2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

[Richard M.]

I'm thinking of "test" preparing my '07 coupe for judging. I haven't registered for the Florida Regional yet in January, but figured I'd start a different kind of thread and go through the process of prepping my car if I definitely decide to go. I'm 50-50 right now as I've been busy with many other things and not sure if it'll happen.

I need a C6 Judging Guide so I'll be ordering one today. In the meantime, I'll begin the process to get it ready. I've contributed a little bit the the C6 JG over time but haven't been involved lately.

The last time I had one of my cars judged was the FL Regional at Old Town in 2008, my 1959. I knew it could never Top Flight because it had a '61 270 HP block, but was a nice driver. I bought the car that way in 1986 and restored it over time. Not perfect by any means.

I just missed 2nd Flight due to some OP's problems, Bad headlight high beam, and I burned up my main harness while driving 100 miles to Kissimmee. As I was driving there, I thought and realized I forgot to test my just acquired Ebay NOS lighter element at home the day before we left. Unbeknownst to me, it was the wrong element, the longer later version. As I was driving a hour or so on back roads, I gave it a push to test it. Kapow! It exploded out at me and flashed a flame right out the front of the housing. I really mean a "flame". It must've been oil drips from the oil gauge just above the lighter housing. The hard short sparked it off. Scared the heck out of me. IIRC a little pee came out.

So I pulled over and smelled some melted wiring. My wife was following me in her '63 Coupe with the 2 Cocker Spaniels in back. It had aftermarket AC and it was really hot that day. I told her what happened. Her jaw dropped.

Well, it cooked the big red wire under the dash between the Ammeter and the lighter. Melted but the car was still ok to drive there. BTW that's when I decided to add fuses on my car later in life, starting with that lighter.

Got there ok and got over it and had a good time. It got 3rd Flight and was actually happy I got that. I mainly wanted the experience because I found a '62 nearby owned by a retired AF Colonel with it's original engine and was going to start to restore it for judging. Never did because I started restoring other cars. I sold the '62 as a project soon after.

I've been involved with many other cars at judging events, Chapters, Regionals, and Nationals, helping the restorers or owners after restoration. Seems I always help everyone else get a TF, but never got one for one of my own cars. Maybe it's time. Call it a bucket list thing. I sold all of our older Corvettes over time and all I have left in the Corvette arena is my '07. I bought it in June of 2008, on my birthday. I bought my '59 on the same day, 24 years earlier. My wife could not say "No" to either!

Here's a photo of the 2 just after I got the coupe. Both White/Red.

Next up will be the Battery Disconnect....

Rich
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[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

I had this one on the shelf for years and gave it a try. Worked out fine.

My Napa battery is about 6 years old and went dead a few times from non-use, so I'll be getting a new Delco for partial credit.

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[Harry S.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Rich, let us know how it works on Delco battery.

Thanks

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Harry Group 90. Should be fine. From the Delco site photos below.

The Negative/Positive terminal post diameter is a standard in the industry.
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[Harry S.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Rich, I've not been able to get any disconnect to fit. No room between the fender and the battery. Too many wires in the way.

Anyway, post a picture after the Delco is installed. I'm happy to be proven wrong on this.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Rich, I've not been able to get any disconnect to fit. No room between the fender and the battery. Too many wires in the way.

Anyway, post a picture after the Delco is installed. I'm happy to be proven wrong on this.

Harry the Napa 90 and the Delco 90 are the same size height width depth. I'll get some more closeups of the neg side and the harness plugs next to the battery at the fender. I didn't have to move anything, it was no problem.

Heading to a DR's appt but I'll be back late morning.

Rich

[Harry S.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

I've tried three different disconnects so far, no luck.

Oh, make sure you have FOB 1 and 2 for judging. My 2006 was judged in Ontario, lost 46 points, 9 points for dirty areas.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Harry I composed this last week but it never submitted for some reason. Thankfully "Restore Auto-Saved Content" worked....

Harry,

I remember yours were loose on the terminal. The one I have here was a perfect fit.

Thanks for the Fob info. I have 2, but both #1's on the case. As we know, functionally identical as I had to reprogram them from scratch. The #2 went bad but I still have it. I'll see if I can swap the internals so I'll have both.

