1962 Corvette Resto Mod build

Well that was a heck of a lot more work than I thought it would be. Now I'm thinking about spreading some body filler, sanding, and painting these pods yellow.

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Very happy with how this project is coming out. Once the vent is in there is maybe 1.5" of space behind from the evaporator to curve 90 degrees. Super tight.  I did not want any ducting visible like you see on some of these cars with AC.   So I started with this Vintage AC plastic duct. It has the oval on one end for the 2.5" inch flex hose to slip over. I kept that the same and then started slicing and dicing to fit. Here is a crazy one. This car sold at Barrett Jackson last week for $687,500.00  https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1958-CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-CUSTOM-CONVERTIBLE-252635

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You could see how crude that vent was when I started. Turned into quite a project and I am very happy with it. Plenty of fiberglass, body filler, and sanding. The vent is billet and has 4 bolts that come in from the back. Had to machine some aluminum  pieces to put in the vent so it stays sealed. Also used a piece of 3/4 pvc cut long ways. It will bolt into the car as a module with it bolted together. All hidden and you will never see it but I wanted it nice. 

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:dude: just fits on the back side. Vintage Air billet aluminum ducks are pretty nice.

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Oh yeah. I like it. Got all the ducting stuffed up in there. It was a royal p i t a. Vents now all blowing air. Because that right vent had a little bit of restriction it doesn't blow quite as hard but I think it will be just fine. We have a stock 57 Corvette wheel from one of the other cars. Going to be close and need to see if it will clear the calipers. Need to pull a front and rear and check. Found some cool old jacks out in one of the sheds too. Maybe even an original one. That would be cool. Also replaced the cable between the module and the Dakota dash. That gremlin has been coming and going for a long time. Right now it is working so maybe that is the problem. We originally bought two extra leather hides to do the door panels and trunk. Then we ordered a third hide. Been a good 10 to 12 months since we have seen one of the hides and I have looked at least 3 hours around the shop. Can't find it. Almost ready to give up and order another one. $500 bill and really wish I could find it!!

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you will find it the day you cut into the replacement one your fixin to order.....  LOL

 
Pretty cool 57 Vette barn find story. We have a really neat 57 with some amazing patina. Thinking I might want to pull that car out of storage and go take it for a drive.  Not listed but did just quote a price on it to someone this week. All original numbers matching car except fuel injection.  This car is currently listed. Very nice car my dad drove on a power tour. Probably 5000 miles in that trip.



 
So that peach colored wheel is the spare for one of the other cars. Keeping that one and we bought another C1 original wheel. Primed, sanded, and painted it. After 48 hours I want to put a few more coats on. Ended up buying a new Coker original sized 6.70-15 tire. Funny how skinny the tires were back then. Feeling nostalgic so I am going to use an original 61 Vette jack. Last year of the cast base on the jack before going to the stamped steel style. Heavier but I like the cool factor! Once mounted up I need to build a hold down bracket. Then probably do a 3/8 breaker bar and multiple extensions to run the jack. Need a 1/2" wheel spacer for the front spare to clear the caliper. 

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Making some headway shortening the electric steering up 1.25 in. Figured I would have to cut the shaft, then pin it, then weld it back together. But instead was able to cut and machine everything. More work but came out nicer.Dial indicated the vise on the mill within .001.

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I need to machine a bezel trim piece on the back side of the steering wheel out of solid billet aluminum. Will need to try cut that radius by hand and eyeball it. That should be fun.

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This was a fun piece to build. I guessed 3 hours and was within 5 minutes of that. Now I just need to put some fresh paint on everything and reassemble it all.

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So I have been staring at this little cubby in the trunk for a year and a half dreaming about building a cool box of some sort.

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We started designing and building a complete box. Turns out there was a simpler method. Just took some .065 steel and riveted on a flat panel. Bent 3/4 lips on the top and bottom which makes it much stronger. Second pic I used a piece of channel clamped down since the brake couldn't make that bend. Good ole hammer to bend it up and over before pressing. 

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Our brake only takes it to maybe 120 degrees so I used the press to flatten it. 



 
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