Oil, water, transmission fluid.  Three gallons of fuel.  Brakes bled, new Mid-America chambered exhausts installed.  Timing set (SWAG).  Oil pump power-drill spun, 40# of oil pressure.  Power steering fluid, valves set (as much as I can).  New fire extinguisher standing by.  Plugs gapped and installed (not so easy with these headers).  The boy and I bled the brakes this afternoon, and took it off of jackstands.

All that's left is to trailer it to the muffler shop on Friday to weld the header outlet to the exhausts.  Then, of course, the inevitable fixin' stuff that don't work and several thousand dollars in paint and bodywork.

I'm ready to fire it up for the first time since 2009.  Any last minute tips?  Prayers?  Chicken bones?  Should I just sell the entire hulk on eBay and buy a new one? 



After all this work, I'm too scared to turn the key.

- engine work
- new heads and cam
- trans flush, filter change, new torque converter
- new rubber everything (bushings, mounts, etc.)
- new u-joints
- rebuilt P/S pump
- new shocks
- rebuilt trailing arms
- new bearings on all four corners
- new fuel tank (rubber bladder) with top pickup.
- all new driven accessories (alt, water pump, etc).
- Vintage Air A/C
- All new wiring (from a '75)
- Autometer arctic white gauges in the center stack
- Four rebuilt brake calipers
- New brake lines
- New slotted calipers rotors
- New master cylinder
- Rear end rebuild
- New brake and fuel lines
- Interior completely redone
- MP3/Digital tuner that looks kinda like a stock radio
- 100 w amp, with 6x9 box in the cargo tray.
- New headlight actuator seals and relays
- Dynamat on every surface I could reach

Ad nauseum

About the only thing I didn't change was the front ball joints.  But the rivets had been replaced with bolts, so I figure they've been changed before, and there was no slop that I could feel.

What am I missing for that initial startup, other than a cam break in and transmission fill?

Hopefully Zora Duntov and Harley Earl will be smiling on me when I turn the key next weekend!







|UPDATED|4/6/2014 7:29:38 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner

Well, do you still have the ignition key?

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You didn't mention coolant fill - assuming that has happened.

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Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

 I don't see blinker fluid, or charging the flux capacitor on that list, Darryl.....very impotant steps....don't forgit those.
Other than that, FIRE THAT PUPPY UP!


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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"

Does the rear end have fluid?

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1973 BB 4-Speed Coupe Project Car

Oh yeah, blinker fluid!!  No wonder they won't work!!  

Good suggestion on the suspension bolts... I went over it again and realized I had left the motor mounts loose when I installed the drive shaft. 

Exhausts going on next Wednesday, firing it up the Sunday after.  Fingers crossed!!




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"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner