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'59 White Corvette, A Gentle Restoration

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partsguy

Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full water bottle, we're wearing sun glasses, and we're riding a 1959 Schwinn. HIT IT!

With a list of techniques to try on the frame, fork, and guard, most of my parts lined up, and a goal to have him done by mid spring, now is the time for another build thread. I don't think anyone has done a build thread on a white Corvette, so I'll be the first. Hopefully, this will be helpful in documentation for anyone else whose ride needs TLC.

This bike will taken out for a ride along the beautiful trails of Mammoth Cave National Park, and finished with a photo in front of the nearby Corvette Museum. Fitting, isn't it?

Before:

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The tear down, and yes, my beautiful girlfriend was there to watch me pick new parts at Indy :kissingheart::D

Looking ahead, to the future...
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The rear fender will be replaced. This stainless fender has way too many dents and scuffs for me to fix.

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The headlight rattled, and I had to find out why:

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I like this original speedometer, hopefully it can be fixed and made to function again. The inner cable is gone, gauge lens is smashed:

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Here are the rear fenders, the replacement one came off a Corvette without caliper brakes, notice how it doesn't have the little bracket? The braces also are not as nice. I will combine these two fenders, so I can re-use the fender braces and bracket from the original. Now, where can I get correct Schwinn-size rivets? Replacement on the right, old one on the left.

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Cutting off the old one was fun, lots of metal sparks!! Yeah, I need new bottom rear fender hardware now!

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Almost there...

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I am waiting to continue this project until I have a reasonably warm, dry weekend. The paint work and detailing has to be done outside. It can be very messy work!

For the time being, I will continue gathering parts, specifically a correct, original shifter cable and linkage, and get started on the wheels. Wheels are painstaking, the most time-consuming part of any build except for chrome or paint.
 
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