71 rebuild

wabco40 · October 19, 2010, 07:33:57 PM

Hello all, I am new to this forum and was put onto it by Demonx.
I am from Newman in WA and have been rebuilding my 71 vette since I imported it in 2004.
The car was a base model 350/270hp 4 speed. I have been doing a 100 percent frame off rebuild since it arrived and hope to have it finished mid next year.
I am currently finishing the paint and then will start on final assembly.
The car at the moment is fitted with VBP mono leaf front end and rear composite spring. Steeroids power rack & pinion steering and full Wilwood brakes.
The engine is a 385 stroker with comp cams 268 roller cam and lifters and Edelbrock performer RPM heads. The fuel system is a Torker 11 manifold with injector bungs welded in and fuel rails made up. I am using Bocsh 42lb injectors, FTP 1150 cfm throttle body and Aeromotive pump, regulator and filters. The fuel injection system is controlled by a FAST XFI ecu.
I will start to post some pictures when I can work out how!!!

Brad.

Jethro · October 19, 2010, 08:14:01 PM

Hey wabco40 welcome to the Forum buddy, sounds as though you've been working hard on your 71 project, what colour you painting ? sounds as if it will have some serious balls underneath it:pepper:

can't wait to see some pic's

demonx · October 19, 2010, 08:24:36 PM

Welcome over.

I met wabco40 over on the corvetteforums.com site and invited him over, heres a couple pics of his VERY nice ride:

I'll leave the other pics to wabco40 ... (sign up to photobucket for a free pic hosting account - upload your pics and then cut ind paste the

Jethro · October 19, 2010, 08:45:19 PM

Looks like smick paint job:pepper:

gtc · October 19, 2010, 09:22:07 PM

I really like that blue -- reminds me of the Ford blue popular among Cobra owners. What blue have you used?

wabco40 · October 20, 2010, 10:51:09 AM

Quote from: gtc link=topic=7864.msg1045938039#msg1045938039I really like that blue -- reminds me of the Ford blue popular among Cobra owners. What blue have you used?

The colour is Electron Blue. Its a 2002 GM USA factory colour. I first saw it on a C2 last time I was at Corvettes@Carlisle. It looks great with polished rims and polished ss side pipes.

Chassis and brackets back from powder coating.

Fitting the VBP front end.

wabco40 · October 20, 2010, 02:51:24 PM

A few more pictures of my rebuild.

Rebuild diff, new bearings, seals, clutch pack and side yokes.

Rear end installed. rebuilt trailing arms, universals, balanced half and tail shafts and new front slip yolk.

New fuel tank. This is still the original carby set-up.

Completed rear end.

Completed running gear, ready for body drop. This was taken when I was using the original 350 engine. The Muncie was rebuilt and new clutch fitted.

Jethro · October 20, 2010, 07:21:09 PM

Real nice Wabco40 real nice.... noticed no termos's ? gonna keep that flexi fan?

wabco40 · October 20, 2010, 08:03:28 PM

Quote from: Jethro link=topic=7864.msg1045938050#msg1045938050Real nice Wabco40 real nice.... noticed no termos's ? gonna keep that flexi fan?

Thanks Jethro. The picture was taken some time ago and I was using my rebuild original 350. Now I am using a EFI stroker with a Dewitts big block aluminum radiator. This is fitted with twin Spal fans. The software in the Fast ECU controls the fan on and off temps. I currently have the fans set to come on at 189F and off at 186F.
Brad.

Jethro · October 20, 2010, 08:10:29 PM

Sweet! plug it in and dial up the grunt......., that sounds the go

demonx · October 21, 2010, 01:41:55 PM

That looks so awesome! Nice pics and great work.

wabco40 · October 21, 2010, 02:14:42 PM

Quote from: demonx link=topic=7864.msg1045938058#msg1045938058That looks so awesome! Nice pics and great work.

Thanks.

Below are some pics of when I started on the body.

wabco40 · October 21, 2010, 06:27:31 PM

When I finished stipping the paint from the rear clip I did fibreglass repairs (the usual cracks around the bumper mounting holes) and filled any low spots. The whole lot was then long board sanded and then sprayed with epoxy primer.

Pictures of the rear clip going back on the chassis.

Jethro · October 21, 2010, 06:39:29 PM

Some serious work their wabco40 :ado::ado::ado::ado: so how many BBQ's did ya have around the Pergola whild rebuilding

wabco40 · October 21, 2010, 06:54:08 PM

Quote from: Jethro link=topic=7864.msg1045938066#msg1045938066Some serious work their wabco40 :ado::ado::ado::ado: so how many BBQ's did ya have around the Pergola whild rebuilding

I think its more of a case of how many cartons of beer that have been through my beer fridge!!!:drunk:

Working on the front clip. It had been hit on the right lower fender sometime in its history. Whoever repaired made a total mess of it. I have spliced a new right rear lower section in place. The pictures where taken the same day I was flying to the US.

wabco40 · October 21, 2010, 07:11:05 PM

The following weekend while at Carlisle in Pennsylvania.

Can I have one of those please. Heres my card number and shipping address!!!

Jethro · October 21, 2010, 07:25:54 PM

Hey Webco, did you agt the two C6's in the back ground as well.....

wabco40 · October 21, 2010, 09:52:31 PM

Quote from: Jethro link=topic=7864.msg1045938069#msg1045938069Hey Webco, did you agt the two C6's in the back ground as well.....

Yeah I wish. I was actually looking for a later model C1 roller to bring home but the prices are a bit over the top now.

Several months later my new one piece front clip and inner fenders arrive.

Checking to see if how much clearance there is between the air cleaner and hood (sorry bonnet). I used a Torker 11 manifold to convert to EFI as its the lowest profile single plane I could find and didn't want anything sticking out the bonnet.

demonx · October 22, 2010, 12:08:22 AM

Very nice - I'm pretty jealous of how good that car is going to be when finished!

wabco40 · October 22, 2010, 08:35:06 AM

Quote from: demonx link=topic=7864.msg1045938072#msg1045938072Very nice - I'm pretty jealous of how good that car is going to be when finished!

Thanks Demonx. Its taking a long time, between working everyday and waiting on parts to arrive.
How did you go painting your side grills? Iam doing mine at the moment, what a PITA.

While I was waiting for the new front clip to arrive I rebuilt the headlight units and wiper door linkage. The units where stripped down, bead blasted and painted satin black. They where then assembled with new bushes, bearings, springs etc.