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    1. #1
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States

      Project Love 69 - C3 Corvette build

      I figured it was time I introduced my '69 Corvette...

      A little background on the car: I bought it when I was 16. It had no brakes, no interior, the suspension was dry rotted and it ran on 7 cylinders. At least the paint was nice! Look at that ride height!



      Fast forward past the restoration stuff, and it now has new brakes, a Vette Brakes & Products monoleaf suspension kit, 17" torque thrust wheels, and a healthy 350/m20 4 speed


      So from here on Ill be updating this thread with modifications that make the car more of a streetfighter, and less an average restoration. As for the name, I think the '69 has the best styling cues of all of the C3 vettes. What did you think I meant?

      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread


    2. #2
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      I made a splitter to help keep the front end down at speed, and keep the brakes cool:



      I made this piece from the factory dust shield:



      After that I ran the car at the first annual RTTS. I had some oil control issues so I couldnt run the car too hard, but I still had a blast! So in preparation for this years RTTS I got a nice Canton Road Race oil pan. It performed awesome on the track and held a rock solid oil pressure.


      I also got this sweet billet oil cooler thermostat. I didnt get to install it before RTTS, but I will now. Especially since my oil temps were climbing pretty high after multiple hard laps on the track.


      I also ditched the stock seats for some much more supportive Corbeau A4's. I love these!
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      During one of my last runs at RTTS, I had coolant coat my windshield. Turned out to be my head gasket.


      At least I had my new wheels to look forward to when I got it back home. This is just a mock-up. Ive got a set of spacers/adapters ordered. The wheels are BMW M-Parallels 18x9.5 with 285 Nitto NT555's all around


      As of yesterday, the rear suspension is out to help improve the stock IRS characteristics



      Im notching the diff crossmember to raise the diff up. This puts the half shafts closer to the recommended position to minimize toe-change under cornering.


      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Feb 2010
      Location
      Central NJ
      Posts
      792
      I LOVE this car Chris..haha..seriously.. this car is way cool!

      I'll see you around this summer! Get that head gasket fixed... and replace that damn JB Weld Radiator..LOL


      -Sean

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Nov 2011
      Location
      London, UK / San Diego, CA
      Posts
      161
      Country Flag: United States
      Chris,

      Pumped to see you having a build thread over here too! Quick question on the A4's - do they mimic the position of the stock seats well? I've been thinking about getting a pair for my vette but at 6'4 I'm already close to the t-tops with the stock seats and I'm afraid that these would push me both up and forward...

      Want to make a second splitter?
      Eric
      1969/72 Corvette Coupe - https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...uring-Corvette
      454 Block / Heads For Sale - https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ads-SD-LA-Area
      Corvette Parts & Service:. www.vansteel.com

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by sr73bu View Post
      I LOVE this car Chris..haha..seriously.. this car is way cool!

      I'll see you around this summer! Get that head gasket fixed... and replace that damn JB Weld Radiator..LOL


      -Sean
      The only reason I'm going to replace that radiator is because I can get an aluminum one that weighs less. That JB weld holds up good! Haha

      Quote Originally Posted by sokoloka View Post
      Chris,

      Pumped to see you having a build thread over here too! Quick question on the A4's - do they mimic the position of the stock seats well? I've been thinking about getting a pair for my vette but at 6'4 I'm already close to the t-tops with the stock seats and I'm afraid that these would push me both up and forward...

      Want to make a second splitter?
      Thanks Eric! The A4's are definitely a tight fit. I'm not sure how comfortable you would be with a helmet on in these seats. I have some pictures that I'll post later today of how I modified the stock tracks to get these to sit lower.
      As for my splitter... The current one is a very rough "prototype". I am eventually going to make it into a mold and make a nicer one... I'll keep you in mind when I do that
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    7. #7
      Join Date
      May 2005
      Location
      Norwalk, Ct
      Posts
      477
      Country Flag: Wales
      I have a spare crossmember ready to notch sitting in the garage..I'm just holding off because I know once the diff is out I'll want to fab up the top 6-link bracket...and so on..and so on ..next thing you know its winter!
      Nick Townsend
      Pro-Vintage 69 Corvette
      64 Riviera Custom - 20's, air bags
      Shell Valley Cobra
      2005 Penske Racing Dodge Charger Nextel Cup Car "Rusty's Last Round"

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by lvrpool32 View Post
      I have a spare crossmember ready to notch sitting in the garage..I'm just holding off because I know once the diff is out I'll want to fab up the top 6-link bracket...and so on..and so on ..next thing you know its winter!
      Dont get me started... Im already having a hard time trying to keep this project from escalating. I would like to do some alu. halfshafts, strut rods with heim ends, and johnny joints in the T/A's but that might keep me off the road even longer.

      Eric- Heres the pics of the modified seat tracks. With these I measured 34" from the ass of the seat to the top of the T-top (no liner)

      Before:


      After:


      Before:


      After:
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Been working on this project during my down time at the shop (alot, unfortunately). I have been trying to work on a way to use the stock crossmember bushings to raise the diff. The main reason for doing it this way was because I have a dual mount spring, and I wanted to lower the car more without getting longer spring bolts.

