Revivng Some Childhood Classics

First, I would like to thank everyone that commented in this thread. Without your assistance, I would have not been able through to get this first restoration without breaking something! Many thanks for the advice and the encouragement!  

After about a week of sitting in a WD-40 and Gumout bath, I was able to free up the motor! It didn't go willingly though, it did require a little bit of heat to get it moving.

Once it started moving, I got everything cleaned up and put back together. I also coated everything inside with a light coating of Marvel Mystery Oil. While the motor was soaking, I concentrated on cleaning up the body, removing the ripped stickers and replacing with some alternatives.

I don't have any intention of running it, but my brother is egging me on to start it. I wouldn't know the first thing on how to get it running in today's world, so if I get inclined to do so, I may ask you guys for more information. I definitely know won't have that signature Nitro Methane smell though!




More pics (before and after) can be found here:    https://imgur.com/a/Ctf3CqN

Nice job. I checked your additional pictures. Before and afters always tell a story.

The Black Widow spider on the roof. I have only seen one in real life. Actually quite beautiful. In the middle of winter in Marylnad I was moving a plant pot on the front steps when I uncovered one. Not tiny, about an inch leg to leg, black with a vibrant red hourglass. I put it in a pickle jar and showed it off at work. Not a big hit!

Bob

I thought or at least use to think I had a premium example of the Stinger. Yours looks terrific. One thing I will say is that I never seen one without a wrinkled decal. The hood decal came out of the box that way. Eventually the wrinkle would tear.

Ken Cook wrote:           I thought or at least use to think I had a premium example of the Stinger. Yours looks terrific. One thing I will say is that I never seen one without a wrinkled decal. The hood decal came out of the box that way. Eventually the wrinkle would tear.

Hi Ken,

Thank you. The original decals were driving me nuts. After I cleaned the body, the poor shape of the decals really stood out. I was on the fence whether or not to redo them, figuring that changing them would alter the value of the car. I finally thought, hell that will be a problem for my kids to deal with since I am never selling it.

I removed all of the "glass" decals, and then the hood decal. Man what a job that was. They are paper, but the adhesive was strong enough to bond heat tiles to the space shuttle. After that, I removed the black widow from the roof, which actually peeled right off thankfully.

I used "sign vinyl" to replace the glass and hood black. It is the same stuff used on the letters for commercial signs. It is strong and very flexible. I also have a sign plotter to cut letters and designs, similar to a Cricut, but much much older. I found clip art of a black widow and a web and made replacements. It is not identical to the original, but I used some creative license to make it as close as possible. I also added some additional accents to the rear lights and back bumper not original to the car.

I left the remaining original stickers on since they were in pretty good shape.

Good job on the restore ! Decals can bee a PIA for sure yours look nice the way you changed them ,Heck it your car do what ya want with it !

Well, I finished the Vette last night. It was much more work than the dragster. It took quite a bit more work to get it degreased and cleaned, and the engine was really, really caked up with gunk. The car was actually given to me when I was around 12 years old, and I don't think I ever ran it. Here is a link:   Although the emblems look grey, they are actually bright white. My camera phone obviously didn't like the lighting. Thanks again to everyone who offered advice and encouragement!


https://imgur.com/a/16nmpAw