My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

[Michael M.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Hi Lawrence, If the car is in Long Island then it has to be close to Long Island Corvette Supply which has any part with a very few exceptions in stock on their shelves including most all of the bolts you will need with the correct head mark. This should be a huge help to you as they only sell 63 to 67 parts. If you are not already doing business with them I would look into it if I were you. A lot of the other suppliers are great too just not located in the same town. Good Luck, Mike

[Domenic T.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

I've done several of my cars in the CRAP laquer that's available now over the years and from now on (as it has been for the last 10 yrs or so for me) it's BC/CC all the way. The laquer that's commercially available now is a sorry substitute for what was originally put on the cars. Unlike the original, thanks to the foolishness of the EPA all the lead is removed. Anything you buy now is incorrect. Also, I have yet to see any new available laquer in a metallic that has similar flakes to the originals. If it's going to be wrong anyway it may as well be wrong to the superior side instead of the inferior............... at least that's my thinkin'. 'Course as I've gotten older and grumpier I've gotten to the point of restorin' everything I do to meet my preferences rather than anybody else's.

Norris,
The original lacrylic laquer was about as bad as could be also.

Especially if you took the car out side and drove it.

I re-did my 67 with acrylic laquer in 1971 and it lasted about 5 years with ALL the TLC I gave it.

BC/CC for me also.

DOM

[Jim T.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Lawrence since air travel is so easy, you could consider visitiing Carlisle this month and view the Corvettes and see what is attractive to you and talk to the owners and see what they used in painting their Corvettes.

http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/corvettes/

[Joe R.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Lawrence,

Since you already have your 67 in a body shop you trust, go with the body shop's recommendation on materials and paint.
They are in the business of body and paint restoration and some sort of reputation and guarantee to uphold.

Put your trust in the body shop and hold them to a higher standard. If they don't perform ask for recommendations of a reputable body shop.


JR

[Lawrence W.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Thanks guys for all the advice, I really do appreciate it. After reading all the comments (and a little searching on NCRS), I think you guys are right about the BC/CC. Whats the point of having all this body work done if the new Lacquer paint looks like crap! I talk to the Body Shop today. They want to paint the car with "Spies Hecker" paint. I did some internet research on them today. They appear to be a German company that was bought by Dupont. Has anyone used there products before? I'm flying up to NY on Thursday to take a look at the car.


"Lawrence since air travel is so easy, you could consider visitiing Carlisle this month and view the Corvettes and see what is attractive to you and talk to the owners and see what they used in painting their Corvettes."

I used to go with my father to Carlisle, it's like Corvette Disney Land! Unfortunately I can't make it this year.


"Hi Lawrence, If the car is in Long Island then it has to be close to Long Island Corvette Supply which has any part with a very few exceptions in stock on their shelves including most all of the bolts you will need with the correct head mark."

I know them well, actually they know my bank account very very well!


My original hood is in the hands of my Uncle. I had a revenue problem years ago when I first got the car running. My uncle stored and helped get it running for me back then and he wanted the hood. I might try to see if I can buy it back.

[Timothy B.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Lawrence,

Just my .02 cents worth but I would consider getting the original hood and paint it with the car.

It's a even better idea to install and use it because you can probably get some $$$ for the BB hood and that will help with the money spent. Make sure you have the body shop check the fit before you paint it if you decide to use it. The car is worth more IMO with the original parts..

[Scott S.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Larry,

I’ll take a stab at a few of these questions.

My part in all of this is too find all the correct parts to put her back together. I chose to do that way to insure only the correct quality parts are used. My list so far is;

1. Bolts and hardware for (Bumpers, door handles, locks, gas lid, tail lights, window trim, antena mast, wiper arms) Possibly a complete kit, I'm still not sure if it's worth going original, stamp correctly repo, or just a plain old body bolt kit i've seen sold on the internet.

If you are just referring to the nuts/bolts/screws/washers, Richard Fortier should have most of what you need. I would not have much (any) confidence in a generic "complete" body bolt kit off the Internet, if you are interested in correct fasteners.

2. Weather Striping ALL (any recommended vendors?)

I think most of the Vendors carry the same weather stripping by Corvette Rubber Co. (“CRC”), I would ask before purchasing.

3. Re plating Bumpers, door handles, gas lid, ect. (I talked to Richard Fortier about some of this) I know I have the original Chrome and I'm definitely interested in saving what I can instead of new repo stuff.

There is a company called Spacecoast Plating in Melbourne Florida that still uses the Hexavalent chrome process (as of two years ago or so), which if I understand correctly, was the process used originally by GM, at least for the bumpers. If you do a few searches, you will find at least two or three chrome platers that are mentioned frequently in the TDB archives. Try searching for Paul's Chrome (PA), Advanced Plating (TN) and Librandi's (PA), the discussions should mention some others too. For anything requiring flash-chrome, I would talk to Richard Fortier (not sure if he specializes in flash-chrome only, or does "regular" chrome for other parts as necessary too).

If the door handles require any repair work (e.g., from pitting), you might consider NOS door handles. Remember that 1965-67 handles (GM 5719143 [LH], 5719142 [RH]) are slightly different from 1963-64, keeping in mind the potential problems with buying chrome parts without seeing them in person. The gas lid presents a similar problem, if it’s pitted. Getting the paint right on the crossed-flags emblem is another problem, if you’re trying to restore the original fuel door. Trim Parts makes a good reproduction gas lid for ’67 if needed, available from most of the Vendors.

4. Gaskit kit for all the above

For gaskets, seals, hoses, grommets, etc., I mostly like Doc Rebuild's products.

Hopefully that helps, or provokes more replies

[Tom M.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

The above post dead on, but you might also consider Charlie Santorelli from Chrome Sity for the chrome, for the items like the weather strips and body gaskets, I would pick a vendor, and get on a discount program with them, ie Paragons.

[Lawrence W.]

Re: My Dad's 67, I need lots of advice!

Hi Guy's,

I just wanted to say thanks for all the advise you guys have given me. I figured I would post some pictures of the progress so far.


Thanks,

Larry