1971 LS5 Corvette starting to rebuild it!

[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

Hi everyone, I recently purchased a 71 big block Corvette, I have been thinking about what to do with the car as I rebuild it back to a great driver and show car. I just happen to run across the Mark Stielow's book and article about his 69 Camaro kicking the crap out of the new ZL-1. So I got his book and am starting into it. If you have some work on a 71 Vette I have lots of questions.... I am hoping to build this Vette so it can out run and handle new Mustangs and stay with modern muscle cars. Mustang guys please don't start in on me, I have been a Mustang owner for the last 40 years but recently sold my Mustang because I purchased this Vette. I love all cars that move!

[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

Forgot, I am in Sacramento, Cali if you have a Vette or muscle car I can look at. I am always looking for help and car friends.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Welcome Sir. There's a few killer vette builds going on right now in the project section!

[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

Thanks will check it out!

[BMR Sales]

Welcome to the site...... what do you have planned for the car? Try to post a few pictures of the car when you get a chance.

[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

Will try to post some pics here not sure how this site works yet. As for the Vette, I am hoping to keep as much of it in place as I can, but I am going through the car fixing and replacing what needs to be replaced or cleaned up. I am going to keep the motor it seems strong if I can stop the fluid leaks, I am going to change to an overdrive transmission so I can cruize easy on the freeway and get more top end. Will be replacing the bushings and shocks/structs and anything needed on the suspension, need a leaf spring in the back and am thinking about the mono leaf composite spring. I am more than likely going to go with a more modern turn gear to make it more solid at the steering wheel. When the time comes for a motor rebuild I will keep it stock looking but pump it up on the inside as much as I can. So basically at this point I am still in the process of figuring out what needs to be replaced and what I want. I know I want a Le Mans Race Car but its going to be a street car and it is a rare LS5 so I will try to keep it as stock looking as possible. Basically what I want out of the car is a fast car able to reach 160 mph but 150 would do and I wont actually test it. I want it to be very stable on the road and turn and handle like a modern sports car and less like a bus. I kind of like the idea of a classic car that can kick the crap out of the new muscle so that is my goal. In reality the car will be a show car and from time to time when its solid a little cone avoidance for time. Okay let me see what I can do for photos.

[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

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[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

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[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

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[WickedGlassMouseHouse]

One interesting thing about the car and something that I found really funny. I pulled the seats out this week to get the seat belts out and have them rebuilt, the seats look redone they have new cushion foam but under each seat was a nice mouse nest with mouse potty turds and all. I just can not figure it out, how does someone put new seats right on top of the nest and not clean it up. The car was in a museum for a couple of years, makes me wonder about all the cars in that museum. Glad I got this car out before it got any worse. Anyway the turds and nest material are gone. Sad is the fact that the previous owner seems to know very little about the car and I can not find out much about its past. I get the feeling it has been poorly treated, from the type of repairs I am seeing the car was poorly repaired and cared for. Perfect for me because I baby the crap out of my cars.

[uxojerry]

Welcome aboard!! Im glad to see another Corvette owner join the forum.

[Badburn]

Nice car, I really want one of those.

[Aficionado]

Welcome! I'm working on a '72 small block coupe....yep, I read Stielow's book, too. Lol. Just let me warn you, once you go down the rabbit hole of the PT world, it tends to get out of hand pretty fast.

Look forward to seeing more about the car! I used to have a drop top '71 LS5 before this car, and it was loads of fun. Much better weight distribution than people think, too.