At this point our Chassis is almost fully assembled so we need to start prepping for body drop on our Corvette.  There are a few key things that need to be done before installing the body on the chassis or it will be very difficult to do them later.  Other things are just easier to assemble when the body is still off the chassis.  Here are a few things that should be done before installing the body on the chassis.

1963 Corvette Shifter Boot Retainer

Our original shifter boot retainer was missing from the body, so we riveted a new one in.

1963 Corvette Transmission Tunnel Insulator

We riveted in new tunnel insulators and installed the new transmission insulation pad.

1963 Corvette Rear Body “Stingray” Emblem

We installed the rear body emblem.  The rear body emblem is quite difficult to get to once the body is installed as the fuel tank is right in the way.  It’s a lot easier to put it in now than later.

1963 Corvette Fender Emblems

This is a key item to have on the car before body drop, given one circumstance.  We will install the heater box assembly before body drop as it is easier to put in.  Once the heater box assembly is installed, it is almost impossible to put the rear most nut on the “Fuel Injection” emblem on the passenger side.  It is not fun to find this out after you have put the whole heater box together.

1963 Corvette Fender Emblems

If you put the emblems on the passenger side, may as well put them on the driver side.

1963 Corvette Front Emblem

As long as we’re putting emblems on the body, may as well put the front one on too.  Also the core support is not in right now so it easier to install at this point.

1963 Corvette Unrestored Throttle Linkage

This one can’t be stressed enough.  Once the body is on and the engine is in the way, it is really difficult to put the throttle linkage in.

1963 Corvette Restored Throttle Linkage

We blasted and re-plated the throttle linkage and installed new bushings with grease (yes, it’s white lithium grease for the Corvette aficionado).  It is ready to be installed at this point.

1963 Corvette Restored Corvette Seat Hardware

Next up is seat hardware.  While this is actually quite easy to put in long after the body has been installed on the chassis, there is a big caveat.  The rear seat hardware is all installed before the interior painting is done.  Being that it is better to do the interior paint before having the body on the chassis, we put the seat hardware in now.

There are still more items to be installed, the battle of the body drop continues…