Needy Sting Ray

[Clark K.]

I am preparing my rare (Red/red L76 A/C) 1965 Coupe for the National NCRS Convention. My hope is for a National Top Flight Award for this car.

I just sat down and wrote down all the things I had to correct after judging teams deducted points from my car's score when it was last flight-judged. For those of you who also may be contemplating such a goal, just for informational purposes, here is my list of things completed since the first of the year (4 months):

• Replace scratched hood release handle with correct unit and attach without existing clip (NCRS Interior Sec. #8);
• Adjust doors at top to eliminate cause of water leaks (wetting foot-well carpet and inside door panels on both sides);
• Strip & refinish fan to restore appearance;
• Replace the incorrect (finish) screws at bottom of headlight buckets with black phosphate screws (NCRS Ext. Sec. #12);
• Remove black inkjet markings on fan clutch or install a rebuilt original fan clutch (NCRS Chassis Sec. #5);
• Refinish frame in front of steering box area;
• Replace lower radiator hose with correct unit with part number visible; Install correct date-coded clamps; (NCRS Mech. Sec. #13); (parts: $39)
• Pressure line assembly to oil pressure gauge: Remove incorrect copper tubing and install copper-clad steel tubing connecting to a brass bushing at the rear of the block behind the intake with a brass ferrule fitting; (NCRS Mech. Sec. #12); (parts: $19)
• Refinish the red painted area of console around shifter;
• Replace bell housing inspection cover bolts with correct slotted bolts (NCRS Chassis Sec. #10);
• Install missing spark plug shield & wing bolts on front right side of engine (under A/C compressor);
• Replace all five Western repro KO wheels with correct steel wheels and 4 wheel covers (NCRS Exterior Sec. #21);
• Replace the rusty, incorrect screw on glove box door latch (NCRS Interior Sec. #7);
• Trim the top attachment of inside door pulls to eliminate excess (NCRS Interior Sec. #1);
• Adjust passenger door to correct sagging;
• Replace incorrect (both) and inoperative (left) courtesy light switches in door jambs (NCRS Interior Sec. #2);
• Replace rag joint with correct parts; (NCRS Chassis Sec. #2);
• Replace red painted rivets in the side dash attachment (inside door opening) with correct black-color rivets (NCRS Interior Sec. #5);
• Replace incorrect A/C hoses with correctly marked hoses; (NCRS Mech. Sec. #17);
• Replace incorrect dehydrator with correct unit; (NCRS Mech. Sec. #17);
• Replace incorrect condenser with correct unit; (NCRS Mech. Sec. #17);
• Correct originality issues (wrong gasket and no paint) with thermostat housing; Paint housing silver to match intake manifold (NCRS Mech. Sec. #6);
• Install (missing) black plastic seal inside door release knob (NCRS Interior Sec. #1);
• Correct the routing of power window wiring (visible in passenger door jamb) (NCRS Interior Sec. #2);
• Replace incorrect heater hoses with correct ribbed hoses (NCRS Mech. Sec. #13); (parts: $69)
• Remove gaskets from exhaust manifolds; Install correct French locks and bend tabs over, replicating correct factory installation (NCRS Mech. Sec. #11);
• Remove Pertronix electronic ignition and install an original coil & capacitor (NCRS Mech. Sec. #10);
• Replace incorrect intake manifold gaskets with correct gaskets (NCRS Mech. Sec. #6); (parts: $44)
• Replace worn air cleaner lid with correct unit; Replace incorrect wing nut (too thick) with correct unit (NCRS Mech. Sec. #5); Parts: $99
• Replace incorrect power antenna with a correct reproduction with a concentric groove on each section of mast; (NCRS Exterior Sec. #10); Parts: $615
• Repair both malfunctioning door vent window regulators; (NCRS Operations Sec. #29);
• Paint underside of hood on outside edge to follow straight line from brace (NCRS Chassis Sec. #4);
• Repair cause of loose rear attachment point of passenger-side chrome trim above side exhaust;
• Service dash clock to improve function (do NOT convert to quartz movement); Rebuild: $192.34
• Paint steering gearbox using semi-gloss black paint; (NCRS Chassis Section, #2);
• Replace incorrect heater fan motor with correct unit with vent (NCRS Mech. Sec. #17); Note: the existing fan motor discovered to be correct original with the cooling hose missing and the hole taped over;
• Correct door locks being on wrong side of car (Right: should be counter-clockwise to unlock, clockwise to lock Left: should be clockwise to unlock, counter-clockwise to lock) (NCRS Operations Sec. #30);
• Replace pitted and dull front grill with correct new unit; Insure that all screws are black on reinstallation (NCRS Exterior Sec. #14) new grill: $500
• Replace non-dated windshield with correct date-coded unit; Replace the incorrect windshield gasket with correct unit to eliminate poor fit of outside trim (NCRS Exterior Sec. #5); part-$375
• Replace incorrect flasher with a correct unit and install (missing) capacitor (NCRS Interior Sec. #14);

[William C.]

Re: Needy Sting Ray

Some suggestions, Look at condition differently than originality. If the parts scored well on originality, don't replace it, clean or massage it to look "newer" but don't alter or replace it, as many reproductions will not judge as well as used originals. Some of these items are very straightforeward and can be accomplished with elbow grease and or easy touch-up. Secondly, take a hard look at Dollars per point (unless you have unlimited funds) It's easy to spend dollars by the hundreds for the same point gain that can be had with minor adjustments, and or a small investment in a few correct small items rather than one large-buck item. Prioirtize then act. Start with the OPS points, they should be "free" with some knowledge of how the car should opearte and some adjustment or parts swapping to obtain the correct result (ie-doorlocks). National Top Flight is not 100% perfect, and is managable with proper planning in your timeframe. If the part failed on originality, study the characteristics of a correct original. Do NOT run out and buy a reproduction advertised as "correct" unless you have personally verified you cannot tell it from a known original (and then get a second opinion) In the case of a completely incorrect part (windshield and gasket in your example) you aree talking an area where there are different vendors with different products, and not all will judge similiarly. Id do a search of the DB and or ask friends for references as to how vendors wares fare in that area, as I don't believe any are 100% correct if you have a tinted windshield. Non-tint is a little easier. Lastly, remember it's a hobby, and have fun. as one told me once, "It's not the pursuit of the Holy Grail after all..."

[Clark K.]

Re: Needy Sting Ray

William, I appreciate your reply. I agree with you 100%. I, too, have discovered that most reproduction parts are not up to NCRS judging. Early-on, I found out the hard way. I am much more careful, now.

When I bought this car from ProTeam in late '08, it had numerous issues with originality. I am not blaming ProTeam for this since they had it for only six months, buying the car at Mecum's Spring Auction (Indiana?) in 2008. It is not their goal to restore/correct all Corvettes but to sell them at a profit. Their ad was fair and correct. The five former owners were all businesses that simply "flipped" this car for a profit. It seems to me that these businesses were not particularly concerned with originality, just appearance or the car's "wow factor". (i.e.: one of these five businesses shot clear over the lacquer paint, now costing me an 85 point NCRS paint deduction!) The car spent its days in storage and occasionally being pulled into and out of trailers going to the next owner. I like to think that I saved this car from the speculators.

Their unconcern about originality was made apparent at the first NCRS meet that I attended with the car. There were enough originality and drivability issues to make 15 pages of changes, of the sort that I listed in my first post. After three years, the list has shortened to a little over two pages. I am determined to keep making corrections until I get that coveted blue rosette at a National meet. I enjoy the process and have learned a lot about my car (which is an NCRS goal).
-Clark