Auto restoration project

[Lt.Mike]

This is a project I’ve been hard into the last 2 years.
I had an itch for another old classic car and with it a check list… had to be smaller but have a big block, never own a car with a big block or a 4 speed, and it had to be a convertible. My health has been up and down and decided why am I waiting for my “maybe someday” things ?
If I wait any longer I might not be able to do it.
So I went on the hunt and found a good candidate for restoration. It was a good call because after digging this out of a barn in S. Carolina 2 years back a couple months later I had a heart attack .
That project gave me reason to get off the couch if only for a couple hours a day but it helped me move forward.
The car was partially restored but then left in a barn uncovered and unloved for over 3 years. It was filthy, covered in moss, the gas was candy, the carbs leaked badly, no brakes, wiring was toast, literally nothing worked. But it was a rare car so I dragged it home. It’s been a long road with a very long list of repairs done to make the car driveable and safe. There are still things needing to be done, wipers don’t work, door window hardware needs rebuilding, etc… but I can at least enjoy it. Here’s how it looked when I went to get it…

Ok ya, I held back on what it was, it’s a ‘68 Corvette Convertible with a 427 big block with 3 2barrel carbs, “Tri-power”, a 4 speed, 3.36 posi, manual steering and brakes.
I pretty much checked off every box on my list.
Here’s how it looks now …

So that’s why I’ve been inactive in the tractor forums for the last two years, sorry.
I’m working on the Super A now so there’s a few posts on that again

[Don McCombs]

Looks great! Looks like you may have bought it in Delaware? We have another forum member, Harold Roberts, who recently did a Corvette restoration.

[Lt.Mike]

Looks great! Looks like you may have bought it in Delaware? We have another forum member, Harold Roberts, who recently did a Corvette restoration.

The plate he’s taking off is a period correct’68 South Carolina plate. In S.C. They let you register an antique plate on your car if you find one with a number that’s not being used. He had bought it in N. Carolina and now it’s cruising the Jersey Shore.
Paula and I are loving the top down driving in the summer.

I’ll have to look up Harold’s posts to see what pain he went thru

[ricky racer]

Wow!! Very sweeeet Corvette!! I'll bet you really enjoy cruising around in it!

[ajhbike]

Wow Mike, nice job.

[Lt.Mike]

Thank you !

[Gary Dotson]

Looks good, Mike! Which h.p. Rating is that? I’m thinking there were 2 ratings for the tri-power, 390 or 435 if memory serves me correctly. Here in Ohio, we can run year of manufacture plates on vehicles registered as antique. It’s even free! I had 1967 plates on my Chevelle, a few years back. I went in the opposite direction from you, my life used to be centered around performance cars but then the tractor show bug bit me. I’ve pretty much lost interest in cars and don’t care mess with them anymore.

[Lt.Mike]

Looks good, Mike! Which h.p. Rating is that? I’m thinking there were 2 ratings for the tri-power, 390 or 435 if memory serves me correctly. Here in Ohio, we can run year of manufacture plates on vehicles registered as antique. It’s even free! I had 1967 plates on my Chevelle, a few years back. I went in the opposite direction from you, my life used to be centered around performance cars but then the tractor show bug bit me. I’ve pretty much lost interest in cars and don’t care mess with them anymore.

This is the L68 option of which 1,932 were put into coupes and convertible’s that year. It’s rated at 400hp 460 ftlbs torque, 10.25:1 compression with a hydraulic cam and oval port heads. The L71 had 435hp, same 460ftlbs torque, rectangular port heads, solid lifter cam that require rocker adjustment every 3k and 11:1 compression that needs race fuel or octane booster. The L68 I have is happy on pump gas.
For trivia sake… the L36 was a single 4barrel with 390/460, it was basically the same engine as the L68 without the 3 carbs.
Then there was the L89 which was the L71 with aluminum heads. That was purely for weight savings and it had the same 435/460 as the L71.
Finally there’s the L88. The L88 cars were rated at 430hp, 5hp below the L71. It was also sold with a radio or heater. It had a caution decal on the console stating to use 110 octane or engine damage would result. That part was true, the hp wasn’t. With the hp rating, the heater and radio delete were to discourage the average buyer from buying it. It was intended for racing only. The hp rating was what the engine made at 4,500 rpm, that for an engine with a redline at 6,500rpm. It had a wild solid lifter cam, 12.5:1 compression and the real Hp # was around 560 ! When you think about it this was in 1968 and numbers like that were unheard of. 400 For mine was (is) pretty nuts.
I love all things antique
In NJ if the car or bike is 25 years old or older you can register it with historic plates. There is an initial one time fee is $44 or $90 if you want personalized plates like the ones on my Vette. The renewal is every three years with no fee and there is no inspection.
In NJ motorcycle registration costs $65 per year so when my Valkyrie turned 25 I jumped on it. $44 and I don’t have to do it again. After new years I could register my pickup with historic plates too.
There’s a benefit to getting old as your toys do too
Here’s my Valkyrie, 6 cylinders carbs and pipes …

Hard to believe a ‘98 qualifies for “historic plates.
If that don’t make you feel old

[Gary Dotson]

We have, pretty much, the same deal for historical vehicle plates. I don’t know what the initial fee is but it’s one time, no re-registration required for as long as you own the vehicle. We can then, for no charge, register a year of mfg. plate. The downside to all this is that now it’s a limited use vehicle not to be used for daily transportation. I don’t think it very strictly enforced but it can result in a citation.

[Lt.Mike]

We have, pretty much, the same deal for historical vehicle plates. I don’t know what the initial fee is but it’s one time, no re-registration required for as long as you own the vehicle. We can then, for no charge, register a year of mfg. plate. The downside to all this is that now it’s a limited use vehicle not to be used for daily transportation. I don’t think it very strictly enforced but it can result in a citation.

In NJ the limit for your mileage is set by how much you want on your insurance. For mine whatever I don't use rolls over to the next year so as its not a daily driver its not an issue you’ll ever deal with. As for what the state says is that its for exhibition purposes like driving to and from shows. I believe whatever is required to maintain the vehicle is permissible too. In the summer there are virtually unlimited shows and cruises everyday . I’ve never known anyone who had issues with their classic unless they were doing something really dumb. If you get pulled over here its more likely the Officer just wants a better look at your car

[tldec50]

Great looking 68 vette.Nice job.That is a gold mine ,a 68 vette 427 4 speed.It is a keeper

[Lt.Mike]

Great looking 68 vette.Nice job.That is a gold mine ,a 68 vette 427 4 speed.It is a keeper

I’m pretty safe with it doing my own work I’ve saved a bundle on labor cost. I’ve been approached by a few classic car dealers with offers to by it from me for about $10k more than I’ve got into it. Not that I intend to part with it, its good to know I didn’t spend money and effort foolishly.