Topic: I CAN STEER AGAIN !! IT'S A MIRACLE !!!
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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FIRST, BEFORE I GET INTO THE MIRACLE, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THEIR IDEAS AND COMMENTS !! WITHOUT YOUR HELP, I'D STILL BE SCRATCHING MY HEAD AND SCREAMING 
OK, NOW ONTO THE MIRACLE . BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SHOP DOING THE WORK, AND SHOWED THEM ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT CRACKING OPEN THE PITMAN ARM AND RAG JOINT . OPENING THE PITMAN ARM DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING, AS THE STEERING WAS THE SAME . BUT AFTER OPENING THE RAG JOINT, THAT'S WHERE ALL THE TROUBLE WAS !! BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END HIT, AND THE FRAME BEING STRAIGHTENED, IT SEEMS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS STILL A BIT OUT . THERE WAS A MISALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING BOX TO THE COLUMN OF , AT LEAST, HALF AN INCH . SO, NO MATTER WHAT WAS DONE, IT WASN'T RUNNING TRUE !!THE FIX WAS PRETTY SIMPLE . THEY JUST REMOVED THE STEERING BOX, AND SHIMMED IT UNTIL IT WAS DEAD ON WITH THE COLUMN. OK, NOT IDEALLY THE PROPER FIX, BUT, IT STEERS AS GOOD AS BEFORE THE WRECK ! THE CORRECT WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HAVE THE FRAME LOOKED AT AND STRAIGHTENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. BUT, IT DRIVES DEAD STRAIGHT , BANGS TURNS WITH EASE , AND ALL THE ALIGNMENT SPECS ARE DEAD ON !
NOW, MAYBE I CAN START SHOPPING FOR A GOOD BODY SHOP TO GET THAT HEADACHE PAINTED !
OH, BY THE WAY, ANYONE NEED AN ALMOST BRAND NEW STEERING VALVE ? ONLY HAS 70 MILES ON IT . I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE VALVE, BUT, OBVIOUSLY I WAS WAY WRONG ! EMAIL ME AT BLAKBOLT@AOL.COM IF ANYONE HAS AN INTEREST IN IT . LET'S MAKE A DEAL !!
OK, NOW ONTO THE MIRACLE . BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SHOP DOING THE WORK, AND SHOWED THEM ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS ABOUT CRACKING OPEN THE PITMAN ARM AND RAG JOINT . OPENING THE PITMAN ARM DIDN'T SHOW ANYTHING, AS THE STEERING WAS THE SAME . BUT AFTER OPENING THE RAG JOINT, THAT'S WHERE ALL THE TROUBLE WAS !! BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END HIT, AND THE FRAME BEING STRAIGHTENED, IT SEEMS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS STILL A BIT OUT . THERE WAS A MISALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING BOX TO THE COLUMN OF , AT LEAST, HALF AN INCH . SO, NO MATTER WHAT WAS DONE, IT WASN'T RUNNING TRUE !!THE FIX WAS PRETTY SIMPLE . THEY JUST REMOVED THE STEERING BOX, AND SHIMMED IT UNTIL IT WAS DEAD ON WITH THE COLUMN. OK, NOT IDEALLY THE PROPER FIX, BUT, IT STEERS AS GOOD AS BEFORE THE WRECK ! THE CORRECT WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO HAVE THE FRAME LOOKED AT AND STRAIGHTENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. BUT, IT DRIVES DEAD STRAIGHT , BANGS TURNS WITH EASE , AND ALL THE ALIGNMENT SPECS ARE DEAD ON !
NOW, MAYBE I CAN START SHOPPING FOR A GOOD BODY SHOP TO GET THAT HEADACHE PAINTED !
OH, BY THE WAY, ANYONE NEED AN ALMOST BRAND NEW STEERING VALVE ? ONLY HAS 70 MILES ON IT . I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS THE VALVE, BUT, OBVIOUSLY I WAS WAY WRONG ! EMAIL ME AT BLAKBOLT@AOL.COM IF ANYONE HAS AN INTEREST IN IT . LET'S MAKE A DEAL !!
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Glad you got the problem fixed, kinda need to be able to steer 
Hey what I wanna know is do you have any more pictures of that unique lookin Shark. Never seen anything like it, and if you were going to do that, any reason for not going with a '63 split back window. Too rare or legal issues for registration?
Hey what I wanna know is do you have any more pictures of that unique lookin Shark. Never seen anything like it, and if you were going to do that, any reason for not going with a '63 split back window. Too rare or legal issues for registration?MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117 
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"Keep up the Pace"
Wasn't really all that easy to fix, really . After changing almost everything having to do with the steering, twice , then we went to the pitman arm and rag joint . I should have asked this forum about that first, but , it never crossed my mind .
As for pics of my Vette , I'm sure I have a few , someplace . I do have a couple with the new rear bumper on . I changed to an ' 80, as well as an '80 nose . Had to go with a '76 hood though ! But, the bumper , in the pic, is White . Now, the car is in Black primer until I find a decent shop to repaint it !
I bought it just the way you see it . That rear window conversion was done by the previous owner . Nice to have money , isn't it ? I'm sure it cost him a few pennies ! I've only seen one other like it, and it was a Teal color .
Lifetime MemberHOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
That window conversion is way too cool!! 
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I like the way it looks With the 80 front & rear on there you're going to need a sign telling everyone what year it is, otherwise you will be answering that question forever 
With the 80 front & rear on there you're going to need a sign telling everyone what year it is, otherwise you will be answering that question forever
Nice Vette,
Dave
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
As long as it keeps people guessing , that's half the fun ! 
[QUOTE=ranger3]I am a huge fan of the mid year coupes. Your car represents the best of both eras. I would certainly consider such a conversion on mine. That is a great look.
Scott
[/QUOTE]
WRAITH 2007-04-15 12:22:41
Scott
[/QUOTE]
There's only one problem with that conversion ( well, at least on mine ) . Where they cut the original window off and glassed on the new one, the bonding strip has cracked from one side to the other ! Might have been just a bad job from the beginning , can't say . But, since it'll be completely stripped and repainted, it isn't much a problem now . I'm sure a quality shop would have done a better job , but, since I didn't have it done, I just have to deal with it . 
Lifetime MemberPoquoson, VA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2004
Posts: 1023
Vette(s): 73 Conv, Blue-Green/White Top - 454, M21 - Dark Saddle Leather, Power Windows, A/C, Tilt/Tele, AM/FM St. (orig. and sounds like it too).#2 -- 2007 Coupe,3 LT package, Z51 option, Victory Red, Ebony Int. Clear Top.
[QUOTE=WRAITH][QUOTE=ranger3]I am a huge fan of the mid year coupes. Your car represents the best of both eras. I would certainly consider such a conversion on mine. That is a great look.
Scott
[/QUOTE]
Scott
[/QUOTE]
I saw a '74 that had that same conversion... yours is the second I've seen so far... it really does catch ones eye especially if you are at all familiar with the C3... lookin'good 
Lifetime Member #86
USN 1966-1970
WestPac 67-68 Tet I&II
Featured in Corvette Enthusiast Aug 2007 "Shark Attack"
Blue Green *** 454,4 Spd, Dark Saddle Leather, A/C, AM-FM St. (orig), PW, Tilt -Tele Wheel"
(click to see a bigger image)
USN 1966-1970
WestPac 67-68 Tet I&II
Featured in Corvette Enthusiast Aug 2007 "Shark Attack"
Blue Green *** 454,4 Spd, Dark Saddle Leather, A/C, AM-FM St. (orig), PW, Tilt -Tele Wheel"
(click to see a bigger image)
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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