The 1989 Corvette convertible restoration thread

[Swamp Donkey]

I guess our Miata jokes finally got to Ox.

 

[oxrageous]

Just getting new carpet in this thing is going to make a huge difference. It's almost all out now and it's obvious it's the original stuff. It's horrific, and was probably last cleaned when Barbara Bush was the First Lady.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

How many miles does that rag have on it?

 

[ufgator812]

How many miles does that rag have on it?

Barbara Bush or the Vette?

 

[oxrageous]

The emergency brake cover:

 

[oxrageous]

I removed the seat belt hardware on the drivers side and painted those, and removed all the carpet as well. All the carpet is out of the car except for the area behind the seats. I have an entire bag of filth that has been vacuumed out so far.

 

[oxrageous]

Barbara Bush or the Vette?

 

[PatDooleySucks]

I like how OX made his mid-life-crisis mobile a sticky.

 

[oxrageous]

I like how OX made his mid-life-crisis mobile a sticky.

Just be happy I didn't make it a sticky in the sports forum....yet.

 

[Jand3k]

did you dye the seat belts (red to black) or replace w/new?

 

[PatDooleySucks]

Just be happy I didn't make it a sticky in the sports forum....yet.

I like it. Are you replacing the speakers/wiring as you're removing and painting all the paneling?

Are you trying to do all original or replicate parts? Just wondering if you are keeping that add on CD player in or going to try and restore or upgrade to something with Sirius/etc..

 

[oxrageous]

If I had an unlimited budget I'd do all kinds of things, including a supercharger. I could put $10,000 into this car easily, but that would be throwing money down the drain. The aftermarket head unit is fine for now. The speakers in the doors are too big and in trashed condition, so I'll replace those. I haven't even looked at the ones in the back yet. I don't need a jumping stereo system, just something that plays when you hit the button.

I did find the antenna wire, which runs from the back of the head unit all the way behind the seats where for whatever reason it's cut cleanly in half. So I have an antenna for looks only at the moment.

There were some pretty awful backyard mechanics inside the car over the years....even worse ones than me.

 

[oxrageous]

did you dye the seat belts (red to black) or replace w/new?

I recolored the original belts.

 

[oxrageous]

Sharpie?

I just rubbed them on the old carpet, and they ended up blacker than midnight in Persia.

 

[oxrageous]

Believe it or not, we are getting somewhere. I'm almost to the point where I can actually start reassembling some things. Now that they are cleaned up, I'll be putting the DIC, the stereo, and the HVAC unit back into the dash. The refurbished digital dash cluster will be arriving Wednesday, and I'm already excited about getting that thing fired up.

 

[oxrageous]

Looking forward to seeing that. Gauge assemblies these days are boring as eff.

I'll be posting a video of it coming to life.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Just be happy I didn't make it a sticky in the sports forum....yet.

well, it is classified as a sports car...

 

[GatorBart]

If NASCAR is considered a sport, I see no reason why classic car restoration can't be a sport too

I'm sorry, but calling an 89 Vette a 'classic car' is taking it a little too far, IMO. I applaud Ox for doing all he's doing to resurrect this beast, but I'd be a little more interested if it were a 60s-era car.

 

[NavetG8r]

I'm sorry, but calling an 89 Vette a 'classic car' is taking it a little too far, IMO. I applaud Ox for doing all he's doing to resurrect this beast, but I'd be a little more interested if it were a 60s-era car.

I once had a 67 Barracuda. Only had a little 318 in it though.

 

[GatorBart]

I once had a 67 Barracuda. Only had a little 318 in it though.

Had a 70 Chevelle Malibu in HS (350 Turbo) with wide-60s on the rear and air shocks. That was a fun car. Looked something like this one, except it's missing the big fat rear tires.