97 point car becoming a 90 point car

[Jim C.]

About 5-6 or so years back I too my 63 SHP to the Boston Nationals and Top Flighted. Since then I have been driving it a 1000 miles more or less a season and having a blast , getting lots of thumbs up, going out dinner in it with wife , etc.
Today I went to a local charity car show for some fun and had my 63 parked next to a 65 that just had a body off . I could really see the wear and tear that 6000 miles has put on the old gal, especially the engine compartment.
Sitting here thinking I could go back at it and bring it back to flight judging level or keep driving it or try to do both.
Dont know what I' ll decide but it's a great problem to have . Maybe time to break the parts catalogs!

[Michael J.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Is it more than dirt, grease, grime, leaks, etc.?

[Brian M.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

I'd be surprised if it lost 7 points due to use.

[Jim C.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Is it more than dirt, grease, grime, leaks, etc.?

Some of that but mostly finishes on fasteners, manifold , carb,engine compartment paint, etc. . No real damage, I think if it were judged the vast majority of deductions would be for Condition only. Just a lot of fun work and parts to put it back.

[Keith B.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

If you can't drive it to enjoy it what's the point of owning it. I would keep on top of the dirt and grime build up and have fun with it.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

When you say it is a 63 SHP, are we talking about an L-76 or L-84?? If it is an L-76 like mine, you're no doubt dealing with an AFB carb on top. Just as a small hint; the model 3461S used on the L-76 is unique in that it has small vapor vents above the throttle butterflies that are there to vent the gas vapors after shut down. The following 3720/21 series AFB that superseded the 3461S do not have these vents. In reference, Rochester carburetors of the same era accomplished the same feat by leaving slots in the gasket between the base and body of the carb. I discovered that even a day or two after I put on my 3461S, fresh from some slight changes, I would see wet dirty smudges of gas around these vent holes on the outside of the carburetor body. I was trying my best to reduce the smell of gas in my attached garage and plugging these vent holes seemed like a practical thing to do, not only to cut down on the gas smell, but to keep the carb cleaner. I used the nail end of pop rivets which fit the vent holes snug. I cut them to length and just tapped them in place with the nail head to the outside. They have small "sweg" (?) grooves in nail shaft (3 or 4) which holds them into the vent holes nice and snug, but not so tight that they can't be removed in the future. Super glue or Locktite would be an option. They are so small that it would take a keen eye to notice them.

Stu Fox

[Jim C.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

I'd be surprised if it lost 7 points due to use.

Sorry Brian, I didn't mean it literally, just that things were wearing out from the flight judging days they looked brand new.

[Jim C.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

If you can't drive it to enjoy it what's the point of owning it. I would keep on top of the dirt and grime build up and have fun with it.

AMEN, been doing it for 6 years .

[Gene M.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Jim, no bid deal things happen when you drive them. My 65 was a strong 98% car now after 20,000 miles it could use a "freshening up". I try to keep it looking good but it is a loosing fight. And lacquer paint chips just keep happening. In fact we just came back from getting ice cream meeting my daughter and grandsons. The boys (4 & 6 years old) sat in the vette (without ice creams) and played driving grandpa's car. We had the 4 year old re screw the dash knob back on that he somehow removed. The look on his face was priceless when he showed it to grandpa in his hand.

Some things I had to change just for driving: radial tires, higher amp alternator, belts, clutch fan, swap T3's for halogens and a few other thing that can easily be put back original. But it is fun to drive and still draws a crowd at cruise ins. I think it is more fun now and we enjoy it more than when it was a show piece.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Drive it and enjoy it like you have been doing.

[Bradley D.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Jim, no bid deal things happen when you drive them. My 65 was a strong 98% car now after 20,000 miles it could use a "freshening up". I try to keep it looking good but it is a loosing fight. And lacquer paint chips just keep happening. In fact we just came back from getting ice cream meeting my daughter and grandsons. The boys (4 & 6 years old) sat in the vette (without ice creams) and played driving grandpa's car. We had the 4 year old re screw the dash knob back on that he somehow removed. The look on his face was priceless when he showed it to grandpa in his hand.

Some things I had to change just for driving: radial tires, higher amp alternator, belts, clutch fan, swap T3's for halogens and a few other thing that can easily be put back original. But it is fun to drive and still draws a crowd at cruise ins. I think it is more fun now and we enjoy it more than when it was a show piece.

Bravo! I still get a smile on my face when I hear that 327 come to life. You gotta love it. Let happen what happens. Enjoy.

[Michael J.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

I agree, driving them is the biggest kick, sooner or later the Top Flight wars have to be over and you need to enjoy it.

[Don H.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

I have heard many people say that after getting the Duntov, they planned to drive and enjoy the car. It is YOUR car so do what you want. Personally I enjoy driving the car. It is very tough to drive the car and keep it in Top Flight condition. Good Luck, Don H.

[Joe R.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Gentlemen,

The first priority with every "restoration" should be mechanical. After restoring several C-2's and one C-1 the basis for those restorations was a complete tear down of the engine, transmission and rear end. If it don't run like it was intended it just ain't no fun!
If the above rule is followed to the letter we can enjoy these old relics years after the judging is over! Cosmetic restorations done by so called expert restorers should not be tolerated by Corvette owners. Taking money and painting over rust will not last and those "ice cream" trips will become "nightmares" in later years. Make sure your AAA is paid up!

JR

[Jim C.]

Re: 97 point car becoming a 90 point car

Thanks to all for your replies and encouragement.!

One thing I know with certainty is that mechanically the car has never been better. Everything in the drivetrain has been rebuilt and is as rock solid as modern technology could make it without comprimising originality. I just corrected a problem with the secondaries not opening completely and now it really screams, only making it even more fun to drive. I love the sound of the solid lifters.
I think my goal will be to keep refreshing things on a progressive basis as best as possible within the resources of my garage. Not going to worry about the finish on the alternator, carb, aluminum manifold, etc being perfect, but will keep it clean and touch up the engine compartment painted items. Chevy orange and some semi gloss black ratttle cans can do a lot to keep it looking good.

Anyway thanks for all the replies and basically giving me the answer I wanted to hear anyway! BTW the C2 Corvette was named one of the top 5 five summer cars on the Fox News website this morning. They even went on to say if a C2 isn't in your budget you may be able to find a C4 for under 10k.