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Topic: body off

in Forum: C3 Body


body off

Posted: 12/11/07 6:13pm Message 1 of 9
Former Member
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Southfield, MI - USA
Joined: 12/8/2007
Posts: 10
Vette(s): 1976 corvette stingray needs restoration
I just picked up my first vette a 1976 for 2000.00 its solid but i want to tear down to do full restore.
 
how hard is it to remove the front clip?
how hard to remove body??
is there really only 2 peices front clip/main body??
does the motor have to come out first??
any good books with illustrations for teardown.
 



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body off

Posted: 12/11/07 11:16pm Message 2 of 9
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
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Joined: 9/8/2005
Posts: 241
Vette(s): 1980 with a Banks Twin Turbo 1969 Convert Big Block 1996 Grand Sport Convert
  Welcome tp the Corvette Comunity. Unless there is a Reason to Remove the Front Clip its not nessary for a Body off Restoration. Same with the Engine. When the cars were produced the Body was Droped on the Frame in one piece with the Drive Train allready in the Frame. Go to any one of the Big Corvette Suppliers and there are many Books on the Subject. Richard.....


My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

body off

Posted: 12/12/07 12:14am Message 3 of 9
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Yelm, WA - USA
Joined: 7/12/2007
Posts: 356
Vette(s): 1979 L82 4 speed Scat 383 crank 190 cc Procomp Aluminum Heads 202 160 stainless valves GM Powder metal rods Speedpro H860CP Hypereutectic pistons 280 cam hydralic HEI Pro comp 1.6 roller rockers Mighty Demon 750 Sanderson CC1AP Hedders.
Welcome! The assembly manual is nice to have, I got an old Hyanes and an old Chiltons and I wish I could merge the two into one book. One thing I'm wanting santa to drop for me is a 79 vette GM service manual.
Paragon Corvette parts catalogue is pretty nice to have as well.
I budgeted for a lot of the big stuff the but it was the little things I ran into that really wore me down and cost me a lot of time and money.
Don't pull the motor out if you don't have to until the body is off, much easier to get at everything with it off and it's easier on the paint job. Search the threads on here for body off and you will find a lot of really good info. Also feel free to PM me with any questions you got I've gone through just about everything on the chasis so far and I'm more than happy to share with you what I learned. I got some pictures of what I've done so far and redwingvette has got some really good pictures and a check list also. http://picasaweb.google.com/minnickjason
Good Luck! 
P.S. everything I know about sharks I learned of this site. There is no way I would have been able to do my project without everyone on here helping me out. Thumbs%20Up
79rebuild2007-12-12 00:26:32


body off

Posted: 12/12/07 6:37am Message 4 of 9
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Horse Cave, KY - USA
Joined: 10/22/2007
Posts: 488
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82
BEFORE you start tearing in to your car, my advice would be to purchase three or four of the C3 restoration books available through the aftermarket providers and read through them.  It helps to have an idea of what you're up against before you start taking parts off the car.
 
Noland Adams has a body lift video and workbook which could be a nice thing to have.  His information is usually geared toward C1 and C2s, but the frame-off process is essentially the same regardless of generation.
 
Get the car safely drivable first.  It's much easier to work on a car which can move under its own power than one up on jackstands.  Drive her for a while and make a list of what she needs immediately and items which can wait.  Get the "immediate" items up to snuff,  then plan your frame-off from that point.
 
Smile 
6880Mike2007-12-12 06:43:38


body off

Posted: 12/12/07 10:09am Message 5 of 9
Former Member
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Southfield, MI - USA
Joined: 12/8/2007
Posts: 10
Vette(s): 1976 corvette stingray needs restoration
thanks guys so the whole body including front clip can come off as one big peice.  How flimsey is it??Should I brace up the front clip before pulling??


body off

Posted: 12/12/07 12:37pm Message 6 of 9
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Horse Cave, KY - USA
Joined: 10/22/2007
Posts: 488
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82
 
 
 
Bonded bodies are fairly stout, but reinforcement is never a bad idea.  The restoration books will offer suggestions.
 
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body off

Posted: 12/12/07 12:47pm Message 7 of 9
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
To reinforce what the others have said.  If you remove the front clip, you will certainly damage some fiberglass.  Even if it doesn't immediately show, it will come back to haunt you in the future.  The lift strap kits are a good idea, but not crucial.


body off

Posted: 12/12/07 12:53pm Message 8 of 9
Former Member
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Yelm, WA - USA
Joined: 7/12/2007
Posts: 356
Vette(s): 1979 L82 4 speed Scat 383 crank 190 cc Procomp Aluminum Heads 202 160 stainless valves GM Powder metal rods Speedpro H860CP Hypereutectic pistons 280 cam hydralic HEI Pro comp 1.6 roller rockers Mighty Demon 750 Sanderson CC1AP Hedders.

Mine wasn't that flimsy but it did sag a little, if you add a cargo strap down to the front bumper bar to give some support when your lifting the body off you can keep from sagging and you can adjust it to ride level. I made some adjustments to the body dolly plans and overbuilt it, it's kind of personal preference thing, get the biggest casters you can for it so it will roll around easilly. The front will sag a little if unsupported but not bad. If you drop the gas tank you can decrease the amount of travel needed to lift the body. If you have a good engine hoist you can get by with that but I don't recommend it unless it's a big'un. I lag bolted a wood header up to my garage ceiling with some brackets and used a chain host and it worked out realy well. I could pick the whole car up with it, (don't ask)dohThe hardest part will be those pesky rusted body mount bolts, you will have at least one of those suckers to deal with unless your really lucky(cross you fingers). Once you get it off start taking pictures of everything, and I mean everything, it really helps a lot when your putting it back together. One of those plastic bin organizer makes life a lot easier for the bolts and nut storage.




body off

Posted: 12/12/07 1:19pm Message 9 of 9
Former Member
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Southfield, MI - USA
Joined: 12/8/2007
Posts: 10
Vette(s): 1976 corvette stingray needs restoration
awesome picts thanks


in Forum: C3 Body


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