The 73 Reborn - part III

The 73's interior was pretty shod, considering it sat in a barn for over a decade. Fittings have remained stock from the day it rolled off the plant in St Louis Missouri, and will hence need to be replaced - this includes bolts, screws, washers, door assemblies, the entire dashboard, gauges, wiring, seats, carpets.. the works!

Weathered weather stripping needs replacement.

Wiper area requiring a compartment cover.

A new 20 gallon gas tank needs to replace this rusted out unit.

Gas sending unit equally rusted out, and needs to be changed.

Door panels tattering around the edges and require replacement.

Underside of flimsy gear console was plastered. To replace!

Gauges were fortunately, still in good condition.

Center plastic console bits removed for reconditioning.

Door latches and chrome sills removed for reconditioning.

Removable T-roofs, dash panels, gear and handbrake consoles, safety belts stripped.

Original spare tyre.

The front windshield has been removed and in its place a rebuilt unit done in KL. Other salvageable parts have been stowed away for refurbing, chroming or painting, and once put together should look better than it did new. Over 100 parts and items will be ordered through Eckler's or Corvette America in the next few weeks.

What's on the list right now includes body mount kits and reinforcement, brake pedal switches, rear bumper bolt kit, carpets, inner door handles, anti-rattle glass door cushions, door assmebly parts (gastkets, springs, sill plates, screws etc ), door felts, chrome mirrors, exhaust tips, fender louvres, a new front bumper (and the retainer kit), badges and emblems, gas cap, filler neck, guard, gas tank and sending unit, tank shield, headlight actuators, vacuum storage cannister, hood alignment bumper cushions, hood grille nuts, rubber bumpers... (pant!) ignition top shield, inner fender seals, park brake cable pulley and console slide seal, radiator support and shroud seal kit, rear astro vent and screws, compartment fasteners, crossmember bushings, spring liner kit and mount cushions, rear strut rod, trailing arm bushings, rear vent plenum drain hose, seat belts, side marker light, spare tyre carrier and kit, power steering hose kit, steering column firewall seal, steering damper, idler arm, relay rod ball stud sel, and tie-rods, sunvisors, upper and lower suspension ball joints, sway bar brackets, tachometer drive gear... (pant! pant!) taillight lens gasket, t-top fastener kit, weatherstripping, tunnel foam insulation, vacuum hose set, lower valance panel, windshield clip set, wiper compartment cover, and switch nobs... for now, which should be about 90% of what I will need.

Project costs just seem to be growing every day. The pain.. all worth enduring I guess.

To be continued...

The 73 Reborn - part II

After clearing US customs at LA, the 73 was on the water for roughly 3 weeks, in which time, local import related papers (permits, appointment of freight and handling agents, storage, clearance, etc) were prepared to avoid having the 73 sit in local port storage for longer than it needed to.

As it arrived on new year's eve, there was unfortunately a good 2 weeks of unproductive down time at the local port and customs, by which time, the Approved Permit (AP) for vehicle import (which has a 6 month time frame) had expired. This entailed having to go through the entire rigmarole of getting the AP extended by the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI), while the 73 continued to sit in (or out of) storage vulnerable to all kinds of forces de nuisance.

While at the port, the 73 understandably attracted a lot of unwelcome attention. Evidences of this include missing emblems, damaged wheel caps, and a pried open roof. As the fuel lines were disconnected, the 73 was immobile and our heroes at port exercised their keen professional judgement by deciding to move the 73 around by forklift (!!) that resulted in a bent and dented in left exhaust and nicked transmission.

After 2 months since its arrival (!!) the 73 was eventually hauled out on a flatbed tow truck to the shop.

Sitting in the open & unprotected for 2 months. Pried open roof is visible.






Local customs had trouble locating the VIN, despite having 4 seasoned officers inspecting the vehicle from all angles. Found on the left A-pillar and visible from the front windshield.

Rolling it down on brakes and into the shop.










Damaged exhaust - which no party is taking responsibility for. Dicks.






Misaligned exhaust coupling.







To be continued..

The 73 Reborn - part I

Back to the project.

Its been about 10 months out and there is definitely progress. The ‘73’ (calling it ‘the Corvette’ is just too impersonal) came in with the engine and drive-train already worked on (not up to mark but definitely on the to-do list once the car is fired up). Over the past 3 quarters, there’s been a lot of planning and sourcing, and body work has since started and completed, with the 73 going through the motions of being sanded down, filled, primed, and painted. Just enough reason to neglect postings to this here blog.

In the absence of details, here’s a pictorial log. At least on the work done while it was in Texas..

The bay when I got it. A sleeper showing its age.

The numbers matching 350 chained out. Sent for cleaning, porting, balancing, block painting, and to be later mated with new pistons, conrods, cams, recut crank, and heads. I'll spare you the details.

Engine bay - frames still in good nick, but showing slight signs of surface rust, linkages enveloped with layers of grease.

Back from the shop. Block painted yellow with Weiand heads.

600 cfm Edelbrock performance carb sitting on the Weiand.

Recond small block stock valve cover, yellow striped to match the block, new jet hot coated Sanderson headers.

14" 360deg performance chrome Edelbrock air filter, and chrome power brake booster.

Cooling system hooked up - original radiator pressure tested, flushed, fins straightened, and repainted with new 350 chrome thermostat housing. Brake, ignition and air-conditioning systems all set up.

(Mental note to self : replace radiator rubber hose with braided hose & to have chrome plate rivetted on fan shroud (single fan)).

Fired up with a new HEI distributor and AC Delco starter. Plug wires haphazardly fitted.

Stock calipers heat painted with new organic brake pads.

Calipers slotted over recut rotors.

New B&M traveller torque converter.

To be continued...