A car is nothing more than the sum of thousands of parts and, sometimes, breaking it down into small components is the smart thing to do.
Of course, a frame-off restoration is what we all want, and according to most current reality-TV shows, it can be done in a matter of weeks (if not days).
Well, some of those shows really qualify as science fiction, but I digress.
I can promise you one thing, though; if a project is small enough, you can do it in a matter of hours.
Take my '76 Corvette hood hardware, for example.
I started with some tired-looking hardware that required a thorough cleaning, sanding, and fresh paint.
After a thorough detailing, I chose to spray the pieces with cast paint. Originally they were black, but I wanted them to stand out a bit and look new, and the cast paint worked excellent for this purpose.
The right-side latch also had a small spring, and I painted that one black for contrast. When you're not concerned about NCRS standards, you can do whatever you please.
And, as you can see, I even cleaned and painted the bolts.
But a few days ago, after getting my Vette back from the shop that installed the rebuilt motor which had over a hundred bucks worth of new Grade 8 hardware, things such as the bolts holding latches and hood hinges looked pretty ratty, so I had to do something about that.
The solution, of course, was a quick trip to the local ACE Hardware store to buy a few Grade 8 bolts to replace the original items.
You always have the option to buy Grade 5 nuts and bolts, which are automotive grade and perfectly suited for this project. But I really like the look of the cadmium plated Grade 8 hardware, so for a little more money, I chose those.
And, as previously mentioned, I also replaced the hood support and hinge bolts.
It really is all about the small details when it comes to restoration, regardless of its complexity. And, as in this case, for less than $10 I purchased brand new hardware that makes these components look a hundred times better.
Needless to say, this is a very easy and quick project that anyone can do in a matter of hours, and one that will make your car look that much better.
Thanks for following my '76 Vette Blog!
Product Links... (#sponsored)
• How to Restore Your C3 Corvette: 1968-1982
• 1968-1982 Corvette Restoration Guide, 2nd Edition
• Corvette Black Book | 1953-2019
• 1976 Corvette Service & Overhaul Manual
• 1976 Corvette Service & Overhaul Manual CD-ROM
• 1976 Corvette Dealer Sales Brochure | GM-Licensed Reprint
• 1976 Corvette Stingray Owner's Manual | GM-Licensed Reprint
• 1976 Corvette Assembly Manual
