Preparing a 67 L79 for Judging
 

Now that my 66 is finished up, I can move on to my next project. I was sent this particular 67 to address a few small items, give a really good detail, and prepare it for a future Bring a Trailer auction. This is a born with drivetrain L79 (CCAS affirmed) red on red (CCAS affirmed trim tag) Bloomington Gold certified 2 top car. So, I thought I'd start a thread to document the process. Here are some preliminary pics.........
https://i.imgur.com/OW0LrUvh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/R7Ezv7wh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/j7NbKIvh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/k1wojpjh.jpg

Most appropriate that it has snow tires on it already:)

Very nice L79. So what is on the to do list, Tim?

The interior is very original. So much as..........I feel it's the weak spot. It has nice original seat covers, dash pads, and door panels. The carpet is tired. The fit and finish on the paint, body, chassis, and engine compartment are superb. The wheels on the car are real N89 bolt on's (albeit this is not an original bolt on car). Perhaps a change in the wheel and / or tire may be in order. That will ultimately be up to the car owner. As we know, first impression is everything.

Looking forward to watching all your magic.

I can't wait to see the auction as I love red/red L79's.

Another awesome find Tim.....can't wait to see the results!!

There was a change in course for this car. So, I changed the title of the thread from "Bring a Trailer Auction" to "judging". I prefer to own car like this when undertaking a project as such. That way, I can make decisions to suit my own standards, regardless of time or money spent. So, the owner of the car and I came to terms on the purchase of this 67. Having said all of that, here are some of the particulars.......

The car was sold new at Konners Chevrolet in Columbus, OH. This is an early car (like my last red L79), so this is loaded with 66 parts as well. The car is optioned with.....

-L79 327-350hp
-M20 wide ratio 4 speed
-G81 3.36 positraction axle
-A02 tinted windshield
-C07 auxiliary hardtop
-U69 am /fm radio
-P92 7.75-15 WSW tires

When the prior owner (Bob) purchased the car, it was an original paint and unhit example. The car did have a body off chassis / engine compartment restoration by an NCRS National level judge. That judge felt the paint was strong enough to leave alone, plus it played the part with the interior. That all having been said, it makes the car a "tweener". I've had "tweeners" before, and not everyone gets it.

Bob was not really a patina (or tweener) guy, so he commissioned a bare glass strip and single stage repaint of the car. The paint and body turned out spectacular. There are 2 problems with that though. Now the interior really is lacking by comparison, and the engine compartment / chassis show like they have been in a body shop.

https://i.imgur.com/rbhssWGh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nz9kZTVh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/OaEnaCJh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FRt5URZh.jpg

So, new carpets are already on order. You can see the passenger side dash pad is really faded. The 2nd owner let the car sit in a garage for approximately 20 years......by a window. I'll also add, the paint leans the the pink side in the pics. That is the settings in the camera doing it's thing.

https://i.imgur.com/mIIWB68h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7thq5vBh.jpg

The dash pads are in great condition, just one of them is really faded. I'm going to experiment with the dye, to see if I can get the desired results. The original seat covers are really nice, as are the door panels. So those will get cleaned and reused.

The wheels are real N89 GM bolt on wheels, but not originally equipped as such to the car. I do have a set of early ralley wheels which are "B" stamped units that will find it's way on to the car, along with the proper white wall tires.

It is my plan the campaign the car through the system, and further build it's judging pedigree. While it does have a Bloomington Gold / Gold Certification from 2024 (98.3%), I feel that award should get freshened up given the work that has occurred since then. It will also allow me to make the car "mine". Furthermore, this little undertaking will get me into the spring time, so I can be certain the car is shook out and debugged.

I am friends with the NCRS judge that performed the chassis restoration. He indicated he bought the car from the 2nd owner in 2012. A sharp eye will detect, the 1st owner had the car for a real short period of time, as the 2nd owner bought the car in what looks to be January of 1967.

https://i.imgur.com/qxm4a8Rh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6LU3SiDh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JzOG5dih.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ieTKS91h.jpg

There are slug of period photos (scan's) that came with the car......

https://i.imgur.com/mXZA2Fjh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Mrta7PMh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ocWqHahh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/yKItaxFh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WmC5T7Oh.jpg

Well then, congrats on the new purchase. I'm positive it will score well.

Insurance papers, vehicle registrations, and miscellaneous receipts....

https://i.imgur.com/8xj4HfUh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WfyCx2mh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gtwzBV1h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/czCWHKnh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3PdvH2Eh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pk8EADwh.jpg

Those vintage photos are great, Tim. The red/red L79 convertible is just a great Corvette from a look and driving standpoint.

Documentation is always important, more the better.

But those vintage photos from back in the day are priceless.
Any engine bay photos?

Nothing else than current Chris

----Wow, Tim! My 67 white on white coupe came from Konner Chevrolet. I notice no dealer emblem, but a member here on the sight either made or bought some nice repops and I kindly was the recipient of one. It's on the car now and because it's plastic with no studs. I double sided taped it on the tail panel. I can't remember who supplied it, but hopefully he will pipe in. Be cool to have a dealer tag on this cool roadster!....Bill S

Congrats Tim!!! Another beautiful mid-year!

Today I started tearing into the 67.

