surgery patient from 20+ ago now. (I wasn't always like this... I used to be a nice guy! )

Don't give up and don't let them get the best of you! Sassi has come a long way from the early pics I remember seeing!

It sounds like you are lucky to have everyone working together on the engine. To me that seems rare and definately in your favor!

Have a great Holiday Season!

______________

Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


(Click on image to see a bigger version)

No word on the engine yet, but Merry Christmas Everybody!

Hang in there! Our thoughts and prayers are with you through the holidays!

Thanks Luke!

I got a call from the dealership yesterday. They had received a message from the rep at the engine factory. The factory had determined that the problem with our engine was their fault & that they were sending the dealership a replacement engine! Let's see how long it takes to get to us & how long it lasts.

Sassi is also having a pair of black seats installed from a 2004 Z06.

Well the new engine has been installed & now she needs a new brake proportioning valve & the crankcase filter has died. The dealership is trying to get the engine manufacturer to pay the labor costs for taking the old engine out & installing the new one. I think that's about it for right now. 

Well the '74 was picked up Friday afternoon & my wife drove it home. She decided to take it out to a friend's house south of the city. She called me about half an hour later to tell me that the car had died near his house. Apparently the coil was breaking down. So I had to call Summit Racing & order a new MSD ignition & coil. She actually got the car back to the house. She bounced over the gutter between the road & the driveway without a long trail of sparks from the sidepipes. 
So when the new ignition shows up later this week it will have to be installed. She also wants a rev limiter as well.

Chris,

______________

Well the repairs are coming out of her pocketbook this time. 

Well the engine seems to be holding up this time. The new ignition & coil were installed & she's been using the car pretty regularly. About a week ago there was some oil leakage on the garage floor. We took the car to the mechanic & he was making a gasket for the fuel pump. While the car was on the lift he noticed that the water pump had failed. 
S there's a new one coming in from Summit Racing.

Get it all taken care of before the trip to Hot Springs.

______________

Let's see its been awhile since I posted but the engine had some internal problems that led to it being disassembled by a friend. I can't remember what all my wife had done to it except to tell me in passing that the internal parts were crap & that they were being replaced.

She had been complaining that the car was overheating & I wondered how that could be so seeing that it had been repaired & had sat forever in the garage, but women just seem to have this sixth sense about things. So it went back to the mechanic & lo & behold she was right. One of the fans wasn't working as the wiring had melted on the driver's side header. The mechanic also said that the car had shed a gallon of coolant on the drive from his house to his garage to be put up on a lift. Come to find out that there was a leak in the radiator right below the fill cap. The radiator was pulled & sent off to Be Cool who repaired it.

It was also discovered that the passenger side power window motor was dead & needed to be replaced. I'm currently waiting on a new one from Corvette Central. Both power window switches were also bad & need to be replaced as well. Then the digital dash needs to be recalibrated. I think that's it.

sorry to hear its broke..glad to hear its getting fixed..happy to see your post!! Rich

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010