      I actually did notch the crossmember, before changing my mind to do the bushings instead. Here was the notch (1"):



      Scrapped that idea since it looks like I will be able to get almost 3/4" with the bushing mods. Hopefully that will give me the stance that Im after, and get the half shafts at a more reasonable angle.
      Heres the crossmember mocked up to the frame with the sombrero-looking part of the frame hammered flat:


      Heres a modded bushing... The lip is sliced and hammered flat so that it can recess into the crossmember:


      Heres where Im at now... This bushing has the tabs that fold over cut off approximately right at the bend to show how recessed the bushing is:


      I plan on replicating the tabs on the bottom to attach the bushings to the crossmember, and then I will run the aluminum disks that I had previously.

      Any other ideas on how to locate the crossmember without using these bushings (or having a piece of rubber/poly lathe-cut to fit) are welcome
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Sep 2007
      Location
      York, Pa
      Posts
      457
      I saw you go "four off" at RTTS and all I could think of was that custom front air dam! I was glad to see it was still intact when you came back in. I like the new wheels too by the way.
      Justin Snow

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Been making some slow progress... I gave up on getting my stock bushings to work with the crossmember, so Im going to make a set on my buddies lathe. In the mean time, Im trying to knock a few other things off my list for the rear suspension. My current ride height is pretty close to the bumpstops, meaning the shocks are close to bottoming as well. So I notched the frame tonight and made a new shock mount.




      Just need to finish welding it in, clean it up, paint it and it will be good to go.

      One of my friends invited me to a SCDA at LimeRock on the 31st... Thats my deadline to have the car running and setup. I missed RTOS so Id really like to try to make this one. Fingers crossed...

      I also got some of my AN fittings in for my oil cooler. What do you think of this hose movement? It is the least I could get it to move after a few tries. The hose was pushed all the way to the bottom of the threads on the red piece. (This is my first time using AN stuff) The hose is -10



      Quote Originally Posted by GNon18s View Post
      I saw you go "four off" at RTTS and all I could think of was that custom front air dam! I was glad to see it was still intact when you came back in. I like the new wheels too by the way.
      Thanks! Still waiting for my custom adapters to come in so I havent even mounted them yet. Im excited to see how the 285's fit up front.
      Ive hit so many things with that splitter, I am surprised its still in one piece! The support rods do take a beating though
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Got my Mocal oil cooler in today... Very nice piece. Im going to mount it behind my license plate so I can block some airflow during street driving.
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Made a little progress on the oil cooler tonight... I finished my tabs to mount it to the bumper bracket:


      Its hard to see in this picture, but I also made the lower part of the duct to try to direct all of the airflow through the cooler. I still need to make something for the top.


      The rest of my AN fittings should be here tomorrow so I can get the lines routed, put in the thermostat, and cross this project of the list!
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Feb 2005
      Location
      Sydney, Australia
      Posts
      1,798
      Country Flag: Australia
      The push back on the hose looks OK...I think they say it shouldn't push back more than 1/16" or so...but that looks pretty normal.
      Regards,
      Leigh

      Sydney, Australia
      1971 Firebird 455

      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...Project/page27

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Wheel adapters/spacers finally came! The front wheels fit perfect... Rear suspension is still out so I didnt get to mock them up.

      Motorsport Tech Wheel adapters with ARP 1/2" x 2" studs


      285/35/18 stuffed up front!





      The oil cooler is done too. Just need to figure out where and how I am going to secure the lines. Heads are coming off for the new gaskets and the rear suspension is almost ready to go back in. Getting close to being able to beat it up at another track day!
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Aug 2006
      Location
      austin
      Posts
      358
      I hope you've kept those bumpstops. You're awfully close to that tire getting into the fender.
      Greg
      1976 Trans Am SacrilEdge
      twin turbo 455
      Ttops and 4spd
      one of 110 made
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ect&highlight=
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ilEdge-is-free!

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      Bumpstops have been shaved and the shock mount lowered to allow for more suspension travel... No fender rub even at full lock and compression
      They do rub my brake ducts at full lock so Im going to have to trim out some of the inner fender to fix that
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      I pulled a head today to start inspecting the damage from RTTS... That head gasket sure doesnt look too good. Any ideas on what might cause this to happen? The car never got over 195 all day, although my oil temps were up in the 240's at some points. My water temp sensor is in the passenger head, this is the drivers side head, where the fan turn on switch is located.

      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Apr 2010
      Location
      Jersey Shore
      Posts
      695
      Country Flag: United States
      It lives! I took it for a test drive at 3am last night. Made it to the fathers day car show with my dad with no issues. I need to work out a few bugs still, but once everything is up to par its time to get to another track day
      -Chris
      '69 Corvette
      '55 Chevy Hardtop
      AutoWorks Middletown, NJ
      @autoworksnj for corvette and shop car pics
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...e-Build-Thread

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Jun 2012
      Location
      columbus ohio
      Posts
      22
      Country Flag: United States
      so sexy
      http://www.gmfullsize.com/forum/image.php?u=35744&type=sigpic&dateline=1338237808

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