1957 Frame off restoration in process

[Rod K.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Dan,

The reinforcement was installed on the underside of the floor so when belts were installed the bolt would go through the floor and reinforcement plate into the weld nut on the back (bottom) side of the reinforcement. Load from the belt in an accident would therefore pull the reinforcement against the underside of the floor corner, a relatively strong area of the floor. Not the best, but the strongest available point of attachment. The rivets took no load, only held the reinforcement in position. I think the tape (if actually used) would have provided a seal against outside elements if belts weren't installed.

[Dan D.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

I thought about the bolt loading after I wrote the post. One thing though, I wonder why St. Louis just didn't put a bolt in the hole? That would have been better than tape, very little cost. Probably just one of those old questions we will never know the answer to.

-Dan-

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Frank,
i notice the side cove emblems appear to to be original perhaps reinstalled after that lace paint job. Your car reminds me of "the Lizard" that was at Carroll St Auto awhile back. Can you tell if the mounting holes are 1/8" Are they the same on your trunk lid also. Is your eyebrow shaved off?
Curious to know what your final plan plan is as you progress towards the finish line. Some very knowledgeable people on this site and all you have to do is reach out.

Tom the emblems are off as shown in the attached pic but the car is at the paint shop so I can't measure. But when I was stripping the body I could see the original cove molding stud holes (but they were filled in) and they look bigger than the holes for the emblems. I will check when I can. I will say that the emblems did not have nuts like the ones called out in the AIM. Attached is a pic on the way to the paint shop. The body is attached to the frame for transport. I don't understand eyebrow but if something is shaved, I didn't know it nor did I do it. I bought the car in October 1973 from a guy who worked at GM's Milford MI proving grounds. I talked to the owner before him who owned it from May '69 to Feb. '70. It was unaltered at that time. The last owner put a 1956 deck lid on it (and other minor rear end repair) and had it painted the way you see it. However the repair did not include the rear FI emblem so I can't measure that ever. I'll bet it was expensive paint for 1970.
My plan has always been to take it back to original in every way. But I do not plan on making everything new again. For instance my gauges have some pitting and were dirty. I took them apart and polished and cleaned them but I don't intend to re-chrome or replace them. I will make sure all the fasteners are correct-not necessarily new. I will disassemble the chassis completely and replace all the bushings and fasteners (that break) and the paint shop will dip and paint the frame and paint those components that should be chassis black. This is my plan but I am refining it as I deal with real life conditions. I also welcome advice from others who have the same or a different point of view. I don't want to get all done and realize I should have done it differently. I don't have another 44 years to do it again. Thanks for your interest. Frank

[Dan D.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Edit my previous post. Stud is not 3/8-16. It is 5/16-18. Sorry for the mistake.

-Dan-

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Frank,
i notice the side cove emblems appear to to be original perhaps reinstalled after that lace paint job. Your car reminds me of "the Lizard" that was at Carroll St Auto awhile back. Can you tell if the mounting holes are 1/8" Are they the same on your trunk lid also. Is your eyebrow shaved off?
Curious to know what your final plan plan is as you progress towards the finish line. Some very knowledgeable people on this site and all you have to do is reach out.

Tom Spence, I checked all five holes in the front cove for the crossed flags and fuel injection emblems. I checked both sides with drill bits. A 5/32 goes in each. An 11/64 goes in none. My deck lid was replaced and the fuel injection emblem was not replaced before I bought the car in 1973. Long time in answering, hope the info is still useful to you.
My car still sits at the paint shop unpainted. I've learned the hard way to get some good references on restoration shops. Meantime I've done some work on the chassis. See attached pic. Sandblasted everything, new seals, king-pins, brake and fuel lines, brakes, aluminum caster shims, shocks. The rest is original including all the fasteners that were reusable.

[James G.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Really nice looking body and Chassis. Went to the 27th annual TEXAS CORVETTE ASSOCIATION Open Car Show last Saturday April 27 in Boerne. Met some great people at the show, and heard about a man named Dan Martin that does very nice early C-1 Corvette restorations. Dan Martin, Hill Country Vettes, New Braunfels TX, 830-226-5386. If your body shop can't get the lead out, You might take a drive up and talk to Dan. He does very nice work .

[Tom S.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Good referral point Jim. Sometimes the best laid plans and promises fail to materialize. Sometimes a SURPRISE visit with a 2nd pair of eyes gets attention but then that can be a bad "rush to finish" senario too. Well Frank, the clock is ticking, times flying by and we are not getting younger. Here is a nice "Eyebrow" for reference. Fortunately, this did not nave to be made up. A nice bodied old drag car like yours.
Nice work so far. Stay on it.

[James G.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Photos of 1957 VIN #288. One of the 9 model 57's I have owned. I bought the car from a great friend Ray Kimminau in California in 1978. Ray drag raced the car at ORANGE COUNTRY RACEWAY, Irvine, California in 1973-77 era. At that time the car had a 68 Corvette L-88 motor and powergide trans. It ran in the 10.15 at 129.00 mph area. When I bought it, Ravy had replaced the motor with a 66 Corvette 350hp, and 4 speed trans. It was painted 62 Honduras Maroon. I repainted it back to solid black / red interior as it was originally. Car was born 220hp with PG , 2 top, radio and sold new in San Diego. Ray was parts manager of Courtsey Chevrolet, San Diego 1961-72. Today he lives in North Richland Hills, Texas and is very active in the NCRS TEXAS CHAPTER. He still owns his 1965 Nassau Blue 396 coupe he bought new.

If these cars could only talk.

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

I've attached some pix of progress on my car
The paint shop is finally starting on my car after more than two years. The body has been stripped of it's non original paint and repairs started on the back lower panel to which the bumpers attach. (My neighbor backed his tractor into it.) It was previously damaged in the sixties before I bought it. When it was repaired they put a non FI deck lid on it and must have shaved the eyebrow off. So I've looked on the forum for location of the FI script to no avail. Would someone with an original FI car give me a location? I presume the hole size is the same as for the cove emblems. Thanks. I continue to marvel at this website.

[Todd H.]

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Thank you very much Todd. I agree: there would have been a template but what you have given me will definitely work. It's still a long way off before I do this but when it happens I'll post a pic of the finished item. I like all cars: hot-rods, rat-rods, retros, original cars rare or common, but my Corvette will be as originally correct as I can make it.

[Frank C.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Update: After just shy of four years my body is back from the paint shop, and back to it's original paint color. Today 100_1028.jpgI'm working on trying to drill the holes for the cove moldings in the right place. In the interim I restored the chassis. I had some help from you fine folks in doing that. The wheels on it are just to move it around. The original wheels and hubcaps are in my garage. Thanks, Frank

[Don H.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

You're looking good Frank! You got your iconic American Sport Car home in time for the Great American Holiday!
It's all down hill from there.
Thanks for the update!

[Michael J.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Great progress and she looks great, good luck on finishing it all up.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Frame off restoration in process

Frank, It looks great.

There may be some telltale spots on the insides of the doors and fenders for the trim t-bolts.

Rich