Advice from the wise

Thanks for the advice, I can see where every ones heart is on this.
Being new, I will be back bouncing more questions off you folks.
Thanks again

I also purchased a BB 68 Conv 3yrs ago & it was mostly origional, but needed alot of work. So I decided to make it a driver. It's turned out to be alot of fun.
So the choice is yours....the origional C3's can be improved alot if you don't go stock. Have fun
Alan

An original '68 with 390/427 is such a rare and sought after Vette, which translates to valuable, I would have to think LONG AND HARD about veering from original. Just my opinion, but in your shoes, I would keep modifications to things easy to take back to original, such as wheels and tires, etc. Of course, if it is in serious need of restoration, you'll spend more $$ doing thyat than you'll get out of it later. If the money is meaningless to you or it is serious disrepair, I'd modify the hell out of it, save the orinal parts, and enjoy driving one of the greatest Vettes every built. Otherwise, I'd have a hard time altering a valuable classic. Of course, that just one small man's opinion! Congrats on the Vette and enjoy whichever path you choose!

Thanks John, the car is in incredible condition, it's from sourthern Ca. and frame is extreamly solid. another good question to everyone out there is: when do you need to do a frame off restoration?

During the winter

I didn't explain frame off very well,lets try again: if the frame is in great shape what would be another reason to do it? or do I need to do it? please remember I'm a newbe and may be over looking the obvious.

Rog

The decision to do a frame off resto depends as much on the level of detail you're looking for as much as it depends on the condition. It's actually much easier to have a highly detailed car with the body off the frame.
In my opinion you can get that detail easier and quicker with the body off.
Removing the body is really not as difficult as one might think.

Ok, I am always too cheery at the end of the day and like to joke. I am doing the frame off this year as opposed to repairing, replacing piece by piece for ease. Additionally I want to protect the frame and paint it. There is a thread here that details exactly what is involved with a check list. As this is the 4th and last car I will have restored, the frame off or strip down as the case may be is for two reasons, degrees of perfection or degrees of necessity, yours doesn't sound like necessity sooooo are type A? For the first year it won't hurt to enjoy your ride, go to some shows and visit with other vette owners, trust me you will figure out how far you want to go.

I agree with mike, If it runs good and a frame off can wait then I would enjoy the car all next summer and start your major projects over next winter. this winter you can get the basics done like brakes and such maybe new carpets but dont go so far as it will sit in a garage for the next driving season. That way you will become accustomed to the joy of owning and driving a classic vette and it will be a good motavation to finish the project if you get discouraged in the middle of it.

|UPDATED|11/30/2004 9:30:48 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Mine is not a 69 BB, but it was a chrome bumper convertible with hardtop and mostly matching numbers. Since I got the car I rebuilt the rear suspension the first winter. It was in need of the most work. The following winter, I started on the front suspension. That evovled into a motor pull and rebuild. Tranny pull and inspection. I decided to put aluminum heads, aluminum intake and water pump on. I dressed the motor up with some shiny stuff. I put the car all back together after being apart for about a year and drove it for a couple of months. I then decided to put in the Keisler 5 speed tranny. BTW, one of the best mods I have made to the car. After that, I put about 1000 miles on the car. It was at this point, I took all of the paint off the car and shipped it out to be painted. While it was gone for paint I gathered all of the interior parts. I took my vinyl seat covers off and installed leather. The car has an entirely new interior except the gauges. Those are the factory. My car was originally Donneybrooke Green. When I bought the car it was white. I like black so that is what I painted it.
I built my car to make no one happy but me. I had a perfectly fine car that drove ok. Now I would not be afraid to head out anywhere in my vette. It is very reliable and a great cruiser. Do what you like with your car. It is after all your vette.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v399/Eddie70/DSC00214Small.jpg

|UPDATED|12/1/2004 6:50:05 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|