• Corvette enthusiasts and their cars.corvettes image by michael langley from Fotolia.com
  
  Corvettes are a popular classic car for restoration enthusiasts. Currently, there are over 15,800 people in the National Corvette Restorers Society, and that number is ever-growing. Whether you're restoring a Corvette yourself or paying a body shop to do the work for you, it's important to keep a few things in mind during the process so that you come out with the best restoration possible on your Corvette.
  
  

Deliberate Flaws

• If you are resorting a Corvette to its original condition, you may need to factor certain flaws into your restoration job. This is particularly true if you're restoring your Corvette for authenticity to the National Corvette Restoration Society's standards. "Over-restoration" can lose you points with judges if you're entering your Corvette in competitions. Do some research on the flaws your model of Corvette had when it rolled off the factory assembly line. Pay particular attention to door misalignment and the paint job. The "orange-peel" paint effect was a common sight on Corvettes in the 1960s and 1970s, and you'll need to specifically request it from a shop or rough up the paint yourself for that touch of authenticity.
  
  

Dyeing the Interior

• Re-dyeing the interior of your Corvette is an important aspect of restoration if the original dye-job has faded or has been painted over. When dyeing part of the interior of your Corvette, cleanliness is essential, both on the area you'll be dyeing and the surrounding parts to keep them from getting stained. Thoroughly clean the area to be dyed by wiping it down with a wax and grease remover, ideally using a remover without harsh solvents. Lightly sand the area, making sure to sand every possible surface you'll be applying the dye to. Wipe the surface down again with the wax and grease remover, and apply a primer to the area to promote greater dye adhesion. Practice your spraying technique on a piece of cardboard before actually dyeing the interior;. Spray guns and aerosol cans can be difficult to control the first time you use one. Remember to keep the nozzle of the spraying implement eight to 10 inches away from the surface, and spray in even, overlapping strokes.
  
  

Keeping Track of Parts

• In a restoration job, the Corvette often must be meticulously taken apart to restore internal parts. During this process, it's essential to keep track of all the removed parts, particularly if they're factory originals. Many Corvette parts that were cheaply replaceable during the 1960s and 1970s have more that quadrupled in price today, so it can really cost you to replace a seemingly unimportant part. Often, Corvettes were shimmed at the factory, a process where bits of metal and rubber were used to make parts fit better. You must keep track of even these tiny pieces to make your restoration as authentic as possible.