Its a RARE used corvette owner that doesn,t want to restore at least some components, or do upgrades, and that will obviously take some time effort and skill, so its best to know what your doing before getting involved or some local corvette shop will be making a financial killing in your checking account if your not willing to do at least the easier stuff by yourself,
joining several local muscle car or corvette clubs is usually a good way to build the contacts and gain the skills required, but be aware that in any club theres probably 80% of the members who are rather unskilled and only in it for socializing, its your job to find the 1 in 5 guys that has something to teach you and the tools and skill required, so don,t be slow in offering to help any place you can, because youll gain far more knowledge and access to contacts in the hobby that way.
most guys don,t realize how many times it comes in very, VERY handy to have a few local friends, especially if they are rather experienced!
and it sure helps if they have a selection of tools and are willing to help, so in most cases its to your benefit to help as many of those local guys as you can, to gain both experience and access too tools you might not otherwise have.
None of us has even 10% of the skills to do everything thats required on a top quality car build, obviously skills and levels of experience from setting up a rear differential,setting up brakes, transmission rebuilds, differential shortening,metal panel replacement, paint and body work,engine builds,tuning, suspension set-up welding , etc.
YOU SHOULD START BY BUYING THE SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR YEAR CORVETTE
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll ... 1~cadegiga
these guys linked above are fairly expensive but quality seems decent
If you can,t find some component on an older c4 corvette
call VETTE2VETTE AND ASK
Ive had good luck with them in the past, Ive replaced a good many hard to find components with their help on a couple dozen C4 corvettes
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/0306vet-c4-interior-upgrade-install/
http://www.vette2vette.com/
815-673-6200
http://www.helminc.com/helm/welcome_sel ... M2S049ETF8
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/63.htm
(amazon carries most of these books)
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette.ht ... estoration
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... zz1Du3TgRw
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/0307ve ... storation/
http://www.amazon.com/1971-Corvette-Ass ... B00395CAVK
as a rough guide and please take into consideration Ive only done a few cars ,completely restored so theres tons of stuff I might not know, the books will have far more detailed info and tips
If your doing a complete restoration
(1) pull the body and get the frame and suspension , bushings, motor mounts linkage and drive train completely clean painted and rebuilt and installed on the rolling chassis
(2) install new body mounts
(3) install fuel tank, and fuel lines, brakes lines, etc.
(4) lower and bolt on body
(5) replace doors
(6) replace electrical wire loom
(7)replace dash and door interior and windows,do all inside and outside panel paint & trim work, replace radiator and coolant lines, hook up lighting and vacuum systems
(8)replace carpet and interior panels
(9) replace seats and roof
THEN LOOK FOR ARTICLES ON LINE THAT COVER THE SUBJECT
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=3110&hilit=shop+manual
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=5053&p=14313&hilit=shop+manual#p14313
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/index.html
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=43&p=51&hilit=shop+manual#p51
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=shop+manual&start=230
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_1011_ ... ewall.html
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=1194&p=2483#p2483
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=103&p=127&hilit=shop+manual#p127
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=609&p=810&hilit=shop+manual#p810
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=321&p=3007&hilit=machine+shop+written#p3007
viewtopic.php?f=69&t=3814
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=38
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3547&p=15509&hilit=interior#p15509
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=3527&p=9327&hilit=join+club#p9327
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/
http://www.vette2vette.com/
http://www.zip-corvette.com/Common/51f3 ... fee64.aspx
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairandinstallhelp.php
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=7670&p=26041#p26041
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=8548&p=30000&hilit=+used+parts+corvette#p30000
joining several local muscle car or corvette clubs is usually a good way to build the contacts and gain the skills required, but be aware that in any club theres probably 80% of the members who are rather unskilled and only in it for socializing, its your job to find the 1 in 5 guys that has something to teach you and the tools and skill required, so don,t be slow in offering to help any place you can, because youll gain far more knowledge and access to contacts in the hobby that way.
most guys don,t realize how many times it comes in very, VERY handy to have a few local friends, especially if they are rather experienced!
and it sure helps if they have a selection of tools and are willing to help, so in most cases its to your benefit to help as many of those local guys as you can, to gain both experience and access too tools you might not otherwise have.
None of us has even 10% of the skills to do everything thats required on a top quality car build, obviously skills and levels of experience from setting up a rear differential,setting up brakes, transmission rebuilds, differential shortening,metal panel replacement, paint and body work,engine builds,tuning, suspension set-up welding , etc.
YOU SHOULD START BY BUYING THE SHOP MANUAL FOR YOUR YEAR CORVETTE
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll ... 1~cadegiga
these guys linked above are fairly expensive but quality seems decent
If you can,t find some component on an older c4 corvette
call VETTE2VETTE AND ASK
Ive had good luck with them in the past, Ive replaced a good many hard to find components with their help on a couple dozen C4 corvettes
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/0306vet-c4-interior-upgrade-install/
http://www.vette2vette.com/
815-673-6200
http://www.helminc.com/helm/welcome_sel ... M2S049ETF8
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/category_s/63.htm
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette.ht ... estoration
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... zz1Du3TgRw
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/0307ve ... storation/
http://www.amazon.com/1971-Corvette-Ass ... B00395CAVK
as a rough guide and please take into consideration Ive only done a few cars ,completely restored so theres tons of stuff I might not know, the books will have far more detailed info and tips
If your doing a complete restoration
(1) pull the body and get the frame and suspension , bushings, motor mounts linkage and drive train completely clean painted and rebuilt and installed on the rolling chassis
(2) install new body mounts
(3) install fuel tank, and fuel lines, brakes lines, etc.
(4) lower and bolt on body
(5) replace doors
(6) replace electrical wire loom
(7)replace dash and door interior and windows,do all inside and outside panel paint & trim work, replace radiator and coolant lines, hook up lighting and vacuum systems
(8)replace carpet and interior panels
(9) replace seats and roof
THEN LOOK FOR ARTICLES ON LINE THAT COVER THE SUBJECT
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=3110&hilit=shop+manual
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=5053&p=14313&hilit=shop+manual#p14313
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/index.html
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=43&p=51&hilit=shop+manual#p51
search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=shop+manual&start=230
http://www.vetteweb.com/tech/vemp_1011_ ... ewall.html
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=1194&p=2483#p2483
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=103&p=127&hilit=shop+manual#p127
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=609&p=810&hilit=shop+manual#p810
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=321&p=3007&hilit=machine+shop+written#p3007
viewtopic.php?f=69&t=3814
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=38
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=3547&p=15509&hilit=interior#p15509
viewtopic.php?f=87&t=3527&p=9327&hilit=join+club#p9327
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/
http://www.vette2vette.com/
http://www.zip-corvette.com/Common/51f3 ... fee64.aspx
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairandinstallhelp.php
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=7670&p=26041#p26041
viewtopic.php?f=80&t=8548&p=30000&hilit=+used+parts+corvette#p30000
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