Here are closeups I promised of the disconnect. Photo 3 shows it very close to the stock electrical connector at the inner fender area, but it does not touch, with plenty of room. Yesterday morning we took the car out for a 20 mile ride to our favorite breakfast place in Sebastian and back and all was fine.
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Next up..... Hood struts.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Hood Struts

I had to replace them but I saved the originals. I have NAPA struts on there now.

I'm on the hunt for GM replacements now. GM# 10399704. I've found some online, I'll be at my dealer later today to get a battery and see if they have them in stock as I'd like to look closely at them. My car is 17 years old this month so I'd image they've likely changed configuration over the years. We'll see.

Also, it appears these are date coded. My car is a November '06 build. DC appears to be Week/Year. "35/06" is ink-stamped on both. If I find GM replacements I guess I'd take a hit in CDIFC as wrong date? (Configuration, Date, Installation, Finish, and Completeness)

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[Dennis C.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Hood Struts

I had to replace them but I saved the originals. I have NAPA struts on there now.

I'm on the hunt for GM replacements now. GM# 10399704. I've found some online, I'll be at my dealer later today to get a battery and see if they have them in stock as I'd like to look closely at them. My car is 17 years old this month so I'd image they've likely changed configuration over the years. We'll see.

Also, it appears these are date coded. My car is a November '06 build. DC appears to be Week/Year. "35/06" is ink-stamped on both. If I find GM replacements I guess I'd take a hit in CDIFC as wrong date? (Configuration, Date, Installation, Finish, and Completeness)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]119440[/ATTACH]


[ATTACH=CONFIG]119441[/ATTACH]


[ATTACH=CONFIG]119442[/ATTACH]


[ATTACH=CONFIG]119443[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]119444[/ATTACH]


[ATTACH=CONFIG]119445[/ATTACH]

Yes, at a minimum, you will have a deduction for date. However, we have seen over the counter replacement hood struts from GM with different ink stampings on them. If so, you may also have a deduction for configuration.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Yes, at a minimum, you will have a deduction for date. However, we have seen over the counter replacement hood struts from GM with different ink stampings on them. If so, you may also have a deduction for configuration.

Thanks Dennis, Yes I figured a Config hit too as likely different from these 17 year old leaky parts. I wish there was a simple way to fix them.

Rich

[Dennis C.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Thanks Dennis, Yes I figured a Config hit too as likely different from these 17 year old leaky parts. I wish there was a simple way to fix them.

Rich

well, it is not possible - until someone figures out how to do it. You are pretty good at that.......

[Mark D.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

Hood Struts

I had to replace them but I saved the originals...

There is a fellow in Canada that does an excellent job of recharging your originals and it's not very expensive. He says they will last a long time when he's finished. He did the rear hatch struts on my 90 and they work as new.

[Terry M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

There is a fellow in Canada that does an excellent job of recharging your originals and it's not very expensive. He says they will last a long time when he's finished. He did the rear hatch struts on my 90 and they work as new.

Contact info please, Mark. My originals on my 08 took a dump and I replaced them with Chevrolet over the counter parts. I haven't had a chance to examine them closely, but some day Pete B and company will have that chance.

[Richard M.]

Re: 2007 Coupe Judging Preparation for the Florida Regional

well, it is not possible - until someone figures out how to do it. You are pretty good at that.......

Hmmm, Now you got me thinkin' Dennis.

There is a fellow in Canada that does an excellent job of recharging your originals and it's not very expensive. He says they will last a long time when he's finished. He did the rear hatch struts on my 90 and they work as new.

I heard that somewhere. Maybe it was you.

Contact info please, Mark. My originals on my 08 took a dump and I replaced them with Chevrolet over the counter parts. I haven't had a chance to examine them closely, but some day Pete B and company will have that chance.

Yah... Me too Mark, please.
......

I got one yesterday, 2nd one due in 5 days. I'll post some photos later showing configuration differences.

I opened up the heavy plastic wrapper on it at Dunkins after I left my dealer(I get a family discount on parts), with it and my new DelcoGroup 90 battery. One thing was the "GM" inkstamp was smaller than on my originals.