I knew I could not ignore the other things I would inevitably find and decided it was time for a resto-mod...an opportunity to change what I didn't like, and use newer technology to improve and upgrade where reasonable. In planning the resto-mod, I kept three things in mind. First, I drive the car often and mostly under normal conditions. Second, occasionally I may autocross and drive in a touring fashion. Third, I will manage costs by using stock parts when suitable, and rebuilding as opposed to purchasing new when feasible. I'm not building a numbers correct museum piece, trying to win prizes at a car show, or run 10 second quarter miles. There's certainly room in the hobby for these pursuits, but you won't find them here. That said, I will preserve the stock feel and look of the car. Modifications to the interior and exterior body lines will be minimal and very intentional. The emphasis is on generating torque, and improving handling and stability. I''m budget constrained and have decided to spend the big bucks in the following areas:
1. Engine upgrade - I will install a 400 small block, rebuilt and modified for torque generation in the 1000 - 5500 rpm range. I chose the 400 because my goal is to be north of 400 ft-lbs, but maintain decent street manners. This is not a difficult goal given the aftermarket performance parts available today.
2. Transmission upgrade - It's likely the Borg-Warner Super T-10 will not be able to take the punishment the 400 throws at it. I'm considering an aftermarket five speed capable of handling 500 ft-lbs of torque. There is also an aftermarket 6-speed, but those kits range up to $4,000. I'm still exploring options in this area.
While other upgrades such as composite leaf spring, performance shocks, and heavy duty components will find their way into the build, the two items above by far make up the lion's share of the budget.
In addition to the modifications mentioned, I'm also installing factory air conditioning, pulse wipers, and a self-retracting antenna. I'll cover these upgrades and my reasons for going with the stock options in their respective build pages.
UPDATE: It has been just over 10 years since I started this project. Personal circumstances necessitated me putting my hobby on the back burner, and very little has been accomplished since 2018. From 2018 to late 2021 the little time I managed to make was shared with two other classic cars, and from late 2021 to late 2024 I did no work on any cars. During all this, I never gave up on my dream of modifying and restoring my Corvette, and I'm happy to say that in 2025 circumstances changed and I am able to start again. While I am very happy to be working on my Corvette again, the situation is not optimal because I relocated to Illinois and had to leave my vehicles in Ohio until I can find a place here. That limits my time on the car, though I am able to bring back things to work on.
Since 2018, I've managed to remove the exterior paint and primer down to the bare SMC. I stripped down the interior frame as far as was accessible, including removal of old sealant and paint; and treated it for rust, primed it, painted it, and resealed it. I reattached some body panel reinforcement pieces that had come loose, and repaired some very minor body damage consisting of cracks and misshapen body rivet holes. Each of these will be more detailed in the appropriate section. I'm in the process of updating this website with the new progress, and will continue to keep it current as things are accomplished. It's great to be getting back to the car, and while I cannot say when the car will be finished, it's great to finally be on the assembly side.
It started, as most things do, from a small beginning. I had just replaced a worn U-joint on the passenger side half axle and was inspecting the underside of the car. I noticed the rear body mount reinforcement on that side looked badly rusted. I poked it with my finger and large amounts of red dust, dirt, and metal flakes fell to the ground. Further investigation revealed that both rear body mount reinforcements were shot and that the fiberglass had stress cracks in that area, presumably from the loss of support provided by the reinforcement. Clearly this was a problem.
I researched and learned the body has to be removed from the frame to properly repair the fiberglass and replace the mounts.
About the restomod