No Going Back now. 70 LT-1
 

Decided to go all in.

Pulled the body off the frame yesterday. Even with my gantry crane at 12 feet high, I had to tie the harness in a knot to get enough clearance to roll the chassis out from under it. Guess I could have pulled the engine and gas tank before pulling the body. Just a lot easier to do it with the body off.

Built a jig from 3x3 3/16 angle iron. It set nicely on a couple small body dollies so I can roll it around. Seems the front nose has a lot of bounce to it, so I will likely add some extensions to the front for more support.

This car deserves to be done right. Born with engine (not in the car right now... that's another story) trans and rear end. Pretty certain the radiator is original, but I didn't see a tag. The only deviation from stock will be a set of adjustable Koni shocks and the GM part number headers and side pipes I got from Tony. BTW, if anyone is making a trip this next week or two from the Detroit area to Wisconsin, you could really help a brother out running the first leg of the relay to OK.

Manual brakes, and, like all early LT-1 models, no PS. My understanding is that a few were made with PS late in the model year, but the compromise is that they had to use a smaller oil pan.

First question:

The gas tank has lots of surface rust. The inside is spotless. Is it worth restoring?
New ones can be had for less than $300.

With Konis and side pipes, I am obviously not planning on NCRS judging. But, I would still like it to look correct.

Looking good! I'd buy a new correct reproduction tank myself. You'll be happier setting the body on a completed chassis with the engine and tank in it.

Is the build sheet on the gas tank

Yep, you've made the commitment now. Happy to see I'm not alone in the "old guy doing a body off" restoration.
It will be worth it to have that access to do it right. :biggthumpup:
That's what I keep telling myself.

No build sheet.

That's going to be fun, fun, fun! You're asking about the tank......I had the exact same concern on my '66. It's tank cleaned up very nice and the inside looked great with a hint of corrosion in the neck but the tank was clean. I bought a new one after stewing on it. The new tank has the exact same embossed stamping and looks great. My car is halfway through the "complete" process and these same decisions have been attached to the brake rotors, rear spring, and brake calipers, which were upgraded to SS sometime in their lifetime. .... and I'm going torque thrusts, kyb shocks and considered hooker sidepipes but couldn't bring myself to cut the fenders. You're going to love this project.

Quite an ambitious undertaking with all the things you seem to have going on, but if you're up for it will be great to follow along.

NCRS has a judging format for modified cars now. :biggthumpup:

I'd also replace the tank.

We'll be following along Lynn!

You and Lynn aren't alone Mitch...I'm on the home stretch of a "body off" and have another one waiting in the queue. Time in the shop keeps me young. - Bill W