Corvette body R&R

[Prostreet]

Hi Guys
We can start in the middle of the project .
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/Toby-time-007.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/joes-roll-rear-pan-036.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/joes-roll-rear-pan-034.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/prosheetmetal/Toby-time-002.jpg
When we get wheels and tire combo we can lay out the chassis perimeter.
But while your here check out the body removal jig we built to safely remove the mid year from its platform with out stressing the body.

[Mongoose]

Prostreet, that is a good looking jig. It appears as if you are using the door latch bolts, the door hinge bolts, and some firewall points. Is that it or are you attached in other places too?

Is that a 63 or a 64 and are you tubbing and prostreeting it or restoring?

What a great project! Keep us in photos!

[Prostreet]

Hi Mongoose
The body jig locks the door gap in place by attaching the hinge pillar (A pillar)
and door striker (b pillar ) while it was preset on the stock chassis.
You might already now the term Bird cage that some what structurally wraps around the dash plenum , down the hinge pillar under the rockers and up the striker pillar. So we attached to those points so it incorporated theres and ours for lifting. The jig spans out over the windshield frame and down to the hood latch mounting surface. Keeping the the jig high over the windshield allows us to use it on later moldels even T-top models or cars with the windshield still left in it. From the Hood latch area we went forward with a strp to support the nose to prevent cowl fractures do to the weight of the front components.
There are kits out there with chain thats lifts from these points but do not lock the A-pillar and B-pillar in place which you can leave the doors on to do that but adds weight and the availlabillity to move in and out of the car whaen needed. If you need spacific photos of any particular areas just ask . Oh yes It is a 64 :D

See ya Steve

[Mongoose]

So Prostreet, any new picture of the project? I sure would like to see any progress you have made. What a cool car!

[Prostreet]

Hi Mongoose
We are still waiting for the manufacture to spec out the bends in the new 2x4 frame rails ? :cool: luckily the customer is very pateint and understands its out of our hands till this proses is complete. I could have ordered the rails from Art Morrison but th company I'm dealing with has done all of our bending for the past 15 years. And shipping is free :eek: there only eight miles down the road from our shop. :) But hey keep checking in gives me a great reason to post more info. :D

[Mongoose]

Are you doing anything to the body or engine while you are waiting on the frame rails? What color has the customer chosen? Rear end gears?

Thanks for putting up with my pestering questions.

[Prostreet]

Hi goose
Im still waiting for the rails :rolleyes: Wish I had my own mandrel for 2x4 . But ya just cant do it all or you would never get it all done anyways. :cool: The color I believe is an emerald green candy. It will have a 9 inch rear with I would think 3:50's or 3:73's It will be a pro touring car and sit in the weeds . But it aint gnna be nothing till I git da rails :mad:
But I'm still patient, :)

[WINGNUT]

So are you going to need to bend the frame rails and fabricate the complete chassis yourself?

[Prostreet]

Hi Wingnut
Yes I was going have the rails bent and once I got the rails to the shop I would space them the proper distance apart and spec out were the cross members would have to go to accommodate the drive train and suspension to achieve the determined ride height and underpinnings would go. The bends would have already be factored in which would make the job go a little quicker. I may have to purchase some mandrel bends that are already available and do the frame from scratch. :)

[WINGNUT]

When you start the project post some pics and explanations of how this is done. I'm curious to see how its done.