81 Corvette PT Project

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I have had my 81 for a few months now, and I am just getting started on the frame-off rebuild. I'm building with a Pro-Touring influence...basically, I want the car to be daily driveable, very reliable, get decent mileage, and have the ability to be driven anywhere, while still having the power to do well at the dragstrip and the suspension/brakes/tires to hold its own on a road course. I'm not building a racecar, but the goal for the car is about 450RWHP, naturally aspirated. I was originally planning to do an LSx/T56 swap, but due to the cost and the fact that I already have a built LT1 383 (more about that later) I am going to use it. It performs very well in the 97 Camaro SS it is currently powering, and should do even better in the lighter Vette. I'm going to use an earlier iron rear (4.11, using the Posi tuning and rebuild advice from Gary and Stinger) with the original aluminum batwing, and makes several suspension and braking upgrades (still deciding exactly what). Wheels and tires will be 18s or a 17/18 mix. I'm planning to paint it exclusively with Spies-Hecker products, Porsche Guards Red with a black center stripe and do a black leather interior with C5 Sport seats.
Here are a few pics of the Vette, just after purchase.Overall, the body appears to be in pretty decent shape. The front bumper cover is toast, and I plan to replace the hood anyway (L88 style), but the rest should be usable as is. It appears to have been repainted once. I'll be stripping it to the bare fiberglass (SMC).



The interior is pretty trashed. The seats are decent, but everything else needs work. The dash is cracked, the carpet was removed by one of the previous owners (due to a t-top leak that he didn't fix),and pretty much everything except the trim around the glass and t-tops will need to be replaced. There is quite a bit of surface rust on the floorpan (yes, its steel on the mid 76-82 models), but the birdcage looks good so no worries.




Something I haven't noticed being done here, but that I would like to do with this build thread, is document the cost of everything. This way, not only can a novice see how things are done and in what order, they can also have a more realistic idea of what the whole process is going to cost. I'll try to include all costs of parts (even estimates for ones I already own) and materials. I'll also subtract out the sale of any parts I won't be reusing. Tool costs will be mentioned, where I have to buy them (I have been working on cars as a hobby for nearly 23 years, so I have most of the basics).This part of the thread will be updated regularly.
Purchase Price- $3500
Citri-Strip- $20
Razor Blades- $5
_________________________________
Total So Far: $3525

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The engine and transmission appear to be original, and it runs decent but has several oil leaks. Someone did remove the CC Quadrajet and original intake and feedback HEI, replacing it with a Carter AFB, Edelbrock Perfromer RPM, and non-CC HEI. I don't care about originality, particularly in a late rubber bumper Vette, so this is going to be pulled within the next couple of weeks (looking for a buyer, $850 complete with all accessories). Someone has already replaced the alternator, water pump, fan clutch, and starter (the AC compressor is dead, and was lying in the floorboard when I got the car). I'm not a big fan of carburetors on cars I am going to be driving in Atlanta traffic (some of the worst in the country), so the LT1 will be ideal.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Since I am waiting on the sale of the engine/trans to pull them out (a buyer will typically pay more for an engine they can hear run), and it hasn't sold yet, I started by stripping paint. This is something my 9 year old son, Jim, could help me with also. At 9, he already knows more about cars than I did at twice his age. Now, I am helping to build the "hands on" knowledge to go with his book knowledge. We are doing as much of the stripping as possible with razor blades, though some of the cuved surfaces I am using Citri Strip stripper from Home Depot.
Jim stripping the door:




Some damage, badly repaired, at the left rear:




Removed the rear bumper cover:

[BulldawgMusclecars]

While Jim worked on the flatter surfaces with the razor blade, I started using the Citr-Strip on the front clip.





I used a razor blade on some areas:

The front end was so trashed, and the fasteners were rusted badly, so I cut off the majority of it with my sawzall then removed the rest:



Some of the areas I used the stripper on required several applications:

[Johnny Blaze]

Good start.

Look forward to the off years vettes getting some pt treatment!

[WS6]

Looking good. Glad to hear you're making progress.

[69camarokid]

i am just loving those curves, now i want a vette

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I have a dozen or so more pics that I need to finish uploading tomorrow (I'm at work right now and can't access photobucket), and I'm making pretty quick progress. The engine should be gone in a few days, then I can strip out the wiring and start getting it ready to pull the body. I'm getting pretty excited about it all!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

i am just loving those curves, now i want a vette

Get one while they are cheap- I have seen several rubber bumper Vettes for sale around here in the $3-5 k range lately. I never thought that it would be less expensive to build a Vette than an early Camaro or Nova!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Looking good. Glad to hear you're making progress.

Thanks Trey. As you can see I decided to go LT1, but I do have a pretty sweet LT1 for it. 12.3:1, with a GTP6 cam! Should make about 450 at the wheels. If I need more, there is always nitrous!

[lvrpool32]

ahhh, yes the fun of stripping a vette, dont envy you that task...brings back some fond memories for me (NOT!) At least it doesnt look liek that car had any repaints, which is good.

Good to see another PT based vette on here.

Nick

[Twin_Turbo]

I agree, far too few PT vettes

[BulldawgMusclecars]

ahhh, yes the fun of stripping a vette, dont envy you that task...brings back some fond memories for me (NOT!) At least it doesnt look liek that car had any repaints, which is good.

Good to see another PT based vette on here.

Nick

Thanks Nick. Its been repainted once, at least in places...finding some attempts at crack repair with nothing but Bondo.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I agree, far too few PT vettes

Thanks Twin Turbo! Your car has been an inspiration for mine, though mine won't be nearly as radical! Your work on that car amazes me!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The Citri-Strip at work:

Rear deck, completely stripped with razor blades:

After removal of the rear window trim:

The tool used to remove the rear window trim, KD Tools #2038 ($8 at O'Reilley's):

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Starting to hit Bondo:


Damage at right front, badly repaired with Bondo:

Starting to remove the headlight buckets; this bolt has to come out:

And these, on both sides:


Didin't get picks, but the bolts holding the mechanism to the nose have to be removed as well.
Headlights out:

More on the damage:


More stripped off the passenger side:

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I'm off work tomorrow, so more to come!

[WS6]

I'm a huge LT fan since people over look them so often. Since you have the hood room, I'd ditch the LT1 intake for a carb style intake and run a TB on top with port injectors. That should help the LT breath better and run harder on the top end. Of course this leads to spending more money and you know how that goes. It'll be sweet regardless. Let me know if you need any help with the build. Looks like you're making great progress by yourself though.

[WS6]

seen this?

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=42577

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I'm a huge LT fan since people over look them so often. Since you have the hood room, I'd ditch the LT1 intake for a carb style intake and run a TB on top with port injectors. That should help the LT breath better and run harder on the top end. Of course this leads to spending more money and you know how that goes. It'll be sweet regardless. Let me know if you need any help with the build. Looks like you're making great progress by yourself though.

I'm considering that, though if I do it will be towards the end of the build (anxious to get it on the road, but $ is a little tight since I am building this car, going back to school in the fall (MBA)...and buying an engagement ring within the next few months! Thanks for the offer, I'm sure I'll be calling you for something.