First, the new carpets came in sooner than expected. How's that for a pleasant surprise! Get those laid out. Not much sun or warmth up here to take advantage of though. It was -19F when I got to work this morning:eek2:
https://i.imgur.com/ocPup2Fh.jpg

Next on the docket, start on the engine compartment. The plugs look really nice. A quick compression test to size things up. That came in from 140-150lbs. Perfect!
https://i.imgur.com/xSBDycXh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d2KQqwLh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/d2KQqwLh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Ft7aKIrh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/telPamJh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rNtcEy8h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Xhv7XEOh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ng85Ekoh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nTwz0Tuh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/E27avo9h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GsicCnIh.jpg

That led to further disassembly in order to get a really good deep clean. That's all for today!
https://i.imgur.com/M3QHNu8h.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/GmdK7YCh.jpg

I completed the first round of cleaning today. There was some gains, but body shop dust is just an SOB to deal with. I'll keep plugging away on it.....
https://i.imgur.com/j95a2gOh.jpg

I then turned my attention to the mufflers. When the car was restored, the mufflers were not blacked out like they should be. Yes, it looks like a 3rd grade art project. First, an image from the assembly line. The mufflers were blacked out before the body drop.......
https://i.imgur.com/n2WciCPh.jpg

Not wanting to pull the body, I improvised. I've studied some of the few remaining cars that retain their original exhaust, and the blackout varies quite a bit! This should burn in nicely with some heat cycles and look the part....
https://i.imgur.com/jorjXugh.jpg

I pulled the original spare. I'll have to refinish the wheel in order for it to measure up. The early "B" stamped wheels have hardly any blackout on the back side. This should detail up nicely
https://i.imgur.com/2IG24dYh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/YThsGeeh.jpg

Hardly no blackout means no blackout.

I'm investigating this subject further. I have other "B" wheels that have more blackout than this spare

Today was one of those days just filled with small things that really do not amount to much. The most notable item(s) were an adjustment on the rear leaf spring. What is in the car, is a beautifully restored original unit that was letting the car take a tail dragger stance. Those type of items just chew at me and wrecks the whole look.
https://i.imgur.com/nBZmX81h.jpg

I found some washers on McMaster Carr's website to shim the spring (about .200) along with some fresh bushings.
https://i.imgur.com/LUnZE2Dh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/43QBRwgh.jpg

It is headed in the right direction. Once there is a 1/2 tank of fuel and the car can roll out (both front and rear) I think the stance will be right where it needs to be. I can adjust it further. I also took the liberty of adding the correct rallye wheels and W/W's I had.
https://i.imgur.com/Th1Ji4Ch.jpg

We have to get these two red/red L79's together for a visit.

“Those type of items just chew at me and wrecks the whole look.”

Agree.

A nice (almost level stance) looks the best.

Illustration is for a 66-67 Tempest Series car.

As always, I love your work Tim.

Ain't that the truth, stance makes or breaks any car. A while back I went through three pairs of Chevelle springs to achieve the specs on Chris's posted chart. It's amazing what a quarter/half inch up or down will do.

Great work Tim!!

I bought a restored original oil filter canister from a fellow over on Corvette Forum. This is some nice work......
https://i.imgur.com/L3ASfrYh.jpg

Keep on cleaning.......
https://i.imgur.com/EDJkdYPh.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tfMm34yh.jpg

I pulled the master cylinder, to only find it was spewing brake fluid out that back. I should not be surprised. Best I found out now, versus down the road. It has some pretty good pitting in the back of the cylinder. Now I have a couple to send out for sleeve work.

Much more to go before I move on to the interior

----I see a 3-way get-together with The Dykstra's new ride!!!....Bill S

lol. We were discussing this very thread. :biggthumpup:

Today's progress report. So far, I'm happy with how this is coming out. I elected not to pull the intake and valve covers for vapor honing. The process produces a beautiful finish, but sometimes feel it is not accurate as to how these car's were. I'm going to stare at this for a day or two and see if I change my mind.

Your thoughts?

I like it as is Tim. It's a shame that Corvette decided to lose the chrome on the fuel line and dip stick in '67.

I'm liking all the L79 discussion recently!

Leave it - it doesn't appear very bad at all to me.

I wrestled with the same question on the 409. I used NAPA aluminum brightener with a brass bristled brush (say that 3 times fast) on the intake and it lightened things up a bit and took the stains out enough to look presentable to me and still preserved the natural aluminum look.

That is great stuff! Works on stubborn grime on painted surfaces as well!

The chassis and engine compartment (except for a couple of small items) is wrapped up. On to the interior

I thought you were freshening up a previously restored car Tim?? Looks freshly done to me... :hmmm:

But then I never underestimate your magic :beers:

Holy moly, does that ever look good. goggles

Looks killer Tim!

That is correct. The car had an odd chain of events. The chassis was restored (body off) on a nice original paint car. That owner elected to retain the original paint and interior. The car sold, and that owner elected to paint the car. Many of you can relate to "body shop dust" and how much it is a PITA. So the last couple of weeks was dedicated to that, along with some finer detail work. Now after all of that, the interior does not measure up. So, I start on that this week

That's amazing.

The underside doesn't look like the same car you started with.

That's also the straightest front crossmember around.