1974 Frame Off

Jimmyzw22

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2008
Messages
8
Location
Tracy, California
I said I would post some pictures of what I am doing. This was my fathers 74 Stingray. He planned to rehab it once he retired but was called home before he could retire. The car only had 46k on the odometer and while neglected it is not in bad shape. No rust or damage. It had however, been sitting under a cover for the last twenty years or so. So I am doing everything to this car in honor of Dad. Every nut, bolt and fitting.

I also am doing it all myself from welding the frame, which by the way had some huge cracks at the lower control arm mounts, painting the frame, rebuilding the diff, motor, steering, spindles and everything else. Dad loved horsepower so I am stroking the 350 to a 383 and have AFR 210 heads, A B&M THM400 should do it. I will update as I go.

Jim
 

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KILLER shop there man, me green with envy.....

Can I get you to work on MY car???

someday my son get my old tired vette....with a pile of literature to back up the mods.....speaking of which, I think that for driving enjoyment and fuel economy, to switch NOW to a 200 4r automatic would be the time....

SO easy with a naked frame.....and with TimAT here to help and even me who has done one himself years ago...it's not that hard, really...build one for abut 600 bux max and it should take a 383 no problem, unless you intend to drag race it with sticky Mickey's .....

:drink:
 
Nice work. Were the cracks at the front of the control arm mounts where the two bolts attach the cross shaft to the frame?
 
First, sorry for your loss.

After that, you're looking really good. If you're planning on keeping the TH400 as a tranny, save the bux and build it yourself- from the pictures you've posted, you can build an auto with no problem. My thing is why spend the $1000+ for a B&M tranny when you can get the same results for a little less than 1/2 of that? It ain't rocket science.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the pictures too.
 
Nice tribute....Dad would be very proud! At my shop I get to do quite a few of those for family members. Recently, one of my customers (in his late 60's-early 70's) had us do a full resto. on his '65 he bought new in '65. Along the way, it sat for 26 years without being started or driven. Now he is too ill (alzheimers) to drive it anymore, and it's for sale. Just remember...we are temporary owners of our 'Vette's...enjoy them while you can.
 
Thanks and Tranny

I was thinking of going with a different tranny before I got into it but dad had already worked a deal for a B&M THM 400 with a 2500 stall converter. Nice black case with the B&M Metal Tag on it. It was sitting in front of my mom car on the floor. Just going to put new seals throughout because it has been sitting for a few years but should be good to go. I now have the rear end and suspension in the chassis will put up some more pics soon. Just got a new compressor for the shop and sppent last Saturday plumbing all the outlets and hard plumbing the bead blaster. Very nice to have tons of air.
 
Looking good Jimmy. :cool:

I found resto-modding my uncles corvette, following his passing, one of the most rewarding things I've ever done...I bet this project will be the same fo you.
 
More pics of the 74 frame off

Was able to get some work in this past weekend on the rear end and suspension. Still need to install the sway bar but I didn't like the stock mount it came with so I am making a thicker beefier one.
Jim
 

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The process moves on........

Been working on the car. Got the calipers rebuilt, converted to o-ring style and disks came in. Started installing all of the new brake lines with stainless and braided ones. Also started rebuilding the steering gearbox. Hard to find time working ten hour days and a 2 hour drive each way.
 

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My Bad

I have re-installed the ball joints correctly and am moving along quite well. I removed the stock strut rods and added a nice set of Global West heim joint ones. I have rebuilt the steering gearbox and the control valve. The slave cylinder has a bad rod so I can't get away with rebuilding that. I also recently got the Eastwood Blackening kit to Black Oxide all the fasteners I have been bead blasting. It works really good, best 39.00 I have spent in a long time. I also have all of the new stainless brake lines installed. Lets see what else,,,, I put on a spreader bar kit as well.
 

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