New '67 resto, where to start reading?

[Chris E.]

Ok, so I'm new to the restoration game, and my dad and I are planning on restoring his 1967 L79 4-speed convertible.

My question is, what book should I start reading to understand the process better? I see a ton of literature and videos out there on the 1967 restoration, I just want to start off with something helpful.

Any suggestions?

[David D.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Chris, The 1967 Corvette Assembly Instruction Manual and Noland Adam's Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide, Volume 2, would be a very good start. Dave

[Patrick H.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Chris,

Read everything, everywhere. At a minimum, you will be spending $200 on reference material.

My suggestions (and my reading list):
1. Photograph the car. Then do it again. You car will tell you more than anything else can. In addition, you will NEED those pictures when it comes to reassembly.
2. Purchase the 1967 Judging Guide from the NCRS Bookstore.
3. Purchase Dobbins' "Vette Views Fact Book."
4. Purchase Noland Adams' Vol 2 Corvette Restoration and Technical Guide.
5. Purchase (if you can find it) "Corvette Restoration: State of the Art" by Mike Antonick. One of my favorite books for someone in your position.
6. Purchase Joe Tripoli's Corvette Chassis Restoration Guide.

Of course, have the correct 1967 Service and Chassis Manuals available as well. Of note, no one book will take you step by step through the process.

Once you've read these over the winter, go next year and look at as MANY 67's as you can. Learn from them. Ask the owners questions. Observer judge at an NCRS meet. Meet fellow NCRS members who have restored 67's or own them, and use them to assist you. Nothing is nicer than having a similar car to look at when reassembling yours.

The biggest mistake someone in your position can make is to "just start on it" without knowing what you're getting into. I think it takes a year minimum to get to that position, but that's just me. Few people have that amount of patience (and then wonder why they run into problems).

Most of all, have fun!

Patrick

[William C.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

If I had to recomment only one book to start, it would be the Antonick book, "Corvette Restoration state of the art" No other book I have seen focus' so well on the Process and the mindset of the restorer

[Patrick H.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Absolutely. I re-read it about once a year.

The only problem is finding one. The last I heard it was out of print, but you might be able to check with Mike Antonick or Motorbooks International.

Patrick

[Dick W.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

I think that you are doing a wonderful father/son thing.

I think that before you start anything, I would attend a few NCRS events and study the '67's that are being judged. You can read and re-read a book, but the actual thing will give you a closer idea as to what you need to do. Talk to the judges and car owners. The only dumb question is one that is not asked.

Any of the books have their good points, but also have minor omissions or errors in them. The AIM, in fact, is not totally correct in the way the car left St. Louis.

Spend a lot of time looking before you start. Unless you have a pristine original example, be prepared to expend over 1,000 hours of labor to do a body off, NCRS restoration.

[Christopher R.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Chris,

Patrick gives good advice. Do lots of reading, and resist the urge to tear into the car. The restoration's going to require lots of money, time, and research. So, you want to minimize the rework. You want to be satisfied with your original restoration goal from the outset. It gets real expensive and time consuming when your goals change partway through restoration. Know where you want to go from the outset, and then go there in a straight line. Most people, myself included, restore their cars without such plans. In looking back over the restoration, I can see things I did and didn't do to the car, that I should have; parts I did and didn't buy; and, so on.

One more thing. DON'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY. You'll regret it a few years later when browsing through EBay.

[Craig S.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Patrick - I never had this one...did a Google search, and found Amazon.com had two used, one hardbound, one soft. I just bought the Hardbound one, but there is still the softbound one left.......thx for the tip...link below...Craig




Antonick's Book

[Craig S.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Thx for the tip Bill...never had this one in all the books I have on midyears. Found two used with google search on amazon.com, one is left, I bought the hardbound....Craig

[Chris E.]

Re: New '67 resto, where to start reading?

Thanks for all the great advice so far guys. It looks like I might be "starting" sooner than I anticipated. My wife and I are looking at buying a house before the end of the year that would give me a double garage all to myself to restore the vette. WOHOO!